Sumedha Ariely

Sumedha Ariely is an Associate Professor of the Practice of Global Health at Duke University, affiliated with the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI). She holds a PhD in Psychology with a focus on cognitive development and culture. Her work emphasizes global health research methods, ethics, and the intersection of cultural, social, and biological factors on health behaviors.

Education: Dr. Ariely earned her PhD in Psychology, focusing on cognitive development and culture. Her academic background combines developmental psychology with global health.

Research Interests: Dr. Ariely’s expertise spans maternal, child, and adolescent health; HIV/AIDS; malaria; nutrition; cardiovascular disease; and water and health policy. She explores how cultural and social contexts influence health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Uganda, and the United States. She also investigates mental health challenges among orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) and caregivers in institutional and community-based settings.

Projects: She leads initiatives like a distance-based degree program for Ghanaian nurse anesthetists, the Naama Community Health Collaboration in Uganda, and studies on neonatal mortality in India. She champions DGHI’s 'Local-is-Global' approach, prioritizing local engagement in global health solutions.

Awards: No scientific awards listed.

Advising & Grants: Dr. Ariely advises students through her courses (e.g., GLHLTH 101, 373, 499) but no specific advisees are listed. Details on grants or funding are not provided.

Collaborations: Her work involves partnerships with organizations like Udayan Care and integrates interdisciplinary methods from psychology, public health, and engineering education.