Dr. John Phuka is a medical doctor, public health specialist, and Associate Professor who currently serves as the Executive Dean of the School of Global and Public Health at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) in Malawi. He brings extensive experience in health systems strengthening, public health leadership, academic mentorship, and research translation into policy. Dr. Phuka chairs the university’s Climate and Health Coordination Committee, a multi-disciplinary platform spanning five schools, and is the Director of the Centre of Innovations for Public Health and Emergency Response (CIPHER), which leads applied research, teaching, and outreach to improve community resilience to climate shocks and public health emergencies.

Externally, He supports the Government of Malawi and development partners, contributing to health policy development and implementation through technical working groups on immunization, nutrition, epidemic response, and health emergency preparedness. He served as Co-Chairperson of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, where he coordinated the national response strategy and vaccine rollout efforts. He has also led responses to climate-induced disasters, including support for emergency medical services during cyclones and diarrheal disease outbreaks, as well as research on malnutrition and environmental health hazards such as healthcare waste management.

He is actively involved in curriculum development for postgraduate programs, and his research informs both academic training and policy. His work is widely published and on PubMed. He has mentored numerous master’s and doctoral students, contributing to the next generation of public health professionals in Malawi and beyond. He holds an MBBS and a PhD, and is a champion of collaborative, evidence-driven approaches to health system strengthening, climate resilience, and community-centered innovation in public health. His leadership and scholarship continue to shape the health and climate policy landscape in Malawi and across the region.