Assistant Professor, Global Health, University of Washington
Dr. Ferdinand Mukumbang, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Global Health. He is a Public Health scientist specializing in health policy and systems research with a specific focus on implementation sciences. His research career has evolved around understanding the dynamics and complexities of retention in care and adherence to antiretroviral medication among people living with HIV with a particular focus on adolescents living with HIV. As such, his current research focus is on developing and implementing antiretroviral treatment protocols for transitioning adolescents living with HIV from pediatric/adolescent HIV care to adult HIV care.
Dr. Mukumbang is also interested in the development and implementation of strategies to decolonize global health. His work in this area relates to addressing issues of health inequities in global health. For instance, addressing issues of poor integration and consideration of refugees and migrants during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic – prevention (information and vaccination, treatment, and care).
Regarding methodological advancements in implementation sciences, he is particularly interested in the development and adoption of realist-informed research methods – critical realist theorizing, realist evaluation, and realist synthesis and reviews – for evidence-based theorizing in health care and global health to unpack implementation outcomes. He has published several methodological papers in this regard.
Publications
- Mugo, C, Njuguna, I, Maganga, V, Flaherty, BP, Wagner, AD, Mukumbang, FC et al.. Integration of a brief, transdiagnostic psychological intervention in the care of adolescents and young adults with HIV in Kenya: Protocol for a cluster randomized clinical trial. PLoS One. 2025;20 (6):e0325374. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0325374. PubMed PMID:40540521 PubMed Central PMC12180645.
- Adhikari, B, Amaratunga, C, Mukumbang, FC, Mishra, SR. Why should we be concerned by internalised racism in global health?. BMJ Glob Health. 2025;10 (6):. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-016740. PubMed PMID:40527526 PubMed Central PMC12182036.
- Mutua, MN, Mukumbang, FC. Dynamics in implementing the Good Financial Grant Practice standard across three African universities: an Indigenous realist evaluation. Health Res Policy Syst. 2025;23 (1):69. doi: 10.1186/s12961-025-01343-7. PubMed PMID:40420162 PubMed Central PMC12105164.
- Guajardo, MGU, Mukumbang, FC, Dronavalli, M, Woolfenden, S, Parcsi, L, McDougall, B et al.. Innovative Policy Supports for Integration in Health and Social Care Focused on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations in Australia: A Qualitative Study. J Immigr Minor Health. 2025;27 (4):550-558. doi: 10.1007/s10903-025-01697-8. PubMed PMID:40299170 PubMed Central PMC12255537.
- Wiyeh, A, Komba, P, Ojong, SA, Wiysonge, CS, Moki-Suh, B, Sadate-Ngatchou, P et al.. A Critical juncture in global health: Leveraging historical institutionalism to examine PEPFAR dependency and inform the development of self-reliant public health systems. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025;5 (4):e0004440. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004440. PubMed PMID:40293974 PubMed Central PMC12036835.