Dr Ifeoma Onyeka MBBS, MScPH, MBA, PhD, RSA, SFHEA
Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Course Leader of the MSc Public Health
Summary
I joined Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in 2021 as a Senior Lecturer in Public Health, and Course Leader of the MSc Public Health (September cohorts).
About
I trained as a medical doctor in Nigeria but transitioned from clinical practice to academia via acquiring further education in Public Health (MSc and PhD) from Finland. I have worked in different universities in Finland, Norway and UK during which I amassed a wealth of experience in conducting research on various public health topics, especially in the area of mental health and substance use disorders. I have skills in conducting research with primary, secondary and routine/administrative data, and skills in using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research methodologies.
I have a strong track record of multidisciplinary collaborative research with professionals in Africa, Europe and North America, and a strong track record of winning competitive internal and external research grants including the prestigious European Union-funded Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship. My expertise has enabled me to build strong publication records of over 30 peer-reviewed full text papers on mental health/substance use disorders, comorbidity of mental health and other conditions, and general public health. I currently conduct research to better understand the link between mental health and other conditions (comorbidity/multimorbidity). Outside academia, I worked as an intern at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna, Austria and at World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
In my role as a Senior Lecturer in Public Health, I teach and support students’ learning in various capacities. Apart from course leadership and module leadership, I have undertaken a range of tasks to support students. I had Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) leadership responsibility during 2023-2024 academic year during which I worked with Dr Gary Taylor (who was the Departmental lead for EDI at that time) to coordinate students from ethnic minority backgrounds to undertake various student voice projects as part of the university’s EDI goals, and to lead the Minoritised Student Group for the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics. I am a mentor on the Accomplished Study Programme in Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Excellence (ASPIRE) scheme designed to support Black and Mixed-Black heritage students in the UK aspiring for doctoral studies by providing personalised mentorships. I have been involved as a supervisor for a summer intern on the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Experience Summer Internship programme.
Teaching
Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Course taught:
MSc Public Health
Modules taught:
Module Leader of the Foundations of Epidemiology B (Applied Epidemiology)
Tutor on other modules
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Current research projects:
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ interests
• Mental health
• Comorbidity/multimorbidity
• General public health
Publications
Journal articles
Cooper, J.A., Onyeka, I., Cardwell, C., Paterson, E., Kirk, R., O'Reilly, D., & Donnelly, M. (2023). . BMC Public Health, 23.
Aminoff, S.R., Onyeka, I.N., Ødegaard, M., Simonsen, C., Lagerberg, T.V., Andreassen, O.A., ... Melle, I. (2022). . Psychological Medicine.
Cooper, J.A., Onyeka, I., O'Reilly, D., Kirk, R., & Donnelly, M. (2022). . BMJ Open, 12 (3).
McKenna, S., Donnelly, M., Onyeka, I.N., O'Reilly, D., & Maguire, A. (2021). . Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 56, 1115-1145.
Chikezie, E.U., Ebuenyi, I.D., Allagoa, E.L.P., & Onyeka, I. (2021). . Academic Psychiatry, 45 (3), 360-365.
Onyeka, I.N., O’Reilly, D., & Maguire, A. (2021). . SSM - Population Health, 13.
Ebuenyi, I.D., Chikezie, E.U., & Onyeka, I. (2021). . African journal of drug and alcohol studies, 20 (2), 159-164.
Onyeka, I.N., Maguire, A., Ross, E., & O'Reilly, D. (2020). . Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29.
Onyeka, I., Collier Høegh, M., Nåheim Eien, E.M., Nwaru, B.I., & Melle, I. (2019). . Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 15 (3), 192-206.
Olubamwo, O.O., Onyeka, I.N., Aregbesola, A., Ronkainen, K., Tiihonen, J., Föhr, J., & Kauhanen, J. (2018). . SAGE Open Med, 6.
Aregbesola, A., Onyeka, I.N., Olubamwo, O., Ronkainen, K., Tiihonen, J., Föhr, J., & Kauhanen, J. (2018). . SAGE Open Med, 6, 2050312118768164.
Olubamwo, O., Onyeka, I.N., Aregbesola, A., Ronkainen, K., Tiihonen, J., Föhr, J., & Kauhanen, J. (2017). . SAGE Open Medicine, 5.
Onubogu, C.U., Onyeka, I.N., Esangbedo, D.O., Ndiokwelu, C., Okolo, S.N., Ngwu, E.K., & Nwaru, B.I. (2016). . Paediatrics and International Child Health, 36 (4), 248-259.
Onyeka, I.N., Basnet, S., Beynon, C.M., Tiihonen, J., Föhr, J., & Kauhanen, J. (2016). Association between routes of drug administration and all-cause mortality among drug users. Journal of Substance Use, 21 (6), 559-565.
Olubamwo, O.O., Onyeka, I.N., Miettola, J., Kauhanen, J., & Tuomainen, T. (2016). Hepatitis
Onyeka, I.N., Beynon, C.M., Vohlonen, I., Tiihonen, J., Föhr, J., Ronkainen, K., & Kauhanen, J. (2015). Potential Years of Life Lost Due to Premature Mortality Among Treatment-Seeking Illicit Drug Users in Finland. Journal of Community Health, 40 (6), 1099-1106.
Nwaru, B.I., Onyeka, I.N., Ndiokwelu, C., Esangbedo, D.O., Ngwu, E.K., & Okolo, S.N. (2015). Maternal and child dietary patterns and their determinants in
Onyeka, I.N., Olubamwo, O., Beynon, C.M., Ronkainen, K., Föhr, J., Tiihonen, J., ... Kauhanen, J. (2015). Factors Associated with Hospitalization for Blood-Borne Viral Infections Among Treatment-Seeking Illicit Drug Users. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 53, 71-77.
Onyeka, I.N., Beynon, C.M., Ronkainen, K., Tiihonen, J., Föhr, J., Kuikanmäki, O., ... Kauhanen, J. (2015). Hospitalization in a Cohort Seeking Treatment for Illicit Drug Use in Finland. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 53, 64-70.
Basnet, S., Onyeka, I.N., Tiihonen, J., Föhr, J., & Kauhanen, J. (2015). Characteristics of drug-abusing females with and without children seeking treatment in Helsinki, Finland. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 43 (3), 221-228.
Onyeka, I.N., Ilika, A.L., Ilika, F.N., Umeh, D.C., Onyibe, R.I., Okoye, C.J., ... Onubogu, C.U. (2014). Experiences from polio supplementary immunization activities in Anambra State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 17 (6), 808.
Onyeka, I.N., Beynon, C.M., Hannila, M.-.L., Tiihonen, J., Föhr, J., Tuomola, P., ... Kauhanen, J. (2014). Patterns and 14-year trends in mortality among illicit drug users in Finland: The HUUTI study. International Journal of Drug Policy, 25 (6), 1047-1053.
Uosukainen, H., Kauhanen, J., Bell, J.S., Ronkainen, K., Tiihonen, J., Föhr, J., ... Korhonen, M.J. (2013). Mortality among clients seeking treatment for buprenorphine abuse in Finland. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 133 (2), 391-397.
Onyeka, I.N., Beynon, C.M., Uosukainen, H., Korhonen, M.J., Ilomäki, J., Bell, J.S., ... Kauhanen, J. (2013). Coexisting social conditions and health problems among clients seeking treatment for illicit drug use in Finland: The HUUTI study. BMC Public Health, 13 (1).
Uosukainen, H., Kauhanen, J., Voutilainen, S., Föhr, J., Paasolainen, M., Tiihonen, J., ... Bell, J.S. (2013). Twelve-year trend in treatment seeking for buprenorphine abuse in Finland. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 127 (1-3), 207-214.
Onyeka, I., Miettola, J., Ilika, A.L., & Vaskilampi, T. (2012). Becoming pregnant during secondary school: findings from concurrent mixed methods research in Anambra State, Nigeria. East African journal of public health, 9 (1), 19-25.
Onyeka, I.N., Uosukainen, H., Korhonen, M.J., Beynon, C., Bell, J.S., Ronkainen, K., ... Kauhanen, J. (2012). Sociodemographic Characteristics and Drug Abuse Patterns of Treatment-Seeking Illicit Drug Abusers in Finland, 1997–2008: The Huuti Study. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 31 (4), 350-362.
Onyeka, I., Miettola, J., Ilika, A.L., & Vaskilampi, T. (2011). Unintended pregnancy and termination of studies among students in Anambra state, Nigeria: are secondary schools playing their part? African Journal of Reproductive Health, 15 (2), 109-115.
Onyeka, I.N. (n.d.). Health research in Africa: Are we communicating our findings to relevant stakeholders? African Health Sciences, 14 (3), 779.
Conference papers
Onyeka, I., Ross, E., Maguire, A., & O’Reilly, D. (2019). . International Journal of Population Data Science, 4 (3).
Onyeka, I., Maguire, A., & O’Reilly, D. (2019). . International Journal of Population Data Science, 4 (3).
Onyeka, I., Maguire, A., & O’Reilly, D. (2018). . International Journal of Population Data Science, 3 (2).
Other activities
Other external responsibilities:
Membership of professional bodies
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health
• Member of the International Epidemiological Association
• Member of the Society for Social Medicine and Population Health
• Member of Marie Curie Fellows Alumni Association
• Recognised Senior Advisor, UK Advising and Tutoring Association