Who is Dr. Tim?

Recognised as a leading contributor to the African digital health space, Dr. Tim is an academic with a clinical pharmacy background and a PhD in Digital Health and Care from the University of Bristol. He is deeply committed to strengthening healthcare systems in the Global South, with a particular focus on African communities, through the innovative use of technology. His work bridges people, processes, and technology in the health-tech sector by advancing context-oriented user research and inclusive, equity-focused design.

His research interests include participatory design, qualitative research methods, social computing, and human-computer interaction for development. He has a proven track record of leading interdisciplinary projects that support chronic disease care and enhance health systems across diverse settings. He excels in translating complex data into actionable strategies and scalable training programs, and in fostering cross-sector collaborations that link healthcare and technology.

As former Director of Training and Development at Innovate Health Africa, he helped upskill hundreds of healthcare professionals across the continent. He is currently a Research Fellow at Canterbury Christ Church University, contributing to an NIHR-funded Global Health Research Group on Digital Diagnostics for African Health Systems, and an EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow at the Open University in the U.K.

 

EDUCATION

PhD. Digital Health and Care

University of Bristol, UK | 2021 – 2025

Taught modules: Computer programming, Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and Modelling, Interaction Design, Research Methods and Responsible Innovation.

Thesis: Designing for Collaborative Type 2 Diabetes Care in Nigeria: A WhatsApp Enabled Study

MSc Healthcare Management

Girne American University, Turkey | 2019 – 2021

Taught modules: Health promotion, Strategic Management, Financial Accounting, Comparative Health Systems, Health Insurance, Human Resources Management and Managing Healthcare Organisations.

B.Pharm Pharmacy

University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria | 2010 – 2015

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow

The Open University | Milton Keynes, U.K | 2026 - Present

  • Leads an interdisciplinary research project on culturally sensitive applications of generative AI for mental health support among Africans living with long term conditions

  • Designs and executes a multi-work-package research project combining qualitative research, participatory design, and applied AI development

  • Leads distributed co-design workshops and iterative prototyping with patients and clinicians to develop a culturally grounded mental health chatbot

  • Established and managed partnerships with community organisations, charities, and healthcare institutions in Nigeria and the United Kingdom to support recruitment, impact, and knowledge exchange

  • Generates research outputs to be published in several academic venues

Research Fellow

Canterbury Christ Church University | Kent, U.K | 2025 - Present

  • Co-leads the design, delivery, and synthesis of interdisciplinary global health research on the integration of digital diagnostics into African health systems.

  • Authored NIHR published Community Engagement and Involvement and Health Systems Impact Reports assessing CEI design, implementation, outcomes, ethics, and best practices across multiple African contexts and work packages.

  • Contributes to research capacity strengthening through collaboration with PhD fellows.

  • Supports grant writing activities.

  • Supports co design activities through evaluative studies that inform design improvements for the Dragonfly and Lacewing digital diagnostic tools.

  • Conducted interviews and focus groups with research teams and stakeholders across The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, and Sudan.

  • Disseminated research findings through presentations, publications, and other knowledge exchange activities across African contexts.

Director of Training and Development

Innovate Health Africa | Lagos, UK/Remote | 2024 – 2025

  • Lead strategic design and delivery of capacity-building programs for healthcare professionals transitioning to digital health, including the African Health Innovation Fellowship.

  • Co-led design and validation of a Digital Health Literacy Self-Assessment Tool (DHL SAT), employing mixed methods research and stakeholder engagement across multiple African countries.

  • Developed recruitment and data management protocols ensuring ethical, confidential participant involvement in digital health evaluations.

  • Collaborated with academic, clinical, and technology partners in different African countries to enhance program qualityand reach, leveraging digital health expertise to bridge gaps between health systems and technology solutions. 

Senior Youth Work Practitioner

Gendered Intelligence | London, UK | 2024 – 2025

  • Cultivated and maintained strategic partnerships with key stakeholders including several NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, the NSPCC, and other nonprofit organizations to expand service impact and co-develop inclusive support initiatives.

  • Led mixed-method program evaluations, transforming complex data into actionable strategic reports supporting evidence-based organizational improvements.

  • Managed a team of coordinators, ensuring alignment of youth services with organizational goals.

  • Effectively communicated sensitive research findings to diverse audiences, enhancing stakeholder understanding and engagement.

Graduate Teacher (Level 2)

University of Bristol | UK | 2023 – 2025

  • Provided targeted academic support and supervision for MSc and PhD students in design thinking, computer programming, and digital health research methods.

  • Co-supervised MSc projects applying user-centered design to real-world digital health challenges.

  • Peer-reviewed academic research for conferences, contributing to knowledge dissemination in digital health innovation. 

Graduate Teacher (Level 1)

University of Bristol | UK | 2022 – 2023

  • Coordinated academic support for over 40 master’s and PhD students, supporting integration of Case-Based Learning with digital technologies.

  • Supported the delivery of computer programming instruction for first-year PhD students, providing targeted tutorials and one-on-one academic support based on individual learning needs.

Research Associate

EnergyREV Consortium, University of Bristol | UK | 2022 – 2023

  • Conducted qualitative research on Smart Local Energy Systems and Heat pump adoption, producing user personas, journey maps, and policy briefs.

  • Presented findings at academic seminars and conferences; contributed to peer-reviewed publications.

  • Maintained accurate research records in compliance with data protection standards and ethical guidelines.

User Researcher

YuTU Social Network | Bristol, UK | 2022

  • Led user research for a student-focused social media platform, conducting in-depth needs assessments through interviews and surveys with University of Bristol students.

  • Analysed qualitative and quantitative data to identify user behaviors, pain points, and preferences, shaping product features and user flows

  • Liaised with design and development teams, aligning product decisions with user insights and strategic business goals using agile tools such as Figma and Trello.

  • Translated complex research findings into actionable reports and stakeholder briefings, driving user-centered design and informing go-to-market strategy. 

Editor-In-Chief

Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Young Pharmacist's Group | Nigeria | 2021

  • Defined and executed the magazine’s editorial vision, strategy, and tone in alignment with Digital Health Innovation.

  • Ensured coverage of emerging trends, research, technologies, and policies in digital health, both in Nigeria and globally.

  • Lead an editorial team of writers, journalists, and contributors

  • Fostered collaboration between editorial, design, and digital production teams. 

  • Explored innovative storytelling formats such as interactive features, infographics, and multimedia

Instructor

Girne American University | Turkey | 2020 – 2021

  • Delivered undergraduate and diploma-level courses in Organizational Theory, Supplementary Medicines, andCommunity Pharmacy Practice, fostering practical and critical thinking skills in diverse student cohorts.

  • Contributed to curriculum development by updating course content to reflect emerging trends in pharmaceutical care andhealthcare systems, ensuring academic rigor and real-world relevance.

  • Assessed student performance through script marking, assignment grading, and feedback delivery, supporting academic progression and continuous improvement.

  • Provided one-on-one academic advising and mentorship to students, enhancing learner engagement and professional readiness 

Research/Teaching Assistant

Girne American University | Turkey | 2019 – 2020

  • Provided critical support on Type 2 Diabetes research projects, contributing to data analysis, facilitating focus groups, and assisting in the development of academic manuscripts and systematic reviews.

  • Oversaw daily operations of the research laboratory, ensuring equipment was properly maintained and calibrated,standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed, and aseptic techniques were applied during sample preparation and handling.

  • Assisted in mentoring undergraduate students and coordinating practical lab sessions

Hospital Pharmacist

Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital | Port Harcourt, Nigeria | 2017 - 2018

  • Delivered pharmaceutical care to 50+ patients daily; engaged multidisciplinary teams to optimize medication safety and clinical outcomes.

  • Rotated through various clinical departments including Accident and Emergency, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, the ARV Clinic, and General Outpatient, adapting pharmacological interventions to department-specific needs

  • Conducted medication reviews and reconciliations during ward rounds, identified drug interactions, and advised on dose adjustments to reduce the risk of adverse events and improve therapeutic outcomes

  • Trained student pharmacists on clinical protocols, pharmacovigilance, and patient counselling, demonstrating leadership and building capacity

 

Community Pharmacist

Sylkon Pharmacy and Stores | Port Harcourt, Nigeria | 2016 – 2017

  • Oversaw dispensing, patient counseling, and collaborated with healthcare teams to ensure safe and effective medication use.

 

SUPERVISION EXPERIENCE

  • Co-supervised Rachael Shivam, MSc Computer Science, University of Bristol (2023) – Project: User-Centered Digital Health Design.

  • Co-supervised Dania A. Mohd Khalaf, MSc Healthcare Management, Girne American University (2020) – Project: Improving the Recruitment and Retention of Health Staff in UAE Hospitals.

  • Co-supervised Alqerbachi Zaid, B.Pharm, Girne American University (2019) – Project: Targeted Cancer Therapy: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Diabetes Mellitus Control.

  • Co-supervised Assem Sabbah Elseidy, B.Pharm, Girne American University (2019) – Project: Diabetic Microvascular Complications and Patient Care.

 

FUNDING & AWARDS

  • Black Tech Achievement Awards (Nominee), 2026

  • EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship, 2026

  • Gary Marsden Travel Award ($2500), 2024

  • African Co-design Academy Grant ($500), 2023

  • Black History Youth Awards (STEM), 2023

  • EPSRC Studentship Research Grant (£195,000), 2021

  • Award of Excellence (Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Young Pharmacist’s Group), 2021

 

INVITED TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • “Strengthening Global Health Systems through Digital Health and Health Literacy”, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church University, 2026

  • “Strengthening Disease Care through Digital Health: Insights from T2D research, the NIHR DiDA Project, and AI for Mental Health”, MRC Unit, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, The Gambia, 2025

  • “Designing Cross-Cultural Solutions for Type 2 Diabetes Care in Nigeria”, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, 2025.

  • “Okuma for collaborative T2D care in Nigeria”, Demo presentation at AIUK Conference, 2025.

  • “WhatsApp as a Data Collection Tool: A Case Study from Nigeria,” University of Nottingham, 2024.

  • “Foundations of Design Thinking,” Digital Health Africa, Lagos, 2023.

  • “Afrocentric Approaches to HCI Research : Unveiling Complex Networks of Type 2 Diabetes Care in Nigeria”, Mixed Reality Lab, University of Nottingham, 2023.

  • “Why Context Matters in Diabetes Care Technologies,” Diabetes Care Network, Nigeria, 2022.

  • “Digital Health Promotion For Fitness Enthusiasts In Africa”, IEEE Digital Health Conference, Spain. 2022.

  • “How Technology could revolutionize pharmacy practice”, The Jean Golding Institute, Bristol. 2022.

  • “Patterns of Knowledge and safety use of energy drinks during the COVID pandemic era among athletes and sport adolescents in Kyrenia-Northern Cyprus”, European Society of Clinical Pharmacy Prague Symposium. 2022.

  • “Evaluation and prediction of depression and anxiety among patients with chronic disease conditions during the pandemic COVID-19 era”, European Society of Clinical Pharmacy Prague Symposium. 2022 .