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Columbus Ohaeri BA, MSc, PhD candidate

Mr Columbus Ohaeri

(he/him)

BA, MSc, PhD candidate

Teams and roles for Columbus Ohaeri

Overview

I am a Public Health Intelligence Specialist with expertise in epidemiology, patient-level data analysis, and health promotion. My research interests center on addressing avoidable and unjust health inequalities, particularly those related to access to dental care, dental charges, and oral health outcomes. I employ advanced analytical methods to interrogate large and complex datasets, generating evidence that informs policy, service design, and population-level interventions.

My work focuses on translating data into actionable insights through rigorous statistical analysis and clear, evidence-based communication. I am committed to exploring the structural and socioeconomic determinants of oral health disparities and developing strategies to mitigate these inequities. By integrating quantitative research with public health principles, I aim to contribute to a more equitable health system where oral health is recognized as a fundamental component of overall well-being.

Research

Research Interests

My research focuses on oral health inequities, particularly the role of NHS dental fee exemptions in shaping access to care and oral health outcomes. Through my PhD project, Exploring the Association Between NHS Dental Fee Exemptions and Oral Health Inequities, I investigate how financial barriers and exemption schemes influence treatment uptake and oral health across socioeconomic groups. Up until now, my interests have primarily centered on inequalities in access to specialist substance misuse treatment services, examining how structural and socioeconomic factors affect engagement and outcomes.

Current Projects

  • PhD Project: Exploring NHS dental fee exemptions and oral health inequities using mixed-methods (quantitative analysis of large-scale datasets and qualitative interviews).
  • BOLD Programme: A multi-agency initiative involving Welsh Government, Public Health Wales, Swansea University, and the Ministry of Justice, focused on understanding and improving health and justice-related inequalities and outcomes through linked administrative data.

Recent Collaborations

  • Public Health Wales – Health intelligence and policy analysis.
  • ADR Wales / ADR UK – Administrative data research for social and health equity.
  • Welsh Government & Ministry of Justice – Evidence-based reports informing national strategies.

Publications & Outputs

  • Enhancing opportunities to reduce escalation to substance use disorders through early engagement: a retrospective observational data linkage study of primary and secondary care in Wales
    BMJ Public Health, 2025
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    Impact: Provides evidence for early intervention strategies to prevent escalation of substance misuse, influencing integrated care pathways.
  • Comparative risk of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) following COVID-19 vaccination or infection: A national cohort study using linked electronic health records
    Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 2022
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    Impact: Informs vaccine safety monitoring and public health risk communication.
  • The impact of co-occurring homelessness and substance misuse on secondary healthcare in Wales
    Welsh Government Report
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    Impact: Highlights health inequalities among homeless individuals, shaping policy for integrated housing and health services.
  • Pathways between probation services and substance misuse treatment services in Wales
    Welsh Government Report
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    Impact: Supports justice-health collaboration to reduce reoffending and improve treatment engagement.
  • The interplay between children looked after and substance misuse in Wales: scoping the use of administrative data
    Welsh Government Report
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    Impact: Provides evidence for safeguarding and early intervention strategies for vulnerable children.
  • Substance misuse, health service contact and risk of mortality: A data linkage study in Wales
    PHW Report
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    Impact: Identifies mortality risks and service gaps, informing harm reduction policies.
  • DATA EXPLAINED: Welsh National Database for Substance Misuse (WNDSM) data quality audit and considerations
    PHW Technical Note
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    Impact: Improves data quality standards for substance misuse surveillance.
  • Health and justice related substance misuse in Wales: creating an e-cohort of intergenerational households
    IJPDS Conference Proceedings
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    Impact: Demonstrates innovative data linkage methods for health and justice research.
  • Phenotype Library Entry: Substance Misuse – Healthcare (PH1906/4433)
    Health Data Gateway
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    Impact: Provides reusable phenotype definitions for research reproducibility.

Explore Further

Supervisors

Anwen Cope

Anwen Cope

Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Dental Public Health

Contact Details

Email [email protected]

Campuses University Dental Hospital, Room 5F.06 Postgraduate Research Office, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XY