Ann K. Allen is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Medical Education in the School of Medicine, Cardiff University. Previously she was Director of Cardiff University's Master of Public Health Programme where amongst other themes she taught epidemiological research methods. Ann trained in sociology and anthropology and has conducted health evaluations in many developing countries. She began with a research programme in Sudan to control Schistosomiasis, followed by a World Bank project supporting subsistence farmers in Southern Sudan. Since then she has acted as a consultant to health related projects in Africa, South America and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).