Daniel Carvalho, MD is a pediatrician, public health advocate, and systems innovator from São Tomé and Príncipe dedicated to transforming pediatric care in underserved communities. As Project Manager at Helpo, a nonprofit organization, Carvalho leads initiatives that strengthen local health systems, including the development and implementation of clinical algorithms to improve the diagnosis and management of childhood anemia and malnutrition.
After earning his medical degree in 2017 from the Latin American School of Medicine, Carvalho completed a pediatric internship and went on to manage the pediatric department at São Tomé’s only referral hospital. There, he implemented over a dozen therapeutic protocols, authored clinical guidelines for common pediatric conditions, and spearheaded the creation of an electronic medical records system that restructured pediatric and neonatology services across the facility.
Carvalho’s impact extends to national health policy, where he has contributed to malaria and HIV programs and supported Global Fund initiatives. He also collaborates actively with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, serving on the Executive Committee for the Global Hematology Sickle Cell Disease Registry and co-founding ALUA—the Lusophone Alliance of Specialists for Sickle Cell Disease—to enhance care for children with hemoglobinopathies in Portuguese-speaking countries. His research interests include pediatric hematology, health systems strengthening, and digital health innovation. He recently presented his work on hemoglobinopathy detection at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2024 Congress.
Carvalho joined the Global Child Health Master’s Program to gain the tools to scale evidence-based, locally driven solutions for improving child health outcomes. With a vision rooted in equity, compassion, and innovation, he is committed to shaping policies and systems that ensure every child receives the care they deserve. Beyond healthcare, Carvalho is also an entrepreneur, having founded a tech startup that provides mobility solutions for his community.
Hometown: São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe
Education:
2019 - Medical Internship in The Specialty Of General Pediatry – Hospital Professor Fernando Fonseca
2017 - Doctor of Medicine – Latin American School of Medicine
Publications:
Carvalho D, Ferreira J, Neto, M, Hankins, J. Implementation of a new electronic health record-based algorithm for identifying hemoglobinopathies in Sao Tome and Principe. (2024)