Dr. Kathryn H. Jacobsen

Kathryn H. Jacobsen, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a professor of health studies and holds the William E. Cooper Distinguished University Chair at the University of Richmond.

Jacobsen is the author of two widely used textbooks, Introduction to Global Health and Introduction to Health Research Methods, and teaches courses on global health, epidemiology and research methods, and special topics.  She is on the board of Teach Global Health, which promotes excellence in undergraduate global health education, and she is the founding co-director of the Global Health Educators Community (GHECo), which supports the professional development of nearly 1000 members in more than 65 countries.  Jacobsen received the 2023 Velji Global Health Award for Teaching Excellence from the Consortium of Universities for Global Health.

As a global health epidemiologist, her research focuses on the population health transitions that occur with globalization, socioeconomic development, and environmental change. Her research portfolio includes analyses of the global epidemiology of hepatitis A virus, emerging infectious and noncommunicable diseases, adolescent risk behaviors, and other global public health concerns. She has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles, many of which have student coauthors. She welcomes the opportunity to mentor Richmond student researchers. 

Jacobsen has served as a technical expert for the World Health Organization and other public health agencies, global health partnerships, and international health groups.  She is a Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Principal Collaborator with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a Disease Control Priorities project (DCP-4) contributor, and a Senior Research Fellow with the Earth System Governance Project.  She also serves on several journal editorial boards (including Epidemiology & Infection, Global Health Research and Policy, and World Medical & Health Policy); leads research writing seminars; and provides health and medical commentary for news media.