Drs. Ali N’Simbo and Lucy Doyle, both medical doctors, founded WA-Kongo 1st Mile Health to address problems in access to high quality health care services using a novel approach. They met each other and fell in love while working together during a cholera outbreak in an isolated area of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. After a flight from the capital and two days walking through the forest, they shared the experience of an arduous last mile to reach the epicenter of the outbreak. After further experiences in health care and the humanitarian aid sector, and after Ali found in his Master’s research that nearly half of the doctors in DRC are unemployed, they decided to act on their dream of improving health for people in DRC, with a first mile approach. Nearly nine years after meeting, they returned to Bukavu, DRC, with their three children, to embark on the work of WA-Kongo 1st Mile Health.

DR. ALI N’SIMBO was born and raised in Eastern DRC. He dreamed of being a physician since his childhood after seeing so many in his community die of illnesses that could be prevented. He earned his medical degree at the University of Kisangani and Master’s in Public Health at the University of Washington. He has worked as a physician for the Ministry of Health in DRC and for several international humanitarian organizations both in DRC and abroad. He was the first Black person and the first African to be elected to the Board of Directors of Doctors Without Borders USA. He has survived 18 years of war and is passionate about improving the quality of health services and public health of people in complex humanitarian emergencies worldwide.

DR. LUCY DOYLE was born and raised in Hong Kong and New York, and lived much of her life abroad. She studied international affairs at Georgetown University and later decided to pursue a career in medicine. She graduated from Weill Cornell Medical College, and specialized in internal medicine at New York University. She worked in Kenya and DRC with Doctors Without Borders, and is currently working part-time as a hospitalist at a community hospital outside of Seattle. Her experience working in DRC and hearing Ali’s experiences have opened her eyes and she is committed to supporting the work of the community on the ground in DRC.