This Page Turners Book Club meeting was an exciting one, as we had the privilege of discussing the memoir with the author herself, Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka!
As Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Gladys has devoted her life to protecting endangered mountain gorillas and other wild animals. Her new memoir chronicles her journey from an animal-loving childhood to her current role as Founder and Executive Director of Conservation Through Public Health (our earliest Global Partner!)
Dr. Gladys shares the challenges she faced in her career along with details of the impacts her research has had on the conservation of these magnificent creatures and their habitats. Through her work, she demonstrates how wildlife, their habitats, and human health are all connected, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to conservation efforts. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of wildlife conservation and the inspiring work being done by Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian!
Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is the Founder and CEO of Conservation Through Public Health, an award-winning NGO that uses a One Health approach to protect endangered mountain gorillas and other wildlife. Early in her career, she established Uganda Wildlife Authority’s first veterinary department. Dr. Gladys’s research with diseases at the human, wildlife, and livestock interface consequently led her to found CTPH in 2003. She evidently expanded her efforts in 2015, by founding Gorilla Conservation Coffee to support farmers living around gorilla habitats.
Dr. Gladys has won numerous awards through CTPH and Gorilla Conservation Coffee. Recognitions include the 2017 President of Uganda’s Golden Jubilee Award and the 2021 UNEP Champions of the Earth Award in Science and Innovation. In addition, she is also an author and sits on several boards, including the WHO SAGO and the International Livestock Research Institute One Health Research, Education and Outreach Centre in Africa. Dr. Gladys is the winner of the 2022 Edinburgh Medal for her work in Planetary Health and the 2022 Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize, and she is a finalist for the 2023 Indianapolis Prize.
Dr. Gladys Kalema in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Dr. Gladys (second from left) with VHCTs (Village Health and Conservation Teams volunteers) living around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Photo by CTPH
Dr. Gladys picking ripe berries during a coffee safari at a farm adjacent to Bwindi.
Photo by Sarah Marshall
Through our Global Partners program, Population Connection supports a growing number of grassroots organizations around the world working to increase access to education, public health and family planning services. Their…
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