Our Team

Nasra Giama, DNP, WHNP-BC

Dr. Giama is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner focused on health promotion, prevention, and health equity. Her work centers on culturally responsive approaches to improve the health and well-being of immigrant and adolescent populations. She leads community-engaged research initiatives addressing cancer disparities, health promotion, and mentorship for diverse students in healthcare.

Lewis R. Roberts, MB ChB, PhD

Lewis R. Roberts, MB ChB, PhD is the Peter and Frances Georgeson Professor in Gastroenterology Cancer Research and Consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic, where he is Co-Principal Investigator of the Mayo Clinic Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Hepatobiliary Cancers. Dr. Roberts’ research focuses on mechanisms of liver and biliary carcinogenesis; biomarkers for liver, biliary and pancreas cancers; and prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis and liver cancer, with a particular interest in Africa as well as in immigrant African and Asian communities in the USA. He is an elected Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has been named the 2024 Mayo Clinic Distinguished Investigator.

Lionel A. Kankeu Fonkoua, M.D

Dr. Lionel A. Kankeu Fonkoua is an Assistant Professor of Oncology at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) specializing in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers. Originally from Cameroon, he completed his medical training at Penn State University College of Medicine, prior to joining Mayo Clinic 2018. for subspecialty training in Hematology/Oncology. His research focuses on developing novel immunotherapeutic strategies and improving equitable access to cancer care. As a member of the Community Health Advisory Collaborative (CHAC), he is dedicated to advancing health equity and strengthening community partnerships.

Djibril Moussa, MBBS MSc

Djibril Moussa MBBS MSc is a psychiatrist and a public health specialist. His research areas are in old age mental health disorders, childhood mental health disorders and substance use research

Amerti Guta

Amerti Guta is a PhD student in the Clinical and Translational Science track at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, working under the mentorship of Dr. Lewis R. Roberts. She is also a Leadership in PhD (LeaP) Scholar, a selective 4 year-program that prepares emerging scientists to lead with collaboration and community impact. Amerti’s research focuses on the early detection of hepatobiliary cancers, particularly Liver cancer. Through her work with CHAC, Amerti leads school collaboration and outreach efforts in the Rochester and Minneapolis areas, building partnerships that support culturally grounded health education, mentorship, and pathway development for students.

Fowsiyo Y. Ahmed, MBBS

Fowsiyo Y. Ahmed, MBBS, is a physician–scientist and public health advocate passionate about improving outcomes for communities affected by hepatobiliary diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and viral hepatitis. Her work bridges research and public health, supporting early detection efforts, strengthening biorepositories, advancing data management, and increasing the representation of African and immigrant populations in biomedical research. She has contributed to national and international collaborations and led biorepository development efforts across the U.S. and Africa. These efforts are driven by a strong belief in advancing health equity and ensuring that overlooked communities are included in the solutions. As a long-standing board member of the Somali Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), now Community Health Advisory Collaborative (CHAC), Fowsiyo is dedicated to building partnerships that promote health literacy and access to care in immigrant and underserved communities through education, advocacy, and culturally grounded outreach—work she hopes will leave a lasting impact.

Jessica Trinh

Jessica Trinh is currently a medical student at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Rochester, MN. She is among the first-generation in her family to attend college, completing her B.S. at Yale College in neuroscience. After graduating college, she attended culinary school in London. Born and raised in Rockford, IL, Jessica is passionate about addressing health access disparities and working with underserved communities. She joined CHAC in 2021 and enjoys helping with education outreach for racial and ethnic minorities.

Mohamed Addani, Ph.D

Dr. Mohamed Addani is a biomedical scientist and educator with a PhD in Biomedical Sciences & Clinical/Translational Sciences. He founded SomaBiomed to boost scientific literacy and create accessible AI-and-science content through the AddaniLab series. With 10+ years in scientific research, biostatistics, and program evaluation, he mentors students, consults on data and medical communications, and is pivoting toward Medical Affairs/MSL roles with a global outlook.

Zamzam Ali, MD

Dr. Zamzam Ali is a medical doctor committed to advancing health equity and addressing health disparities in African communities. She holds a Master’s in Public Health for Development from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Dr. Ali is currently a PhD candidate in Biomedical Sciences with a focus on Clinical and Translational Science at Mayo Clinic. Her research centers on improving access to high-quality healthcare and developing innovative approaches to reduce health inequities. Her areas of interest include community engagement, the early detection of liver cancer and the elimination of viral hepatitis in Africa.

Essa Mohamed, PhD

Fatima Warsame, MD

Fatima A. Ali, APRN, CNM, D.N.P