Janet M. Turan

Dr. Janet M. Turan is a Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Organization at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. She serves as Director of the UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health and Director of the Behavioral and Community Sciences Core of the UAB Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). Dr. Turan holds secondary appointments in Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology. Her academic journey includes a Doctor of Philosophy in Behavioral Aspects of Health from Johns Hopkins University (1997) and a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health from Columbia University (1988), followed by postdoctoral training at the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (2005-2007).

Dr. Turan's research focuses on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV prevention and treatment in low-resource settings globally. She examines HIV-related stigma and intersectional stigma related to poverty, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, substance use, and reproductive choices. Her work spans diverse settings including rural Kenya and the Deep South in the United States, addressing stigma's impact on maternal and child health services, HIV testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, medication adherence, and HIV care engagement. She also investigates stigma related to other health conditions including unintended pregnancy, obstetric fistula, breast cancer, and gender-based violence.

Her most recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on intersectional stigma's mechanisms and health impacts across diverse populations. Her research employs mixed methods approaches, from qualitative analysis of stigma experiences to development of risk prediction tools for HIV outcomes. Dr. Turan's work consistently addresses health equity issues and seeks practical interventions to reduce stigma's harmful effects on health outcomes.

• 2016 Distinguished Faculty Investigator Award
• Lead of NIH Fogarty expert group on intersectional stigma and global health
• Invited Participant, White House Meeting on HIV Stigma (2016)

Dr. Turan actively mentors graduate students and serves on numerous dissertation committees. Her grant portfolio includes several NIH-funded studies examining HIV-related stigma effects, mechanisms, and intervention strategies. She collaborates extensively across disciplines and international settings, particularly in Kenya and other global contexts. Dr. Turan leads the Behavioral and Community Sciences Core of the UAB Center for AIDS Research, focusing on community-based approaches to HIV prevention and treatment. Her work integrates community perspectives through human-centered design approaches to develop effective health interventions.