Samira Jabakhanji

Dr. Samira Barbara Jabakhanji is a postdoctoral researcher. Samira holds a BSc degree in European Public Health and MSc in Healthcare Policy, Innovation and Management from Maastricht University (Netherlands) and started her research career as a junior policy advisor working at Emric+ in Maastricht.

Samira joined RCSI to undertake her PhD in early childhood obesity and postdoctoral research in epidemiology and health economics. She has also worked as a researcher in public health at Heidelberg University.

Samira’s main fields of expertise are childhood obesity, global diabetes research, health equity, planetary health and sustainable healthcare.

In relation to her obesity research, Samira co-founded and is chair of the multidisciplinary international Obesity Cobweb (COllaBoration in health economic modelling of overWEight and oBesity). This role involves the coordination and harmonisation of multidisciplinary health economic obesity research. Samira has also been a committee member of the Association for the Study of Obesity on the Island of Ireland.

Samira’s diabetes research with Converge incorporates evidence synthesis and data management. Projects include the investigation of disruptions to diabetes care during the COVID-19 pandemic with the Pan-American Health Organization and World Bank, and an evidence synthesis series on global diabetes monitoring. Together with the World Health Organization and Converge, she has developed frameworks for global diabetes monitoring and hospital diabetes indicators.

Samira commenced her research in relation to climate change and health as part of the Horizon-funded ENBEL project (‘Enhancing Belmont Research Action to support EU policy making on climate change and health’). She is currently investigating the integration of planetary health in medical curricula. Samira co-developed the RCSI Online health professional course on sustainable healthcare and lectures on health equity, planetary health and sustainable healthcare in and outside of RCSI.

Additionally, Samira has conducted research in the areas of cross-border emergency care, quality improvement in healthcare, chronic care delivery in low- and middle-income countries and cost analysis of healthcare interventions.