Herbert Peterson

Herbert B. Peterson, MD is the William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, holding a joint appointment in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine. He directs the WHO Collaborating Center for Research Evidence in Sexual and Reproductive Health. Previously, he served as CDC’s Chief of the Women’s Health and Fertility Branch and spent 20 years at the CDC before joining UNC in 2004.

Education and Training: MD from University of Pittsburgh (1977), Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UNC (1983), Postdoctoral Training in Epidemic Intelligence at CDC (1981).

Research Focus: Bridges clinical medicine and public health, emphasizing global reproductive health and implementation science. Specializes in ensuring policies and programs are evidence-based and scalable, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches. Current work addresses global maternal and child health challenges through implementation science frameworks.

Awards:

• Fellow Honoris Causa, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2019)
• Allan Rosenfield Award for Lifetime Contributions to International Family Planning (2010)
• Membership, National Academy of Medicine (2007)
• Jeffrey P. Koplan Award, CDC (1999)

Service and Leadership: Leads ACOG’s Global Operations Advisory Group, chairs WHO’s Contraception Clinical Trials Network Scientific Committee, and serves on multiple global health boards. Active in post-tenure review and faculty governance at Gillings School.

Labs/Teams: Oversees the WHO Collaborating Center, focusing on translating research evidence into actionable policies for sexual and reproductive health globally.