Team
Meet TREE Collaborators & Staff
Director
Michael H. Chung, Director of TREE
Michael H. Chung, MD, PhD, MPH, FRCP is Director, Treatment, Research, and Expert Education (TREE) | Associate Director, Emory Global Health Institute | Professor, Emory University School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health| Affiliate Professor, University of Washington.
Dr. Chung spent nearly 20 years living in Kenya and Vietnam conducting research, teaching medicine, building health systems, and treating patients before returning to America. He co-founded the Coptic Hope Center for Infectious Diseases, one of the largest single-site HIV treatment clinics in Kenya, and chaired the Department of Medicine at Aga Khan University, East Africa.
Dr. Chung received his MD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, PhD from Ghent University, and MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is American board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
Collaborators
Samah Sakr
Dr. Samah Sakr is a general surgeon and the Medical Director of the Coptic Hospital and co-founder of the Coptic Hope Center for Infectious Diseases, which oversees the largest faith-based network of HIV treatment clinics in Kenya. Dr. Sakr co-leads the NCI UG1- funded HOPE CASCADE clinical trials site at Coptic with Dr. Michael Chung.
Staff
Meet the staff who cultivate TREE activities in Kenya and the U.S.
David Karanja
David Karanja is a data analyst at TREE, responsible for collecting, cleaning, and managing study data. His experience as a data analyst spans several industries including health systems strengthening, software as a service (SaaS), and human rights. David has a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Nairobi and has more than five years of expertise in data analysis. He seeks refuge outside of his line of work in the world of books and going on challenging walks.
Shaaban Kariuki
Shaaban Kariuki is a trustworthy, reliable, and responsible driver for TREE and is well-known for his safe driving practices. He has over 10 years of experience driving personal and institutional automobiles as well as motorbikes and is well-versed in the operation and maintenance of all these vehicles. He has a Diploma in Purchasing and Supplies Management from the University of Nairobi and is a member of Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM). When he is not driving, Shaaban enjoys extensive workouts and running.
Eram Khan
Eram Khan an administrator at TREE who is responsible for a broad range of organizational level duties related to program planning, strategic implementation, staff supervision, financial accounting, and human resources. She takes pride in striving to improve administrative systems and processes and advancing overall work efficiency. Eram has a Diploma in Business Administration and over twenty years of administrative working experience in various fields. She is passionate about baking and rescuing cats.
Judith Lukorito
Judith Lukorito MPH is a study nurse at TREE who manages, supervises, and oversees clinical study operations in Nairobi at the Coptic Hope Center. Her skills and expertise in research include budgeting, good clinical practice (GCP), Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol submissions, and reporting for data safety and monitoring (DSMB) and regulatory requirements. Judith has an MPH in Monitoring and Evaluation and a BSc in Nursing. She has a substantial understanding of medical research protocols and data management and over 10 years of experience in clinical research management. She enjoys travelling, writing, singing, dancing and fitness training.
Nazha Diwan
Nazha Diwan is a third-year PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology at Emory University, with research interests that lie at the intersection of global health, infectious diseases, and health disparities. In July 2024, she joined the TREE team in Nairobi, where she provides expertise on the appropriate epidemiologic methods to use for study design, data collection, and analysis. Nazha’s research primarily focuses on identifying the best methods to screen and treat cervical precancerous lesions among women living with HIV. In her free time, Nazha enjoys cooking, working out and learning about different cultures.