Dennis Laryea

Dr Dennis Laryea is a graduate of the KNUST School of Medicine and Dentistry in Kumasi, Ghana. Following some years of clinical practice, he pursued specialisation in Public Health Medicine at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also holds a master of science degree in public health from the University of the West of England in Bristol United Kingdom. He has 14 years’ experience in public health practice, research, and teaching. He was the Head of Public Health at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana from 2012 to 2016 where he led in the implementation of public health activities including disease surveillance. From 2017 to 2021, he was the National Programme Manager for Non-Communicable Diseases providing leadership and strategic direction on NCDs in Ghana including the revision of the national NCD Policy. He currently works with the Ghana Health Service as the Deputy Director responsible for Surveillance for all priority diseases in Ghana. As the lead for disease surveillance in Ghana, his portfolio includes providing technical leadership and supervision of the implementation of environmental surveillance for Polio in Ghana which currently spans 14 sites across 7 regions. Dr Laryea is also an academic and holds faculty positions at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons where he is the Training Coordinator for the Applied Epidemiology and Disease Control sub-specialty; the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives where he leads in the public health emergency preparedness module and the Ghana College of Pharmacists where he leads in the Non-Communicable Diseases Module. He has several publications in peer reviewed journals. He is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health of the Ghana College of Physicians and is a member of the Ghana Medical Association and the American Public Health Association.