Alex Wagenaar

Dr. Alex Wagenaar is a Research Professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and holds an Emeritus title at the University of Florida College of Medicine. His work focuses on legal epidemiology, public health policy, and the evaluation of alcohol, tobacco, and drug control policies. He has authored over 200 scientific articles and a seminal textbook, Legal Epidemiology: Theory and Methods (2023). His research has been cited over 18,000 times, reflecting its significant impact on public health policy.

Dr. Wagenaar’s education includes a PhD in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan, an MSW in Program Evaluation from the same institution, and a BA in Sociology from Calvin College. His research interests span time-series analysis, community intervention trials, and the social determinants of health.

His awards include the Exceptional Leadership Award (1987), Jellinek Award (1999), and the Society for Prevention Research’ Nan Tobler Award (2016). His work integrates legal frameworks with epidemiological methods to evaluate policies addressing substance use, injury prevention, and socioeconomic disparities.

Notable contributions include studies on alcohol tax impacts, medical marijuana laws, and the effects of anti-poverty policies on health outcomes. He has led randomized trials in underserved communities, such as the Cherokee Nation drug prevention initiative. His research emphasizes rigorous evaluation of policies to ensure evidence-based public health strategies.