Dr Kristina Wanyonyi-Kay

Dr Kristina Wanyonyi-Kay is a Research Programme Leader and Senior Research Associate at The Healthcare Improvement Studies (THIS) Institute, within the Department of Public Health and Primary Care.  Her key research interests lie in health services research and population health, with a focus on learning health systems to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and equity in healthcare delivery.

Kristina trained as a dental surgeon and worked as a clinician in high-need settings and informal settlements in Kenya before pursuing an academic career in the UK.  After completing her PhD at King’s College London, she held academic and research roles, including as a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health at Queen Mary University of London.  She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and served as the NIHR Clinical Research Network Lead for the Oral and Dental Specialty in Wessex from 2017 to 2020.  Since 2020, she has been a member of the Health and Science Committee of the British Dental Association.

Kristina’s research employs mixed-method approaches and pragmatic designs, including the use of routine data and electronic health records, to develop and evaluate health service interventions.  Her work spans primary care, hospitals, and social care settings, addressing chronic diseases and health inequalities through collaborative healthcare improvement research.