Nataliya Shok

Nataliya Shok is an independent analyst working on global health, vaccine diplomacy, public health and science policies in the context of the pandemic preparedness, response and beyond. She approaches health as a complex issue using interdisciplinary methodology and combining data from social sciences, policy analysis, history, bioethics, and strategic studies. 

She holds degrees in philosophy (M.A.), political science (Ph.D.) and history of medicine (Dr. Sci.). Nataliya is an academic professional with a long history of teaching and research in the departments of health humanities and bioethics at medical schools. She also has extensive experience in negotiation, international network, and partnerships across academia, government, and CSOs. In 2019 she was a visiting scholar at Wake Forest University (NC, USA).

As a seasoned program manager with strong analytical skills and more than ten years of progressive experience in policy development, strategic planning, and communications she contributed and led multiple research projects. In 2010-2011 she performed monitoring and evaluation for the USAID-funded project “HIV-Prevention and Care Among Population at Risk in Russia." From 2018 to 2022 as a principal investigator, she headed a research project on the influence of Soviet legacies in medicine on contemporary clinical practices, health policies, and public attitudes to healthcare in post-Soviet countries.

Her passion for interdisciplinary cooperation and her ability to lead diverse cross-functional teams launched her to the lead of a multi-stakeholder Task Force on Animal Research Ethics, Science Policy, and Integrity at the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) in 2021. The group successfully developed ethical guidelines and good research practice for the use of animals in scientific research.

Nataliya’s  research project focuses on history of international collaboration in science and health, specifically “vaccine diplomacy,” over the years – from Cold War cooperation in eradicating Polio and Smallpox to the more recent competitive nature of COVID-19 response. Her research explores approaches to pandemic response, preparedness, and ways for re-engagement with rivals amidst potential global health crises and strategic competition.

Over the years her research findings became a subject of visiting lectures and talks across American, European, and Central Asian universities. Nataliya is a member of the American Association for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH) where in both 2020 and 2021 she served as reviewer.