Dr Ruwayda Petrus joined the School of Applied Human Sciences as a Senior Lecturer in Industrial Psychology. Prior to joining the SAHS, Dr Petrus was involved in various research projects at the Centre for Rural Health which focused on Health System Strengthening Interventions for Low and Middle Income Countries. Part of her role was to develop a Clinical Communications Skills Training Program for Professional Nurses working in Primary Health Care Facilities in the North West. She led the team tasked with piloting the training program (initially called Change Management for Nurse Led Chronic Care) in 3 facilities in Dr Kenneth Kaunda as part of the Programme for Improving Mental Health Care (PRIME) under the leadership of Professor Inge Petersen. Her PhD focused on exploring the psychological resources and stressors of nurses working in a National health Insurance pilot site in the North West Her interests include health systems strengthening interventions, clinical communication skills for person centred care and workforce readiness for change interventions. She also has a keen interest in developing and testing interventions which aim to empower and equip staff to deal with issues like stress and burnout in the workplace. Currently she is part of a NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Health System Strengthening in Sub Saharan Africa (ASSET) and a member of the Integrated Primary Health Care Platform working group and the Non-technical Skills working group.

Research Interests

• health system strengthening, organisational development and change interventions for health systems, clinical communication skills, workforce preparedness for change, developing human resources for health

Teaching Interests

• Organisational Psychology, Research Methods, Psychological Assessment, Human Resource Development, Community Psychology