The NSMQ Live Chat is in its fourth gear. It has been a fist-clenching experience so far with Alphonsus Adu-Bredu; the Wonderful Wonder Sarfo-Ansah; and Zuweira Baba Mohammed, the pride of the North. The excitement just got protracted with a rare ‘gemstone’ who has gone through lots of rigorous polishing to attain an infinite erudition in various challenging fields of Medicine. Dr. Abdul-Subulr Yakubu is our next guest on the #NSMQLiveChat on Thursday, 23rd March 2023.
PROFILE OF DR. ABDUL SUBURL YAKUBU
Dr. Abdul-Subulr Yakubu is an erudite NSMQ alumnus and a senior physician specialist, cardiologist, and current head of cardiology at the Tamale Teaching Hospital in Northern Ghana. Dr. Yakubu has over a decade of experience in clinical medicine and is passionate about providing cardiology services to the less privileged in the region. He obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Medical Sciences. Afterward, he completed his residency training in internal medicine and cardiology at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. He is a Fellow of the Ghana College of Physicians and the West African College of Physicians, Division of Cardiology.
Dr. Yakubu left a lasting impact on the NSMQ during the 2004 Quarterfinal Quiz competition between Bolgatanga SHS and Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon. Opposing parties in the NSMQ competition are known for depicting strong rival antics during and even after the competitions. However, Dr. Yakubu was carried on shoulders high by the contestants and students of Presec Legon for his matchless brainiac performance in that Quiz. Although the involvement of the other Bolgatanga contestants could not be overlooked, Dr. Yakubu’s performance was remarkable. The competition almost looked like a one-man-against-three affair. Presec Legon progressed to the Semifinal Stage at the end of that competition with only one mark in a 94-95 showdown. For this performance, he went ahead to win the most outstanding individual performance award in the NSMQ that year. The orgasmic euphoria amidst chants and heartbreak in the auditorium during that competition will forever remain fresh in the minds of all who were present.
Dr. Yakubu’s post-graduate training includes interventional cardiology at the Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute in China, which has allowed him to gain further expertise in percutaneous coronary intervention and pacemaker implantation. He is committed to teaching and mentoring junior doctors and residents, contributing to the National Guidelines for the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases, and conducting medical research. His research focuses on heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular dysfunction, coronary artery disease, and the strengthening of the health system. Dr. Yakubu’s career started in 2011 as a house officer at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where he underwent supervised rotations in internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery. From 2013 to 2016, he worked as a medical officer and supervised house officers while providing inpatient and emergency medical services.
Between 2014 and 2022, Dr. Yakubu became a member of the West African College of Physicians and a fellow of the West African College of Physicians-Cardiology. During his training, he became a senior resident in cardiology at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, providing outpatient, inpatient, and emergency medical services. Dr. Yakubu also supervised house officers, medical officers, and junior residents.
In 2017, Dr. Yakubu became a specialist physician at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and started providing specialist medical and consultancy services. He also initiated and developed electrocardiographic and echocardiographic services in the department. He conducted medical research and provided outreach services to other hospitals in Northern Ghana, including the Upper West Regional Hospital.
Between June and November 2022, Dr. Yakubu worked as a cardiologist at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, where he provided consultancy services to the Clinical Science Department and read electrocardiograms. In the same year, he became the head of cardiology at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where he established the first-ever cardiology unit in Northern Ghana. He provides cardiology consultations in Tamale and other regions in Northern Ghana while supervising medical officers in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Dr. Yakubu’s career achievements also include acting as a part-time lecturer at the University for Development Studies School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he taught clinical skills to medical students, mentored medical students, served as an internal examiner for the medical school, and organized lectures and tutorials/seminars.
At the KNUST School of Medical Sciences graduation ceremony in 2011, Dr. Yakubu swept almost all awards including the best student award in Internal Medicine; Obstetrics and Gynecology; System Pathology; and Otorhinolaryngology. His endless resolve in service and leadership has made him a rare gemstone in Medicine and leadership.
The #NSMQLiveChat is a LIVE virtual conversation featuring some of the most notable names on the NSMQ Stage since its inception. Every fortnight on Thursdays, we spotlight and interact with the myriad of brilliant minds who have made the NSMQ the programme we all love and enjoy.
