Dr Sean Patrick is a senior lecturer in the Health Measurement Sciences Division at the School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH) at the University of Pretoria (UP). He is also a scientist in the Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit, and is a member of the management committee of the University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC).

Dr Patrick obtained an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from the University of the Witwatersrand. He completed a BSc (Hons) and an MSc in Human Physiology, specialising in Cellular Physiology, at UP. He obtained a PhD in Environmental Health from the SHSPH in 2016, and his thesis was titled ‘Effects of in utero-, lactational- and direct exposure to selected endocrine disrupting chemicals on the rat male reproductive system’.

As a postdoctoral fellow, between 2016 and 2019, Dr Patrick managed two South African-Canadian studies: ‘Father’s lasting influence: Molecular foundations of intergenerational transmission of the paternal environment’ and ‘Generational and sex-specific effects of paternal environmental exposures on offspring development health’.

Currently, his research focus area is endocrine disruptors. Transdisciplinary approaches are required in order to address complex environmental-social issues that have an influence on existing and emerging diseases. As such, his work focuses on:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Targets 3.3 (malaria elimination) and 3.9 (reducing harmful chemicals)
• SDG 4 (using education as a tool to promote a healthy lifestyle and reducing harmful exposures through community interventions)
• SDG 6 (ensuring access to water and sanitation for all)

Dr Patrick says that his research on endocrine disruptors has led him to explore transdisciplinary approaches to health, merging the fields of public health, engineering and the built environment. He initiated a study to understand the complexities of environmental endocrine disruptor exposure and its interaction with living spaces, with the goal of developing a community resilience strategy using engineering monitoring tools. This approach sparked further interest in the impact of environmental endocrine disruptors on livelihoods.

Dr Patrick is secretary of the Public Health Association of South Africa, vice-chairperson of the Associations of Schools of Public Health in Africa and a subgroup member of the Global Network for Academic Public Health. He is also involved in many organisations, with a special interest in emerging contaminants in water, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, reproductive health and toxicology, environmental health and community resilience. These organisations include the Water Research Commission, Medical Research Council, National Research Foundation (NRF), National Institutes of Health in the US, Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the US Department of Defence-Funded research projects.

His research has been published in high-impact journals, six of which have an impact factor above 10, two with an impact factor above 15 and one Nature publication with an impact factor of 69.5. His work has been mentioned in 272 social media posts, 22 news articles and nine policy documents globally.

Within the UP ISMC Remote Sensing and Malaria Control in Africa programme, Dr Patrick was awarded an NRF Thuthuka Grant (2021 – 2023) to explore the impact of climate change on environmental and social determinants of health, aiming to develop a climate resilience strategy. He was then awarded the NRF Thuthuka Grant (2024 – 2026) to explore the intersection of environment and gender, and the cost of the inaction of the effects of climate change; this is a new collaboration with the University of York in the UK. Additionally, he secured Scholarship of Teaching and Learning grants in 2020 and 2023 to enhance public health education, integrating modern pedagogical techniques and his research on endocrine disruptors into environmental health education, underscoring the vital role of translating research into practical teaching material.

His advice to students who are interested in pursuing a similar academic or research path is to develop a genuine passion and curiosity for their field of interest.

“Ensure that you have a constant desire to explore new ideas, and challenge existing ways of thinking to advance the understanding of your research field,” Dr Patrick says. “Make learning a priority by staying up to date with the latest research in your field. Listen to or take part in seminars, webinars and short courses to expand your knowledge, as environmental health challenges and research can be complex, requiring you to think outside the box most of the time. Build networks and engage with professionals in your field through conferences, workshops and online platforms – create a professional LinkedIn profile, for example. Seek mentorship and provide it once you are established, to guide and be guided in the academic journey.”