Vulstan James Shedura is a seasoned Field Epidemiologist and Medical Laboratory Scientist, currently serving as Head of the Department of Clinical Research, Training, and Consultancy at the Ministry of Health, Southern Zone Referral Hospital in Mtwara, Southern Tanzania. He holds a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Laboratory Management from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science from the International Medical and Technological University (IMTU).
With over six years of experience, Mr. Shedura has led and contributed to numerous public health research projects focusing on infectious diseases, including HIV, HBV, TB, influenza, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). He has been instrumental in strengthening disease surveillance systems and outbreak response in Tanzania, notably supporting COVID-19 preparedness and vaccine uptake initiatives.
Mr. Shedura has presented at major national and international scientific forums, including, International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) Scientific conference, Tanzania Health Summit (THS), and the World Union Conference on Lung Health, and has published research in peer-reviewed journals. He has also conducted operational and epidemiological studies on HBV seroprevalence, influenza trends, syphilis, and health system responses to public health threats.
He is skilled in STATA, SPSS, R, and QGIS for data analysis and routinely applies these tools in regional-level public health emergency operations. His passion lies in advancing evidence-based interventions, capacity building, and collaborative research to improve population health outcomes in Tanzania and beyond.
