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Professor Ahmed Hassan Fahal
MBBS, FRCS, FRCSI, FRCS(Gla), MD, MS, FRCP (London), FRCPath
Professor of Surgery, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
Professor Fahal received his medical training at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. He subsequently pursued postgraduate surgical training in Khartoum and London, culminating in his appointment as a consultant surgeon at Soba University Hospital and a professorship in Surgery at the University of Khartoum. He is a distinguished general surgeon with a specialised focus and extensive experience in mycetoma and tropical surgery.
Throughout his career, Professor Fahal has held several leadership roles, including Director of the Educational Development Centre for Medical & Health Professionals at the University of Khartoum, Founding Director of the Self-Evaluation and Quality Enhancement Administration, and Academic Secretary of the University of Khartoum.
He has also served as President of the Scientific Research and Innovation Agency at the Sudanese Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research and as an advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Sudan. He was the Vice-President of the Arab Scientific Research Councils Federation.
Prof. Fahal is the founding Director of the Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC) at the University of Khartoum. From inception, he mobilised personal contacts and resources to establish this centre, which has grown into a global leader and authority on mycetoma management and research. The MRC is the only WHO Collaborating Centre on Mycetoma.
A prolific researcher, Professor Fahal has published over 319 peer-reviewed articles and authored a book on mycetoma, alongside numerous textbook chapters, clinical guidelines, and educational materials. His work has become a global reference in the field. As of July 2025, his scholarly impact includes 12,843 citations, an h-index of 59, and an i10-index of 213, ranking him among the top 2% of scientists worldwide with high citation impact (Google Scholar).
He collaborates with over 23 international research institutions and established the EL Hassan Centre for NTDs Clinical Trials, the first of its kind in Sudan. Despite resource constraints, he has leveraged personal influence to secure millions of dollars in funding for research and academic initiatives.
Professor Fahal’s expertise in research and publication has led him to serve as a referee for 17 scientific journals and as an editorial board member. He is the Academic Editor of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
He is an active member of numerous national, regional, and international scientific societies and participates in various academic committees related to curriculum development, research ethics, and accreditation.
In medical education, he is deeply involved in teaching, organising workshops, training courses, and conferences, often collaborating with the WHO on training health professionals. His interests include e-learning, medical informatics, and innovative teaching methods. He serves as a temporary WHO Consultant for the development of medical education in the region.
Prof. Fahal is committed to research, training, and education, supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students, and serving as an external examiner for numerous medical schools and Royal Colleges of Surgeons.
His leadership has yielded significant achievements, notably his role in securing WHO recognition of mycetoma as a Neglected Tropical Disease in 2016 (Resolution no. 69:21). He currently serves on the WHO/NTD Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group (DTAG), the Skin NTDs subgroup in Geneva, and the NTDs Advisory Board at EMRO.
Currently, his team at the MRC is conducting pioneering research, including the first double-blind clinical trial for a new mycetoma treatment and the first field-friendly diagnostic test for mycetoma.
He established three satellite centres in endemic villages in Sudan, providing free local treatment, health education, and community support, with over 1,000 patients surgically treated.
Additionally, he founded the Mycetoma Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Centre (SAA’ID), which supports amputees and individuals with disabilities in acquiring income-generating skills and rebuilding their lives.
Prof. Fahal has also fostered community engagement by forming a support group comprising artists, entertainers, and journalists, which actively promotes awareness and advocacy for mycetoma.
His numerous awards include the Sudanese Golden Medal for Excellence, the University of Khartoum Award for Scientific Research, the Donald Mackay Medal from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Knighthood of Palmes Académiques (France), Knighthood of Merit (Italy), and fellowship of the Third World Academy of Science, among others.
He was also honoured with fellowships from the Royal College of Physicians, London, and recently from the Royal College of Pathologists, London, recognising his outstanding contributions to scientific research.