The Physician behind the Mission
Dr. Bertha Serwa Ayi is more than a clinician; she is a global health strategist, an author, and a bridge between medical science and public understanding. As a board-certified Infectious Disease specialist with an MBA in Health Services Administration, she operates at the intersection of high-level hospital leadership and grassroots community education.
She began her career as the Medical Director of the infectious Disease Program and Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, where she was also the hospital Epidemiologist and chair of the infection Prevention Committees and Medical Director of Employee Health. She did this for many years before transitioning into private practice
From managing complex inpatient consultations in Iowa, North Dakota, Indiana, Maryland and globally to advising the African Task Force on COVID-19 strategies, Dr. Ayi’s career is defined by a singular commitment: ensuring that life-saving medical knowledge reaches the people who need it most, regardless of where they live.
Clinical Expertise & Academic Foundation
Dr. Ayi’s medical journey began at the University of Ghana Medical School, followed by a residency at the Johns Hopkins-affiliated Good Samaritan Hospital of Maryland. She completed her Infectious Disease Fellowship through the combined program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University.
She began her career as the Medical Director of the infectious Disease Program and Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, where she was also the hospital Epidemiologist and chair of the infection Prevention Committees and Medical Director of Employee Health. She did this for many years before transitioning into Private Practice.Today, she shares that expertise as a Senior Lecturer and Adjunct Assistant Professor at institutions across two continents, including the University of North Dakota, the Accra College of Medicine, and the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ghana. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA)
A Leader of Global Health Initiatives
Dr. Ayi has consistently stepped into leadership roles during the world’s most challenging health crises. She served as a critical voice during the Ebola and Zika outbreaks and continues to shape healthcare policy through several key appointments:
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President: University of Ghana Medical School Alumni Association.
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Board Member: Mercy Ships International.
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Past President: Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation of North America (where she quadrupled membership and expanded subspecialty support).
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Medical Director: Leading sepsis and clinical initiatives that have standardized care across regional hospital systems.
Author and Media Educator
Dr. Ayi believes that a doctor’s work shouldn’t end at the hospital doors. She is a prolific author, known for her book "MRSA Killer Bug" and her contributions to the definitive textbook Infections of Leisure.
To combat medical misinformation, she maintains an active YouTube channel and has served as a daily health contributor for major networks like TV3 Ghana and GTV. By discussing complex health issues in multiple languages, she ensures that her community remains informed, empowered, and healthy.
She is also the founder of Akoma Readers, a multilingual literacy and learning system designed to ensure every child can read within 90 days and progress into a full pathway of thinking, exploration, and creation.
She works at the intersection of education, language, and system design, building scalable solutions that align with national education frameworks and can be implemented across Africa.
Akoma is currently developed across multiple Ghanaian languages and is designed for national rollout through partnerships with government, teacher training institutions, and language bodies.
Recognized Excellence
Her dedication has been honored with numerous awards, including the 2023 Alumni Impact Award, the Yaa Asantewaa Woman of Distinction Award, and the Black Excellence Award. She is a proud Fellow of both the Infectious Disease Society of America (FIDSA) and the American College of Physicians (FACP).
