Thomas S O'Connell

Thomas O’Connell is a Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Global and Environmental Health at NYU’s School of Global Public Health. As a nurse, development economist and global public health advocate, his interests include strengthening the governance, financing and management of public health systems to deliver universal, quality and sustainable health services to all who need them, when and where they need them. He teaches courses on Applying System’s Thinking to Global Health, Health and Human Rights, and the Foundations of Global Public Health.

Prior to his appointment at GPH, Prof O’Connell worked as a critical care nurse, followed by a 22 year career at the WHO and UNICEF working with 70+ countries to strengthen health governance, financing and service delivery within the context or a Primary Health Approach. Additionally, he served as WHO’s and UNICEF’s representative on Health Systems Strengthening to the Gavi Vaccine Alliance and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, as well as researching ways to improve the sustainable impact of donor funding. As a member of WHO’s Nursing and Midwifery Task Force, he served as its Gender and Diversity lead. Retired from WHO in 2021, he continues to serve on global health advisory panels, such as the Inter-Agency PHC and Immunization Working Group chaired by WHO.

In 2021 he joined the Board of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. As a co-opted member, he contributes expertise in economics, financing and governance, and Chairs the Board’s Sub-Committee on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. He also is a visiting Adjunct Professor on Global Public Health at the American University of Antigua’s College of Medicine.

Prof. O’Connell holds an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School and a MSc in Development Economics from the University of London, SOAS. He did his undergraduate studies in biochemistry and nursing at Brown University and Fresno City College.