Congratulations on your recent co-Editor-in-Chief appointment for Conflict and Health! How do you plan to shape the editorial direction of the journal alongside Dr Fuhr?

The journal has been very influential in our field and has published quality research over the years. I remember when Prof. Bayard Roberts launched it when I was at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Dr Jonathan Polonsky and Dr Daniela Fuhr have done a fantastic job of taking the journal to the next level.

As co-Editor-in-Chief, I will be uniquely positioned to contribute to transforming the humanitarian system. This role will enable the advancement of evidence-based practice by influencing the publication of high-quality research that informs effective interventions in conflict and humanitarian settings. By aligning our efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), we will work towards promoting health and well-being in conflict-affected regions and fostering resilient and inclusive societies.

I will try to shape the research agenda by directing the journal’s focus toward emerging and critical issues, such as health system resilience, refugee health, and complex emergencies. By highlighting these areas with Dr Daniela Fuhr, we will address knowledge gaps and foster innovation in humanitarian health strategies. This new role will also allow us to bridge the gap between academic research and field practice. As the Director of the Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, we will promote the journal and facilitate the dissemination of research findings to policymakers, practitioners, and humanitarian organisations, ensuring that knowledge translates into actionable change.

How important is this journal in your field?

The journal serves as a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together researchers, health professionals, policymakers, and humanitarian actors. By fostering this dialogue, the journal promotes comprehensive approaches to humanitarian challenges that integrate public health, political science, and socio-economic perspectives. Additionally, through strategic editorials and themed issues, the journal can influence global health policies and humanitarian agendas, advocating for systemic changes that enhance the resilience of health systems in conflict-affected regions.

Which issues or topics would you want to emphasize and explore in Conflict and Health? 

To transform the humanitarian system, we can leverage editorial influence to challenge existing paradigms by critically evaluating current practices and proposing evidence-based alternatives that are adaptive and context-sensitive, as highlighted by our CHH-Lancet Commission on Health, Conflict and Forced Displacement. We can advocate for localised solutions led by local actors, shifting away from traditional top-down humanitarian models. Through the journal, we can explore and promote new financing mechanisms and implementation models to enhance efficiency and impact.

Your final words.

I would like to promote research that uses systems thinking to capture the interdependencies that exist in humanitarian settings to develop more resilient and adaptive health systems. In the strategic use of the journal for thought leadership, knowledge dissemination, and advocacy, I will be well-positioned to influence the evolution and transformation of the humanitarian system, ensuring it becomes more responsive to the complex realities of global crises.