“When Health Systems Are Under Pressure: Rethinking Health Innovation from Africa” – Dr. Cherise Dunn
Session Description:
Across Africa, many health systems are carrying immense pressure while trying to do more with too little: too few healthcare workers, constrained budgets, and major gaps in access to timely care. In that kind of environment, innovation has to mean more than novelty. It has to make care more practical, more reachable, and more responsive to the realities people face.
In this talk, Dr. Dunn reflects on what it means to rethink innovation from Africa, especially at a moment when AI is reshaping healthcare conversations worldwide. At the heart of this talk is the idea that Africa should not only be seen as a site of need, but also as a source of insight. She will explore the kinds of solutions these settings call for, and why perspectives from African health systems matter far beyond the continent.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Cherise Dunn is a South African health technology entrepreneur, strategist, and systems builder working at the intersection of healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. She brings over a decade of experience designing and implementing innovation-led programs across Africa, the United States, and Brazil, with a focus on translating emerging technologies into practical, scalable solutions that improve access and outcomes.
Cherise holds a PhD in Medical Biochemistry and recently completed her Master of Public Health in Health Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her work has spanned public health systems, venture development, and workforce innovation, including leading national-scale training programs reaching over 20,000 learners and advising on global health and innovation initiatives through platforms such as the G20, BRICS, and the U.S. State Department.
She is the co-founder of multiple ventures, including Impact Mechanica, a U.S.-based company developing custom, data-driven protective headgear to reduce traumatic brain injuries, and Authentica.ai, an AI-enabled platform focused on transparency in critical mineral supply chains. Her earlier work through South Africa Makes and the Africa Makes Foundation focused on advancing additive manufacturing for healthcare and building cross-continental innovation ecosystems.
Cherise’s work is grounded in a commitment to equitable access, systems-level thinking, and building bridges between the Global South and leading innovation ecosystems. She is particularly interested in how emerging technologies can be deployed responsibly to strengthen health systems, unlock new economic opportunities, and improve quality of life at scale.