Karin E. Tobin

Karin E. Tobin is a Professor in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is also affiliated with the Johns Hopkins Center for Women's Health, Sex, and Gender Research. Dr. Tobin serves as Associate Director of the Lighthouse Studies @ Peer Point and Training Director of the Overdose Response Program, reflecting her deep commitment to community-based public health interventions.

• PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2004
• MHS, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2000
• BS, Towson University, 1993

Dr. Tobin's research centers on the intersection of social networks, place-based context, and health inequalities. Her work spans HIV prevention, overdose reduction, mental health, intimate partner violence, and harm reduction, with a focus on marginalized populations including people who inject drugs, Black women with HIV, and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. She utilizes a harm reduction framework and social influence theories to design and evaluate behavioral interventions aimed at improving health outcomes.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in evaluating culturally tailored interventions, gender-affirming services, telehealth for opioid use disorder, and structural vulnerabilities among people living with HIV. These works span qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, often involving community-based participatory research.

• NIDA Ruth L. Kirchstein National Research Service Award
• NIH Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program Recipient
• California HIV/AIDS Research Program Equity Award
• National Academy of Medicine Health Longevity Global Competition Catalyst Award

Dr. Tobin is actively involved in mentoring and training public health professionals. She teaches courses such as Harm Reduction: A Framework for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice and Graduate Seminar in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her leadership in multisectoral interventions and community-engaged research underscores her commitment to translating research into practice and policy.