Francis Ayomoh

Dr Francis Ayomoh is a Public Health Physician, Health Economist, Health Systems Strengthening expert, and Honorary Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Global Primary Care and Future Health Systems team. His postdoctoral research focuses on the global primary care workforce, with particular emphasis on Nigeria’s primary healthcare system. With funding from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, he recently completed his DPhil in Primary Health Care at the University of Oxford. His research examined the policy and practice of task-shifting for maternal healthcare services within Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, employing qualitative methods and an interpretive policy analysis framework. His doctoral work provides new insights into how policy actors’ meanings, values, and interests shape policy implementation, health workforce interactions, and the practice of task-shifting in low-resource settings.

He holds a Masters (Distinction) in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing jointly awarded by the London School of Economics and Political Science and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He has completed the Advanced Course on Health Financing for Universal Health Coverage and Cross-programmatic Efficiency Analysis course from the World Health Organization. He also has a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Jos and received some Postgraduate training as a Resident Doctor in Internal Medicine.

Francis is a Mandela Washington Fellow, Commonwealth Scholar, and recipient of several awards, including the Best Graduating Medical Student Award, the Tony Elumelu Foundation Legacy Prize for Excellence in Medicine, and the prestigious President’s National Honours NYSC Award from the Federal Government of Nigeria, in recognition of his contributions towards improving access to primary healthcare services in rural communities. With over a decade of professional experience across Africa, Francis has worked in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia, and Uganda, providing technical expertise in healthcare financing, human resources for health, health policy and systems research, maternal and reproductive health, and non-communicable diseases. He has consulted for several international development organisations, including the World Bank and the Global Fund.

Francis is the Founder and Inaugural President of the Oxford Global Health Society, an interdisciplinary platform that brings together students, researchers, and practitioners across the University of Oxford to engage with pressing global health challenges. He has also served as a Fellow of the Missing Billion Initiative, contributing to global efforts to advance disability inclusion and advocacy in health systems. 

Prior to joining the University of Oxford as a doctoral researcher, Francis worked with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria, where he was the Deputy Lead of the Healthcare Financing, Equity, and Investments team, supporting policy reforms and strategic investments to advance progress toward universal health coverage in Nigeria. 

TEACHING AND MENTORSHIP

Francis has previously taught on the Department's MSc in Translational Health Sciences, contributing to several modules with a focus on healthcare financing, health policy, and global health. He serves as an advisor to the Oxford Global Health Society, supporting its leadership in advancing the society’s objectives and strategic initiatives. He remains committed to mentoring students and practitioners engaged in strengthening primary healthcare systems and advancing health systems reform across Africa and globally.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Primary healthcare and health systems financing for universal health coverage
• Human resources for health and task-shifting policy
• Maternal and reproductive health
• Community health systems and service delivery
• Health policy and health system resilience
• Digital Health and artificial intelligence for healthcare
• Non-communicable diseases
• Disability inclusion and equitable healthcare access