Aurum Scientist Lucy Chimoyi has been appointed to the editorial board of the new PLOS Global Public Health Journal which is aimed at charting a new path towards equity, diversity, and inclusion in global health. The journal published its inaugural edition last year and is led by Drs Catherine Kyobutungi and Madhukar Pai as Editors-in-Chief and Julia Robinson as Executive Editor.
Chimoyi said she was honoured to have been approached to join a strong, diverse board which sought to recruit researchers and experts, especially women, from the global South.
“As a scientist and an academic, this appointment to the Plos GPH editorial board affirms my contribution to science so far. As someone involved in capacity building, I will gain an insider’s view of publication dos and don’ts, which could accelerate publication efforts with other journals. Being a member will also expand Aurum’s network to fellow editorial-board members worldwide and could provide leads on professional opportunities or introduce myself and Aurum to new contacts and collaborations,” she said.
Congratulating Chimoyi, Prof Violet Chihota, Aurum Chief Specialist Scientist said; “We are proud to have an Aurum staff member on the editorial board of this new progressive journal addressing key issues in global health.”
According to the inaugural editorial, the journal is aimed at addressing; "deeply entrenched inequities in global health and make impactful research visible and accessible to health professionals, policymakers, and local communities. We are committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented and historically excluded communities and are deliberate and intentional about equity, diversity, and inclusion at all levels–editors, editorial boards, peer reviewers and authors—to broaden the range and diversity of perspectives we learn from and advance the health of all humankind," wrote the editorial team.
Chimoyi’s appointment follows publication of a first author article titled: Understanding factors influencing utilisation of HIV prevention and treatment services among patients and providers in a heterogeneous setting: A qualitative study from South Africa. Co-authored by Aurum’s Dr Tonderai Mabuto and Profs Salome Charalambous and Geoffrey Setswe, the paper is part of Chimoyi’s PhD studies at the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Public Health.
Chimoyi previously held the position of Senior Research Manager. In her new role as Scientist, she is involved in the conceptualisation stage of research ideas and topics, development of study documentation including protocols at inception. During the implementation stage, she conducts oversight of the technical aspects and, after study closure, is responsible for dissemination of findings.
Chimoyi has experience managing and implementing multi-site and multi-country mixed-methods research studies that seek to reduce the burden of disease such HIV, TB and COVID-19, among high-risk populations in many settings. She has presented her work in both local and international conferences and authored and co-authored a number of publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has also provided peer review for numerous manuscripts submitted to ISI-listed journals.
Other affiliations:
- On-going collaborations with the University of California San Francisco through the International Traineeship in AIDS Prevention Studies (ITAPS).
- Wits University: Supervision of post-graduate students and contributing to the lecturing aspects of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial analysis application in Public Health.
- Member of the Inmates Technical Working Group of the South African National AIDS Council.
- Member of the UNAIDS Building Networks Behind Prison Walls which inform policy on the health of incarcerated individuals.
