Dr. Fouad Sheriff, MD
Founder, Cotton Tree Pharmacy | Physician | Global Health Advocate
Dr. Fouad Sheriff
Founder, Cotton Tree Pharmacy | Physician | Global Health Advocate
Dr. Fouad Sheriff is a Sierra Leonean-American physician based in Maryland, USA, with over two decades of experience in healthcare. He is the founder of Cotton Tree Pharmacy, a trusted pharmacy network in Sierra Leone committed to providing safe, affordable, and authentic medications to communities across the country.
Dr. Sheriff’s journey began in 2007 during a medical mission to Sierra Leone, where he witnessed firsthand the critical gaps in access to quality pharmaceuticals. This experience led to the establishment of the first Cotton Tree Pharmacy in Freetown in 2018. His vision was to create a reliable and sustainable source of medications, sourced from WHO-certified suppliers, for Sierra Leoneans both locally and abroad.
To bridge the healthcare gap for the diaspora, Dr. Sheriff launched an innovative service that enables Sierra Leoneans living overseas to purchase medications online for their loved ones back home. This system ensures that prescriptions are safely filled and ready for pickup or delivery in Sierra Leone.
Under his leadership, Cotton Tree Pharmacy has expanded its presence through strategic partnerships, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) with hospitals in Bo and Kenema, operating 24/7 pharmacies that support hospital patients and the public. Additionally, Dr. Sheriff helped establish a dialysis center in Freetown, providing critical care to patients with end-stage renal disease.
Driven by a deep commitment to improving public health, Dr. Sheriff continues to lead initiatives that strengthen healthcare infrastructure and service delivery in Sierra Leone. His work demonstrates the power of diaspora-driven development and sustainable investment in healthcare systems.
Website
Innovation, Collaboration, and the Power of HealthTech
Why HealthTech Matters Now
Sierra Leone’s healthcare system still faces critical shortages, from limited access to medicines to overburdened clinics and undertrained staff. Dr. Fouad Sheriff, a U.S.-based physician and founder of Cotton Tree Pharmacy, has seen these challenges firsthand. His work addresses the urgent need for safe, affordable medications and illustrates why innovation must begin with real-world gaps in care.
A Doctor’s Vision Made Real
Dr. Sheriff’s pharmacy model is more than a business; it’s a healthcare lifeline. Through technology, he’s enabled Sierra Leoneans abroad to purchase medications for loved ones back home and partnered with hospitals to operate 24/7 pharmacies. This session will explore how similar tech-driven solutions, like telemedicine, AI tools, and mobile health platforms, are already improving access and outcomes.
Change Through Collaboration
HealthTech’s success in Sierra Leone depends on teamwork. Dr. Sheriff’s partnerships with public hospitals show how collaboration can have a scale impact. In this roundtable, he and fellow panelists will share insights on how public-private partnerships, investment in local talent, and smart regulation can help build a healthcare system that truly serves the people.