Publications

Journal articles

Wakefield B... Boland S... et al. Civilian-Military collaboration for health emergency preparedness. BMJ Global Health. In press.

Boland S, Mayhew S, Rohan H, Lillywhite L, Balabanova D. Enmity then empathy: how militarisation facilitated collaborative but exclusive exchange in Sierra Leone's Ebola response. Disasters. June, 2024.

Boland S. Armed actor interventions in humanitarian and public health crises: examining perspectives of crisis-affected community members. Conflict and Health. April, 2024.

Keita M... Boland S... et al. Factors associated with reliable contact tracing follow-up during the 2021 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Guinea. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health. February 2024.

Boland S, Balabanova D, Mayhew S. Examining the militarised hierarchy of Sierra Leone's Ebola response and implications for decision making during public health emergencies. Globalization and Health. November 2023.

Boland S, Balabanova D, Mayhew S. The political economy of expedience: examining military support to Sierra Leone's Ebola response. Conflict and Health. November, 2023.

Boland S, Mayhew S, Balabanova D. Securitising public health: a qualitative examination of the origin of military intervention in Sierra Leone's Ebola Epidemic. BMJ Public Health. August, 2023.

Boland S, Grace R, Kaplan J. Civil-Military Engagement During Public Health Emergencies: A Comparative Analysis of Local Responses to COVID-19. Stability: International Journal of Security & Development. July, 2023.

Keita M... Boland S... et al. A community-based contact isolation strategy to reduce the spread of Ebola virus disease: an analysis of the 2018-2020 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. BMJ Global Health. June, 2023.

Grace R... Boland S... et al. Moving humanitarian-military relations forward: a new typology. Journal of International Humanitarian Action. February, 2023.

Keita M... Boland S... et al. Investing in preparedness for rapid detection and control of epidemics: analysis of health system reforms and their effect on 2021 Ebola Virus Disease epidemic response in Guinea. BMJ Global Health. January, 2023.

Horne S, Boland S. Understanding the risks of Civil-Military Relationships in Healthcare: a validated typology. International Review of the Armed Forces Medical Services. December, 2022.

Keita M... Boland S... et al. Case Report: COVID-19 and Lassa Fever Coinfection in an Ebola Suspected Patient in Guinea. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. February, 2022.

Rhodes M, Boland S. A whole-of-government review to a whole-of-government response: a narrative review of the United States Government’s 2013–2016 West Africa Ebola Epidemic post-operation reports. Development in Practice. May, 2021.

Boland S, McInnes C, Gordon S, Lillywhite L. Civil-military relations: a review of major guidelines and their relevance during public health emergencies. BMJ Military Health. August, 2020.

Kwaja C, Olivieri D, Boland S... et al. Civilian perception of the role of the military in Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola outbreak and health-related responses in the North East region. BMJ Military Health. February, 2020.

Horne S, Boland S. Understanding medical civil-military relationships within the humanitarian-development-peace ‘triple nexus’: a typology to enable effective discourse. BMJ Military Health. March, 2020.

Boland S, Polich E, Connolly A... et al. Overcoming Operational Challenges to Ebola Case Investigation in Sierra Leone. Global Health: Science and Practice. September, 2017.

Anh-Minh A... Boland S... et al. Strengthening Community Surveillance of Ebola Virus Disease in Sierra Leone. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics. March, 2016.

Harvey HB... Boland S... et al. Radiology Malpractice Claims in the United States From 2008 to 2012: Characteristics and Implications. Journal of the American College of Radiology. February, 2016.

Working articles, chapters, reports, op-eds, technical guidance, et cetera

Operational guidance for country preparedness planning for viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks in the WHO AFRO region

Updating Oslo: practical considerations for civil-military interaction during outbreaks and public health emergencies

Civilian-Military collaboration for health emergency preparedness: a compendium of best practice

Matrix of relevant military functions during outbreaks and public health emergencies with related considerations

Multistakeholder analysis on civilian-military humanitarian coordination during complex emergencies in the Philippines: The Case of Taal Volcano eruption and COVID-19 pandemic

Book chapters

Boland S. Healthcare in Fragile Settings. In In Control: A Practical Handbook for Professionals Working in Health Emergencies Internationally, Robert Koch Institute (2020).

Boland S. CDC Foundation. In In Control: A Practical Handbook for Professionals Working in Health Emergencies Internationally, Robert Koch Institute (2020).

Boland S. Armed Non-State Actors. In In Control: A Practical Handbook for Professionals Working in Health Emergencies Internationally, Robert Koch Institute (2020).

Boland S. Armed Forces Medical Services. In In Control: A Practical Handbook for Professionals Working in Health Emergencies Internationally, Robert Koch Institute (2020).

Boland S. Health Systems Responses to Controlling Infectious Diseases. In Applied Communicable Disease Control, Open University Press (2018).

Reports, op-eds, technical guidance, et cetera

Boland S et al. Comprehensive Dengue Guideline for Public Health Preparedness and Response in the WHO African Region. WHO AFRO (2024). In press.

Boland S et al. Dengue Operational Action Plan for the WHO African Region. WHO AFRO (2024). In press.

Boland S et al. Dengue Readiness Checklist for the WHO African Region. WHO AFRO (2024). In press.

Boland S (contributing). Driving universal health reforms through crises and shocks: final report on the work of the Chatham House Commission on Universal Health. Chatham House (2024).

Keita M, Boland S, Okeibunor J, Chamla D, Gueye AS, Moeti M. 10 years after the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in west Africa: advances and challenges in African epidemic preparedness. The Lancet (2024).

Boland S. Ukraine Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA). World Health Organisation / Ukraine Health Cluster (2023).

Boland S. Ukraine Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA) Executive Summary. World Health Organisation / Ukraine Health Cluster (2023).

Boland S. Preventing the next pandemic. International Affairs (2023).

Boland S (contributing). Considerations for implementing and adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19. World Health Organisation (2023).

Boland S (contributing). Contact tracing and quarantine in the context of COVID-19 (interim guidance). World Health Organisation (2022).

MCP Alejandria, Boland S*, Brightman H, Grace R*, Levine A, Nylen A, Polatty A, Tayyeb Z. Humanitarian-Military Relations in Complex Emergencies: Evidence, Insights, and Recommendations. Brown University (2022). *Lead authors

MCP Alejandria, Boland S*, Brightman H, Grace R*, Levine A, Nylen A, Polatty A, Tayyeb Z. Humanitarian-Military Relations in Complex Emergencies: Practical Guidance for Policymakers and Humanitarian Planners. Brown University (2022). *Lead authors

Boland S (contributing). Enhancing response to Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: Technical brief and priority actions for Member States. World Health Organisation (2022).

Boland S (contributing). Contact tracing and quarantine in the context of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant (interim guidance). World Health Organisation (2022).

Hill T, Sheely R (Boland S contributing). Overcoming the Trust Deficit: Engaging Communities to Succeed in Vaccinating the World Against COVID-19. Mercy Corps (2021).

McKenna TD (Boland S contributing). For COVID-19 vaccines to succeed, we must build trust. Devex (2021).

Boland S, McKay G, Black B, Mayhew S. Covid-19 has forced a reckoning—the UK has much to learn from low income settings. The BMJ Opinion (2020).

Black B, Boland S, Mayhew S, McKay G. Pandemics constrain the resources even of wealthy nations. House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee (2020).

Boland S. Mercy Corps’ global COVID-19 guiding documents, related policies, and strategies (2020):

COVID-19 Response Strategy
COVID-19 surveillance, testing, and contact tracing
COVID-19 quarantine, isolation, and home-based care
COVID-19 programme adaptation and risk mitigation
COVID-19 Public Health & Resilience: Mercy Corps’ Approach
Mercy Corps’ Role in COVID-19 Vaccine Preparedness and Acceptance
Mercy Corps’ Social and Behaviour Change Approach for COVID-19
Social and Behaviour Change Field Guide for COVID-19: developing social and behaviour change strategies and communicating effectively
Mobilising for Health: a guide to mobilisation and participatory problem solving for communities around health and organisation amidst COVID-19
Key things all programme teams should be doing in response to COVID-19
Working in the field during a disease outbreak

Mayhew S, Boland S, Cohen D, McKay G, Mokuwa E, Richards P, Vandi A. More of the same won’t solve Congo’s Ebola crisis—let locals lead. The Guardian (2019).

Boland S. The Next Ebola: Considering the Role of the Military in Epidemic Response. Chatham House (The Royal Institute for International Affairs) (2017).

Presentations, lectures, & conference papers

Examining the origin, nature, and effect of militarised support to the West Africa Ebola Epidemic in Sierra Leone. May, 2023. Civilian-Military Humanitarian Response Research Symposium, Brown University, USA.

Outbreaks Working Group (chair). May, 2023. Civilian-Military Humanitarian Response Workshop, Brown University, USA.

The role of international civil society in engaging with democracies in transition. December, 2022. Chatham House (The Royal Institute for International Affairs), UK.

Will ‘permacrisis’ create a new generation of universal health heroes? (chair). November, 2022. Chatham House (The Royal Institute for International Affairs), UK.

Diseases, outbreaks, and what to do about them. October, 2022. Syracuse University London, UK.

Understanding humanitarian-military best practice and delineating appropriate roles. July, 2022. International Association for Conflict Management (IACM), Canada.

Humanitarian-military relations during the Kivu Ebola Epidemic. July, 2022. Centre for Defence Healthcare Engagement (CDHE), UK.

Examining the challenges, opportunities, and effects of the militarised response to the West Africa Ebola Epidemic. June, 2022. Global Health Security Conference, Singapore.

Lessons learned from the Ebola response. June, 2022. Global Health Security Conference, Singapore.

Examining challenges to (and identifying opportunities for) inter-agency coordination in response to humanitarian crises and public health emergencies. June, 2022. International Studies Association Interdisciplinary Studies Section (ISA-IDSS, the University of Crete, Greece.

Civil-Military Interaction in Conflicts: Best Practices and Perceptions. May, 2022. Humanitarian Networks & Partnerships Week (HNPW), Switzerland.

Humanitarian-Military Relations in Complex Emergencies: Evidence, Insights, and Recommendations. March, 2022. Research Symposium on Civilian-Military Humanitarian Coordination, Brown University, USA.

Outbreaks Working Group (chair). March, 2022. Civilian-Military Humanitarian Response Workshop, Brown University, USA.

Outbreaks Working Group: Towards new civil-military outbreaks guidance. March, 2022. Civilian-Military Humanitarian Response Workshop, Brown University, USA.

Coordination challenges and opportunities in response to high-consequence infectious diseases (HCID). March, 2022. Syracuse University London, UK.

Responding to disease outbreaks: theory and practice. October, 2021. Syracuse University London, UK.

Civil-military interaction in conflicts: a preliminary analysis of best practices and perceptions from the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan. September, 2021. Research Symposium on Civilian-Military Humanitarian Coordination, Brown University, USA.

Civil-Military Engagement During Public Health Emergencies: A Comparative Analysis of Domestic Responses to COVID-19. September, 2021. Research Symposium on Civilian-Military Humanitarian Coordination, Brown University, USA.

Outbreaks Working Group: a window of opportunity and articulating key findings. September, 2021. Civilian-Military Humanitarian Response Workshop, Brown University, USA.

Outbreaks Working Group (chair). August - September, 2021. Civilian-Military Humanitarian Response Workshop, Brown University, USA.

Evaluating systems functions within a complex system within a social construction: proposing an analytic process to investigate the role and perception of military contributions to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. May, 2021. Research Degree Poster Day, LSHTM, UK.

Mercy Corps’ COVID-19 Health and Safety webinar series. April, 2020 – December, 2020. Mercy Corps, USA.

Health & Safety 101 (April, 2020)
Personal Protective Equipment (April, 2020)
What to do if you get sick (April, 2020)
Staying safe in Ebola and learnings for COVID-19 (April, 2020)
Keeping communities safe during distributions (April, 2020)
Information sharing to keep staff and communities safe (May, 2020)
The new normal: emerging COVID-19 information and implications for Mercy Corps (May, 2020)
Reopening offices and resuming operations (May, 2020)
Stress management, wellbeing, and resilience (May, 2020)
Face masks and cloth face coverings (June, 2020)
Safe transportation during COVID-19 (June, 2020)
Staying safe in camps, camp like settings, and confined public spaces (June, 2020)
Home-based care (June, 2020)
Education and working with youth during COVID-19 (July, 2020)
COVID-19: the air that we share (July, 2020)
Return to work: international travel (August, 2020)
Misinformation and mythbusters (August, 2020)
COVID-19 catch up (September, 2020)
Contact tracing (September, 2020)
Seasonal change, influenza, and COVID-19 (October, 2020)
Children and COVID-19 (October, 2020)
COVID-19 testing (November, 2020)
COVID-19 vaccines (November, 2020)
More about vaccines (December, 2020)
Preparing for vaccination: people and staff impact, and Mercy Corps’ policy and position (December, 2020)
Understanding and adjusting to COVID-19 variants (December, 2020)

Responding to Public Health Emergencies in Kinetic Environments. October, 2020. One Health Hackathon, Canada.

Health Emergencies and Pandemic Preparedness (panel chair). October, 2020. What Next for the United Nations? Building a More Secure World, UK.

Loving WASH in the time of COVID-19: program adaptations for WASH with a public health and resilience approach. June, 2020. Mercy Corps, USA.

Outbreak Response Architecture: Theory and Practice. April, 2020. The University of Manchester, UK.

Ebola in the DRC: The Past, Present, and Future. February, 2020. University College of London, UK.

UNSGM Investigation of Alleged Bacteriological (Biological) Weapon Use TTX. November, 2019. The Royal Society, UK.

Briefing to the Archbishop of Canterbury on the DRC Ebola Outbreak. October, 2019. Lambeth Palace, UK.

Surveillance and Contact Tracing in Outbreak Response. September, 2019 & February, 2020. UK-Med Outbreak Response Team Preparedness Training, UK.

The international response to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in DRC. September, 2019. Public Health England Annual Conference, UK.

Global Challenge Governance: Time for Big Modelling? July, 2019. 2019 IEEE 18th International Conference on Cognitive Informatics & Cognitive Computing (ICCI*CC), Italy.

Ebola in Conflict: Field perspectives on response strategy and implementation in DRC. June, 2019. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK.

The Next Ebola: Considering the Role of the Military in Epidemic Response. August, 2018. Civilian-Military Humanitarian Response Workshop, Brown University, USA.

Assessing the Impact of Enhanced Active Surveillance of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) During Operation Northern Push – Port Loko and Kambia Districts, Sierra Leone. 2016. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Global Health Conference, Ireland.

Ebola in Sierra Leone. January, 2016. The University of Chicago, USA.

The Medical Malpractice Environment for Radiology at a Large Integrated Health System: A 5-Year Survey. November, 2013. Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, USA.

The Expanding Scope of Legal Liability for Accountable Care Organizations Pursuing Cost Containment Strategies. November, 2013. Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, USA.

Theses

Examining the origin, nature, and effect of military support to Sierra Leone's Ebola response

2022. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). PhD thesis.

Ebola Virus Disease Surveillance in Sierra Leone: Port Loko and Kambia District Ebola Response in the West Africa EVD Epidemic

2016. The University of Chicago. BA thesis. Winner of the Best BA Thesis Prize in Public Policy Studies.