Shenaz Ahmed

Professor Shenaz Ahmed is a Professor of Global Health at the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, part of the University of Leeds' School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine and Health. She serves as the School’s Academic Lead for the BMA Charter on Racial Harassment, driving anti-racism initiatives and promoting racial equality for minoritized staff and students. Her research focuses on psychological, social, and ethical aspects of prenatal and genetic testing, health inequalities, and culturally sensitive decision support interventions in low-resource settings, particularly in Pakistan.

Education:

• PhD, University of Leeds (2001)
• BSc Psychology (Hons, First Class), University of Leeds (1998)

Research Interests: Professor Ahmed’s work explores decision-making in diverse cultural contexts, including attitudes toward genetic testing, disability (e.g., β-thalassaemia major, Down syndrome), and termination of pregnancy. She develops interventions to improve healthcare access and equity, particularly for marginalized groups. Her methods include qualitative research, Q-methodology, and collaborations with global partners like the Punjab Thalassaemia Prevention Project and Thalassaemia Society of Pakistan.

Grants & Collaborations: She leads a project on cascade screening for β-thalassaemia major in Pakistan and holds an Honorary Associate Professorship at Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore. Her work emphasizes racial equality, reflected in initiatives like the Microaggressions Awareness Poster Campaign and BMA Charter implementation.

Teaching: She contributes to modules on qualitative research, public health, and cultural diversity in medicine, including the MBChB undergraduate program and MPH courses.