Connecting Citizens to Science

The PhD Balancing Act for Lasting Capacity in Practice


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In this final episode of our mini-series on research capacity strengthening, we explore how pursuing a PhD, using the PACTS programme (Patient-centred Sickle Cell Disease Management in sub-Saharan Africa), as a real-world example—can enhance, rather than compete with, clinical practice.

Our guests reflect on what it means to balance research with clinical care, teaching, community outreach, and academic responsibilities, and share honest insights about the challenges and opportunities that come with embedding a PhD within a larger programme. From learning by doing to mentoring the next generation, this episode looks at how research can be a powerful tool for real-world impact in health systems.

In this episode:

Dr. Mmamulatelo Siame Mumba - PhD Student, SBA lead, Project coordinator, Zambia

Dr. Mmamulatelo Siame Mumba is a paediatrician and implementation researcher based in Zambia. She is undertaking a PhD with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and leads the Standards-Based Audit teams across PACTS sites while coordinating research activities on the ground.

Dr. Hezekiah Isa Albarka - Lecturer at University of Abuja, Nigeria

Dr. Hezekiah Isa Albarka is a senior lecturer at the University of Abuja and a haematologist with a long-standing interest in sickle cell disease. He is currently pursuing a PhD through the PACTS project, building on years of experience in clinical care and academic teaching.

Dr. Eunice Agyeman Ahmed - PhD Student Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Ghana

Dr. Eunice Agyeman Ahmed is a haematologist at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana and a PhD student at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Her research supports adolescents with sickle cell disease transitioning into adult care, alongside her wider advocacy and training work across Ghana and Africa.

  • Patient-Centered Sickle Cell Disease Management in Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Patient-centred sickle cell disease management in sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) | LSTM

Want to hear more podcasts like this?

Follow Connecting Citizens to Science on your usual podcast platform or YouTube to hear more about current research and debates within global health.

The podcast cuts across disciplines, including health systems strengthening, gender and intersectionality, tropical diseases (NTDs, TB, Malaria), maternal and child healthcare (antenatal and postnatal care), mental health and wellbeing, vector-borne diseases, climate change and co-production approaches.

If you would like your project or programme to feature in an episode or miniseries, get in touch with the producers of Connecting Citizens to Science, the SCL Agency.

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Connecting Citizens to ScienceBy The SCL Agency