Dr. Ampadu is a pharmacoepidemiologist (Research Scientist), Regulatory and Policy Expert, Data Scientist, Project Manager, Lecturer, Podcaster, and a Youth Coach.
She was born at the Kwahu Tafo Government Hospital to Charles Ampadu and Mary Ampadu, both of Kwahu Nteso in the Eastern Region of Ghana. She has 3 siblings and two children.
She attended Harrow International School from Kindergarten through Junior High School and had her Secondary School education at Wesley Girls’ High School, Cape Coast, where graduated in 1995. Dr. Ampadu progressed to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1997 to pursue a BSc in Biological Sciences and later moved to the United States in 2001, where she graduated with an MSc in Project Management from Boston University in 2011. She had her PhD in Pharmaceutical Policy & Regulation at the Utrecht University in the Netherlands, graduating in 2018.
In 2002, she started as a Clinical Data Manager (Consultant) for GSK’s Diabetes Clinical Trials at Parexel International in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. She continued to hold other positions such as Clinical Data Manager for Addiction (Opioid Dependence and Alcohol Dependence) at Alkermes from 2003 to 2005 and proceeded to Cardiovascular Interventions (Coronary Stents) at Boston Scientific Corporation from 2005 to 2007.
For a year, she served as a Senior Clinical Data Manager (Consultant) for Oncology (Bone Sarcomas) Clinical Trials at ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and continued to the Premier Research Group, where she was Senior Data Manager for Johnson & Johnson Medical’s orthopaedics (spine) clinical trials between June 2008 and May 2009.
She further served as a Senior Project Data Manager between 2009 and 2011 in Epidemiological Studies (Health/Bone Surveys) at the New England Research Institutes, Inc. Her career followed a similar trajectory after her graduate programme in Project Management, as she was Project Manager (Data Management) for Cardiovascular Interventions (Coronary Stents) Clinical Trials at Abbott Vascular and Project Data Manager (Consultant) for Oncology (Leukemia) Clinical Trials at Infinity Pharmaceuticals for six months each, from January to December 2011.
Dr. Ampadu worked as a Deputy Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Advocacy & Training in Pharmacovigilance (WHO-CC) – Ghana Office, where she was involved in the development of Medicine Regulation and Pharmacovigilance policies for some thirty-six (36) countries across Africa.
She also worked as an Institutional Advisor at the National Reform Secretariat of Ghana’s Ministry of Education in 2019 until she was appointed by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Former President of the Republic of Ghana, to head the National Inspectorate Board, under Ghana’s Ministry of Education, becoming the Regulator of all Pre-tertiary Schools in Ghana. She served as the Inspector General of Schools (IGS) of NaSIA from 2019 to 2024, during which time she achieved numerous milestones such as facilitating the development of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), securing the enlistment of NaSIA in the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080), and overseeing the transition to digitalised inspections through the development of the School Licensing and Inspection Management System (SLIMS). Under Part 4 of Act 1023, the National Inspectorate Board was renamed to National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA), which instituted a new title Inspector-General of Schools. The National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA) licenses and inspects all public and private pre-tertiary schools in Ghana.
Dr. Ampadu also works as a part-time Lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy Practice at her alma mater, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.
She further uses social media platforms to mentor and inspire young people. Through engaging video and written content, she provides guidance on personal development, education, career growth, and life skills. Her work as a mentor empowers the youth by sharing insights, motivation, and practical advice to help them navigate challenges and make informed decisions.
In addition to her social media presence, Dr. Ampadu shares her early career experiences and leadership journey through her podcast series, The Dr Hilda Podcast. By opening up about the personal and professional experiences that have shaped her into the woman she is today, she offers valuable lessons on resilience, growth, and success, inspiring young professionals to pursue their goals with confidence.
To inspire meaningful conversations that challenge norms, elevate voices, and empower individuals to live informed, intentional lives. Through her podcast, public speaking, and leadership, Dr. Hilda creates platforms for:
Dr. Hilda is a catalyst for change, using her voice to bridge the gap between knowledge and action, research and real-life experience. Her work is grounded in the belief that when people are informed, they are empowered—and when they are empowered, they act.
Dr. Hilda is a catalyst for change. She uses her voice to bridge knowledge and action, research and real life. Her work is built on the understanding that when people are informed, they are empowered—and when they are empowered, they act.
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