Denise Herd

Denise Herd is an Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the School of Public Health. She previously served as associate dean at the same institution for seven years.

Educational Background

• PhD in Medical Anthropology from the University of California, San Francisco
• MA in Anthropology from San Francisco State University
• BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley

Research Focus spans racialized health disparities, cultural influences on substance use, and social determinants of health. Her work explores:

• Corporate marketing impacts on African American youth
• Alcohol/drug use patterns in racialized communities
• Role of rap music in shaping health narratives
• Structural racism in public health systems
• Social movements for health equity
• Intersectionality in multicultural health

Selected Publications (2020-2024) highlight her work on systemic racism, police violence trauma, and emerging public health challenges. These contributions span interdisciplinary fields including social epidemiology, health policy, and cultural studies.

Media Engagement includes commentary on critical issues like:

• Vaccine hesitancy in Black/Latinx communities
• Health inequities during pandemics
• Coronavirus mortality disparities
• Economic impacts of public health crises
• Racially targeted corporate practices