Dr Michelle King-Okoye

Dr Michelle Maxine King-Okoye is an Academic Researcher at the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre and a Postgraduate Assessor in Clinical and Health Services at the University of South Australia. She has significant international experience in cancer care, curriculum development, health innovation, and culturally inclusive research. Dr King-Okoye has led and collaborated on pioneering projects aimed at addressing cancer disparities among marginalised and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, particularly Black African and Caribbean men.

She has a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Surrey, UK, and is actively engaged in capacity building, mentorship, and global partnerships to drive impact in healthcare equity and digital innovation. Michelle has previously worked at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, the University of Edinburgh and NHS Scotland, United Kingdom.

She has clinical experience in critical care, cancer care, emergency care, cardiac postoperative care and renal transplant. Her research interests are focused on marginalization and health, digitalization in healthcare, health inequalities and health and illness experiences. 

Michelle is passionate about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion projects in healthcare, academia, and research. She is a committee member of the International Collaboration for Community Health Nursing Research and part of the leadership team for the Alliance of Diverse Academics in Nursing/Midwifery, UK.

The Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre is a partnership between the University of South Australia and the Rosemary Bryant Foundation, which aims to strengthen the nursing & midwifery workforce across the health system through the support and development of evidence-based healthcare, fostering partnerships and building research capacity. The RBRC has developed a comprehensive research program focused on advancing the discipline of nursing & midwifery and patient care related to population and public health, workforce reform, safety and quality, clinical practice, patient outcomes, and integration into education. Its objective is to enhance innovative partnerships for healthcare research, to inform strategies for: 1) Extending the capacity and capabilities of nurses and midwives to build a resilient, sustainable and collaborative workforce, 2) health system planning, evaluation and resourcing, 3) clinical care outcomes, and 4) translation of evidence into practice.

• Committee Member, ICCHNR
• Co-director and Member, ADANM (Alliance of Diverse Academics in Nursing and Midwifery)
• Founder and Member, The Ethnicity and COVID-19 Research Consortium
• Member, Scottish Cannabis Consortium
• Member, Lowitja Institute and NAATSIHWP
• Other professional associations - see my current CV

Work history

• Academic Researcher, Rosemary Bryant Research Centre, UniSA (2024–current)
• Postgraduate Assessor, CHS, UniSA (2024-current)
• Lecturer, University of Edinburgh (2020–current)
• Co-Director, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh (2022-current)
• COVID-19 Contact Tracing Practitioner, NHS Scotland (2021–2023)
• Research Consultant, IGDORE, Sweden (2018–2020)
• Researcher, Ministry of Public Administration, Trinidad and Tobago (2014–2018)
• Lecturer, University of the West Indies (2010–2014)
• Oncology Nurse, ICU, Cardiac and Emergency Nurse in Trinidad (2004–2010)