SSM ECRs featuring… Oluwaseyi Tobi Owaseye
SSM ECRs featuring… Oluwaseyi Tobi Owaseye!
Oluwaseyi Tobi Owaseye is a PhD candidate and Lecturer at the University of Chester.
 | Oluwaseyi Tobi Owaseye University of Chester PhD candidate & Lecturer SSM member since: 2024 SSM participation: Member, attended and presented at the 2024 ASM in Glasgow Topics of interest: Sexual and Reproductive Health; Adolescent Health; Health Equity |
What inspired you to pursue a career in public health?
My decision to pursue a career in public health was shaped by my early experiences growing up in a society marked by deep social and economic inequalities, where access to basic needs like healthcare and education was determined more by circumstance than by rights. While I was fortunate to receive quality education, I witnessed many children on the streets denied the same. Those early experiences taught me the importance of treating everyone with dignity and promoting fairness and equality in society. I chose public health over clinical medicine because I wanted to address systemic issues at the population level, rather than treating individual cases in isolation. I envisioned a career that would enable me to advocate for marginalized populations, promote equitable access to healthcare services, and contribute to shaping policies that reflect justice and inclusion. Public health offered me a platform to turn that vision into action.
What excites you about working in research now?
What excites me most about working in research is the power it holds to drive real-world change. Research allows us not only to understand complex health challenges but to uncover actionable solutions that can transform systems and improve lives. I find particular fulfillment in research that centres around the voices of marginalised populations. As someone committed to health equity, I see research as a tool for advocacy, innovation, and empowerment. It also offers a space to continually learn, challenge assumptions, and build evidence that informs both practice and policy. Being in academia, I enjoy mentoring students through their research journeys, which keeps me connected to new perspectives and the evolving nature of public health.
What area of social medicine/public health are you interested in?
My core interest lies in Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH), with a strong focus on health equity and access for marginalised populations. I am particularly drawn to issues surrounding reproductive health rights and the systemic barriers that prevent underserved communities, especially women and girls from accessing essential services. I am also deeply engaged in the broader social determinants of health, including gender, poverty, and policy frameworks that shape health outcomes. I am committed to translating research into practice, particularly in low-resource settings, where health inequities are most pronounced. For me, public health is not just a profession but a platform to champion justice, amplify underrepresented voices, and build healthier, more inclusive societies.
Can you tell us a bit about a project you’re working on now?
I am in the final phase of my doctoral studies, which explore the experiences of female sex workers and their access to cervical cancer screening services in Nigeria. Based on the findings from my research, I am now working to implement a mobile clinic screening project targeting this underserved group. The intervention uses VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid) to provide immediate, on-the-spot screening and same-day treatment for eligible clients. The mobile van will visit brothel communities across five local government areas, supported by trained nurses and volunteers, and equipped with colposcopy and thermal ablation equipment. This project aims to improve access, reduce stigma, and generate data to inform better service delivery and policy. It is one of the first targeted efforts of its kind in Nigeria.
What do you hope this will lead to?
I hope this project will serve as a scalable model for inclusive, community-based cervical cancer screening in low and middle-income countries. By generating evidence on what works in reaching and engaging female sex workers, I aim to influence policy and programme design so that underserved populations are no longer excluded from essential reproductive health services. I also see this as a platform for building partnerships locally and globally and for securing future funding to expand this work. Ultimately, I want this project to show that with the right approach, even deeply entrenched health inequities can be addressed, and no one has to be left behind. My vision is to continue bridging the gap between research, practice, and policy to deliver public health that is just, accessible, and transformative.
Bonus question from ECR sub-committee: What unique challenges have you encountered in your specific area of social medicine/public health?
One unique challenge I have faced is bridging the gap between research and real-world impact by ensuring findings don’t just sit in journals but influence policy and practice. It has also been challenging to navigate underfunded areas of public health that are critical but overlooked. Learning to adapt, persist, and advocate has been key.
Email Tobi: o.owaseye@chester.ac.uk
Follow Tobi on LinkedIn
SSM ECR features is a blog series that celebrates early career researchers. Each month we meet a member we admire, learn more about their work and find out what and who inspires them. To find out more visit socsocmed.org.uk/blog or email ecr.ssm@gmail.com.