Lukoye Atwoli, PhD

Lukoye Atwoli's global work focuses on the social impacts of mental health, including how mental health impacts socioeconomic status and the delivery and quality of healthcare. His interests in global health equity align with the Center themes of strengthening systems to improve health and health equity and addressing and informing policy on the social and environmental determinants of health. Atwoli served as Global Technical Director for the citiesRISE initiative, whose goal is to help make five cities (Nairobi, Chennai, Bogota, Seattle, and Sacramento) mental health friendly, especially for young people. He has led AMPATH research network collaborations between African and US partners and is a social and health rights advocate, influencing policy and programs in the health and political spheres. Atwoli considers himself a "medical politician"—advocating for system-wide changes through involvement in health and research organizations. Atwoli was a featured speaker at the University of Michigan Psychiatry grand rounds and is a co-investigator on the NIH UZIMA-DS grant.