Shem Opolot serves as the Director of Global Health and Civic Engagement at the Center for Public Justice. In this role, he leads CPJ’s national initiative to serve God by equipping citizens and institutions to advocate for effective, justice-oriented foreign aid. Shem brings over seven years of experience designing and implementing public health programs across sub-Saharan Africa and the United States.
Prior to joining CPJ, Shem served as Program Manager for Duke University’s Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology. There, he managed multidisciplinary teams, helped establish Uganda’s first local neurosurgery research group, and secured international donor funding for sustained impact. In addition to his leadership roles, Shem has consulted with organizations including UNICEF, Water for People, and Pollicy Uganda, delivering insights that bridge field-level realities with global policy frameworks. He translates complex data into compelling narratives that catalyze change, and aligns health system reform with innovation, diplomacy, and local capacity strengthening.
Shem is a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate at The George Washington University, researching the governance and diplomacy dimensions of health information exchange in Africa.