By Ajong Mbapndah L
A decade after a tragedy in Cameroon galvanized a group of diaspora physicians into action, the Association of Cameroonian Physicians in the Americas (ACPA) is moving decisively to institutionalize its work, unveiling a leadership endowment and setting out a reform agenda aimed at scaling its impact across borders.
Delivering the keynote address at the group’s 10th annual meeting, Denis A. Foretia framed the moment as a strategic inflection point—one that requires transitioning from an organization built on urgency and shared emotion into one anchored in systems, funding and long-term influence.
At the center of that transition is the newly announced Dr. MAL Fobi Leadership and Excellence Endowment, a fund expected to reach up to $1 million and designed to finance mentorship, scholarships and professional development programs in perpetuity. The initiative signals a deliberate shift toward sustainability, positioning ACPA to operate with continuity beyond the founding generation.
For an organization that began as an improvised response to a crisis, the emphasis on permanence marks a defining evolution.
ACPA’s origins remain rooted in a moment that continues to shape its mission. In March 2016, Monique Koumatekel, a pregnant woman at term, died outside a public hospital in Douala after failing to receive care. The incident, widely circulated across social media, triggered outrage across Cameroon and among its diaspora, exposing systemic failures in access, accountability and emergency response.
For Foretia, who watched the images from the United States, the episode became a turning point. It forced a reckoning not only with the fragility of healthcare systems back home, but with the responsibilities of highly trained professionals living abroad.
Within hours of that realization, conversations began. Within days, outreach expanded. Within months, a core group of Cameroonian physicians across the United States and Canada coalesced around a shared idea: that diaspora expertise could be organized into something more structured, more responsive and more enduring.
By November 2016, that idea had taken shape in Atlanta, where dozens of physicians gathered to formally establish ACPA.
Ten years later, the organization has grown into a professional network that supports Cameroonian doctors navigating the complexities of practicing in North America while maintaining a connection to healthcare needs in Cameroon. Its core activities—mentorship, professional integration and peer support—have helped ease the transition for internationally trained physicians entering a highly competitive and unfamiliar system.
Yet as Foretia made clear in his keynote, the first decade was only the beginning.
“What we have proven is that we can create,” he said, emphasizing that the next phase must demonstrate the ability to sustain and scale.
The creation of an endowment named after MAL Fobi is central to that ambition. Fobi, a globally recognized surgeon whose work in bariatric procedures has influenced operating rooms worldwide, has been a consistent supporter of ACPA since its inception. His role has extended beyond symbolic endorsement, encompassing mentorship, financial backing and strategic guidance.
The endowment established in his name is designed to generate recurring funding, reducing reliance on periodic contributions and enabling the organization to plan and execute programs with greater certainty. For ACPA’s leadership, the fund represents not just a tribute, but a structural solution to one of the most persistent challenges facing diaspora organizations: sustainability.
Foretia framed the move as essential to ensuring that ACPA remains functional and relevant over the long term, capable of supporting future generations of physicians regardless of changes in leadership or external conditions.
Beyond the endowment, the keynote laid out a broader set of recommendations that collectively define ACPA’s roadmap for the next decade.
A central priority is the development of operational infrastructure. While the organization has demonstrated its ability to mobilize and inspire, Foretia stressed the need for stronger governance systems, transparent financial management and consistent program execution. Without these elements, he warned, even well-intentioned organizations risk stagnation or collapse.
The message reflects a broader pattern observed across many professional associations, particularly those with roots in diaspora communities, where enthusiasm often outpaces institutional capacity.
At the same time, Foretia called for a shift in posture—from cautious engagement to assertive participation in health policy discussions affecting Cameroon. He argued that Cameroonian physicians in the diaspora possess the training, experience and global perspective necessary to contribute meaningfully to national and international health conversations.
“We belong in every conversation that affects the health and wellbeing of Cameroonians,” he said, urging members to move beyond hesitation and actively shape outcomes.
Growth, too, is being approached with a focus on scalability. Rather than relying solely on organic expansion, ACPA is encouraging a deliberate recruitment strategy in which each member brings in at least one additional physician. The approach, while simple, has the potential to rapidly expand the organization’s reach and deepen its influence within the global Cameroonian medical community.
Equally important is continued investment in talent pipelines. Many Cameroonian doctors arriving in the United States face significant barriers, including licensing requirements, unfamiliar institutional structures and limited access to professional networks. ACPA has positioned itself as a bridge, providing mentorship, guidance and connections that can accelerate integration.
Stories such as that of Noella Tamufor illustrate how these interventions translate into outcomes. After navigating the complexities of transitioning into the U.S. medical system with support from ACPA, she now practices as a hospitalist physician—one of many examples that underscore the organization’s impact at the individual level.
While such stories highlight tangible success, ACPA’s leadership is increasingly focused on expanding its influence beyond individual careers.
By consolidating expertise across borders, the organization is positioning itself as a potential contributor to addressing systemic healthcare challenges in Cameroon. These include workforce shortages, gaps in training, uneven access to care and broader institutional inefficiencies that continue to shape health outcomes.
Though direct engagement remains limited, the direction outlined in Foretia’s keynote suggests a more structured role in the future—one that could involve partnerships with institutions, support for training initiatives and participation in policy formulation.
That ambition aligns with a broader shift in how diaspora communities are viewed in development frameworks. Increasingly, they are recognized not just as sources of remittances, but as reservoirs of knowledge, skills and networks that can be mobilized to address complex challenges.
For ACPA, the opportunity lies in translating its cohesion as a professional community into measurable system-level impact. The challenge, however, will be execution.
As the organization moves into its second decade, the expectations it has set for itself are significantly higher than those of its founding years. Establishing an endowment provides a financial foundation. Articulating a reform agenda provides strategic direction. Delivering on both will determine whether ACPA can achieve the scale and permanence it now seeks.
Foretia closed his keynote by returning to the event that sparked the organization’s creation, framing it as both a moral anchor and an ongoing obligation.
Monique Koumatekel’s death, he said, was not inevitable. Preventing similar failures, ensuring that healthcare systems respond with dignity and urgency, and supporting the professionals who operate within them remain central to ACPA’s mission.
In that sense, the organization’s evolution—from a response to tragedy into a structured institution—reflects a broader narrative about the power of collective action. Ten years ago, ACPA was an idea driven by grief and frustration. Today, it is a growing institution with the potential to influence both individual trajectories and systemic outcomes.
Great speech and commitment. I am proud of the work being done.