When Jackie Kitulu walked into a lecture hall to attend her first class as a medical student, a quick scan of the room told her that this was a male dominated profession. But that did not faze her. In 1998, after six years of rigorous training at the University of Nairobi, she graduated with a Bachelors’ Degree in Medicine and Surgery.
Jackie then proceeded to work at Kenyatta National Hospital and Nairobi Hospital. During this time, she made her rotations in different wards and gained as much experience as was needed before setting up her own practice in 2004. This was a leap of faith, but Jackie’s belief in herself did not waver. Family healthcare became the focus of her work in her newly established facility. This was a huge milestone in Jackie’s career, but it was only a cornerstone of the legacy she was building.
Soon after going into business for herself, Jackie decided to sharpen her knowledge by signing up for a Masters’ Degree in Healthcare Management from Strathmore Business School. This equipped her with skills on how to run a healthcare facility successfully and give her patients the best care she could.
In 2006, Dr. Kitulu was nominated as vice treasurer of the Kenya Medical Women’s Association and in 2008, she rose to the rank of the chairperson. This was an opportunity for her to show just how important it is for women to occupy leadership positions. Within no time, she had proven herself and was nominated to represent the healthcare industry on Kenya’s National Economic and Social Council. Unsurprisingly, the council consisted of fourty men and only three women. It was pretty obvious that gender imbalance stretched far beyond the medical profession. Jackie sought to change this and help open up doors for other women to take up leadership positions.
In 2012, during her final year as KMWA chairperson, Jackie was named the Most Outstanding Female Professional in Africa by the Center for Economic and Leadership Development. This recognition served to show just how dedicated she was to her work, and with this, she gained the respect of her colleagues. It was a stepping stone which she used to make it over the next hurdle of her career.
The Kenya Medical Association was founded in 1965. In its fifty years of existence, the organization had never been chaired by a woman, a reflection of the world Jackie worked in. But in 2016, after having been a member of KMA for a few years, Dr. Kitulu vied for the chair position and was voted in, a position which she occupies to date.
From her first day in the medical profession, Jackie Kitulu has been a transformative force, seeking to better the healthcare systems of the nation. Accolade after accolade, she has made her way to the top of a male-dominated field to become a trailblazer. We are excited to share in this journey with Dr. Kitulu, and applaud her for her great work in Kenya’s healthcare system