Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University has secured a powerful new voice in global public health. Professor Olanrewaju Oladimeji has been appointed Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Open Public Health Journal, a DHET-accredited, Scopus-indexed publication shaping research and policy debates worldwide. This is not a ceremonial title. It is a strategic seat at the table of global scholarship.
In his new role, Professor Oladimeji will work alongside Professor Leonardo Emberti Gialloreti of the University of Rome Tor Vergata and support Editor-in-Chief Professor Matthias Beck of University College Cork, together with a 43-member editorial board and 13 associate board members. He will help steer the journal’s academic direction, uphold rigorous peer-review standards, and make final decisions on manuscript acceptance. “Editorial leadership is about safeguarding quality and shaping conversations that matter,” Professor Oladimeji said. “Public health research must be rigorous, relevant and responsive to real-world challenges, particularly in Africa and the Global South.”
Published by Bentham Open, The Open Public Health Journal is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal covering the full spectrum of public health. Its scope spans public health policy and practice, epidemiology, occupational health, health services research, environmental health, adolescent health, AIDS care and mental health, among other interdisciplinary fields. By making research freely accessible, the journal ensures that evidence reaches practitioners, policymakers and scholars without barriers.
For SMU, the appointment signals momentum. “This is more than an individual achievement,” the University said in a statement. “It reflects SMU’s commitment to advancing health sciences education, research and community engagement in ways that respond directly to Africa’s priorities while contributing to global knowledge.”
As Co-Editor-in-Chief, Professor Oladimeji will also advise on the journal’s strategic growth and recommend new editorial board members. His position creates tangible opportunities for SMU academics to serve as peer reviewers and editorial leaders, expanding the University’s footprint in international scholarship. Postgraduate students and emerging researchers stand to gain valuable exposure to the publication process — sharpening their academic writing, peer-review and research dissemination skills.
Professor Oladimeji’s track record underscores the significance of his appointment. He has authored and co-authored hundreds of peer-reviewed articles, attracting more than 60,000 citations. With an h-index of 36 and an i10-index of 81, his scholarship reflects sustained global impact. His collaborations extend across the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia and multiple African countries.
He has led and co-led major funded projects, including the SAMRC-funded AKITH Study and the NIH D43 Khulani Siphile Siphuhle Doctoral Training Programme. He also serves as a Faculty Mentor in the Sustained Academic Research and Training Programme, a joint UCLA-NIH initiative involving the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and 10 other South African institutions. “My focus has always been research capacity development,” he said. “Strong institutions build strong researchers. Strong researchers produce evidence that changes lives.”
By placing one of its senior scholars in a key international editorial leadership role, SMU strengthens its voice in shaping public health discourse locally and globally. The message is clear: African scholarship is not on the margins. It is leading from the front.
For SMU, this milestone is both recognition and responsibility — and a decisive step towards becoming a leading African university in health sciences education, research and community impact.
By Tumelo Moila
