Ibrahim Gassama
Somerville,MA
Summary
Resourceful Pharmacist with 10 years of experience in care delivery through ensuring life saving medication availability for malaria, HIV, TB, therapeutic nutrition. Talented in coordinating with colleagues to prioritize urgent needs while simultaneously driving accuracy, safety and confidentiality of patient information. Expert communicator when working closely with staff, numerous patients, administrators, and healthcare professionals.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Pharmacist Consultant
Partners in Health
Sierra Leone
08.2022 - 12.2023
- Develop and execute strategic plans for the global health supply chain
- Align supply chain activities with overarching public health goals for cohesive and targeted efforts
- Engage with national and international partners, such as government agencies, and NGOs, to facilitate seamless coordination of supply chain activities
- Cultivate partnerships to amplify the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire supply chain
- Oversee the entirety of the supply chain process, from procurement to distribution, ensuring the timely and cost-effective delivery of health products
- Implement industry best practices to optimize processes and minimize wastage within the supply chain
- Identify areas for enhancing capacity within the country's supply chain system
- Provide training and support to bolster the skills of local supply chain Pharmacists
- Establish systems for the collection, analysis, and reporting of supply chain data
- Utilize data-driven insights to recognize trends, make informed decisions, and enhance overall supply chain performance
- Ensure adherence to local and international regulations governing the supply chain of health products
- Stay abreast of changes in regulatory requirements and adjust strategies accordingly
- Identify potential risks to the supply chain and develop strategies to mitigate these risks
- Implement contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges that may impact the supply chain
- Effectively manage the budget allocated for supply chain activities
- Optimize financial resources to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the supply chain
- Implement and supervise quality assurance processes to guarantee the safety and efficacy of health products within the supply chain
- Regularly assess and evaluate the performance of the supply chain
- Implement improvements and innovations to continually enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the global health supply chain.
National Pharmacy Manager
Partners in Health (PIH)
Sierra Leone
08.2018 - 07.2022
- Supported initiatives with partners and institutions
- Assisted Clinical Leadership in providing free Non Communicable Disease and Mental Health services to a district hospital and three primary healthcare units in Sierra Leone
- Acted as a liaison between the National HIV, TB, Malaria, and Free Health Care Initiative and Partners in Health for pharmaceutical coordination
- Developed and implemented standard operating procedures for pharmacy and clinical supply chain
- Ensured top-notch quality of locally procured pharmaceuticals
- Supported MOH District and Hospital pharmacists at PIH-supported sites in Kono district, Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, and central Tuberculosis hospitals
- Analyzed prescribing trends to monitor compliance and prevent excessive usage.
- Maintained standards in the supply chain and warehouse settings
- Supervised Open Boxes, the organization’s inventory management tool, ensuring compliance and conducting training for staff
- Pharmacy technical lead for developing the first electronic medical record system (OpenMRS) for primary care in Sierra Leone
- Spearheaded pharmacy initiatives in a primary healthcare program for four Community Health Centers in Kono district
- Key member in quantifying medicines for the bi-annual bulk order of pharmaceuticals and laboratory reagents
- Collaborated with the monitoring and evaluation team to develop an Excel-based consumption tool, enhancing accountability and demand information for subsequent bulk orders.
- Participated in continuing education programs related to pharmacy practices.
- Maintained proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
- Liaised with pharmacist to measure and prepare medication doses and packaging and label prescriptions.
- Monitored supply inventory and promptly submitted replenishment orders to prevent shortages.
- Trained pharmacy interns and newly hired technicians.
- Reviewed prescriptions for accuracy prior to filling to ensure patient safety.
- Mitigated regulatory risks by coordinating audits to comply with protocols.
- Exceeded customer satisfaction by finding creative solutions to problems.
Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services
Ministry of Health
Sierra Leone
04.2016 - 07.2018
- Provided national support and supervision for pharmaceuticals and inventory management at Peripheral Health Units (PHUs)
- Conducted the national quantification of pharmaceuticals for the National Free Health Care Initiative (FHCI)
- Facilitated Logistic Management and Information Systems training for PHU staff, supporting FHCI and the National Malaria Control Program
- Served as a Rational Medicine Use Officer
- Established Drug and Therapeutic Committees in 10 Regional, Referral, and District hospitals to enhance rational medicine use
- Supervised the national distribution of pharmaceuticals from central warehouses to districts and the last mile
- Served as the technical lead for cancer radiopharmaceuticals and other pharmaceuticals in the Sierra Leone Cancer Society.
Sierra Leone Trial to Introduce a Vaccine Against Ebola (STRIVE)
University of sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
03.2015 - 03.2016
- Surveillance of Study Participants
- Supervised study data collection staff, ensuring all data collected met specifications
- Conducted participant home visits to ensure increased study participant retention
- Designed a three-day participant phone call “Bin” strategy to ensure that attempts are exhaustive to reach study participants before they are visited at home.
Connaught Hospital
MOH, Sierra Leone
Freetown, N/A
07.2014 - 03.2015
- Inventory Management
- Clinical supply chain management
- Monthly drug reports
- Rational medicine use
- Cold chain supervision
- Training of pharmacy technicians on quality improvements and infection control and prevention while handling pharmaceuticals
- Training pharmacy technicians on the use and significance of inventory control cards.
Education
Master of Global Health Delivery -
Harvard Medical School
Successful Primaries for fellowship in Clinical Pharmacy -
West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (B. Pharm) -
College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences
Skills
- Overseeing Pharmacy Operations
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Delegating Assignments
- Interpreting Orders
- Verifying Inventory
- Regulatory Compliance
- Controlled Drug Logging
- Documentation Skills
- Patient Education and Counseling
- Process Improvements
- Project Management
- Logistics Management
Email2
igassama@hms.harvard.edu
Personal And Research Skills
- Data Collection
- Data analysis (Excel, Dedoose, and STATA)
- Strong Team player
- PowerPoint presentations
- Organize training activities for data collectors
- Development and administration of informed consent
- Transcribing qualitative data
Professional Development
- 2021-01-01, Clinical management of HIV, University of Washington
- 2019-01-01, Leadership and management in health, University of Washington
- 2017-01-01, Radio-pharmacy specialization certificate, Goce Delcev University, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Republic of Macedonia
Publications
- Admissions and surgery as indicators of hospital functions in Sierra Leone during the West African Ebola outbreak, Bolkan, Hakon A.; van Duinen, Alex ; Samai, Mohammed ; Bash-Taqi, Donald Alpha ; Gassama, Ibrahim ; Waalewijn, Bart; Wibe, Arne; von Schreeb, Johan, BMC health services research, 2018-01-01, 18, 1, 846-846
- Participant Retention in a Randomized Clinical Trial in an Outbreak Setting: Lessons from the Sierra Leone Trial to Introduce a Vaccine Against Ebola (STRIVE), Carter, Rosalind J; Senesi, Reynold G B; Dawson, Peter; Gassama, Ibrahim; Kargbo, S A S ; Petrie, Carey R; Rogers, Mohamed Hashim; Samai, Mohamed; Luman, Elizabeth T, The Journal of infectious diseases, 2018-01-01, 217, suppl_1, S65-S74
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Pharmacist Consultant
Partners in Health
08.2022 - 12.2023
National Pharmacy Manager
Partners in Health (PIH)
08.2018 - 07.2022
Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services
Ministry of Health
04.2016 - 07.2018
Sierra Leone Trial to Introduce a Vaccine Against Ebola (STRIVE)
University of sierra Leone
03.2015 - 03.2016
Connaught Hospital
MOH, Sierra Leone
07.2014 - 03.2015
Master of Global Health Delivery -
Harvard Medical School
Successful Primaries for fellowship in Clinical Pharmacy -
West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (B. Pharm) -
College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences