attendees pose for a photo

Sold Out AILDD Fundraiser Supports Future of Liver and Digestive Disease Care in Africa

The 2025 “Making a Difference Together” fundraising dinner and celebration brought clinicians, researchers, partners and supporters together in Houston for an inspiring evening dedicated to advancing liver and digestive disease care across Africa. Attendees honored the Africa Institute for Liver and Digestive Disease’s (AILDD’s) life-saving mission and recognized two leaders, R. Mark Ghobrial, M.D., Ph.D., and Eamonn Quigley, M.D., both from Houston Methodist, whose visionary work continues to shape global standards for liver and digestive disease care.

Thanks to the generosity of the attendees, the event surpassed its $100,000 fundraising goal, achieving support that will advance AILDD’s mission in the coming year. These funds will help expand patient care capacity, grow local expertise in advanced endoscopy techniques, strengthen Africa’s research infrastructure, and promote liver and digestive disease awareness, early detection, and prevention.

One of the evening’s most powerful moments came from a local patient who shared her story of survival following a bile duct cancer diagnosis. Through expert care and a liver transplant, she was able to return home to her family, and she hopes AILDD can help make the same level of care possible for the people and communities in Africa, where liver cancer rates are up to ten times higher than in North America and Europe, and the disease often strikes at a younger age.

Image from a hands-on workshop, projected on a screen

What your support makes possible

Expanded treatment. Sustained training. African-led research. Culturally tailored education.

Affirming a shared vision

“Our community came together for more than a dinner,” says Victor Ankoma-Sey, M.D., chairman of the fundraising committee, and co-founder and vice-president of AILDD. “We gathered to affirm a vision that people of African descent deserve to be fully seen, fully studied, and fully served in the fields of liver and digestive diseases.”

For Dr. Ankoma-Sey, the evening was full of both gratitude and a feeling of forward momentum. He was moved to see colleagues and friends rally around a cause that is part of his life’s work. In addition, the sold-out event confirmed that AILDD’s mission was resonating beyond exam rooms and research labs.

“When the vision is clear, people want to invest,” he observed.

Dr. Ankoma-Sey predicts that AILDD’s future growth will be all about scale: expanding programmatic reach, building credibility, and increasing community support. AILDD will develop culturally relevant education and screening outreach, support research that prioritizes the inclusion of African populations, and strengthen partnerships with leading African institutions so communities benefit from the best available care.

Centering African leadership will be a priority in this work—in a way that is corrective, not exclusionary.

“When those who understand the cultural, genetic, and lived realities of African and diaspora populations lead the work, the questions are better, the studies are more inclusive, and the solutions are more sustainable,” says Dr. Ankoma-Sey.

Donor support creates new possibilities

Akosua Agyen-Frimpong, MB ChB, MGCP, MWACP, CELDH’s chief gastroenterologist and Fellow of the West African College of Physicians based in Accra, Ghana, wants donors to know that their support has enabled transformation. It builds more than programs; it generates new possibilities.

“Through AILDD and its Center of Excellence in Liver and Digestive Heath (CELDH), we have been able to help patients receive the quality of care and standard of medical treatment they deserve,” she shared.

Every gift helps create the conditions where innovation can flourish, and lives can be saved.

Thank you — Let's keep the momentum going

AILDD extends its sincere thanks to everyone who attended, donated, and made our annual fundraiser a success. Together, we’re creating sustainable change that will save lives.   

Get involved:

 To learn more, please contact AILDD, visit the AILDD website, or donate using the online donation link.

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Photos from the celebration dinner
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Dr. Mitchell Mah’moud, MD, DTh, FACG, AGAF, FAASLD

Founder and Treasurer, Board of Directors, AILDD
Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University School of Medicine

Mitchell Mah’moud is a Professor of Medicine and a faculty member in the Division of Gastroenterology at Duke University School of Medicine. From 1997 to 2000, he served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and held the positions of Director of Clinical Hepatology and Associate Program Director of the GI Fellowship in the Division of Digestive Diseases at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Prior to that, he was a Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine and an Attending Gastroenterologist at the West Haven VA Medical Center, a teaching affiliate of Yale.

He is a recognized thought leader in the management and translational research of liver diseases, with additional expertise in pancreatic pathobiology. For more than two decades, he has been actively involved in mentoring and training the next generation of physicians around the world. His passion lies in disseminating cutting-edge medical knowledge and technology to the developing world through education and mentorship.

As one of the four founding members of the AILDD and chair of its training committee, he oversees the education of GI fellows and practicing physicians at the CELDH, AILDD’s flagship medical facility. In addition, as a member of the executive team, he plays a key role in strategic decision-making to ensure the institute’s overarching goals are met.

Erika de la Garza

Executive Director

Erika de la Garza serves as Executive Director of the Africa Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases (AILDD) Foundation, where she leads the organization’s efforts to expand access to liver and digestive healthcare, training, and research across Africa. With a background in international policy and nonprofit leadership, Erika brings decades of experience building partnerships that drive impact and sustainability.

She is also a Senior Advisor at Rice University’s Baker Institute Center for the U.S. and Mexico and previously served as Program Director of the Institute’s Latin America Initiative. During her 20-year tenure, she developed and led research programs, organized high-level policy dialogues, and built lasting partnerships across the Americas on issues ranging from democratic governance to regional economic integration. Erika holds master’s degrees from Columbia University in International Affairs and the University of Costa Rica in Foreign Service and Diplomacy.

Her leadership at AILDD reflects her deep commitment to global health equity and to advancing solutions that improve lives in underserved communities.

Amoah Yeboah-Korang, MD, MPH

University of Cincinnati

Lionel A. Kankeu Fonkoua, M.D.

Mayo Clinic

Dr. Lionel A. Kankeu Fonkoua is an Assistant Professor of Oncology and Senior Associate Consultant within the Department of Medical Oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He specializes in the treatment of Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Cancers, with a research focus on the development of novel combinatorial immunotherapeutic strategies. In addition to his clinical and research activities, Dr. Kankeu Fonkoua is also committed to improving equitable access to care for ALL cancer patients, including the underserved and at-risk populations. In his role as Advisory Board Member of the Africa Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases (AILDD) Foundation, he provides strategic advice, guidance, and support to the Board of Directors and staff.

Jecinta Scott, PhD. CCRP

Exact Sciences Corporation, Blaine, MN

Dr. Jecinta Scott is Associate Director Medical Science Liaison at Novartis specializing in Radioligand and radiopharmaceutical cancer therapy. With 17 years of experience in clinical and translational research focused on hematology and oncology, she supports healthcare providers with clinical and scientific information. Dr. Scott holds a PhD in Health Sciences focused on cancer risk factors and a master’s degree in Biology Medical Sciences. As a member of AILDD’s board, Dr. Scott brings both passion and strategic insight to the committees she serves on and leads, helping drive meaningful progress in the organization’s mission.

Akwi W. Asombang, MD, MPH

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Dr. Akwi W. Asombang is an interventional gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Director of Global Health Programs in Gastroenterology at Harvard Medical School. She completed advanced endoscopy training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and fellowships in gastroenterology and global health at Washington University in St. Louis. She holds an MPH from Saint Louis University and an MD from Kasturba Medical College in India.

Dr. Asombang’s clinical interests include endoscopy (ERCP/EUS), gastrointestinal cancers, medical education, and global health. She is the founder of the Pan-African Organization for Health, Education and Research (POHER) and the African Association of Future Gastroenterologists (AAFG), both of which support mentorship, education, and collaboration across Africa’s medical community.

A passionate advocate for equity in healthcare, Dr. Asombang brings deep expertise and global perspective to AILDD’s mission. She plays a key role in strengthening the organization’s training programs and expanding access to specialized care across the continent.

Bubu Banini, MD, PhD

Yale University, New Haven, CT
Dr. Bubu Banini, MD, PhD, received her undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Biology at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, during which she spent time at Oxford University in the United Kingdom on an Honors Study Abroad program. She then received combined MD and PhD degrees from Sidney Kimmel Medical College / Thomas Jefferson University, and subsequently completed Internship, Residency and Chief Residency in Internal Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center and Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital. Thereafter, she completed an NIH-funded Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Subsequently supported by an NIH T32 training grant, Dr. Banini completed Research and Clinical Fellowships in Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), followed by Fellowship in Transplant Hepatology at VCU. Dr. Banini is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases) at the Yale School of Medicine, where she also serves as Translational Research Director of the Metabolic Health and Weight Management Program, and Associate Director of the Clinical and Translational Core of the Yale Liver Center. Her research interests in steatotic liver diseases, liver cancer and population health span the T1 through T4 translational spectrum. Dr. Banini has board certifications in Gastroenterology, Obesity Medicine, and Transplant Hepatology.

Thomas D. Amankonah, MD FACP FAASLD

VA Medical Center, Jackson, MS
Dr. Thomas D. Amankonah is a transplant hepatologist and founding member of AILDD. He completed his medical training in Poland and the U.S., with a hepatology and liver transplant fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Over his career, Dr. Amankonah has played key roles in developing and improving liver transplant programs across several states, including California, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Washington. He was instrumental in establishing the liver transplant program at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle and currently serves as Chief of Hepatology and Director of the GI Endoscopy Lab at the VA Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Known for his compassionate care, leadership, and dedication to liver disease patients, Dr. Amankonah’s research interests include viral hepatitis and liver cancer. He enjoys soccer, photography, and traveling.

Dr. Victor Ankoma-Sey

Founder and Vice President, Board of Directors, AILDD
Director, Liver Transplant Program, Houston Methodist Hospital & Director, Liver Associates of Texas, Houston

Dr. Victor Ankoma-Sey is the Director of the Liver Transplant Program, Houston Methodist Hospital & Director, Liver Associates of Texas in Houston. He is a renowned hepatologist with over three decades of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of complex liver diseases. Dr. Ankoma-Sey has played a leading role in the advancement of liver transplant medicine and has made significant contributions to patient care, education, research, and medical training in hepatology. Throughout his career, he has mentored numerous physicians and has been deeply involved in initiatives aimed at expanding access to liver disease prevention and treatment, particularly in underserved communities.

Dr. Ankoma-Sey is a co-founder of the Africa Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases (AILDD) Foundation and currently serves as Vice President of its Board of Directors. His expertise and passion for improving liver health continue to guide AILDD’s efforts to build sustainable healthcare solutions across Africa.

Dr. Lewis R. Roberts

Founder and President, Board of Directors, AILDD
Peter and Frances Georgeson Professor in Gastroenterology Cancer Research, Mayo Clinic

Dr. Lewis R. Roberts is the Peter and Frances Georgeson Professor in Gastroenterology Cancer Research and a consultant in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. A globally recognized leader in hepatology, Dr. Roberts has dedicated his career to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of liver and digestive diseases, with a special focus on hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and viral hepatitis B. 

As one of the founding members of the Africa Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases (AILDD) Foundation, Dr. Roberts brings decades of clinical and research expertise to advance the organization’s mission. In his role as President of the Board of Directors, he provides strategic guidance and oversight to ensure that AILDD’s programs reflect the highest standards of medical care, research, and capacity building across the African continent.