Marx Lwabanya, MD

Physician

Dr. Marx Itabelo Lwabanya is the Medical Director at Nundu Deaconess Hospital and the Executive Director & Co-founder of JALI AFYA, a nonprofit dedicated to improving healthcare in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Driven by a passion for empowering healthcare workers, Dr. Lwabanya focuses on integrating mental health and trauma-informed care to ensure holistic treatment for patients. His work centers on enhancing maternal and newborn health in resource-limited settings. His experience serving impoverished communities in Nundu, a post-conflict region, deepened his commitment to a comprehensive approach to maternal health—one that addresses both physical and mental well-being.

Previously, Dr. Lwabanya served as an Assistant Dean at Hope Africa University in Burundi. He holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Leadership from Brown University and a Bachelor of Medicine from Université Officielle de Bukavu, DRC. He recently completed fellowships in Managing Innovation for Sustainable Health—offered by the Karolinska Institute in collaboration with the School of Public Health Kinshasa, Makerere, and Benadir University—as well as in Health Equity at George Washington University.