Gifted healing hands: Meet the nation’s youngest family physician specialist, Dr. Gideon Assan

In a nation rich with talent and potential, it is inspiring to see young individuals excel in their chosen fields. On December 10, 2025, one of Ghana’s brightest young medical minds added yet another laurel to his already rich academic and professional resumé. Dr Gideon Kwame Assan was inducted as a Family Physician Specialist.

He becomes the youngest Family Physician Specialist in the 2025 cohort of Family Physician inductees of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. Before this, he had earlier in October been inducted into the West Africa College of Physicians and Surgeons.

As the African proverb goes, every big tree was once a seed. No one emerges from nowhere into greatness. Similarly, behind Dr. Assan’s achievement is a story of small beginings, of twists and turns, of grit and of hard work.

Born to Francis Kwaku Assan and Gloria Assan of blessed memory – your typical average Ghanaian parents of teachers in a small town called Akrokerri, an adjoining town to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Gideon was fortunate enough to have landed as a gift to a couple who knew the value of education and were prepared to put their children through the best of schools.

He started and completed his basic education at Holy Child Preparatory School in Obuasi. His academic prowess was evident from an early age as he made brilliant grades that took him to Ghana’s premier second cycle institution, Mfantsipim School, for his secondary education.

At Mfantsipim, Gideon was of course a Science student and part of the legion of very studious students that Mfantsipim was made of. Through his hard work and brilliant performances, he got the opportunity to be part of the School’s National Science and Maths Quiz team; a privilege that is reserved for an extremely brilliant few.

Unfortunately in his year, the competition was not organised and so he and his mates in the quiz team did not get the opportunity of being in that annual social media conversation that has characterised the popular quiz competition.

After Mfantsipim, Gideon initially entertained the idea of becoming a Petrochemical Engineer and enrolled in that programme at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. However, like Odewale in Ola Rotimi’s famed novel The Gods Are Not To Blame, destiny and fate took it course with him, taking him from dealing with hydrocarbons to healing patients.

In 2013, at his mother’s gentle persuasion and from his own avid curiosity, he redirected his academic passion toward Medicine at the University of Cape Coast. This pivotal decision has not only shaped his career but also the lives of countless individuals he has touched through his work.

Dr. Assan’s dedication to his craft is reflected in his practising interests and research focus on hypertensive, infectious and chronic diseases. His commitment to understanding and addressing these pressing health issues underscores his desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of his patients and the broader community.

What sets Dr. Assan apart is his innovative approach to public health. He is a health educator and advocate and a digital health enthusiast. These interests stem from his experiences as a doctor.

Since becoming a doctor in Ghana in 2019, he has been practising in Ghana’s peri-urban centres where he has been confronted with the stark realities of Ghana’s healthcare system and its systemic neglect for peculiar issues concerning young people.

Recognising the power of digital tools in disseminating vital health information, he began the Health Quarters Ghana initiative in 2021 targeted at leveraging digital media and viral comic skits as tools to educate the Ghanaian public about key health myths and misconceptions. As a digital health enthusiast, he has been involved in local collaborations in Ghana on the deployment of tech health initiatives.

On the global level, he was one of the 13 participants of the maiden Humans for Digital Health Campaign organised by the Young Experts, Tech 4 Health and funded by the Fondation Botnar group. His award-winning documentary revealed gaps in Ghana’s use of digital technology as tools for enhancing youth inclusion in health and for efficient management of patient data.

Just about 2 months ago, he began a new podcast programme under his Health Quarters project where he sits with known personalities and people who have experienced various health conditions to talk about the myths, misconceptions and facts of these conditions. His passion for leveraging technology to promote public health is a testament to his forward-thinking approach and commitment to reaching a wider audience.

Importantly, Dr. Gideon Assan has remarkable leadership abilities and potential which has reflected both in his academic pursuits and professional life. As a young medic, he has been the acting Medical Director at 3M&C Medical Centre in East Legon, Accra.

He’s the Medical Lead for the Ghana-German Specialist Hospital, a new Specialist Medical facility in Amasaman in Accra. He’s also recently been appointed to the Board of Liberty Medical Health Insurance Limited, a private medical insurance company.

Before being entrusted with these leadership portfolios in the health sector, he had distinguished himself as a student leader first as President of the local Chapter of the University Medical Students Association at the University of Cape Coast (UCC-SMS) and then later the Vice President of Ghana’s Federation of Medical Students’ Association.

In a bid to continuously hone his skills to serve his patients better, Dr. Assan has participated in a number of Continuous Professional Development training programmes in doing a Point of Care Ultrasound training programme organised by the Worldwide Radiology in 2022, University of Salford, UK and a recent Medical Care exhibition in Germany.

He’s a member of several health profesional groups in Ghana where he plays roles at different levels to mobilise new and open conversations about better health systems in Ghana.

Dr. Assan’s story is a shining example of what can be achieved through dedication and passion. As he continues to serve his community with compassion and expertise, we wish him continued success in his endeavours.

His contributions to the medical field and public health are a testament to the potential that lies within our youth. We look forward to seeing the impact he will continue to make in the years to come as a Family Physician Specialist. Congratulations, Dr. Assan!

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