Professor Akwasi Antwi-Kusi, Dean, the School of Medical Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), says the healthcare landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, demanding that academicians continue to innovate.

He said this had compelled them to embrace cutting-edge technologies, foster inter-disciplinary collaborations and champion equity in healthcare access.

Speaking at the Pre-launch of the 50th Anniversary of the School, Prof. Antwi-Kusi said innovation was the way to go in meeting advanced technologies halfway and reaffirmed the school’s mission to educate, invent and heal.

He encouraged members of the faculty and students to recommit to the values of compassion, integrity and excellence that defined communities.

The 50th anniversary of the KNUST SMS is scheduled to be held in January 2025 to reflect on past events and forge ahead for future innovations and collaborations.

Prof Antwi-Kusi said that as an anniversary project, the school intended to build an ultramodern theatre and office complex at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

A decision to establish the School of Medical Sciences was conceived 50 years ago to train and inspire healthcare leaders in Kumasi to transform the way health was understood and to extend compassionate care to individuals and communities alike.

The School has produced trailblazing graduates, pioneered impactful research and addressed some of the pressing healthcare challenges.

The KNUST SMS has so far graduated 4,000 medical doctors.

Prof Christian Agyare, Provost, College of Health Sciences, KNUST, said medicine was not just a science and technology but it was also about people, their stories, traditions and resilience.

He said there was a connection between healthcare and the diverse communities they served.

Prof Agyare reiterated that the challenges of modern healthcare called for greater collaboration and resilience and the College of Health Sciences was ready to support the School in addressing these challenges through advanced training, community engagement or interdisciplinary research.

The pre-anniversary launch was sponsored by the SMS class of 1993.