Alexander W Kay

Alexander W Kay, M.D., B.A., serves as Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine with specialized focus on Global Immigrant Health. Based full-time in Mbabane, eSwatini, he holds the position of Associate Director for the Global TB Program where he oversees clinical operations at the TB Centre of Excellence and directs clinical, translational, and operational research initiatives targeting pediatric tuberculosis and TB/HIV co-infection in high-burden settings.

His academic foundation includes:

• BA from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
• MD from University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, United States
• Residency at Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, United States
• Fellowship at Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States

Dr. Kay's research centers on advancing pediatric tuberculosis care through innovative diagnostics and implementation science. His current projects evaluate stool-based molecular assays for TB detection, investigate barriers to isoniazid preventive therapy uptake, and optimize active case-finding strategies. He maintains close collaboration with the eSwatini National TB Control Program to improve clinical management of children with complex TB and TB/HIV presentations, building on prior experience as a BIPAI physician in Lesotho.

Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in non-invasive diagnostic development—particularly stool-based molecular testing for pediatric and HIV-affected populations—and operational research addressing healthcare system challenges. His work spans diagnostic accuracy validation, cost-burden assessments, mathematical modeling of adolescent TB incidence, and implementation studies across Southern Africa, with concentrated efforts in eSwatini and Mozambique.

Professional credentials include board certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Pediatrics (Certificate of Knowledge), alongside active membership in the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and American Academy of Pediatrics' Pediatric Infectious Diseases section.

As Associate Director of the Global TB Program, Dr. Kay leads research initiatives likely supported by institutional and global health grants, though specific funding sources aren't detailed. His role involves mentoring within the TB Centre of Excellence framework, but no formal student advisement is documented. He previously contributed to BIPAI's work in Lesotho and maintains this partnership in eSwatini.

Operating at the TB Centre of Excellence—a dedicated pediatric referral facility for complicated TB cases—Dr. Kay collaborates with national programs to implement evidence-based practices. His team focuses on translating research into improved diagnostic algorithms and treatment protocols for children, with ongoing projects examining stool-based qPCR implementation, cost-reduction strategies, and HIV/TB integrated care models.