Grace Soma, MBChB, MMed, MSc

Dr. Grace Juan Soma is a medical doctor from South Sudan, trained in Kenya where she received her medical degree (MBCHB) and Master of Medicine in Pediatrics and Child Health (MMED) from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Additionally, she holds an MSc. in Tropical Pediatrics from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Liverpool, United Kingdom, and currently resides in the United States.

Dr. Soma has 10+ years cumulative work experience in East Africa (South Sudan and Kenya), providing specialized clinical pediatric care, medical education, training diverse cadres of healthcare workers and in conducting healthcare research with the South Sudan Medical Journal (SSMJ). At SSMJ, she is a peer reviewer, published author and editorial assistant involved in peer review, copy editing and preparation of scientific manuscripts for publication.
Current research interests for Dr. Soma center on pediatric HIV testing because it is the gateway to early HIV diagnosis, treatment, and improved health outcomes for HIV infected children. She seeks to test out innovative and novel strategies to de-stigmatize HIV testing, increase uptake and acceptability, and to make it a routine and universal healthcare intervention for all children and in all healthcare settings.

As one who is keen on capacity building, knowledge transfer and women’s empowerment, especially in the global south, Dr. Soma has co-founded South Sudanese Women In Medicine (SSWIM) and Women In STEM (WiSTEM) South Sudan. Her roles in these institutions include providing organizational leadership, program development, grant writing and project management. Through these initiatives based in South Sudan, she engages medical women to positively shape healthcare, and empowers and inspires women and girls to pursue STEM related courses and careers respectively.