“Context Is Everything”: A Conversation with Dr. Craig J. Heck on His Residency in Nairobi

Dr. Craig J. Heck, an early-career investigator focused on public health research, recently spent several months as a Scholar-in-Residence at the Columbia Global Center in Nairobi. The residency provided space for reflection and the opportunity to engage directly with colleagues in Kenya’s health sector. 

In this conversation, he reflects on what he learned about research, adaptability, and the importance of context in global collaboration.

What drew you to the Scholars-in-Residence program in Nairobi?
The residency offered a chance to step away from day-to-day demands and devote concentrated time to research, but what made it remarkable was the ability to work side by side with colleagues in Kenya. I’ve long believed that partnerships develop most meaningfully when they are grounded in shared experience, and this program made that possible. Meeting people in person—their offices, labs, and clinics—changed the tone of our discussions. It made collaboration more authentic and laid the groundwork for relationships that will continue long after the residency.

How did this experience shape your understanding of Kenya’s public health system?
One of the most valuable parts of my stay was visiting a secondary hospital in Nairobi, thanks to colleagues at ICAP in Kenya. Observing patient flow, resource allocation, and staff coordination gave me a deeper appreciation for the practical realities that shape health outcomes. Nairobi’s system, like many, operates within constraints, but there’s remarkable innovation in how people adapt. Seeing that firsthand gave me context that you can’t glean from datasets or policy papers. It also deepened my understanding of the social, political, and logistical factors that influence care delivery in any setting.

Your research focus evolved while you were in Nairobi. What prompted that shift?
My initial plan was to study social, behavioral, and implementation factors influencing the introduction of long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, particularly in the wake of promising trial results for twice-yearly Lenacapavir among adolescent girls and young women. That population has carried a disproportionate burden of HIV, and I wanted to understand what would make a new product feasible and acceptable.

However, as global and regional dynamics changed, so did the questions that felt most urgent. I shifted focus toward examining how recent geopolitical developments were reshaping the flow of financial, human, and material resources in Kenya’s HIV prevention sector. The pivot kept me rooted in the same theme, HIV prevention and implementation, but aligned the work more closely with real-time developments. It was a useful reminder that research must stay responsive to context rather than fixed to an initial plan.

What did you set out to accomplish during your residency?
One goal was to expand my professional network and strengthen relationships with partners across sectors. Over several months, I met with more than thirty stakeholders representing over twenty organizations, ranging from government and NGOs to research institutions. Those conversations helped me understand how different actors are navigating policy and funding shifts and the motivations behind their choices.

These exchanges also informed the design of my mixed-methods data collection tools for a fiscal mapping study. A number of colleagues I met offered feedback on those instruments to ensure they were contextually appropriate. I’m happy to share that my Institutional Review Board protocol has since been approved at Columbia, and my team will begin piloting the project in Nairobi and, eventually, other regions of Kenya.

What stands out most about the experience of working in Nairobi?
The energy of the city itself. Nairobi has a rhythm that’s both familiar and distinct—dynamic, complex, constantly moving. It reminded me of New York in that no two days are the same. That rhythm extends to its health system and research environment as well: people are resourceful, adaptable, and deeply engaged in problem-solving. Being immersed in that environment underscored that effective research depends on understanding context, not abstracting away from it.

What lessons might be helpful for future scholars or partners?
First, flexibility. Even the best-planned projects will encounter surprises, and being willing to adapt can turn setbacks into opportunities. During my stay, a few key contacts were unavailable, which initially felt like a loss, but those gaps led to introductions to new partners, including several based in New York who offered valuable perspectives on Kenya’s system from afar.

Second, preparation. Learning about the place before you arrive—its institutions, its pace, even its geography — makes collaboration smoother and more meaningful.

Finally, lean on the Columbia Global Center team. Their knowledge of local dynamics and their generosity with introductions were invaluable. They were equally helpful in the practical sense, offering guidance on everything from transportation to where to find the best food in the city.

What stays with you from this experience?
A renewed respect for the balance between rigor and humility in research. The residency taught me that the most useful insights often come from listening, sometimes to things that weren’t part of the original research question. I came away with new collaborators, sharper tools, and, more importantly, a deeper understanding of how complex systems function in real life.

The experience reaffirmed my belief that impactful global health research depends on proximity: intellectual, professional, and human. Context is everything.