Bernard Appiah

Bernard Appiah

Contact Information:

beappiah@syr.edu

315.443.1526

435A White Hall

Bernard Appiah

Assistant Professor, Public Health Department

Senior Research Associate, Maxwell African Scholars Union

Research Affiliate, Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health

Courses

  • 2025 Spring
    • PHP 661 Development and Evaluation of Public Health Programs
    • PHP 448/648 Global Health Communication and Advocacy
  • 2024 Fall
    • PHP 402 Implementing and Evaluating Health Programs
    • PHP 302 Influencing Healthy Behavior
  • 2024 Spring
    • PHP 499 Honors Capstone Project
  • 2023 Fall
    • PHP 402 Implementing and Evaluating Health Programs
    • PHP 302 Influencing Healthy Behavior
  • 2023 Spring
    • PHP 648 Global Health Communication
    • PHP 402 Implementing and Evaluating Health Programs

Highest degree earned

DrPH, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, 2013

Bio

Bernard Appiah joined the Public Health Department as assistant professor in fall 2020. He is director of the Research Program on Health Communication and Public Engagement (H-COPE) within the Public Health Department. H-COPE has research collaborations in New York state, nationally and globally. 

Prior to joining Syracuse University, Appiah was assistant professor at Texas A&M University’s School of Public Health in the Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health and Public Health Studies. He was the founding director of the Research Program on Public and International Engagement for Health.

Previously, Appiah served as a drug information pharmacist/publications manager at the National Drug Information Resource Centre (NDIRC) for the Ministry of Health in Ghana. He has taught courses such as environmental and occupational health communication, social context of population health, and comparative global health systems.

Appiah’s research interests lie in socio-behavioral approaches for exploring public health issues, global health and environmental health with an emphasis on socio-behavioral change communication, public/community engagement interventions, and dissemination of information/knowledge through culturally appropriate communication channels. 

He is published in several journals, including Psychiatry Research, Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy and Lancet Haematology, and has authored book chapters, technical reports and many articles for mass media. He has presented at the International Workshop for Practitioners of Engagement Between Health Researchers and Schools in Kilifi, Kenya; the West African Society of Pharmacologists (WASOP) Conference in Ghana; and Falling Walls Engage in Germany.

Appiah's research has received support from funding agencies such as the Wellcome Trust, UK, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada and USAID Ghana. Among the most recent supporters of his research is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.

Appiah is the recipient of numerous teaching and research fellowships and other honors including being named as a Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow in 2018 and 2016. He currently serves as director of the Centre for Science and Health Communication, a nonprofit in Ghana; member of the Healthcare Safety and Quality Expert Committee of the U.S. Pharmacopeia; member of the Publications and Presentations Committee of the NIH-funded BLOODSAFE Program; and reviewer for journals such as Public Understanding of Science, PLOS Global Public Health, Patient Education and Counseling, and Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy.

Research Grant Awards and Projects

"Patient-centered sickle cell disease management in SSA (PACTS)", Sponsored by National Institute for Health Research.

"BLOODSAFE: Development and evaluation of community-based approaches and donor care intervention models for improving availability and safety of blood for the management of severe anemia in Ghana", Sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH)/DHHS.

"BLOODSAFE: Development and evaluation of community-based approaches and donor care intervention models for improving availability and safety of blood for the management of severe anemia in Ghana - Phase 2", Sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH)/DHHS.

Selected Publications

  • Book
    • Anum, P., Ackon, A., Appiah, B. and Hedidor, G., Medicine information handbook. National Drug Information Resource Centre, Ghana, 2007.
  • Journal Articles
    • Helander, M. E., Appiah, B. and Mutambudzi, M. S., Stroke: Identifying Symptoms and Acting Fast to Save Lives and Prevent Permanent Disabilities. .
    • Asamoah-Akuoko , L., Appiah, B., "The status of blood supply in sub-Saharan Africa: barriers and health impact." The Lancet.
    • Appiah, B., Gebretsadik, L., Mamo, A., Kmush, B., Asefa, Y. and France, C. R., "A 10+10+30 radio campaign is associated with increased infant vaccination and decreased morbidity in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia: a prospective, quasi-experimental trial." PLOS Global Public Health, 2022.
    • Delaney, M., Telke, S., Zou, S., Williams, M., Aridii, J., Rudd, K., Puyana, J. C., Kumar, P., Appiah, B., Dei-Adomakoh, Y., Asamoah-Akuoko, L., Olayemi, E., Singogo, E., Hosseinipour, M., M'baya, B., Chipeta, B., Kamuzu, E. and Reilly, C., "BLOODSAFE Program: Building the future of access to safe blood in Sub-Saharan Africa." Transfusion, 2022.
    • Appiah, B., Walia, B. and Nam, S. H., "Promoting COVID-19 vaccination through music and drama—Lessons from early phase of the pandemic." British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2022.
    • Appiah, B., Asamoah-Akuoko, L., Samman, E., Koduah, A., Kretchy, I. A., Ludu, J. Y. and Gyansa-Luterrodt, M., "The impact of antimicrobial resistance awareness interventions involving schoolchildren, development of an animation and parents engagements: a pilot study." Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 2022.
    • Antwi, J., Appiah, B., Oluwakuse, B. and Abu, B. A., "The Nutrition-COVID-19 Interplay: a Review." Current Nutrition Reports, 2022.
    • Appiah, B., Anubhuti, P., Anum, D. A., Appiah, G., Wesuta, A. C., Akodwaa-Boadi, K., Ogodo, O., Nakkazi, E., Mulogo, E. M. and Odai, S. N., "Challenges and facilitators of public engagement with water, sanitation, hygiene and other environmental health issues in Ghana and Uganda: Perspectives of scientists, journalists and members of the public Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development." Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2021.
    • Appiah, B., Anum-Hagin, D., Gyansa-Luterrodt, M., Samman, E., Agyeman, F. K., Appiah, G. and Rene, A., "Children against antibiotics misuse and antimicrobial resistance: assessing effectiveness of storytelling and picture drawing as public engagement approaches." Wellcome Open Research, 2021.
    • Appiah, B., Yoshikawa, A., Asamoah-Akuoko, L., Anum, D. A., Kretchy, I. A., Samman, E., Goulart, A., Nwokike, J., Dodoo, A. N., Darko, D. M. and Rene, A., "Consumer reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions: Modelling the acceptance of mobile phone caller tunes to raise awareness." Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, 2021.
    • Kwayke, A. O., Dwomoh, A. K., Baah-Nyarkoh, E., Ganu, V. J., Appiah, B., Kretchy, I. A. and Alhassan, Y., "Determinants of blood pressure and blood glucose control in patients with co-morbid hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ghana: A hospital-based cross-sectional study." PLOS Global Public Health, 2021.
    • Asamoah-Akuoko, L., Ullum, H., Appiah, B., Hassall, O. W., Ndanu, T., Adongo, P. and Bates, I., "Determinants of intention to return to donate blood among first‐time blood donors in Ghana." Vox Sanguinis, 2021.
    • Appiah, B., Kretchy, I. A., Yoshikawa, A., Asamoah-Akuoko, L. and France, C. R., "Perceptions of a mobile phone-based approach to promote medication adherence: A cross-sectional application of the technology acceptance model." Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, 2021.
    • Appiah, B., Asamoah-Akuoko, L., France, C., Rene, A., Amanquah, N. and Bates, I., "Pharmacists and COVID-19 vaccination–Considering mobile phone caller tunes as a novel approach to promote vaccine uptake in low-and middle-income countries." Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 2021.
    • Appiah, B., Pressure on S. Africa for vaccine amid new COVID-19 strain. , 2021.
    • Kretchy, I. A., Appiah, B., Agyabeng, K., Kwarteng, E. M., Ganyaglo, E. and Aboagye, G. O., "Psychotropic medicine beliefs, side effects and adherence in schizophrenia: a patient–caregiver dyad perspective." International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, 2021.
    • Ogundipe, O., Mazidi, M., Chin, K. L., Gor, D., McGovern, A., Sahle, B. W., Jermendy, G., Maarit Jaana Korhonen, M. J., Appiah, B., Ademi, Z., De-Bruin, M. L., Liew, D. and Ofori-Asenso, R., "Real-world adherence, persistence, and in-class switching during use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors: a systematic review and meta-analysis involving 594,138 patients with type 2 diabetes." Acta Diabetologica, 2021.
    • Dei-Adomakoh, Y., Asamoah-Akuoko, L., Appiah, B., Yawson, A. and Olayemi, E., "Safe blood supply in sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and opportunities." The Lancet Haematology, 2021.
    • Kretchy, I. A., Koduah, A., Ohene-Agyei, T., Boima, V. and Appiah, B., "The association between diabetes-related distress and medication adherence behaviour of patients with diabetes mellitus in Accra, Ghana." Journal of Diabetes Research, 2021.
    • Appiah, B., Anubhuti, P., Burdine, J. N., Asamoah-Akuoko, L., Anum, D. A., Kretchy, I. A., Sabblah, G., Dodoo, A. N. and McKyer, L., "Factors that influence the intention to use mobile phone caller tunes for patient reporting of adverse drug reactions: a qualitative study." Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, 2020.
    • Appiah, B., How to give a science flash talk. , 2020.
    • Kretchy, I. A., Boima, V., Agyabeng, K., Koduah, A. and Appiah, B., "Psycho-behavioural factors associated with medication adherence and health-related quality of life of male out-patients with hypertension in a Ghanaian hospital." PLOS One, 2020.
    • Appiah, B., Burdine, J. N., Cummings, S. M., Poudyal, A., Hutchinson, R. W., Forjuoh, S. N. and McLeroy, K. R., "The effect of health-related information seeking and financial strain on medication nonadherence among patients with diabetes, and/or hypertension." Central Texas Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, 2020.
  • Book Chapter
    • Burdine, J. N., Clark, H. R., Shea, L. J., Appiah, B. and Hollas, C. N., "Health assessment in rural communities: A critical organizing and capacity-building tool." In Rural populations and health: determinants, disparities, and populations. Crosby, R. A., Wendel, M. L., Vanderpool, R. C. and Casey, B. R. (eds.) Jossey-Bass, 2009.
  • Abstracts
    • Appiah, B., Amponsah, I. K. and Ahmed, M. K., The pharmacist’s voice in integrating traditional and complementary medicine into health systems in Africa: Content analysis of newspapers articles. , 2022.
    • Appiah, B., Verdi, R. and Willing, C. O., COVID-19 response strategies of Ghana, UK and US leaders: A content analysis of press statements using who health systems framework. , 2021.
    • Appiah, B., Aboagye, E. T., Boateng, K. A., Tindana, P. and Tsiboe, A., Engaging deaf and hearing people to design docu-drama on genetics research: Preliminary perspectives. , 2021.
    • Appiah, B., Abban, C. J., Anum, D. A. and Gyansah-Lutterodt, M., Children drawing pictures against antimicrobial resistance in Ghana. , 2018.
    • Poudyal, A., Appiah, B., Amponsah, I. K. and Appiah, G., Newspaper coverage of herbal medicine risks, benefits and policies in sub-Saharan Africa: a content analysis to assess knowledge translation. , 2018.
    • Appiah, B., Anum, D. A., Appiah, G., Mulogo, M., Nakkazi, E., Odai, S. and Poudyal, A., Scientists and journalists networked to promote environmental health. , 2018.
    • Appiah, B., Bates, I., "Cultural context and role of communication in promoting adequate blood donation in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic literature review." Vox Sanguinis, 2015.
  • Book Reviews
    • Appiah, B., "Review of the book Communicating science in social contexts: New models, new approaches." Science Editor, 2009.
    • Appiah, B., "Review of the book Learning science in informal environments: People, places, and pursuits." Science Editor, 2009.
  • Manuscript
  • Technical Reports
    • Appiah, B., Anum, D. A., Evaluation of children against antimicrobial resistance: an engagement project in Ghana. , 2018.
    • Saaka, M., Larbi, A., Hoeschle-Zeledon, A. and Appiah, B., Child malnutrition in northern Ghana: evidence, factors and recommendations from a new study. , 2015.

Presentations and Events

Appiah, B., Mutambudzi, M., Puente, D., Boms , J., Deng Gac, E., Abu, B., Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, "Childhood lead poisoning as an environmental justice issue from 2013 to 2022: A content analysis of US newspapers for people of color" (November 13, 2023)

Berlin Science Week, "Engaging hard-to-reach and hard-to-engage populations" (November 3, 2021)

UK-based Wellcome Connecting Science' Public Engagement Masterclass 2021 workshop, "Engaging the public to aid timeliness of infant vaccination: the 10+10+30 (3T) approach" (July 21, 2021)

Falling Walls Engage Competition, "Children Breaking the Wall of Antimicrobial Resistance" (November 8, 2019)

International Workshop for Practitioners of Engagement between Health Researchers and Schools, "Children against antimicrobial resistance in Ghana: Evaluation approaches and key findings" (November 23, 2018)

Honors and Accolades

Falling Wall Engage Competition, Falling Walls Engage (2021)

Falling Wall Engage Competition, Falling Walls Engage (2021)

World Health Summit, The Lancet, and the M8 Alliance (2013)

Commendation from the Judges of under 30 Essay Competition, The Lancet and the Global Forum for Health Research (2006)

Ghana's first Young Pharmacist Award, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (2005)