Joanna’s research primarily focuses on health systems and the health workforce, with a particular interest in fragile and conflict-affected settings, polycrisis contexts, and resource-poor environments. She is passionate about strengthening health systems’ abilities to prepare for, adapt to, and transform in response to shocks and stressors, ultimately reducing global health inequalities. She is a social scientist, with expertise in qualitative research and participatory action research and currently leads research consortia on health systems resilience and climate crisis and the health workforce. Key topics of her research include health systems resilience, health workforce, including community health workers, attraction, retention, and performance, gender equity and justice in the health workforce and health system, strengthening district-level health management and leadership, and scaling up complex health system interventions.

Joanna has more than 25 years of teaching experience, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her teaching expertise covers health systems organisation and management, health workforce development, qualitative research methods, and participatory action research. She contributes to the master’s in International Public Health Programme, delivering courses on these topics. She is a Senior Fellow of the Advance HE.