Dr Francis K. Poitier

Profile

I am a global health specialist focusing on complex health issues using an intersectional and systems lens with experience working in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and Caribbean island states. I have worked with world-leading global health institutions, including the World Health Organization, governments in several countries, and third sector institutions locally and nationally.

My research includes examining gender and intersectionality as part of the multi-sectoral challenges in urban health systems; exploring food systems by dissecting health policies and the influence of sociocultural and political factors impacting nutritional health outcomes; and, developing a microplanning tool for primary health care.

My pedagogical and teaching scholarship includes decolonising the classroom, designing innovative student-teacher learning techniques, and developing programmes to support collegiate and supportive research cultures. I have developed curricula, programmes and teaching material for face-to-face and digital learning. This includes co-developing an online course with the World Health Organization on Health Systems for Health Security.

Responsibilities

• Director, Master of Public Health (International)

Research interests

I work on several research projects, including:

• Building resilience in urban health systems by addressing multi-sectoral challenges in four low- and middle-income countries in Africa and South Asia (Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal,and Nigeria) with the CHORUS Research Consortium
• Exploring the makings of health in Small Island Developing States using the prevalence of obesity in The Bahamas as a case study

My teaching and pedagogical research focus include:

• Co-developing an online course, called Health Systems for Health Security, with the World Health Organization to explore ways to build resilient systems and healthier populations
• Developing a supportive and collegiate research culture for postgraduate researchers (i.e. PhD students)
• Designing innovative student-teacher learning techniques

Qualifications

• PhD in International Health - University of Leeds
• MSc. (Dist) in International Health - University of Leeds
• BSc in Biology - University of Richmond

Professional memberships

• Fellow - Higher Education Academy
• Board Director - Healthwatch Leeds

Student education

I teach a range of topics in the School of Medicine and School of Politics at the Bachelor and Masters levels, including:

• Gender, Equity and Health 
• Health systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
• Non-Communicable Disease control
• Sexual and Reproductive Health 
• Impact of colonisation on the making of the modern world
• Theories and concepts in global political economy
• Research ethics in global health
• Research projects in global health
• Introduction to research methods
• Advanced qualitative health research

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Health Sciences
• Research at the Nuffield Centre of International Health and Development
• Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development