Upeka Senanayake
Paediatric Oncology
Upeka is a Paediatric Oncology GRID trainee (ST7) at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, with prior clinical experience in the South London and Oxford Deaneries.
She holds an MSc in Molecular Parasitology and a PhD in Molecular Medicine and has worked as a postdoctoral scientist at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), University of Oxford. Her research has been featured in high-impact journals and presented at international conferences.
Upeka is passionate about paediatric oncology and global health, with a strong focus on translating research into clinical practice to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes. Her long-term aim is to advance paediatric oncology research and support global health initiatives that benefit children worldwide.
She is currently establishing a collaborative partnership between paediatric oncology teams in Sri Lanka and Cambridge, aiming to improve cancer care in Sri Lanka through a sustainable, long-term model grounded in mutual learning and shared expertise.
Mallika Maria Fonseca
General Practice
Mallika is an ST3 trainee in General Practice who has had a keen interest in global health since her medical student days. She trained as a doctor in India, where she was involved in grassroots projects at rural rehabilitation centres for malnourished children and health education initiatives focused on menstrual hygiene and sexual health. She also trained in disaster management and infectious disease control in Indonesia. She holds a PG Certificate in Medical Education from the University of Cambridge and is passionate about education and building communities of practice.
Mallika is delighted to be taking on a Global Health Fellowship and looks forward to contributing to a bilateral partnership focused on elderly care and end-of-life care in low- and middle-income countries. She is especially interested in promoting sustainable, community-oriented approaches to healthcare delivery.
Sarah Dyson
Dermatology
Sarah is an ST5 Dermatology registrar training in the East of England. Early in her career she developed a strong interest in global health, completing her medical elective in South Africa and Tanzania. In 2023, she undertook the Gorgas Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Peru, followed by clinical attachments with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in the Philippines.
She has a particular interest in neglected tropical diseases. During her fellowship hopes to collaborate with the Skin Health Africa Research Programme (SHARP) partnership on projects relating to leishmaniasis and leprosy. She is passionate about medical education and hopes to support dermatology teaching for medical students displaced by humanitarian crises.
Sarah is very grateful for the opportunity to network with like-minded people and raise awareness of global skin health.
Miriam O’Kane
Urogynaecology
Originally from Northern Ireland, Miriam attended Edinburgh University Medical School, graduating in 2008. She then undertook a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Liverpool before heading to South Africa, where she worked as the Maternity Doctor in a rural hospital in the Eastern Cape for one year.
After returning from South Africa, Miriam started specialty training in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, working in various hospitals all over Kent, Surrey and Sussex Deanery. Most recently she moved to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where she is two years into a three-year subspecialty training in Urogynaecology.
Miriam is passionate about pelvic floor health and global women’s health, and is very much looking forward to working with Cambridge Global Health Partnerships to raise awareness and advance both these causes locally and internationally.
Christa Nwokar
Midwife
Christa is an experienced registered midwife, currently working as a Delivery Unit Coordinator at The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. With a Master’s degree in Global Public Health, Christa is excited to be part of the CGHP 2026 Fellowship and hopes to further develop her understanding of global partnerships and collaborate with colleagues to support initiatives that improve and promote maternal health globally.
Her professional journey spans community and hospital-based maternity care, international recruitment support, and leadership in workforce development, particularly for internationally educated midwives. She has led initiatives on inclusive orientation and mentorship, and is also a Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Learning Representative.
Passionate about health equity, she has observed and supported maternal care in low-resource settings in Nigeria and is deeply committed to improving outcomes for marginalised women. Her work is rooted in the values of compassion, integrity, and partnership, with a keen interest in strengthening maternity care both in the UK and global contexts.
Find out more about CGHP’s East of England Global Health Fellowships