Dr. Susan Murphy

Susan Murphy is a South African academic family physician whose work is closely associated with the South African Family Practice community. Her scholarship centres on strengthening primary health care, advancing the role of family physicians within district health systems, and promoting equitable access to care. She is recognised for engaging critically with health policy, particularly debates surrounding National Health Insurance and universal health coverage in South Africa.

Murphy’s publications highlight governance, clinician advocacy, and the decentralisation of health services, positioning family physicians as key agents of system reform. She has contributed to research capacity-building initiatives, mentoring emerging primary care researchers and encouraging clinician-led scholarship. Her writing also addresses global health integration, private sector dynamics, and practical clinical guidance for frontline practitioners.

In addition to health systems research, Murphy has co-authored work in paediatric oncology and critical care within resource-limited settings, reflecting interdisciplinary collaboration and concern for vulnerable populations. Across her body of work, a consistent strength lies in linking policy, education, and clinical practice to advance quality, context-responsive primary health care.