I am senior lecturer in global public health, which means I do research and teaching in this area.
What brought you to the University of Aberdeen?
Aberdeen has a strong track in public health and global public health from Prof Cairns Smith’s work on eradicating leprosy to Prof Wendy Graham’s work on measuring maternal mortality. Aberdeen is also very good at blending disciplines, we have one of the first and best centres for health economics in the world, UOA advanced medical sociology, and Aberdeen’s 2040 strategy priorities interdisciplinary working
What is your current focus?
I currently work with 2 main methods across southern and eastern Africa: routine mortality surveillance developing new methods to systematically account for the social drivers of community deaths and how these relate to biomedical causes. Secondly, I work with participatory and action-oriented methods to enable the voices of people who are marginalised, disadvantaged or otherwise excluded to know, understand, act and transform situations of health inequalities and social injustice
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The freedom to be creative and critical, amazing collaborators all around the world and working with brilliant, bright, keen students!
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time to relax?
Two things mainly - music: listening to music of all kinds from classical to punk, going to concerts /live music and a little singing/playing (keyboard)! And second, nature: I love hill walking in the Scottish countryside with my friends, family and dog. I like to take my time and ‘see’ the place and be with people who are important in my life.
What made you choose this career?
From a young age I was instructed that education is freedom. Consequentially, I prioritised qualifications as a young adult. After some wrong turns, I found social science and public health and fell in love with learning – then I never left the University!
If you could go back in time and choose a different career, what would you choose and why?
When I was small I wanted to be a tree surgeon….
What do you think is the most challenging part about your job?
Working in and with situations of multidimensional hardship.
What is an accomplishment in life you are proud of?
I am proud of my PhD and proud of my family, although I am not sure if I can say my family is an accomplishment!
Who has inspired you in your life and why?
Professor Peter Byass nurtured my development as a scientist and instilled values of cooperation, integrity and decency in science in me. And, my mum inspires me every day with her resilience, bravery, grace and compassion.
