Biography
Michael Petrus is a final-year medical student at the University of Namibia, pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) with a keen interest in improving access to timely, safe, and quality surgical care.
He founded the Namibian Student Surgical Society and serves on the Executive Committee of the International Association of Student Surgical Societies, where he focuses on equipping African medical students with the skills and knowledge needed to address surgical challenges in their communities. His current research centres on enhancing the quality of diabetic care in rural Namibia, proposing strategic healthcare delivery improvements. Michael has also contributed to discussions on critical healthcare challenges in Namibia, including universal health coverage and food insecurity.
Michael was selected as one of 25 international delegates for the Future Surgeon Delegation at the World Congress of Surgery in Malaysia, an experience that further deepened his commitment to improving surgical systems in low-resource settings.
As Junior Mayor of Windhoek, Michael led impactful community initiatives, including HIV PrEP awareness campaigns targeting youth and a city-wide clean-up effort to combat a Hepatitis E outbreak. He also represented Namibia internationally in debate, captaining the national team.
Beyond medicine, Michael is a professional photographer, using photography as a storytelling tool. He has worked as a freelance photographer for Agence France-Presse.
At Oxford University, Michael plans to pursue an MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine, with the goal of driving policy reforms, financing surgical systems, research, and healthcare innovation to improve access to surgical care across Africa.