Karessa is an emerging health policy and systems research (HPSR) practitioner. She holds an undergraduate and master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of the Witwatersrand.
She spent the formative years of her career as a clinician in the public health sector. She has subsequently occupied positions in local and international NGOs working in human resources for health, health care worker advocacy and social accountability.
Karessa joined SOPH in 2023. Her primary responsibility is to support the South African Learning Alliance for District Health Systems (SALAD). SALAD is a learning network that brings together health policy researchers and policy makers to support the District Health System (DHS) as part of wider health system strengthening.
Karessa is currently a pre-doctoral student at SOPH and will begin her doctoral studies in 2026. Her research interests are community-based monitoring and social accountability.
In the news
School of Public Health highlights the importance of trauma-informed research and community health worker well-being at Global Mental Health Symposium
Three SoPH scholars presented at the World Universities Network Global Mental Health Symposium at the University of Cape Town
SOPH, UWC at PHASA 2025
18th Annual Public Health Conference: 6 – 9 APRIL 2025 –
Partnerships for Public Health: Sculpting a Healthier Future Together
Partnerships and Co-Design Processes for Health and Gender Equality: Insights for Programme Implementers, Researchers and Funders
This session aims to illustrate the promises and pitfalls of working with a co-design approach in implementing a gender-transformative approach into adolescent and young people SRHR intervention. The perspectives of a grant manager, a programme implementer and a public health researcher are discussed in relation to participant’s own experiences.