Dr. Teguo Daniel Djoyum: The first Cameroonian who is reinventing brain health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

[CamerExcellence] – In a landscape where access to neurological care remains a significant challenge, Dr Teguo Daniel Djoyum embodies Cameroonian excellence and community engagement. A neurophysiologist by training who later became a public-health strategist, he became the first Cameroonian to earn a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. An achievement he completed on May 28, 2025.

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is the oldest school of public health in the United States. Located on Harvard University’s Longwood campus in Boston, Massachusetts, the program dates back to 1913, with the founding of the Harvard-MIT School for Health Officers, the nation’s first professional public-health training program. In 1922, it separated from MIT and, in 1946, became an independent, degree-granting school within Harvard University. In 2014, it was renamed in honour of M.T.H. Chan following an unprecedented $350 million unrestricted gift from alumnus Gerald L. Chan (SM ’75, SD ’79), his family, and the Morningside Foundation—funds that support the school’s research, education, financial aid, and strategic priorities.

An exceptional scientific and academic journey

After studying biochemistry at the University of Dshang, Dr Djoyum travelled to Harvard, where he conducted pioneering research on the impact of spirituality in epilepsy care in Accra, Ghana. By advising African and Latin American ministers on public health system innovation and co-founding the Harvard Africa Health Conference, he has helped train a new generation of African public health leaders.

Beyond his Harvard education, Dr Djoyum has spent the past decade building bridges between local communities, health systems, and global institutions to democratize access to diagnostics and treatments for brain disorders.

Concrete achievements at the community level

• Uganda: At the John C. Kelly Mental Health Clinic in Kabale, he introduced the first EEG diagnostic services, trained local technicians, and integrated epilepsy screening into primary care.
• Ghana: Collaborating with spiritual leaders, he developed a culturally integrated model that reduced stigma and improved care for thousands living with epilepsy.
• Ethiopia & Sudan: In refugee camps, he led psychosocial support and mental-health programs for conflict-affected populations, strengthening community resilience.

Innovating for Africa and beyond

To sustain his impact, Dr. Djoyum founded two organisations:

1. Global Organisation of Health Education (GOHE): Active in five African countries and five U.S. states, it raises awareness and trains health workers in diagnosing brain disorders.
2. Purple Point Neurodiagnostics: A start-up developing a low-cost, battery-powered, offline EEG device tailored explicitly to African clinical settings.

A holistic, community-rooted vision

Beyond technology, Dr Djoyum’s strength lies in linking traditional medicine, spiritual practices, and biomedical care. His Harvard doctoral work formalised frameworks for integrating spiritual support into clinical settings, advocating respectful dialogue between ancestral knowledge and modern innovation.

Toward a continental leadership for Cameroon

Proud of his roots, Dr Djoyum is committed to bringing his research back home and to transforming Cameroon into a centre of excellence for brain health. Through advocacy with policymakers, international partnerships, and community mobilisation, he is laying the groundwork for continental leadership in which global expertise and local solutions converge to revolutionise public health.

By reimagining global health “one brain at a time,” Dr Teguo Daniel Djoyum elevates Cameroonian prowess and proves that health innovation happens not only in labs but also in the field, where lives are changed. In Cameroon, alongside a team of dedicated professionals, he plans to expand epilepsy diagnosis, break down stigma, and build a more holistic approach to mental and neurological health.

By Beaugas Orain DJOYUM

​Also read the full interview with Dr Teguo Daniel Djoyum, which explores his background, vision, and projects for Cameroon.

Dr. Teguo Daniel Djoyum: “For epilepsy care, we must open spaces for spiritual dialogue in our hospitals.”