About

Dr. Laura Hoemeke is an adjunct faculty member at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health with over 25 years of experience in global health leadership, advocacy, communications, and program design and management. She has spent 15 years residing in Francophone Africa and has undertaken short-term assignments throughout Africa. Dr. Hoemeke is an independent consultant and a senior consultant with Clear Outcomes, working with clients such as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The G4 Alliance, Stanford University, Tetra Tech, and USAID. Her long-term experience includes work with organizations like IntraHealth International, USAID, and Africare. Her expertise encompasses reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, malaria control, good governance, decentralization, health systems strengthening, health financing, and community health. She holds a doctorate in health policy and management from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. Additionally, she completed her undergraduate studies at Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. Dr. Hoemeke is fluent in English, French, and Sango, the national language of the Central African Republic. She is a board member of the International Society of Systems and Complexity Sciences for Health and a member of Health Systems Global. Her research interests include health policy and advocacy, healthcare delivery, global health, health systems, maternal and child health, and reproductive health. She teaches PUBH 718 – Systems and Design Thinking for Public Health Leaders.

Research topics

• Political Science
• Medicine
• Computer Science
• Sociology
• Social Science
• Economic growth
• Law
• Development economics
• Socioeconomics
• Nursing
• Business
• Medical emergency
• Economics
• Virology
• Public relations

Selected publications

• Addressing skilled birth attendants’ needs of primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria using the human resources for health solutions model

  Discover Health Systems · 2025-05-27

  reviewOpen access

  This study addresses the needs of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) of primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Nigeria using the human resources for health (HRH) solutions model. A model analysis approach was adopted to understand existing frameworks in the global HRH landscape. An initial framework identification and contextualization were conducted to guide the analysis of the models identified in the literature. Relevant frameworks were identified, reviewed, and consolidated using the WHO HRH Action Framework (HAF). A total of 109 articles were included in the study after thorough screening out of which only nine (9) models of improving HRH planning and implementation in global health were reviewed. These were the Task Shifting/Sharing Model, Community Midwifery Model (CMM), Performance-Based Financing Model (PBF), Needs-Based Planning Model, Facilities-Based HRH Planning Model, Utilization-Based HRH Planning Model, Workforce Indicator Staffing Needs Model, USAID-Financing Innovations for Nutrition (FINFI) Model, and Micro-Learning Model. The proposed HRH solution model was adapted based on the gaps identified in all analyzed models. This study showed that there are different HRH models which address specific elements of the HRH value chain. However, these models are not comprehensive, therefore, tackling the challenges of SBA shortage in Nigeria would either require the integration of multiple models or the deployment of models in a phased approach which is what informed the proposed HRH solution model in addressing SBAs' needs of PHCs in Nigeria. We therefore recommend the implementation of the model.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Investments in surgical systems contribute to pandemic readiness and health system resilience

  UNC Libraries · 2025-06-10

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• COVID-19 – An Opportunity to Redesign Health Policy Thinking

  UNC Libraries · 2024-08-29 · 7 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) dramatically unveiled the fragile state of the world's health and social systems - the lack of emergency health crisis preparedness (under-resourced, weak leadership, strategic plans without clear lines of authority), siloed policy frameworks (focus on individual diseases and the lack of integration of health into the whole of societal activity and its impact on individual as well as community well-being and prosperity), and unclear communication (misguided rationale of policies, inconsistent interpretation of data). The net result is fear - about the disease, about risks and survival, and about economic security. We discuss the interdependencies among these domains and their emergent dynamics and emphasise the need for a robust distributed health system and for transparent communication as the basis for trust in the system. We conclude that systems thinking and complexity sciences should inform the redesign of strong health systems urgently to respond to the current health crisis and over time to build healthy, resilient, and productive communities.

  PublisherDOI

• Public investment in the development of vaccines: providing equitable access around the world

  BMJ · 2023-04-06

  letter
  PublisherDOI

• From “learning from the field” to jointly driving change

  Journal of Public Health Policy · 2021-04-27

  reviewOpen access

  The theme of the 8th edition of the Geneva Health Forum (GHF) was Improving access to health: learning from the field. While 'the field' often denotes people, patients, communities, and healthcare workers, we challenge the notion and its usage. A group of like-minded conference participants set up a working group to examine the term 'the field' and look at questions related to language, power, participation, and rights. By highlighting deficiencies of existing terms and jargon, we explain why language is a form of power that matters in public health. We describe global, regional, and national case studies that facilitate full participation to achieve more equitable health outcomes. By concluding with concrete recommendations, we hope to contribute to these shared goals: to correct power imbalances between health authorities and the people that they intend, and are expected, to serve. The authors are all members of the working group.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Chronic political instability and HIV/AIDS response in Guinea-Bissau: a qualitative study

  Infectious Diseases of Poverty · 2021 · 17 citations

  • Political Science
  • Sociology
  • Medicine

  BACKGROUND: The Republic of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa has a high HIV/AIDS disease burden and has experienced political instability in the recent past. Our study used qualitative methods to better understand key stakeholders' perceptions of the effects of chronic political instability on the HIV/AIDS response in Guinea-Bissau from 2000 to 2015 and lessons learned for overcoming them. METHODS: Seventeen semi-structured in-depth key informant interviews were conducted in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau in 2018. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, coded thematically, and analyzed inductively. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: (1) constantly start over; (2) the effects of instability rippling from central level throughout the health pyramid; (3) vulnerable populations becoming more vulnerable; and (4) coping mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Stakeholders from government, civil society, and donor organizations have recognized instability's effects as a barrier to mounting an effective local response to HIV/AIDS in Guinea-Bissau. To mitigate the effects of the country's political instability on the health sector, concerted efforts should be made to strengthen the capacities of health officials within the Ministry of Health to shield them from the effects of the country's political instability.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Resource Mobilization for Global Surgery: Lessons Learned From US Government Appropriations Advocacy

  The American Surgeon · 2021-10-12 · 3 citations

  article

  The US Agency for International Development (USAID) receives directives and funding through the appropriation process, though until recently, global surgery was not included in its mission. Nevertheless, an estimated five billion people lack access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care, in large part due to lack of economic resources. Using coalition-based advocacy, the G4 Alliance successfully developed and submitted language that was incorporated into the 2020 Appropriations report language, directing USAID to financially support global surgery. This has significant implications for global surgical investment, yet few advocates are aware of the 2020 Appropriations language, let alone how they can utilize it now to advance global surgery in their respective countries. Here, we describe how advocates navigate the US appropriations process and the ways USAID funds are obtained for the purposes of global health. We also highlight the importance of coalition-based advocacy and provide guidance in how to increase success.

  PublisherDOI

• Investments in surgical systems contribute to pandemic readiness and health system resilience

  Journal of Public Health Policy · 2021-06-30 · 13 citations

  reviewOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Optimizing Pandemic Preparedness and Response Through Health Information Systems: Lessons Learned From Ebola to COVID-19

  Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness · 2020 · 123 citations

  • Political Science
  • Medical emergency
  • Virology

  Strengthening health systems and maintaining essential service delivery during health emergencies response is critical for early detection and diagnosis, prompt treatment, and effective control of pandemics, including the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Health information systems (HIS) developed during recent Ebola outbreaks in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) provided opportunities to collect, analyze, and distribute data to inform both day-to-day and long-term policy decisions on outbreak preparedness. As COVID-19 continues to sweep across the globe, HIS and related technological advancements remain vital for effective and sustained data sharing, contact tracing, mapping and monitoring, community risk sensitization and engagement, preventive education, and timely preparedness and response activities. In reviewing literature of how HIS could have further supported mitigation of these Ebola outbreaks and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, 3 key areas were identified: governance and coordination, health systems infrastructure and resources, and community engagement. In this concept study, we outline scalable HIS lessons from recent Ebola outbreaks and early COVID-19 responses along these 3 domains, synthesizing recommendations to offer clear, evidence-based approaches on how to leverage HIS to strengthen the current pandemic response and foster community health systems resilience moving forward.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• COVID-19 – An Opportunity to Redesign Health Policy Thinking

  International Journal of Health Policy and Management · 2020 · 41 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Political Science
  • Public relations
  • Computer Science

  Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) dramatically unveiled the fragile state of the world's health and social systems - the lack of emergency health crisis preparedness (under-resourced, weak leadership, strategic plans without clear lines of authority), siloed policy frameworks (focus on individual diseases and the lack of integration of health into the whole of societal activity and its impact on individual as well as community well-being and prosperity), and unclear communication (misguided rationale of policies, inconsistent interpretation of data). The net result is fear - about the disease, about risks and survival, and about economic security. We discuss the interdependencies among these domains and their emergent dynamics and emphasise the need for a robust distributed health system and for transparent communication as the basis for trust in the system. We conclude that systems thinking and complexity sciences should inform the redesign of strong health systems urgently to respond to the current health crisis and over time to build healthy, resilient, and productive communities.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Fizan Abdullah

  Lurie Children's Hospital

  4 shared

• Megan E. Bouchard

  Georgetown University

  4 shared

• Joshua Galjour

  University of Geneva

  3 shared

• Peter Tsasis

  York University

  3 shared

• Joachim P. Sturmberg

  University of Newcastle Australia

  2 shared

• Emmanuel Kabengele Mpinga

  2 shared

• Rituu B. Nanda

  United Nations Children's Fund India

  2 shared

• Matthew T. Hey

  Brigham and Women's Hospital

  2 shared

Education

• Other, Public Health

  University of North Carolina

• Other, Online Master of Public Health

  Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina