Dr Joseph Mwizerwa has been appointed Associate Vice Provost, Uganda, effective March 1, 2023.
A scholar in the field of nursing education, Dr Mwizerwa's research agenda aims to expand and advance Uganda's national programme to better serve the educational needs of the current nursing workforce, particularly as this relates to transitioning enrolled nurses into registered nurses.
His research has been published in a number of peer reviewed journals and directly impacted government policy in the profession. Dr Mwizerwa's research in evaluating the implementation of Registered and Enrolled Comprehensive Nurse Training Programs in Uganda, provided the necessary evidence to overhaul national training of registered and enrolled comprehensive nurses.
Since 2011, Dr Mwizerwa has been at the helm of AKU's School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM) in Uganda, first as Academic Head, and more recently, as Associate Dean. He knows first hand the impact of nursing on the country's healthcare system and is committed to influencing Ugandan government policy.
Dr Mwizerwa is a key member of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council, during which he chaired the committee that developed a new countrywide Continuous Professional Development (CPD) framework for the profession, launched in 2016.
For more than two decades, Dr Mwizerwa has been an active champion of nursing education in Uganda. Most recently, he contributed to the 2022-28 Nursing and midwifery strategic plan for Uganda's Nursing Ministry of Health, as well as the nursing and midwifery scope of practice for Uganda, launched in 2022.
A dedicated teacher and mentor, Dr Mwizerwa also aims to integrate analytic and communication technologies to provide learner flexibility and improve engagement, through collaboration with peers using digital platforms.
In 2016, Dr Mwizerwa was awarded the “50th Uganda Independence Medal" by President Yoweri Museveni for more than a decade of outstanding service to the field of nursing and midwifery as Ugandan civilian.
Dr Mwizerwa recently completed his PhD in Nursing (Nursing Education) from University of Salford, UK. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Education (PGDME) from Makerere University, Uganda, and a Master of Nursing Science (MNS) from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.