Patience Afulani

Patience Afulani is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. Her research focuses on global maternal health, health systems and policy, person-centered care, and equity in reproductive health in developing countries.

Education:

• MBChB in Medicine and Surgery from University of Ghana Medical School (2007)
• MPH in Community Health Sciences from UCLA Fielding School of Public Health (2011)
• PhD in Public Health from UCLA Fielding School of Public Health (2015)

Dr. Afulani's research spans critical areas in maternal and child health. She has developed innovative models like the San Francisco Pregnancy Village and Caring for Providers to Improve Patient Experience (CPIPE) intervention to address birth inequities through cross-sector collaboration and provider wellbeing.

Her 15 most recent articles focus on topics including:

• Person-centered care validation scales across low- and middle-income countries
• Health workforce stress and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Cross-cultural adaptation of maternal care metrics
• Simulation training impacts on maternal care quality
• Social determinants of preterm birth disparities
• Respectful maternity care frameworks globally

Scientific Awards & Recognitions:

• Population Health and Health Equity Scholar (2022)
• Academy of Medical Educators Excellence in Teaching Award (2021)
• Watson Faculty Scholar (2020)
• Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow (2020)
• Dean's Outstanding Student Award at UCLA (2015)
• Multiple Best Student Awards at University of Ghana (2007, 2003, 2002, 1995)

She leads multidisciplinary studies in Kenya, Ghana, and California, examining how to improve maternal outcomes through provider training, integrated support systems, and policy innovations. Her work has been published in journals like Birth, Journal of Perinatology, and PLOS Global Public Health.