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Dr Karen Forrest

Head of Clinical Services

United Kingdom

I am a Consultant Physician with training in gastroenterology and general internal medicine, and I currently serve as the Head of Clinical Services at MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM. I oversee our clinics in Fajara, Keneba, and Basse, managing a team of up to 110 staff. My role focuses on improving care quality, prioritising patient safety, and supporting a range of research projects. Under my leadership, we have integrated a rural clinic, developed an electronic medical records system, and launched a quality improvement programme. Our department is recognised for its structured training programmes and comprehensive data collection practices. We also work with the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital to offer accredited training posts for Internal Medicine and Family Medicine residents. I completed a Master's in Theology and Intercultural Studies and am currently pursuing a Master’s in Medical Education. My ongoing aim is to improve healthcare and support research in The Gambia.

Affiliations

MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM

Teaching

Karen has completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education from the University of Dundee. She is mainly involved in providing postgraduate training to doctors in The Gambia and to staff in her Department.

Selected Publications

Novel management of pseudomonas biofilm-like structure in a post-pneumonectomy empyema.
Gustafson, AM; Larrain, CM; Friedman, LR; Repkorwich, R; Anidi, IU; FORREST, KM; Fennelly, KP; Carr, SR;
2024
Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance 1990-2021: a systematic analysis with forecasts to 2050.
GBD 2021 Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators,;
2024
Lancet (London, England)
Optimising Clinical Epidemiology in Disease Outbreaks: Analysis of ISARIC-WHO COVID-19 Case Report Form Utilisation
Merson, L; Duque, S; Garcia-Gallo, E; Yeabah, TO; Rylance, J; Diaz, J; Flahault, A;
2024
Epidemiologia
Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital with and without respiratory symptoms.
Citarella, BW; Kartsonaki, C; Ibáñez-Prada, ED; Gonçalves, BP; Baruch, J; Escher, M; Pritchard, MG; Wei, J; Philippy, F; Dagens, A; Hall, M; Lee, J; Kutsogiannis, DJ; Wils, E-J; Fernandes, MA; Tirupakuzhi Vijayaraghavan, BK; Panda, PK; Martin-Loeches, I; Ohshimo, S; Fatoni, AZ; Horby, P; Dunning, J; Rello, J; Merson, L; Rojek, A; ... ISARIC Clinical Characterisation Group,
2024
Heliyon
Streptococcus pyogenes carriage and infection within households in The Gambia: a longitudinal cohort study.
ARMITAGE, EP; De Crombrugghe, G; KEELEY, AJ; Senghore, E; Camara, FE; Jammeh, M; Bittaye, A; Ceesay, H; Ceesay, I; Samateh, B; Manneh, M; KAMPMANN, B; Turner, CE; KUCHARSKI, A; Botteaux, A; Smeesters, PR; DE SILVA, TI; MARKS, M; MRCG StrepA Study Group,;
2024
The Lancet. Microbe
Evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of Determine™ HIV-1/2 rapid test using a 0.01M phosphate-buffered saline produced at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia for the diagnosis of HIV.
Boté-Casamitjana, A; Faye-Joof, T; Bah, O; Jallow, S; Camara, A; Jallow, O; MOHAMMED, N; FORREST, K; Nadjm, B;
2023
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Using an Antibiogram Profile to Improve Infection Control and Rational Antimicrobial Therapy in an Urban Hospital in The Gambia, Strategies and Lessons for Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
DARBOE, S; Mirasol, R; Adejuyigbe, B; Muhammad, AK; NADJM, B; De St Maurice, A; Dogan, TL; Ceesay, B; UMUKORO, S; OKOMO, U; NWAKANMA, D; ROCA, A; Secka, O; FORREST, K; Garner, OB;
2023
Antibiotics
Circulation of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia
JARJU, S; Senghore, E; BROTHERTON, H; Affleck, L; Saidykhan, A; Jallow, S; Krubally, E; Sinjanka, E; Ndene, MN; Bajo, F; Sanyang, MM; Saidy, B; Bah, A; MOHAMMED, NI; FORREST, K; Clarke, E; DALESSANDRO, U; Sesay, AK; Usuf, E; CERAMI, C; Roca, A; KAMPMANN, B; De Silva, TI;
2023
Gates open research
Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infections in The Gambia: an analysis of routinely collected surveillance data between March, 2020, and January, 2022.
KANTEH, A; Jallow, HS; Manneh, J; SANYANG, B; Kujabi, MA; Ndure, SL; JARJU, S; Sey, AP; Damilare K, D; Bah, Y; Sambou, S; Jarju, G; Manjang, B; Jagne, A; Bittaye, SO; Bittaye, M; FORREST, K; Tiruneh, DA; Samateh, AL; Jagne, S; Hué, S; MOHAMMED, N; AMAMBUA-NGWA, A; KAMPMANN, B; D'ALESSANDRO, U; ... SESAY, AK.
2023
The Lancet Global health
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