INTERVIEWER: Thank you for having me.
DR. DEBORAH KIOY: Thank you.
INTERVIEWER: I’m a student of engineering, and I also do media production. Welcome to your interview. Before we start, are you okay with us recording this video for educational and documentary purposes?
DR. KIOY: I’m happy with it. I don’t mind. It’s good content.
INTERVIEWER: Thank you. Could you kindly introduce yourself? Who are you, and what did you study?
DR. KIOY: My name is Dr. Deborah Kioy, a pharmacist, researcher, trainer, promoter of product development, regulator, and quality assurance expert. I have also worked in stewardship, mapping disease and research needs.
INTERVIEWER: Where did you do your undergraduate studies?
DR. KIOY: At the University of Nairobi. I was in the first class, graduating in 1978.
INTERVIEWER: The one commissioned by the president?
DR. KIOY: Yes. It was a very interesting class. Being a pioneer meant we weren’t following existing norms. We gave it our best. We were like a homeless group of students, but we did our best and moved far with the training we got. We had very good trainers.
INTERVIEWER: Do you have vivid memories from that period?
DR. KIOY: Yes. It was fun and challenging. We were like homeless students because we didn’t have dedicated classrooms for the first two years. We moved between different departments—medical, ABC, veterinary—being taught by various lecturers. But we adapted and excelled.
INTERVIEWER: After graduation, which pharmacy sectors did you work in?
DR. KIOY: I worked in many areas. During internship, I worked in a retail pharmacy, then at Glaxo (industry), then in Kenyatta Hospital. Later I was posted to the Ministry of Health to be deputy pharmacist and handle drug registration. Drug registration didn’t exist at that time, so I helped pioneer it. In 1981, the rules and guidelines were published, and registration started in 1982
INTERVIEWER: That’s a great contribution. What happened next?
DR. KIOY: I was posted to Kenyatta Hospital briefly, then joined the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) at the Traditional Medicines and Drugs center. We interviewed traditional doctors, studied preparation methods, and tried to apply scientific methods. I later earned a PhD focusing on a plant called Warburgia ugandensis and proved its activity against protozoa. This sparked my interest in product development.
INTERVIEWER: How did your international career develop?
DR. KIOY: After my PhD, I joined the University of Nairobi as a senior lecturer. Later, I joined WHO in Geneva as a preclinical coordinator under the Tropical Diseases Research (TDR) program. I developed global training documents like Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and trained scientists across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. We promoted standards and helped developing countries move from discovery to clinical trials.
INTERVIEWER: What impact did this work have?
DR. KIOY: It had global impact. We trained trainers in every continent. Initially, we developed the material for developing countries, but requests came from everywhere, including the US. WHO made the documents freely available. We also published technical reports outlining disease mapping, gaps, and research priorities—resources that are still used today.
INTERVIEWER: What roles or positions of influence have you held?
DR. KIOY: I’ve had impactful roles in regulation—especially starting drug registration in Kenya. My work in quality practices and nonclinical development influenced many countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. We created a self-sustaining system of trainers and developed international standards that others adopted.
INTERVIEWER: What advice would you give pharmacy undergraduates, especially those looking abroad?
DR. KIOY: Pharmacy is a rigorous and versatile training. A pharmacist can work anywhere. I didn’t always know what the roles entailed, like drug registration or preclinical development, but I stepped in and succeeded. My advice is: be open-minded, take on challenges, and be confident. There are many opportunities—don’t limit yourself.
INTERVIEWER: Has your training prepared you well for your roles?
DR. KIOY: Yes, though I trained 50 years ago, the basics were solid. Of course, one must keep up with developments, but the foundation was excellent.
INTERVIEWER: How did technology impact pharmacy training?
DR. KIOY: Previously, we relied on libraries. Now with the internet, it’s easier to access information, research, and global knowledge. It opens more areas to explore and makes learning more efficient.
INTERVIEWER: How has your training and practice impacted society?
DR. KIOY: Pharmacy training makes one a well-rounded person. I’ve helped establish regulated drug registration, supported research on traditional medicine, created quality practices for biomedical research, and identified research gaps. My work contributed to better healthcare and scientific rigor.
INTERVIEWER: What are your national, regional, and international contributions?
DR. KIOY: Nationally, I worked in the Ministry of Health, KEMRI, and the University of Nairobi. Regionally, I collaborated with other African countries. Internationally, through WHO, I trained and coordinated trials globally and produced standards and technical reports used by researchers worldwide.
INTERVIEWER: What would you like to be remembered for?
DR. KIOY: Three things: initiating drug registration in Kenya, promoting quality practices in product development, and stewardship in mapping research needs.
INTERVIEWER: What’s your vision for pharmacy in the next 50 years?
DR. KIOY: I envision pharmacists involved in product development using local resources. I want to see us producing remedies from our indigenous knowledge. Pharmacists should support public health through food, herbal medicines, and well-being. Our traditional remedies must be properly researched and developed into mainstream healthcare.
INTERVIEWER: Lastly, any message to the pharmacy fraternity?
DR. KIOY: Congratulations to all pharmacists. You’ve done well. But let’s keep improving. I want to see pharmacists in control of all remedies—conventional or traditional—and contributing to overall well-being. And kudos to the team organizing Pharmacy@50. It’s important to reflect on our past as we plan our future.
