Dr. Catena, an American physician, joined the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative as its inaugural Chair in December 2018. He is also the founder and Medical Director of the Mother of Mercy Hospital in Sudan where for the past decade he has served as the only surgeon permanently based in the war-ravaged Nuba Mountains region.
“As part of the Aurora community of humanitarians, it is a great honor to attend the World Health Summit and speak about issues so close to our hearts and essential to Aurora’s mission. The World Health Summit brings together people who are keen on finding efficient solutions and eliminating obstacles so that no man, woman or child is ever left behind,” said. Dr. Catena. “In Nuba, I’ve witnessed the power of that philosophy with my own eyes.”
Dr. Catena will speak at a keynote session titled “Transforming Human Capital: Investing in Health and Education,” along with representatives from KPMG, the World Bank and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Dr. Catena will also join the former German Minister of Health, Hermann Gröhe, and Siemens Healthineers CEO, Dr. Bernd Montag, at a side event titled “Breaking the Silos – Improving Global Health through Collaborative Action.”
Attracting 2,500 high-level participants from 100 countries, the World Health Summit has become one of the preeminent annual forums for opinion leaders from politics, academia, civil society and the healthcare industry to discuss joint opportunities and responsibilities in improving global health.
Dr. Catena’s participation at the World Healthcare Summit is part of a broader agenda of speaking engagements spanning Europe, North America and Africa. In Europe, Dr. Catena will be participating at the inaugural Aurora Forum and the 2019 Aurora Prize Ceremony to take place in Yerevan, Armenia in October. In November, he will attend the Paris Peace Forum, among other events.
Dr. Catena’s speaking commitments in Africa include the AidEx Nairobi Conference, a high-profile event focused on aid and development within Africa, and his participation in the 25th anniversary of Maison Shalom, an organization founded by 2016 Aurora Prize Laureate Marguerite Barankitse that works with orphans and victims of violence.
In the United States, Dr. Catena will give lectures at the Columbia University and Duke University and participate in the Annual Conference for the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) in Nashville, Tennessee.
