Dr. Elijah Samakayi Katambo
Neurosurgeon | Neuroanatomist | Health Advocate
University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
Dr. Elijah Samakayi Katambo
Qualifications: MBBS, MSc (Neuroanatomy), FCS ZACOMS & COSECSA (Neurosurgery), Neuroendoscopy Fellow
Roles: Neurosurgeon | Neuroanatomist | Health Advocate
Institution: University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
Also: Senior Registrar, Zambia Ministry of Health; formerly Head of Public Health, UTH branch, Resident Doctors Association of Zambia
Professional Background
Dr. Elijah Samakayi Katambo is a Regional Board Certified Neurosurgery Fellow of the College of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) and neuroanatomist practicing at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia — a credential that formalises his expertise across the region and positions him as a leading surgical voice in African neurosurgery.
He earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Shenyang Medical College in China, where he served as International Student Union President and National Student Representative. During that time, he hosted the 2013 neuroscience Nobel laureate of physiology and medicine Thomas C. Südhof and led academic affairs for a diverse international cohort. He later pursued a Master of Science in Human Anatomy with focus in Neuroanatomy at the University of Zambia, and a Neurosurgery Specialization from the Zambia College of Medicine and Surgery. He further refined his skill set with a Pediatric Neuroendoscopy Subspecialty Fellowship in endoscopic third ventriculostomy as well as endoscopic endonasal neurosurgery.
Currently a Senior Registrar with Zambia’s Ministry of Health, and formerly Head of Public Health for the University Teaching Hospital branch of the Resident Doctors Association of Zambia during the fraught inception of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Katambo remains deeply committed to expanding surgical access and advancing training in under-resourced settings. He aspires to cultivate research collaborations that bridge clinical practice and academic inquiry.
A polyglot of Mandarin, English, Lunda, Nyanja, and Bemba with equal fluency, in his quieter hours he is a musician proficient upon both violin and saxophone; a painter; and an endurance athlete who finds in marathon running and mountain climbing a discipline of the will as much as of the body.
He approaches neurology not as a mere science, but as a synthesis — understanding the brain’s intricate anatomy alongside its profound capacity for rhythm, colour, and resilience. His creative pursuits are not mere diversions from his medical calling, but rather its deeper expression: daily in dexterity, keen observation, and attunement to the subtlest rhythms of life.
Neuro-NCD Research Interests
- Minimally invasive neuroendoscopic management in resource-limited settings
- Stroke & Cerebrovascular Disease – Early detection, public awareness, and post-stroke neurorehabilitation
- Neuroimmunological frontiers in stroke and non-postinfectious hydrocephalus
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders – Bridging diagnostic gaps and community-based care models
- Neuro-Oncology – Accessible surgical and adjuvant therapies for pediatric and adult brain tumors
- Global Neurosurgery Workforce Development – Training the next generation of African neurosurgeons through partnerships and research-driven fellowship programs
“To restore not just neural function, but human dignity by making neurosurgical care accessible to every child and adult, regardless of geography or resources. I believe the brain is the seat of identity, and to heal it is to honor the deepest expression of what it means to be human.”
Gallery
Contact
Email: drsamakayimph@gmail.com
Phone: +260 962 423 272
Address: University Teaching Hospital, 10101 Lusaka, Zambia
Facebook: Elijah Samakayi Katambo
TikTok: dresk007
