Dr. Emilia Kathleen Connolly

Dr. Emilia Connolly joined Partners In Health (PIH) Malawi in a leadership capacity, serving as Chief Health Systems Policy Advisor. She is a pediatrician with extensive expertise in global health, health systems strengthening, and integrated care delivery in low-resource settings. With dual training in osteopathic medicine and public health, she brings over a decade of experience implementing and evaluating clinical programs, policy development, and universal health coverage initiatives in rural Malawi.

Professional Background

Dr. Connolly’s career centers on accompanying the Malawi Ministry of Health and local communities to redesign and strengthen primary and pediatric healthcare systems:

• Leads national-level strategy, development, implementation, and evaluation of Integrated Care Pathways and health service delivery reform, focusing on maternal/child health, chronic diseases, and community co-design.
• Provides clinical expertise and technical advising for pediatric and neonatal programs at Neno District Hospital, including co-leading the establishment of a 10-bed neonatal nursery, kangaroo mother care unit, and Pediatric Development Clinic serving high-risk infants and children.
• Oversees integration of pediatric non-communicable diseases (NCDs), developmental screening, depression screening/treatment, and sexual/gender-based violence protocols into routine care.
• Has held academic appointments as Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics (University of Cincinnati College of Medicine / Cincinnati Children’s Hospital) and contributes to teaching/mentoring at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences.
• Co-investigator on major grants from Gates Foundation, Unitaid, NIH, and others evaluating integrated care, oxygen services, depression treatment in HIV platforms, and type 1 diabetes access.
• Extensive publication record (over 40 peer-reviewed articles) on topics including neonatal outcomes, NCD integration, depression care, COVID-19 response, and health benefits package revision in Malawi.

Strategic Oversight

Dr. Emilia Connolly provides high-level strategic leadership for Malawi’s health sector transformation in her seconded role to the Ministry of Health:

• Serves as Secretariat for the Health Service Delivery Reform Taskforce, co-leading design, implementation, and evaluation of integrated care pathways and service redesign in maternal/child health, chronic diseases, and community co-design.
• Co-leads the national Emergency, Critical Care, and Oxygen Taskforce, guiding strategy, implementation plans, stakeholder coordination, and improvements to oxygen systems.
• Co-leads development of the Health Sector Strategic Plan (2023–2030), with primary responsibility for the Health Benefits Package, care continuum integration, and progress toward universal health coverage.
• Holds membership in key national and international bodies, including:
  • Health Sector Strategic Plan Steering Committee
  • Health Cluster (emergency and disaster response)
  • Health Service Working Group
  • Child Health Mapping Taskforce (UNICEF, WHO, Ministry of Health)
  • Global Oxygen Alliance Country Planning and Implementation Working Group
• Supports donor coordination, evidence-to-policy translation (especially in maternal and child health), and equity-focused health systems strengthening through partnerships with government, academic institutions, and implementing partners.

Education

• Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) (ongoing, expected 2027) — London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
• Masters of Public Health (MPH) — University of California, Berkeley
• Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) — University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine (now Rowan University SOM)
• Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry (Highest Honors) — Smith College