Kristin L. Dunkle

Dr. KL Dunkle is a social epidemiologist with over 20 years of experience in leading and supporting research on the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), both in sub-Saharan Africa and globally. KL is deeply committed to improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations, particularly within LGBTQIA+ communities and people with disabilities. Their consultancy services include training, capacity development, survey design, quantitative research, mixed methods research, and impact evaluation. Dr. KL Dunkle holds a BA summa cum laude in Biology and English from Case Western Reserve University, and an MPH in International Health and a PhD in Epidemiological Sciences both from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. They have co-authored over 90 peer-reviewed articles, as well as numerous technical reports, training curricula, and other research translation products. Known for their effective public speaking and facilitation skills, KL brings a warm sense of humour and deep expertise to their work, driven by a strong commitment to promoting knowledge from the Global South and amplifying the voices of the most marginalized. Dr. Kristin L. Dunkle is a leading male social epidemiologist and Chief Specialist Scientist at the Gender and Health Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). With more than 20 years of international experience, he is renowned for his contributions to the study of gender-based violence and its intersections with public health, especially HIV risk, poverty, and marginalized identities. Dr. Dunkle's expertise spans diverse populations and countries, including South Africa, Rwanda, Swaziland, Zambia, India, China, and the United States. His research has significantly advanced understanding of how intimate partner violence (IPV) contributes to increased HIV vulnerability, not just among women but also men. His studies explore how structural inequalities—like poverty and gender power imbalances—intersect with transactional sex and drive health disparities. A recognized expert on LGBTQIA health, Dr. Dunkle has led pioneering work on sexual violence and health outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM) and other LGBTQIA individuals. He is also a global leader in exploring the under-addressed area of gender-based violence among people living with disabilities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). His work consistently integrates intersectional and rights-based approaches with rigorous epidemiological methods. Dr. Dunkle earned his BA summa cum laude in Biology and English from Case Western Reserve University, followed by an MPH in International Health and a PhD in Epidemiological Sciences from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. His academic background supports a career grounded in both scientific rigor and cross-disciplinary inquiry. He serves as a lead researcher in the What Works program, developing and evaluating programs to prevent gender-based and sexual violence. He also oversees a research portfolio on violence experienced by people with disabilities, helping to fill critical knowledge gaps in global health literature. Dr. Dunkle’s extensive publication record and global fieldwork experience have shaped national and international policy agendas on gender, violence, and health. He continues to influence public health discourse and programming through his leadership, capacity building, and commitment to social justice in health.