Prof Petra Bester’s research focuses on the human dynamics within health systems, exploring how relationships, professional roles, behaviours, and organisational cultures shape system performance and health outcomes. Using an interpretive descriptive approach, she investigates the lived experiences of health professionals, students, and communities to generate practice-relevant knowledge. Her work contributes to the development of contextually responsive South African models and theoretical frameworks to strengthen public health systems and health professions education. A key dimension of her scholarship is moral leadership, emphasising ethical practice, accountability, and values-driven decision-making in building resilient, equitable health systems responsive to diverse community needs.