Matthew M. Kavanagh

Matthew M. Kavanagh, Ph.D., is a Visiting Professor at Georgetown University Law Center and Director of the Global Health Policy and Governance Initiative at the O’Neill Institute. A political scientist with extensive policy experience, his work bridges global health, law, and political economy. He focuses on healthcare access in low- and middle-income countries, human rights protections, and governance impacts on health outcomes.

Dr. Kavanagh holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania, a certificate in Health Law from Penn’s law school, a Master’s in Communities and Policy from Harvard University, and a BA from Vassar College. His research employs qualitative and quantitative methods, with fieldwork in South Africa, India, Malawi, Lesotho, and Thailand.

He advises UNAIDS, the Health Global Access Project, WHO, and U.S. government bodies. His policy work includes drafting U.S. legislation, influencing global HIV treatment access in East/Southern Africa, and addressing trade/financial regulation challenges. His publications appear in The Lancet, Studies in Comparative International Development, and Health & Human Rights.

Key areas of impact include HIV policy, community participation in health programs, and water rights advocacy. He leads transnational initiatives on health governance through labs like the Health Governance and Diplomacy Lab and the One Health Lab, advancing interdisciplinary approaches to global health challenges.