Mirroring the changing social and research contexts over the last 20 years, Professor Maria Maynard’s inaugural professorial lecture maps a journey from observing and understanding ethnic health inequalities to engaging in practical efforts to effect change.

Professor Maria Maynard’s work has examined disparities in a range of health outcomes including type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, respiratory health and psychological wellbeing. The driving force and common thread throughout this work has been to centre the voices of those communities underrepresented in, and underserved by, public health research. 

Maria’s core argument is that ethnic health inequalities are shaped by wider issues of disadvantage, and that the importance of structural, institutional, and interpersonal racism is often overlooked. Maria’s work also celebrates the cultures, assets and resilience of the diverse populations with which she works. 

In her lecture, Professor Maynard will illustrate her research journey with projects in the UK and West Africa, detailing the epidemiological and sociological methods that she and her co-investigators have developed. Within an overarching anti-racism and social justice framework, she applies community-based participatory research, behaviour change and socio-ecological theories to begin to break down the barriers to more equitable health outcomes.

She will highlight the community links established over time, on which her research activities are built: these trusting relationships are the cornerstone of co-producing real change in people’s lives.