Carmen S. Christian
University of the Western Cape
Associate Professor, Department of Economics
Cape Town, South Africa
I am a development economist with a special interest in tuberculosis (TB) and a focus on public health economics. I work as an academic (Associate Professor), researcher (Principal Investigator) and consultant (Technical Advisor).
I am passionate about understanding public health issues in South Africa. My purpose in life is to use my interdisciplinary background in Health Sciences and Economics to advance research that impacts health policy - and ultimately quality of life - for the better.
My understanding of health issues is attributed to my experience as a healthcare professional. I pivoted from my professional training as a physiotherapist to explore the field of economics. Furthering my studies in economics gives me a unique outlook on public health research and the ability to navigate and integrate economics- and health-related spaces.
I completed my B.Sc in Physiotherapy at the University of Cape Town in 2003 and then spent over seven years working in South Africa’s public and private health sectors. During this time, I started part-time studies in economics at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). In 2011, I exited the private health sector and started teaching at UWC’s Department of Economics. In 2014 I completed my M.Econ at UWC and by 2019 was awarded my PhD in economics at Stellenbosch University. My PhD explored demand and supply constraints on early TB detection in South Africa. Other research interests include access to healthcare, health inequalities, health-seeking behaviour and the economics of infectious diseases.