-At LCPS 10th Convocation
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA, Liberia – At a time when Liberia’s healthcare system continues to grapple with a severe shortage of specialists, several women redefined the face of the country health sector on Friday, September 18, 2026, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (EJS) Ministerial Complex in Congo Town. They were among the 2026 cohort of Fellows and Members inducted into the Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons (LCPS) during its 10th Annual General and Scientific Meeting and Convocation.
Under the theme, “Resilient, Equitable, and Sustainable Health Systems for Liberia 2030,” the convocation celebrated a decade of scientific excellence. But it was the stories of these women—mothers, wives, and trailblazers—that accentuated a modest uprising in a field long dominated by men.
Among the inductees, Dr. Yarvoh Massah Moore-Wilson emerged as the only female candidate in the Faculty of General Surgery, a feat that highlights the persistent gender gap in surgical specialties in Liberia. Dr. Yarvoh Massah Moore-Wilson is a 2018 graduate of the A. M. Dogliotti College of Medicine.
Following graduation, she served in various capacities across Liberia’s health sector, with one of her most impactful roles being Medical Director of C. H. Rennie Hospital, the referral hospital serving Upper Margibi, from 2020 to 2022. Driven by a deep commitment to professional growth and excellence, Dr. Moore-Wilson made the courageous decision to step away from her leadership role and pursue specialist training in General Surgery at the LCPS.
After years of demanding training, sacrifice, and perseverance, she graduated as a Specialist General Surgeon on September 18, 2026. Beyond medicine, she is an aspiring entrepreneur and the visionary behind MedAfrik by Ma-Ya, a concept dedicated to creating customized African-inspired scrub suits for medical professionals.
Dr. Rukiatu M. Sheriff-Coleman: A Champion for Liberia’s Children
Dr. Rukiatu Sheriff-Coleman is one of the newly inducted Specialist Pediatricians of the LCPS. A graduate of the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine, University of Liberia, she obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree on March 3, 2021.
As a prerequisite for licensure, Dr. Sheriff-Coleman completed her internship in the four core specialties of medicine: Surgery at Duside Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology at C.B. Dunbar Hospital, Pediatrics at Médecins Sans Frontières Children’s Hospital, and Internal Medicine at John F. Kennedy Medical Center. Each rotation strengthened her clinical knowledge and improved her ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
With the persistent challenges affecting child health and limited access to specialized pediatric care, Dr. Sheriff-Coleman was motivated to become a pediatrician to help provide excellent clinical care, quality improvement, and medical education to reduce childhood morbidity and mortality. A mother, wife, and God-fearing professional, she is described as passionate, caring, and committed to improving healthcare.
Dr. Famah Sumo-Giddings: Excellence in Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr. Famah Sumo-Giddings is a Liberian physician whose journey in medicine has been shaped by determination, discipline, service, and excellence. Her journey through medicine has been one of perseverance, sacrifice, continuous learning, and unwavering commitment. She successfully navigated the demanding stages of medical education and postgraduate specialist training, embracing each challenge as an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally.
Among the defining milestones of her specialist journey was her successful completion of the Primary examination on her first attempt—a reflection not only of her academic ability, but also of the discipline, preparation, resilience, and determination that have characterized her professional journey.
Throughout her years of postgraduate training, Dr. Sumo-Giddings continued to broaden her knowledge and clinical skills across the various disciplines of Pediatrics. Her growing interest in Pediatric Infectious Diseases reflects her passion for addressing conditions that continue to contribute significantly to childhood illness and mortality in Liberia and across Africa. Her participation in specialized training in pediatric infectious diseases has further strengthened this interest and enhanced her commitment to advancing the prevention, diagnosis, and management of infectious diseases in children.
Dr. Samphina O. Grose: Leading in Internal Medicine
Dr. Samphina O. Grose graduated from the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine (class of 2015–2020) and served as a medical doctor at Jackson F. Doe, ELWA, and the C.H. Rennie Hospital.
Driven by a deep commitment to professional growth and perseverance, she enrolled in the residency program, Faculty of Internal Medicine, at Liberia’s Postgraduate College of Physicians and Surgeons/JFK Medical Center. She also served as Chief Resident for the Department of Internal Medicine. After three years, she is one of the three doctors graduating as an Internal Medicine Specialist.
Dr. Krystle F. Joekolo-Ndupellar: Balancing Medicine and Motherhood
Dr. Krystle F. Joekolo-Ndupellar has been a practicing and licensed medical doctor since 2022. She is a graduate of the Konola Academy SDA Mission and Cuttington University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) with honors. In pursuit of professional and academic excellence, she attended the A. M. Dogliotti College of Medicine, University of Liberia, and graduated in 2021.
In keeping with the prerequisites for obtaining a license after graduation, she completed an internship at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center and ELWA Hospital. Thereafter, Dr. Joekolo-Ndupellar joined other general practitioners in rural service for a year at the Liberian Government Hospital in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. Her quest for advancement in her medical career and providing specialist care led her to commence her residency program at the LCPS, Faculty of Internal Medicine.
Aside from professional life, Dr. Joekolo-Ndupellar is a caring wife, an amazing mother, and a devout Christian. Her core values are excellence, hard work, integrity, and humility. She was one of the three candidates who graduated as an internist during the 10th Annual Convocation.
The Full 2026 Cohort
The newly inducted specialists span various faculties, including General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Anesthesiology, Community Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and Psychiatry.
The 2026 inductees include Dr. Patience Dono Franklin, Dr. Cecelia J. Nuta, and Dr. Hawa Sonii-Koon for the Faculty of Pediatrics & Child Health; Dr. Terseer Utam (Urology), Dr. Gerald Ekwen (General Surgery), Dr. Vickie Fayiah Sam (Ophthalmology), and Dr. Sovich Sankoh-Karmor (Obstetrics & Gynecology) as Fellows by Examination and Election.
The College of Physicians also welcomed new members by examination, including Dr. Seth N. Tally, Dr. Samphina O. Grose, and Dr. Krystle Joekolo-Ndupe llar (Internal Medicine), as well as Dr. Famah Sumo-Giddings and Dr. Rukiatu M. Sheriff-Coleman (Pediatrics & Child Health). The College of Surgery inducted Dr. Alieu Kamara (Obstetrics & Gynecology), Dr. Yarvoh M. Moore-Wilson, Dr. Alexander S. Magona, Dr. Prince Gweh, Dr. Emmanuel T. Singbe, and Dr. Abdoul Derrick Duannah (General Surgery).
In a special statement, Prof. John K. Mulbah, President of the LCPS, reflected on the college’s remarkable journey. He noted that the institution has grown from four to eleven faculties and has successfully trained 166 specialists at the membership and leadership levels. “This graduation displays the outcome of years of studying and effort,” Prof. Mulbah stated. “The progress of this college is part of the broader progress in the health system of Liberia.”
He emphasized that the new qualification is not the end of the journey but the beginning of greater responsibility, urging the graduates to demonstrate perseverance in their practice. Prof. Mulbah also outlined his administration’s strategic priorities, which include strengthening the training program to meet Liberian needs, advancing research and innovation, integrating technology, and fostering institutional and financial partnerships.
He called for deeper commitment from national and international partners, stressing that the College’s success would not have been possible without their support. Furthermore, he thanked the Government of Liberia, particularly the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, for their continued backing and announced that the College is completing the process of purchasing its current property.
Prior to the 1990 civil war, Liberia had developed a vibrant medical education system that attracted students from throughout West Africa and produced excellent clinicians and academicians. Among the most profoundly negative and long-lasting impacts of the Liberian civil war was the destruction of that system. By 2012, however, the country had only 215 registered physicians, with less than 15 specialized clinical physicians for a population of over 4 million.
In response to this critical shortage, the National Legislature passed an Act establishing the LCPS on May 22, 2012. Following a technical visit to study the Ghanaian model of postgraduate training, the College was officially launched on September 30, 2013, by former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Postgraduate training in core disciplines began in October 2013 with 19 residents, though it faced a temporary suspension due to the Ebola crisis in 2014 before resuming in 2015. Since its first graduation in 2017, the College has continued to expand its faculties, including the recent additions of Radiology, Anesthesiology, and Orthopedics and Traumatology.
