Desmond T Jumbam MSGH

Mr. Desmond T. Jumbam is the Director of Health Policy and Advocacy at Operation Smile, an international non-governmental organization that aims to improve access and quality of surgical services in low- and middle-income countries. In this capacity he leads and advises on research and advocacy initiatives that aim to increase the prioritization and funding for surgical care in government policies in these countries. Prior to joining Operation Smile, Desmond was a health policy analyst at the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard Medical School, conducting global surgery research and advising Ministries of Health on the development of National Surgical Obstetrics and Anaesthesia Plans. His research interests include global surgery, health policy and advocacy, health systems strengthening and decolonizing global health.

Desmond is a 2022 New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute and the president and co-founder of the Jumbam Family Foundation, based in Cameroon. The Jumbam Family Foundation aims to provide psychosocial and reintegration support to victims of the on-going Anglophone war in Cameroon.

Desmond earned his Master of Science in Global Health degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Arts degree in biological sciences from the Taylor University. In his spare time, Desmond enjoys co-hosting a podcast called “Global Health Unfiltered!”, reading, writing and spending time with friends and family.