Dr Aaron Akpu Philip
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Visiting Fellow, Queensland University of Technology
Connect with Dr Philip
Aaron is a Public Health Practitioner with over a decade of experience researching and working in health and not-for-profit settings. He has worked with vulnerable and priority groups (orphans and vulnerable children, injecting drug users, persons with disabilities, and sex workers) as well as culturally and linguistically diverse people.
His interest focuses on sexual health, infectious diseases (HIV) and disability inclusion in health and organisational settings. As a qualitative researcher, Aaron applies his expertise to explore research areas focusing on donor behaviour, inclusion, and diversity in blood donation.
Aaron holds a PhD in public health from Queensland University of Technology.
Awards
- Queensland University of Technology - Nomination for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award (2023)
- Co-investigator: Carla Paterson Memorial Grant for Community Consultation and Co-design of a Peer Worker and Nurse Partnership Model of care for People Living and Ageing with HIV (2023)
- Queensland University of Technology Postgraduate Research Award (2019)
Leadership
- Steering committee member-Queensland Sexual Health Clinical Network
- Peer reviewer for journals including Social Science and Medicine (SSM), Health Policy OPEN (HPOPEN), International Journal for Equity in Health.
- Professional Memberships: International AIDS Society (IAS), Public Health Association Australia (PHAA), Australasian Society of HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Medicine (ASHM), Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH), Queensland Positive People (QPP), Sexual Health Society of Queensland.
Key publications
Situating and repositioning disability within the blood donation context: Insights from 12 blood collection agencies
2026
Transfusion
66(3):515–522
Motives and barriers to blood donation among adults aged over 50 years: A qualitative analysis
2026
Transfusion Medicine
1-21
*“Double wahala for dead body”: Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among Persons with Disabilities Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Nigeria
2025
Disability and Rehabilitation
1-14
Engaging older adults in blood donation: A qualitative study on motivations and barriers
2025
Vox Sanguinis
120: 198-199
When less is more—exploring Australian donor and non-donors perspectives on proposed changes to donor screening questions.
2024
Vox Sanguinis
119: 179-180
* This research was completed prior to starting with Lifeblood