Edima Ottoho is a public health professional with over 13 years of experience implementing initiatives across nonprofit and for-profit sectors in the United States and internationally. She holds two master’s degrees in Public Health (MPH) and Business Administration (MBA), and is completing a Doctor in Public Health (DrPH) degree at Boston University, specializing in Leadership, Management, and Policy. Ottoho is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and she has successfully led projects that have created measurable improvements in health systems and community well-being. She is dedicated to advancing global health equity, leading with compassion, commitment, and conscience to design and implement sustainable, impactful health initiatives.
Education
- BS, Genetics and Biotechnology and MPH, Health Services Management at University of Calabar, Nigeria
- MBA, University of South Wales, United Kingdom
- DrPH Leadership, Management, and Policy candidate at Boston University
Courses
- PH245 Global Health
- PH241 Health, Illness, and Society
- PH101 Introduction to Public Health
- PH350 Independent Study
Areas of Expertise
Global Health, Health Policy, Aging, Infectious Diseases, NCDs, Maternal and Child Health, Women's Leadership, Program Design, Project Management
Licenses
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, Project Management Institute
- Lean Six Sigma
Selected Certifications
- Postgraduate Diploma, Strategic Project Management, EduQual, London, UK
- Policy Development and Advocacy in Global Health (3 months), University of Washington
- White and Yellow Belt, Lean Six Sigma, Aveta Business Institute and SixSigma
- Project Management for Development Professionals (Practitioner level), PM4NGOs
- Economic Evaluation in Global Health (3-month intensive course), University of Washington
- Community Change in Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- American Public Health Association (APHA)
- Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Association of Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)
- American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH)
Community Engagement
- Smile Train YLC Board Member
- The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Community Health & Prevention Policy Committee Member
Research and/or Special Projects
Enhancing Women's Leadership in Global Health: Investigating Mentorship Models for Women in Global Health, and Developing a Framework for Effective Implementation in Low-and-Middle Income Countries (LMICs).
Publications
Scientific Journal Articles
- Ottoho E, Omang and DI, John GE. Evaluation of the administrative, coordination and financing capacity of the sub-national malaria elimination programs in Nigeria: a case study of cross river state. J Public Health Afr. 2024 Jan 1;14(12):2276. doi: 10.4081/jphia.2024.2276. PMID: 38269105
Osuagwu A, Ekpo I, Okpako E, Otu P, Ottoho E. The Biology, Utilization and Phytochemical Composition of the Fruits and Leaves of Gongronema latifolium Benth. Agrotechnol. 2013;2:115. doi:10.4172/2168-9881.1000115.
Editorials
- Police report requirement for medical emergencies in Nigeria: a threat to Universal Healthcare Coverage (2024). Medicine, Conflict and Survival, 1–8. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13623699.2024.2425336
- Mpox Vaccines in Nigeria: A Global Health Perspective (October 15, 2024). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4988163 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4988163
- Effects of migration on Sudanese women and children: a public health concern. Available at: doi:10.1080/13623699.2024.2345966.
- Relationship between patients and medical professionals: expectations towards healthcare services in Nigeria. Available at: doi:10.1097/MS9.0000000000001505.
- Tackling Sickle Cell in Africa. J Med Surg Public Health. 2024; 100054.
- A call to reframe the inequitable global poverty definition. All Africa. 2023. Available at: https://allafrica.com/stories/202311070089.html.
- The outbreak of anthrax in Nigeria: Re-enforcing one health (2023). Available at: doi: 10.1016/j.nmni.2023.101189.
Abstracts and Conference Presentations
- A Needs Assessment for Professional Development for Women in Global Health: a cross-sectional survey in Massachusetts in 2023. Oral presentation accepted for the 2024 American Public Health Association (APHA) conference. Presented by Ottoho, Edima, Wirtz, Veronika, Kelly, Jocelyn, and Albanti, Irini.
- A Business and Economic Case for the Emerging Fertility Rate Crisis - A Cross-country Analysis (Nigeria, India, and Bangladesh). Presented by Thakkar, Nachiket, Prasad, Narayana, Ottoho, Edima, and Fatima, Moomtahima from Northeastern University, Brigham and Women Hospital, Boston University, and Harvard Medical School. Presented at the Sangam 2024 Conference hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, India.
- The Use of Behavioral Economics to Drive Ownership in Facilities and Communities. A sponsored symposium presentation by Edima Ottoho at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Conference on behalf of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Ltd. (October - November 2022, Seattle, U.S.).
- Establishing a Low-cost Sub-national Specimen Referral System for Epidemic Response: A Pilot Study. An abstract was presented at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) 2021 Conference by Abaa, D; Zuokemefa, A; Ahumibe, A; Mba, N; Balogun, O; Ottoho, E; Shimang, J; Ejieji, K; Agogo, Emmanuel.
- Acceptance and Level of Satisfaction among PLHIV and Healthcare Providers using Optimized OpenMRS Electronic Health Record for HIV Care at 3 PEPFAR Sites in 2 Nigerian States. Abstract presented at the 2019 Nigeria Implementation Science Alliance (NISA) Conference (17th to 18th September 2019) by Olateju, A; Ottoho, E; Dakum, P; Avong, G; Olupitan, B; Ejieji, K; Dapiap, S; Aliyu, A; Kayode, G; Sam-Agudu, N.
Awards
2024 – Henrik L. Blum Award - Excellence in Health Planning, American Public Health Association (APHA).
2024 – Community Health Planning & Policy Development - Public Health Spotlight award, APHA.
2024 – Elinor Ostrom Fellow, Mercatus Center, George Mason University, USA
2024 – Fellow, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, Boston University
2023 – 40 under 40 Public Health Catalyst, Boston Congress of Public Health, USA
2023 - Equity & Inclusion Fellow, Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM), USA
2022 – Frederic Bastiat Fellow, Mercatus Center, George Mason University, USA.
2021 – Design, Equity, Action, & Leadership (DEAL) Fellow, West African Institute of Public Health.