Dirk Essink

Dirk Essink is an Assistant Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Athena Institute and APH - Global Health within the Faculty of Science. He is also part of the Network Institute. His research focuses on health systems, transdisciplinary approaches, and global health issues, particularly in humanitarian settings, sexual and reproductive health, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture. His work spans regions including Vietnam, Laos, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

Essink holds a PhD in health system innovation, emphasizing NGO roles in change processes. He employs mixed-methods research, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Key affiliations include the Athena Institute and collaborations with institutions in Lao PDR and Ethiopia.

His recent projects include studies on nurses' experiences with hospital power structures, well-being among smallholder farmers, and predictive markers for diabetes in Lao PDR. He has supervised five PhD theses and teaches courses on global health interventions, governance, and human rights.

Collaborations involve interdisciplinary teams addressing healthcare quality, gender-based violence care, and global health ethics. His work integrates transdisciplinary frameworks to bridge research and policy for scalable health solutions.