FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: FERDIE MUKUMBANG

Ferdinand A. Mukumbang, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Global Health
Associate Editor, PLOS Global Public Health 

Dr. Ferdinand Mukumbang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington, and a faculty lead at the Strategic Analysis, Research & Training (START) Center. His research lies at the intersection of global health systems, implementation science, and the decolonization of global health practice. Originally from Cameroon, Dr. Mukumbang brings a cross-continental academic background and a nuanced understanding of health equity to his teaching and research. 

Dr. Mukumbang holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing education and earned dual master’s degrees in nursing education and HIV Management in South Africa. He completed a joint PhD in Public Health through the University of the Western Cape (South Africa) and the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Belgium), where he focused on theory-driven evaluations of community-based antiretroviral treatment interventions. 

His research is grounded in implementation science, with an emphasis on understanding not just whether interventions work, but how, why, and under what conditions they succeed or fail. His methodological approach prioritizes theory-informed inquiry to improve the sustainability, transferability, and equity of public health programs—particularly in resource-limited settings. 

A key focus of Dr. Mukumbang’s current work is the decolonization of global health. He advocates for equitable, reciprocal partnerships and stronger agency for countries in the Global South in shaping health agendas and policies. He has contributed thought leadership to this area, including a recent article in The Lancet, and is developing a new course on decolonizing global health. 

In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Mukumbang serves as an Associate Editor for PLOS Global Public Health. He is also the author of an upcoming book, titled Decolonizing Global Health – A Critical Realist Perspective, that focuses on unpacking the colonially-informed culture, structures, and mechanisms which exist across global health institutions. Through both scholarship and practice, he is committed to advancing inclusive, sustainable, and just health systems.