Catia Nicodemo is a Professor of Health Economics at Brunel Business School (BBS), Associate Professor at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford and Fellow at Kellogg College, University of Oxford. Her research focuses on healthcare management, health inequality, and policy evaluation, exploring the economic dimensions of healthcare delivery and the social determinants of health. Catia’s work addresses both the demand and supply sides of health systems, analyzing issues such as healthcare workforce distribution, primary care efficiency, and the impacts of socioeconomic factors on health outcomes. Catia has led and collaborated on major projects funded by prestigious organizations, including the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the ESRC. Her work has contributed valuable insights into policies for reducing emergency hospitalizations, improving primary care services, and enhancing resource allocation in the NHS. At Oxford, she has played a pivotal role in research projects examining the effects of England's Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, which aims to increase healthcare access and quality through expanded primary care roles. In addition to her research, Catia has held various academic roles across institutions, including the University of Oxford, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and University Pompeu Fabra. She is an active contributor to the scientific community, serving as an associate editor for several journals and regularly reviewing grants for major funding bodies. Her expertise is widely recognized, and her research has been featured in prominent media outlets.
Health systems around the world are under growing pressure.
Populations are ageing, chronic diseases are rising, technology is changing fast, and demand for care keeps increasing. At the same time, healthcare systems are facing serious workforce challenges — from shortages of nurses and doctors to high turnover, burnout, and uneven distribution of staff.
This research explores how labour conditions, institutional policies and organisational environments shape the sustainability and resilience of the healthcare workforce. It examines how these factors influence recruitment, retention, wellbeing and productivity across health systems.
Research Objectives
- Examine labour market trends in the healthcare workforce, including employment patterns, shortages and workforce distribution.
- Investigate how working conditions affect burnout and job satisfaction among healthcare professionals.
- Analyse the relationship between labour policies and workforce retention.
- Evaluate strategies that improve workforce sustainability in healthcare systems.
- Develop policy recommendations to strengthen health labour markets.
Research Questions
Possible research questions include:
- What labour market factors drive shortages in the healthcare workforce?
- How do working conditions affect job satisfaction and burnout among healthcare workers?
- What role do labour policies play in retaining healthcare professionals?
- How do workforce shortages influence healthcare quality and patient outcomes?
- Which policy interventions are most effective in improving workforce sustainability?
How to apply
If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:
- Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
- Click on the "Apply here" button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
- Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.
Good luck!
This is a self-funded topic
Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.