Dr Gertrude Nyaaba

I am a Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Health Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University, with a PhD in Interdisciplinary Global Health and Fellowship of Advance HE (FHEA). I bring over a decade of health research experience across Africa and Europe. Before joining Canterbury Christ Church University, I held postdoctoral research positions at Hull York Medical School, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Sheffield, following earlier research roles with the Population Council and Navrongo Health Research Centre in Ghana. My expertise spans global and public health, implementation research, migrant health, health inequalities and health research methods.

My interdisciplinary research focuses on translating evidence into policy and practice to address complex public health challenges, particularly non-communicable diseases and chronic care, maternal and child health, and sexual and reproductive health, across diverse populations and settings in Africa and Europe, I hold Significant Responsibility for Independent Research (SRIR) status and have secured institutional research funding to support international collaboration, partnership development and future research.

My teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate public health and research methods, including research supervision and student development. My contribution to teaching and the student experience has been recognised through student-nominated Golden Apple recognition for teaching excellence. I also contribute to academic quality, ethical practice, student recruitment and engagement, and international academic collaboration.

My work brings together research, education, implementation and international public health practice, with a commitment to contributing to health equity and shaping the next generation of public health professionals.

I teach across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Public Health and Global Public Health at Canterbury Christ Church University, with particular interests in global health, research methods, migration and health, health policy and systems, and sustainable development. I also supervise undergraduate and postgraduate research and support students in developing their research, critical thinking and academic skills.

My teaching is informed by my extensive international research experience and previous contributions to postgraduate education at Hull York Medical School, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Sheffield. My previous teaching has included implementation science, qualitative research methods, non-communicable diseases and chronic conditions, and health policy and systems. I have also contributed to research capacity-building for early-career researchers internationally.

I take a research-led and student-centred approach to teaching, using contemporary evidence and examples from public health practice to help students connect academic learning with real-world health challenges. My contribution to teaching and the student experience has been recognised through a student-nominated Golden Apple Award for teaching excellence

My research interests lie at the intersection of global and public health, health policy and systems, implementation research, migrant health, health inequalities, and multimorbidity and chronic care. My work is underpinned by expertise in health research methods and a particular interest in the translation and implementation of evidence within policy, practice and health systems, with the overarching aim of addressing complex public health challenges and advancing health equity across diverse populations and settings. 

Dr Gertrude Nyaaba collaborates with researchers and institutions across the UK, Europe, and Africa on projects addressing global health challenges, including non-communicable diseases, health systems strengthening, migrant health, and maternal and child health. She has contributed to externally funded research projects with institutions including Hull York Medical School and the University of Sheffield. Gertrude is an active peer reviewer for a number of international journals, including BMJ Open, BMC Health Services Research, Health Policy and Planning, PLOS ONE, and PLOS Global Public Health. She regularly presents her research at national and international conferences and has extensive experience conducting health research across diverse international settings.