Lori Heise

Dr. Lori Heise, PhD, is a globally respected expert in gender equity, social epidemiology, and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV). As a Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with a joint appointment in the School of Nursing, she brings over 30 years of experience to the fields of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV prevention, and social change. Her work is driven by the conviction that structural and cultural gender inequalities must be addressed to achieve global public health and human rights goals. Dr. Heise is perhaps best known for her pioneering work in understanding and preventing violence against women and children. She served as Co-Investigator on the acclaimed “What Works to Prevent Violence” initiative—a multi-year, multi-country, multi-million-dollar research program designed to reduce GBV in low- and middle-income countries. This work positioned her as one of the most influential voices in global violence prevention. Currently, she serves as Technical Director of the Prevention Collaborative, a global initiative focused on promoting evidence-based GBV prevention programming in the Global South. Her ongoing research focuses on intimate partner violence, social norms transformation, and interventions that promote women’s economic empowerment as a pathway to improved health outcomes and reduced violence. Before joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. Heise was a Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. There, she directed STRIVE, a six-country research consortium focused on the structural drivers of HIV—such as gender inequality, stigma, alcohol abuse, and lack of economic opportunity. Earlier in her career, she co-founded and led two non-governmental organizations—one working on SRHR and the other dedicated to women’s HIV prevention needs. Dr. Heise’s work integrates theory, policy, and practice. She has been at the forefront of global discussions on the intersection of gender norms, economic disadvantage, and public health. Her award-winning publications, including high-impact articles in The Lancet, Sociology of Health and Illness, and the World Bank Research Observer, have guided global policy on issues such as intimate partner violence, transactional sex, and social determinants of health. Among her many accolades are the Elsevier Atlas Award, the Omololu Falobi Memorial Award for HIV Prevention Research, and recognition as one of Ms. Magazine’s “50 Women Who Made a Difference.” She is also the inaugural recipient of the American Social Health Association award for policy and advocacy. Beyond academia, Dr. Heise is a respected mentor and advocate. Her leadership has inspired a generation of gender justice advocates, researchers, and public health professionals. She continues to play a critical role in shaping evidence-based interventions and advocating for structural change in global health policy. Lori Heise is a Professor of Gender, Violence and Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH), with a joint appointment in the School of Nursing. She has over 30 years of experience working in the areas of gender equity, social change and women’s economic and social empowerment. She is an internationally recognized expert on the causes and consequences of violence against women and was a Co-investigator on “What Works to Prevent Violence,” a 6 year, multi-million-dollar project to reduce gender-based violence (GBV) in low and middle-income countries. Her current research focuses on preventing violence against women and children in the family, transforming gender norms, and serving as Technical Director of the Prevention Collaborative, a new global initiative designed to support evidence based GBV prevention programming in the Global South. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, she was a Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where she served as Research Director of STRIVE, a 6 country research collaboration dedicated to studying the structural drivers of HIV, including gender inequalities, stigma and criminalization, lack of livelihood options and alcohol use and harmful drinking norms. Earlier in her career she co-founded and directed two civil society organizations, one focused on SRHR and another on Women's HIV prevention needs.