Rachael Farayola is a PhD researcher at Loughborough University, based within the Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour (CLiMB). Her doctoral research explores how Positive Deviance can be applied to promote healthier behaviours among Black African and Caribbean communities in the UK. By identifying and scaling successful strategies that already exist within underserved groups, her work offers a powerful and practical response to persistent health inequalities.
She holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Derby, where she developed expertise in health promotion, public health policy, and the social determinants of health. She also holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and is a pharmacist with hands-on experience in both clinical and community healthcare settings.
Rachael’s interdisciplinary interests lie at the intersection of health equity, behavioural science, and digital innovation. She is passionate about co-creating culturally sensitive, evidence-based interventions that are grounded in lived experience and community wisdom. As the PhD representative for the Society for the Study of Human Biology (SSHB), she plays an active role in shaping academic dialogue around inclusive health research. She is also a member of Forbes BLK, reflecting her commitment to advancing representation and leadership in global public health.
Driven by purpose and grounded in practice, Rachael’s work seeks to transform research into real-world impact where communities are not just studied, but empowered as agents of change.
Rachael Farayola is deeply committed to advancing health equity and community empowerment through research, advocacy, and leadership. Beyond her academic work, she actively engages in initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in public health and higher education.
She currently serves as the PhD representative for the Society for the Study of Human Biology (SSHB), where she supports postgraduate engagement and contributes to inclusive academic discourse. She is also a member of Forbes BLK, a global network of Black professionals driving impact in their respective fields.
Rachael enjoys mentoring early-career researchers and students from underrepresented backgrounds and is passionate about creating platforms that amplify lived experience in research and policy. Her broader interests include behavioural science, social justice, lifestyle medicine, and digital health innovation.
In her spare time, she participates in academic peer review, community health workshops, and public engagement events focused on health promotion and research accessibility.