LISA GRAZINA JOHNSTON

Dr. Lisa Grazina Johnston is an internationally recognized epidemiologist and public health expert specializing in hard-to-reach and marginalized populations. With a Ph.D. in International Health and Development from Tulane University and a robust academic background including degrees in Public Health, International Affairs, and History, Johnston has spent over two decades shaping global strategies to understand and combat the spread of HIV and other infections in underserved populations. Johnston’s work has been instrumental in the design and execution of bio-behavioral surveillance surveys using innovative methodologies such as Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) and Time Location Sampling (TLS). She brings unmatched expertise in population size estimation techniques—including multiplier, capture-recapture, and mapping methods—tailored to groups such as men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, people who inject drugs, sex workers, and mobile/migrant populations. Her consultancies span major global health organizations including UNAIDS, WHO, CDC, Global Fund, UNDP, UNICEF, and USAID, among others. A Senior Epidemiological Consultant since 2000, Johnston has advised on surveillance surveys in over 40 countries, providing training, technical assistance, and protocol development. Her work includes rigorous data analysis and modeling using tools such as RDSAT, STATA, and the AIDS Epidemic Model. She also co-authors peer-reviewed studies and develops global guidance documents and technical manuals used by international public health agencies. Johnston serves as Assistant Professor at Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, where she teaches courses on RDS and population size estimation and mentors graduate and doctoral students. She has also held senior analyst roles at UCSF Global Health Sciences and led epidemiology programs at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico Department of Health, working on projects spanning PTSD research, TB control, refugee health, and border health coordination. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, Johnston brings a cross-cultural lens to her global public health work. She has authored or co-authored numerous influential publications in top-tier journals such as AIDS and Behavior, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and International Journal of Drug Policy. Her contributions have advanced the field of HIV epidemiology by refining tools to estimate HIV prevalence and behavioral risk factors, while ensuring ethical, accurate engagement with hidden populations. In addition to her practical epidemiological work, Johnston contributes to the academic and policy literature through book chapters and methodological guidance for researchers and practitioners working in HIV prevention, TB stigma measurement, and migrant health. Her dual identity as a researcher and practitioner makes her a sought-after global advisor on surveillance methodology, public health programming, and monitoring and evaluation in HIV/AIDS and beyond. Dr. Lisa Grazina Johnston exemplifies the rare combination of deep methodological expertise, field experience in diverse cultural contexts, and a lifelong commitment to equitable health outcomes for populations most at risk. Her career continues to inform, inspire, and guide public health professionals globally in designing data-driven, inclusive, and effective health interventions.