Professor Nsagha Dickson Shey
Professor Nsagha Dickson Shey is a visionary public health scientist, educator, and leader whose career has been dedicated to advancing health, equity, and research in Africa. Born in Cameroon, his early curiosity about disease patterns and community well-being grew into a lifelong commitment to epidemiology — the science of understanding and preventing disease.
Today, he is a Full Professor of Epidemiology and Vice-Dean for Programmes and Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, where he has helped shape the academic and research landscape of public health in Cameroon and beyond. Under his leadership, the Faculty introduced the Master of Public Health (MPH) and PhD in Public Health programmes that have trained many of the country’s health leaders and researchers.
Professor Nsagha’s research spans infectious diseases of poverty—such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases—and their co-infections and comorbidities. He has conducted groundbreaking community-based studies and developed interventions that have improved child survival, reduced malaria morbidity, and strengthened HIV prevention. His early contributions also supported Cameroon’s national efforts toward the elimination of leprosy.
In recent years, he has been at the forefront of digital innovation for global health. He leads the Artificial Intelligence for Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness (AI4PEP) project in Cameroon, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in partnership with York University, Canada. The project applies Artificial Intelligence (AI) and One Health approaches to detect and respond to emerging infectious threats — a vision that reflects his deep belief in technology as a tool for social good.
Beyond research, Professor Nsagha has served as consultant and collaborator with WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNDP, and the African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering, supporting evidence-based policies, health education, and community resilience. He has travelled, lectured, and presented across continents, sharing his insights on epidemic control, digital health, and public health leadership.
A passionate mentor, he has supervised dozens of master’s and doctoral theses and continues to nurture a new generation of African scientists. His work has earned international recognition, including listings in Marquis Who’s Who in Science and Engineering and membership in prestigious professional bodies such as the World Epidemiology Association, International AIDS Society, and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET).
Through science, service, and innovation, Professor Nsagha remains driven by one goal — to build healthier, more resilient communities and inspire others to use knowledge as a force for impact.
Research Interest & Contributions
As an epidemiologist and public health scientist whose research bridges infectious disease control, digital innovation, and community health systems, his work focuses on understanding, preventing, and mitigating the burden of infectious diseases of poverty, including malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases.
His research interests include:
- Epidemiology of infectious diseases of poverty and their co-infections and comorbidities.
- Digital and Artificial Intelligence applications for epidemic and pandemic preparedness (AI4PEP).
- One Health approaches integrating human, animal, and environmental health.
- Field epidemiology and community-based interventions for disease prevention and health promotion.
- Operational and implementation research on HIV/AIDS, malaria, and maternal and child health.
- Health systems strengthening, public health education, and capacity building for health professionals.
- Ethics in health research, proposal development, and scientific writing.
Professor Nsagha’s research is highly translational — linking data and evidence to policy and practice. His work has informed national and international strategies for disease prevention, child survival, and health systems resilience.
Advancing Health Through Science and Innovation
Over the past two decades, Professor Dickson Shey Nsagha has built a distinguished career at the intersection of epidemiology, microbiology, digital health, and community medicine. His research focuses on understanding and reducing the burden of infectious diseases of poverty, particularly malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases, which remain major public health challenges in Africa.
He has led and contributed to several national and international research initiatives funded by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNDP, TDR, and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada. His current flagship work—the Artificial Intelligence for Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness (AI4PEP) project—applies AI and data innovation to improve early detection, surveillance, and rapid response to disease outbreaks using a digital One Health approach.
Beyond research, Professor Nsagha is passionate about capacity building in scientific writing, research ethics, and health systems development. Through various training programs and collaborations, he has mentored and empowered hundreds of young African researchers and health professionals to lead evidence-based interventions in their communities.
His scientific leadership continues to influence how digital innovation, community engagement, and public health science can work together to transform health systems, advance epidemic preparedness, and promote equitable healthcare across Africa and the global South.