Lisha Jeena

Biography

Lisha is currently reading for a DPhil in Clinical Medicine, having completed a MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine in 2020/21. She graduated from the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), South Africa and completed her internship and community service before joining the Rhodes Community at Oxford. As an undergraduate student, Lisha founded the UKZN Medecins Sans Frontier’s student organisation, and pioneered health screening initiatives in underprivileged communities. Her passion for community work has continued at Oxford, having been part of the founding committee and now a Deputy Director of the Africa Impact Finance Initiative, which collaborates closely with the Rhodes Scholars Africa Forum. Her research interest is in HIV immunology combined with its clinical implications, particularly in adolescents and children. This will form the basis of her research during the DPhil. In the future, Lisha aspires to use the public health and clinical laboratory skills gained during her time in Oxford to pursue a career in clinical trials and program implementation in sub-saharan Africa.