Anna Bershteyn

Anna Bershteyn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where she also serves as Director of the Policy Modeling Initiative. Her research integrates mathematical modeling with public health policy to address critical challenges in infectious disease epidemiology and mental health.

Education:

• PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Focus: Dr. Bershteyn specializes in mathematical modeling of HIV transmission dynamics across sub-Saharan Africa, with deep expertise in Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Her work examines how cultural practices (widow cleansing, funeral rites), biomedical interventions (PrEP, self-testing), and structural factors influence epidemic trajectories. She also pioneers mental health interventions through clinical trials of group psychotherapy in low-resource settings, demonstrating an interdisciplinary approach to global health challenges.

Publication Trends: Her 2025 publications reveal a consistent emphasis on model comparison studies to evaluate HIV interventions, with strong geographic focus on East/Southern Africa. Key themes include UNAIDS target achievement, sociodemographic disparities in treatment access, and innovative combinations of biomedical/structural solutions for culturally embedded transmission risks. The inclusion of mental health research highlights expanding scope beyond infectious diseases.

Leadership: As Director of the Policy Modeling Initiative, she bridges quantitative analysis and real-world policy implementation, translating complex model outputs into actionable public health strategies through collaborations with international health organizations.