Chris Colvin

Chris Colvin is a Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine and Director of the Global Studies Program. He concurrently serves as Senior Research Officer in Social Sciences and HIV/AIDS, TB and STIs at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) School of Public Health and Family Medicine, where he also leads the Division of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Colvin’s work bridges medical anthropology with public health policy, focusing on HIV/AIDS, TB, and gender equity in healthcare systems. His research explores masculinity, health activism, community governance, and the intersections of biomedical and traditional practices in South Africa.

Key areas of expertise include participatory development models, gender-transformative interventions, and policy implementation challenges. He has pioneered studies on adolescent boys’ health behaviors, men’s engagement in global cancer policy, and the role of community health workers in post-apartheid South Africa. Colvin advocates for inclusive health policies that address systemic inequities and leverage community-driven solutions.

His recent work emphasizes the need to integrate qualitative evidence into global health guidelines, particularly for maternal and child health. He critiques gaps in HIV care continuity, TB infection control practices, and the impact of social structures like gang violence on healthcare access. Colvin’s interdisciplinary approach combines ethnographic methods with policy analysis to drive actionable change in public health systems.