Deborah Baron

Dr. Deborah Baron is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She holds a PhD from UNC and dual master’s degrees from Columbia University in global public health and human rights. Her research focuses on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) interventions for adolescents and young women, with expertise in trauma-informed approaches, implementation science, and community-based participatory research. She has extensive field experience in sub-Saharan Africa, including managing HIV prevention consortia and leading community engagement initiatives.

Education:

• PhD in Health Behavior, UNC Gillings School (2024)
• MPH in Global Health, Columbia University (2006)
• MIA in Human Rights, Columbia SIPA (2006)
• BA in Politics, UC Santa Cruz (2000)

Research emphasizes two key areas: 1) promoting developmental resilience through early-life protective factors, and 2) designing trauma-informed SRH services. Recent projects include evaluating trauma-informed public health systems in Durham County and improving PrEP service delivery in South Africa. Her work integrates mixed methods approaches to address structural drivers of health inequities.

Service contributions include membership on the Gillings Inclusive Excellence Council, BSPH curriculum committees, and leadership roles in participatory research initiatives. She teaches courses on global health and qualitative research methods at the graduate level.