Abimbola Fapohunda, DrPH, MPH, MS

My research, teaching and consulting work is focused on health inequities affecting African Americans in the U.S., Africans in the Diaspora, and on the continent. My training and education, community engagement, and work experience influence my teaching and research interests. I have worked on two multidisciplinary collaborative studies that address the historical and contemporary struggles of Black and Brown communities in Pittsburgh (The Black Women, Femmes and Individuals Health Projects and the Pittsburgh Transformations Project: Race, Migration, Education, and Healthcare).

In my international health research work, I collaborated with two organizations: Gift of Living Donation (GOLD), United Kingdom, focusing on living organ donation among Blacks and Lakeshore Cancer Center (LCC), Nigeria, focusing on cancer care. My work with LCC included developing an e-learning training program on cancer awareness, diagnosis, and treatment for Nigerian healthcare practitioners.

I started teachingin 2007 and the courses I teach and have taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels cover the followingtopic areas: African American health, Social Determinants of Health, Health Disparities/Inequities, Global Health, and Research Methods and Intervention in Minority Communities. In addition to teaching and research, I have experience conducting needs assessments,qualitative/quantitative analyses and evaluation of program effectiveness. I have completed evaluations of community-based health disparities in behavioral and physical health, nutrition, smoking cessation, HIV/AIDS, and oral health in Black communities. My experience as an independent public health consultant and evaluator spans more than 20 years and I have completed more thantwenty-five health-related projects. I have written technical reports/white papers on Engaging & Empowering Communities by Building Capacity to Address HIV/AIDS and STDs and Improving Access to Oral Health & Dental Care for Underserved Population for Highmark Foundation.

My research, teaching and consulting work is focused on health inequities affecting African Americans in the U.S., Africans in the Diaspora, and on the continent. My training and education, community engagement, and work experience influence my teaching and research interests. I have worked on two multidisciplinary collaborative studies that address the historical and contemporary struggles of Black and Brown communities in Pittsburgh (The Black Women, Femmes and Individuals Health Projects and the Pittsburgh Transformations Project: Race, Migration, Education, and Healthcare).

In my international health research work, I collaborated with two organizations: Gift of Living Donation (GOLD), United Kingdom, focusing on living organ donation among Blacks and Lakeshore Cancer Center (LCC), Nigeria, focusing on cancer care. My work with LCC included developing an e-learning training program on cancer awareness, diagnosis, and treatment for Nigerian healthcare practitioners.

I started teachingin 2007 and the courses I teach and have taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels cover the followingtopic areas: African American health, Social Determinants of Health, Health Disparities/Inequities, Global Health, and Research Methods and Intervention in Minority Communities. In addition to teaching and research, I have experience conducting needs assessments,qualitative/quantitative analyses and evaluation of program effectiveness. I have completed evaluations of community-based health disparities in behavioral and physical health, nutrition, smoking cessation, HIV/AIDS, and oral health in Black communities. My experience as an independent public health consultant and evaluator spans more than 20 years and I have completed more thantwenty-five health-related projects. I have written technical reports/white papers on Engaging & Empowering Communities by Building Capacity to Address HIV/AIDS and STDs and Improving Access to Oral Health & Dental Care for Underserved Population for Highmark Foundation.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/ACTIVITIES

• Member of the Rotary Club of Monroeville
• Member of the Board of Trustees for Foundation Cancer Care, Lagos, Nigeria
• American Public Health Association
• Board of Director for East Liberty Family Health Care Center

COURSES

• African American Health Issues – AFRCNA 1710/SOCWRK 1063 - (Undergraduate Course)
• Introduction to Global Health  - PUBHLT 1001 - (Undergraduate Course)
• Health Equity Research Methods & Interventions - PUBHLT 2501 - (Graduate Course)
• Essentials for Health Equity: Social Determinants of Health - PUBHLT 0120 - (Undergraduate Course) 
• Health in the African Diaspora - AFRCNA 1510 - (Undergraduate Course)