The Expert is a public health professional with 25 years of experience in global health programming and research on health and human rights, stigma, health and social equity. Much of her work has been in Africa (West and Southern Africa) centering on research and programs pertaining to access to sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and equitable health sytems.
The Expert is a public health professional with 25 years of experience in global health programming and research. Working with civil society, governments and humanitarian actors in diverse geographic and social contexts, she has collaborated and advised on intersecting areas of health and human rights, including issues of stigma and other forms of exclusion as barriers to improved health and social equity. Much of her work has been in Africa (West and Southern Africa) centering on research and programs pertaining to access to sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and equitable health sytems. She holds a Master of Public Health, with a focus on Refugee Studies, and Health and Human Rights, from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Doctor of Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
She specializes in LGBTQI issues; child abuse; sexual abuse/assault; gender-based violence/domestic violence; child soldiers; forced marriage; Likelihood of destitution or homelessness; healthcare access; health systems capacity; mental illness; HIV/AIDS; specialized medical services
The Expert has carried out health system assessment reports on refugees and asylum issues (unaccompanied minors in US detention), and refugee health care.
Oral presentation, International AIDS Society Conference, Toronto 2006: Getting around disclosure: Social status and support of patients enrolled in an ART programme in rural South Africa.
Abstract poster presentation, AIDS Impact Conference Marseille July 2007 constructing a stigma free Environment: provider influence on disclosure and implications for prevention, treatment and mental health among patients enrolled in an ART program in rural South Africa.
Fitzgerald M, Collumbien M and Victoria Hosegood V. No one can ask me ‘Why do you take that stuff?” Men’s experience of antiretroviral treatment in South Africa; Vol. 22, No. 3, March 2010, 355-360. AIDS Care.
C. Free, I. Roberts, T. Abramsky, M. Fitzgerald and F. Wensley. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of interventions promoting effective condom use. February 2011; 65(2): 100-110. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. (Published online 2009 Oct 12)