Dr Gemma Whyatt

Dr Gemma Whyatt is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Practice, based within the Global Primary and Community Care research group under the supervision of Dr Shobhana Nagraj at the Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge. Her current research focuses on specialist health services and models of care for refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people, with a particular interest in qualitative and participatory research methods.

Gemma developed a strong commitment to global health during medical school, where she held national and international leadership roles with Students for Global Health (formerly Medsin) and the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA). She has represented youth voices as a delegate at the World Health Assembly, advocating for universal health coverage and meaningful involvement of young people in global health policy.

She holds an MSc in Global Health from Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Her dissertation explored the experiences of general practitioners providing care to survivors of torture, using qualitative research approaches. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she volunteered as a doctor with asylum seekers in Paris and worked within a research group in Leeds developing assessment tools and clinical pathways for patients with post-COVID syndrome. She is co-author on a related paper, which has received nearly 2,000 citations at the time of writing.

Also interested in Emergency Medicine, she worked in A&E departments in London for two years following completion of foundation training and intends to continue roles in Emergency Medicine alongside training as a GP.

In 2024, she completed the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She speaks fluent Spanish, which supports her work with migrant communities and international collaborations.