Center for
Global Health

Scholar

Languages: English (native), Swahili (novice)

BIO STATEMENT

Stephen Avery, PhD, FAAPM is Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania and co-Director of the Global Health Catalyst Summit. A medical physicist specializing in proton therapy, his clinical work focuses on commissioning new treatment modalities, developing advanced planning techniques, machine and patient quality assurance, and innovating detection methods to improve treatment safety and effectiveness.

Dr. Avery’s research and global health interests center on building medical physics and radiation oncology capacity in low-resource settings. Since 2013, he has collaborated with colleagues at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to strengthen radiation therapy quality assurance programs. His broader vision is to establish a USA–Africa Radiation Oncology Core (ROC), a collaborative hub for research, education, and training in radiation oncology, with a focus on increasing patient safety and building sustainable research and education capacity across Africa.

As co-Director of the Global Health Catalyst Summit, Dr. Avery leads efforts to catalyze international collaborations to curb the global cancer burden and reduce disparities. The summit brings together leaders from across the world—including WHO officials, policymakers, ministries of health, industry, and academic partners—to establish cancer centers, expand telehealth, conduct multi-country clinical trials, and strengthen healthcare systems. Outcomes of this initiative include the Lancet Oncology Commission for sub-Saharan Africa and new U.S.–Africa collaborations announced during the 2022 U.S.–Africa Leaders’ Summit to reduce the cancer burden in Africa.

Beyond his research and leadership roles, Dr. Avery is deeply committed to mentorship and representation. As the first Black full professor in Penn’s Department of Radiation Oncology, he actively inspires and supports the next generation of medical physicists. His work exemplifies the integration of innovation, education, and global collaboration to advance equitable cancer care worldwide.

Recent Global health projects

 I am working to establish a Center of Excellence in medical physics education/research in East Africa by developing a MSc degree program in medical physics at MUHAS, partnering with Ocean Road Cancer Institute to test automated planning tools for radiation therapy and develop information and communication technology (ICT) to provide imaging and radiation oncology quality assurance services. With pilot funds from Penn Global GEF, we were able to offer a course on quality assurance in radiation therapy. 

Global Health Catalyst Summit (UPenn) May 4-6 2023 (Co-Director)
Finalist Penn Global GEF grant 2024 (PI) - Global Medical Physics Program in Ghana

Selected publications

Dako F, Moraes FY, Doo F, Abed M, Anazodo U, Patrick L, Favorito FM, Fouad E, Alabi A, Avery S, Scott A, Ngwa W, Hricak H. Digital health and artificial intelligence innovations for oncology in sub-Saharan Africa. Lancet Oncol. 2025;26(10):e547–57. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00360-2

Tendwa MB. From farm to bedside: the potential of Cannabis in global health. Global Public Health. 2025; (article S0965229925000809) doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103205

Elizabeth Olatunji, William Swanson, Saloni Patel, Samuel Olaolu Adeneye, Funmilayo Aina-Tofolari, Stephen Avery, et al., “Challenges and Opportunities for
Implementing Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Africa: Lessons from the HypoAfrica Clinical Trial,” ecancer 17:1508 2023 DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3332/ecancer.2023.1508

Kenton O, Dachi J, Metz J, Avery S.Developing solutions to critical Radiation Oncology challenges in Tanzania. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics 93(5): 961-962, December 2015.

Ngwa W, Ngoma T, Zietman A, Mayr N, Elzawawy A, Winningham TA, Balogun O, Enwerem-Bromson N, Ntizimira C, Olopade OI, Oluwole D, Odedina F, Williams M, Flanigan J, Asana L, Ngwa K, Avery S, Pollard JM, Roland T, Funwi-gabga N, Mbarika V, Hardenbergh P, Winkfield K, Pipman Y, Stefan C, Ngoma M, Mohammed S, Katz M, Erno S, Moni J, Fitzgerald T, Tonlaar N, Efstathiou J, Gierga D, Ayo C, Knaul F, Gospodarowicz M, Makrigiorgos GM, Nguyen PL. Closing the Cancer Divide through Ubuntu: Information and Communication Technology powered models for global radiation oncology. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics 94(3): 440-449, March 2016.

Last Updated: 06 October 2025