Charles Olweny
Encyclopedia
Charles Lwanga Mark Olweny is a Uganda
n physician
, academic and medical researcher. Currently he is a Professor of Medicine
& Vice Chancellor
at Uganda Martyrs University
, based at Nkozi
, Mpigi District
, in Central Uganda
.
, Tororo District
, in Eastern Uganda
.
for his A-Level classes (S5-S6). He then entered Makerere University School of Medicine
, the oldest medical school in Uganda
, which was founded in 1924.
He first obtained the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). Later, he obtained the degree of Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine
(MMed). He followed that with the degree of Doctor of Medicine
(MD
), all from Makerere University
. His chosen specialty is medical oncology.
In 1982, he travelled to Australia and while there, he studied for and was awarded the degree of Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
(FRACP) by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
, based in Sydney
, Australia
.
, from 1972 until 1982. Under his stewardship, the team of Ugandan medical researchers that he led, were the first group to demonstrate that liver cancer
could be successfully treated with chemotherapy using the drug doxorubicin
, which is still the mainstay of treatment for liver cancer today. They were also able to confirm that Burkitt lymphoma could be cured with a high dose of chemotherapy and showed that the same was true for childhood Hodgkin disease. And they documented the incidence of endemic Kaposi sarcoma in children and then conducted clinical trials on how to treat it.
During the same timeframe, he also served, first as a lecturer, then senior lecturer and later as Professor of Medicine in the Faculty of Internal Medicine, at Makerere University School of Medicine
, serving as Head of Department, from 1979 until 1982. While in Australia, during the 1980s, he served as clinical professor at the Department of Medicine & Surgery, University of Adelaide
, Adelaide
, South Australia
. He also served as Senior Director for Medical Oncology, Cancer Control Programme, Royal Adelaide Hospital
.
In the 1990s, Dr. Olweny migrated to Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
, to take up appointment as Medical Oncologist
at St. Boniface General Hospital
, in Winnipeg. He also served as Coordinator
, Section of Hematology
& Oncology
at CancerCare Manitoba, and as an associate staff at the Health Sciences Centre
in Winnipeg. He was appointed to his present position in 2006 and assumed office in September of that year. Professor Olweny has published widely in professional journals and has over 120 articles to his name.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, academic and medical researcher. Currently he is a Professor of Medicine
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
& Vice Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
at Uganda Martyrs University
Uganda Martyrs University
-Location:The main campus of UMU is in Nkozi, a small town, approximately , by road, west of Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda, on the Kampala-Masaka Highway...
, based at Nkozi
Nkozi
-Location:The town is situated along the Kampala-Masaka Highway, approximately , southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. This location is approximately , north of Lake Victoria, at the point where River Katonga, exits the lake to begin its journey west to Lake George...
, Mpigi District
Mpigi District
Mpigi District is a district in Central Uganda. Like other most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Mpigi.-Location:...
, in Central Uganda
Central Region, Uganda
Central Region is a region of Uganda. It is coterminous with the Kingdom of Buganda, one of the ancient African monarchies that are constitutionally recognised in Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
.
Background
He was born in 1944, in TororoTororo
Tororo is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Tororo District. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
, Tororo District
Tororo District
Tororo District is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its "chief town", Tororo.-Location:Tororo District is bordered by Mbale District to the north, Manafwa District to the northeast, the Republic of Kenya to the east, Busia District to the south,...
, in Eastern Uganda
Eastern Region, Uganda
Eastern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
.
Education
Professor Olweny attended St. Peter's College Tororo for his O-Level education (S1-S4). He then attended St. Mary's College KisubiSt. Mary's College Kisubi
St. Mary's College Kisubi is a boys-only boarding middle and high school located in Wakiso District in Central Uganda.-Location:The school is situated on a campus at Kisubi, approximately , by road, south of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
for his A-Level classes (S5-S6). He then entered Makerere University School of Medicine
Makerere University School of Medicine
Makerere University School of Medicine , also known as Makerere University Medical School is the school of medicine of Makerere University, Uganda's oldest university. The medical school is the oldest medical school in Eastern Africa, having been part of the Makerere University, since 1924...
, the oldest medical school in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, which was founded in 1924.
He first obtained the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). Later, he obtained the degree of Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine
Master of Medicine
Master of Medicine is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by medical schools to medical doctors following a period of instruction and examination. The degree is awarded by both surgical and medical subspecialties and usually includes a dissertation component involving original research...
(MMed). He followed that with the degree of Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(MD
MD
- Science :* Doctor of Medicine, from the Latin Medicinæ Doctor * Macular degeneration, a condition characterized by progressive thinning and atrophy of the macula area of the retina* Mahalanobis distance, a distance measure introduced by P. C...
), all from Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
. His chosen specialty is medical oncology.
In 1982, he travelled to Australia and while there, he studied for and was awarded the degree of Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
The post-nominal initials FRACP stand for "Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians."Fellowship is recognition of completion of the College's prescribed post-graduate specialist training program in medicine....
(FRACP) by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Royal Australasian College of Physicians
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, or RACP, is the organisation responsible for training, educating, and representing over 9,000 physicians and paediatricians in Australia and New Zealand. It was founded in 1938....
, based in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Work experience
Charles Olweny served as the Director of the Uganda Cancer InstituteUganda Cancer Institute
Uganda Cancer Institute is a public, specialized, tertiary care medical facility owned by the Uganda Ministry of Health.-Location:The medical facility is located along Upper Mulago Hill Road, on Mulago Hill, Central Division, Kampala, about northeast of the central business district of the city...
, from 1972 until 1982. Under his stewardship, the team of Ugandan medical researchers that he led, were the first group to demonstrate that liver cancer
Liver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
could be successfully treated with chemotherapy using the drug doxorubicin
Doxorubicin
Doxorubicin INN is a drug used in cancer chemotherapy. It is an anthracycline antibiotic, closely related to the natural product daunomycin, and like all anthracyclines, it works by intercalating DNA....
, which is still the mainstay of treatment for liver cancer today. They were also able to confirm that Burkitt lymphoma could be cured with a high dose of chemotherapy and showed that the same was true for childhood Hodgkin disease. And they documented the incidence of endemic Kaposi sarcoma in children and then conducted clinical trials on how to treat it.
During the same timeframe, he also served, first as a lecturer, then senior lecturer and later as Professor of Medicine in the Faculty of Internal Medicine, at Makerere University School of Medicine
Makerere University School of Medicine
Makerere University School of Medicine , also known as Makerere University Medical School is the school of medicine of Makerere University, Uganda's oldest university. The medical school is the oldest medical school in Eastern Africa, having been part of the Makerere University, since 1924...
, serving as Head of Department, from 1979 until 1982. While in Australia, during the 1980s, he served as clinical professor at the Department of Medicine & Surgery, University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. He also served as Senior Director for Medical Oncology, Cancer Control Programme, Royal Adelaide Hospital
Royal Adelaide Hospital
The Royal Adelaide Hospital is Adelaide's largest hospital, with 680 beds. Founded in 1840, the Royal Adelaide provides tertiary health care services for South Australia and provides secondary care clinical services to residents of Adelaide's city centre and inner suburbs.The hospital is situated...
.
In the 1990s, Dr. Olweny migrated to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, to take up appointment as Medical Oncologist
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
at St. Boniface General Hospital
St. Boniface General Hospital (Winnipeg)
St. Boniface General Hospital is Manitoba's second-largest hospital, located in the St. Boniface neighbourhood of Winnipeg. It was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Montreal in 1871, and was the first hospital in Western Canada...
, in Winnipeg. He also served as Coordinator
Coordinator
Coordinator may refer to:*In academics: one who administers the research and teaching activities of the other professors.*Coordinators , genetically engineered humans in the Gundam SEED series...
, Section of Hematology
Hematology
Hematology, also spelled haematology , is the branch of biology physiology, internal medicine, pathology, clinical laboratory work, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases...
& Oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
at CancerCare Manitoba, and as an associate staff at the Health Sciences Centre
Health Sciences Centre (Winnipeg)
The Health Sciences Centre is the largest hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It serves the residents of Northwest Ontario and Nunavut as both a teaching hospital and as a research centre. The Health Sciences Center is a tertiary care hospital, encompassing many different specialty medical...
in Winnipeg. He was appointed to his present position in 2006 and assumed office in September of that year. Professor Olweny has published widely in professional journals and has over 120 articles to his name.
Personal details
Professor Charles Olweny is married and together with his wife, they are the parents of five (5) adult children.External links
- Homepage of Uganda Martyrs University
- Brief Biography of Professor Charles Olweny
- Highlights of Lecture By Professor Olweny In 2009
See also
- Uganda Martyrs UniversityUganda Martyrs University-Location:The main campus of UMU is in Nkozi, a small town, approximately , by road, west of Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda, on the Kampala-Masaka Highway...
- Uganda Martyrs University School of MedicineUganda Martyrs University School of MedicineUganda Martyrs University School of Medicine , also known as Uganda Martyrs University Medical School , is the school of medicine of Uganda Martyrs University. , the medical school is the newest medical school in Uganda, having been established in 2010...
- Makerere University School of MedicineMakerere University School of MedicineMakerere University School of Medicine , also known as Makerere University Medical School is the school of medicine of Makerere University, Uganda's oldest university. The medical school is the oldest medical school in Eastern Africa, having been part of the Makerere University, since 1924...
- Mulago National Referral Hospital
- Uganda Cancer InstituteUganda Cancer InstituteUganda Cancer Institute is a public, specialized, tertiary care medical facility owned by the Uganda Ministry of Health.-Location:The medical facility is located along Upper Mulago Hill Road, on Mulago Hill, Central Division, Kampala, about northeast of the central business district of the city...
- St. Mary's College KisubiSt. Mary's College KisubiSt. Mary's College Kisubi is a boys-only boarding middle and high school located in Wakiso District in Central Uganda.-Location:The school is situated on a campus at Kisubi, approximately , by road, south of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
- NkoziNkozi-Location:The town is situated along the Kampala-Masaka Highway, approximately , southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. This location is approximately , north of Lake Victoria, at the point where River Katonga, exits the lake to begin its journey west to Lake George...
- St. Francis Hospital Nsambya