Research Overview
Generating evidence that strengthens health systems and improves health outcomes.
At the Department of Family, Community and Emergency Care (FaCE), our research is grounded in real-world health systems and community contexts. We focus on producing evidence that informs practice, shapes policy, and contributes to more equitable and responsive healthcare.
Our research spans clinical care, public health, and health systems, with a strong emphasis on community-oriented primary care and applied research.
We prioritise work that:
- Embedded — conducted within real service and community settings
- Applied — focused on improving practice and delivery
- Responsive — aligned with priority health needs
Through our clinical teaching platform and partnerships, research is integrated into the same environments where care is delivered and students are trained.
From the Research Director
At FaCE, our research is shaped by a commitment to understanding how health systems function in practice — and how they can be strengthened to better serve the communities that rely on them. Our work is not separate from the environments in which care is delivered. It is embedded within health services and communities, allowing us to engage directly with the challenges and opportunities that define healthcare in South Africa.
We work collaboratively with clinicians, students, communities, and partners to ensure that our research is:
- Relevant to real-world challenges
- Rigorous in its methods
- Impactful in its outcomes
We also see research as central to education. By involving students and trainees in research, we equip them with the skills to critically engage with evidence and contribute to improving the systems in which they work.
We invite you to explore our research, engage with our work, and be part of ongoing conversations about strengthening health systems and advancing equitable care.
Dr Sarah Day
Research Director
Department of Family, Community & Emergency Care
How We Do Research
Our research is closely linked to:
- Clinical teaching platforms
- Community engagement
- Health service delivery
This ensures that:
- Research questions emerge from real-world needs
- Findings are directly applicable to practice
- Evidence contributes to improving both care and systems
Research Areas
Our work spans a number of interconnected areas:
Community-Oriented Primary Care
Research focused on integrating clinical care, public health, and community engagement to improve population health outcomes.
Primary Healthcare Systems
Understanding and strengthening district health systems, service delivery models, and access to care.
Emergency care systems
Research on the organisation, delivery, and improvement of emergency care across the continuum.
Palliative Care
Exploring patient-centred care, quality of life, and health system responses to chronic and life-limiting illness.
Health Systems Strengthening & Implementation Science
Studying how interventions, policies, and innovations are implemented in real-world contexts, and how they can be scaled effectively.
Sports & Exercise Medicine
Research on physical activity, human performance, and their role in health and wellbeing across populations.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Health systems are complex, and improving them requires more than isolated interventions.
By grounding our research in real-world contexts, we are able to:
Generate evidence that is relevant and actionable
Strengthen the link between research and practice
Support more effective and sustainable health interventions
Contribute to more equitable health outcomes