معرفی
Kathryn Whetten is a Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy, Professor in the School of Nursing, and Research Professor of Global Health at Duke University. As Director of the Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research and Research Director of the Hart Fellows Program, Whetten has established herself as a leading researcher in global health equity, particularly focusing on vulnerable populations including orphans, HIV-positive individuals, and sexual and gender minorities.
Whetten earned her Ph.D. and M.P.H. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1994 and 1991 respectively) and her A.B. from Bates College (1985). Her research has been supported by more than 20 NIH and additional federal and foundation grants over her career.
Whetten's research focuses on understanding and addressing health disparities among vulnerable populations globally. Her work has identified childhood trauma, instability, and fear as primary determinants of HIV high-risk behaviors in the U.S. Deep South, leading to the development of trauma-informed care interventions. She conducts the only longitudinal multi-country study on orphaned/separated children across Cambodia, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, examining their mental health and wellbeing. More recently, her work has expanded to sexual and gender minority health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Analysis of Whetten's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on implementation science, mental health interventions in resource-limited settings, and the intersection of HIV/AIDS with trauma and mental health. Her work consistently bridges academic research with practical interventions, particularly focusing on task-sharing approaches that make mental health care more accessible in areas with limited resources. The geographic scope of her research spans multiple continents, with significant work in East Africa, Brazil, and the U.S. Deep South.
- Nominated, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award. Duke University. - 2002
- Duke 100 Trailblazer: Kate Whetten - 1/3/2025
Whetten serves as Principal Investigator on multiple major grants including the Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Mental Health In Low and Middle Income Countries (SMILE) study (2020-2026) and the Building and Sustaining Interventions for Children (BASIC) project (2017-2024). She mentors numerous students and has played a key role in developing Duke's global health educational programs. Whetten has worked extensively with governments and NGOs across six countries to implement sustainable mental health interventions tailored to local contexts.
As Director of the Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Whetten leads a multidisciplinary team focused on identifying and addressing health disparities through innovative research and policy recommendations. Her work with the Positive Outcomes for Orphans research team represents one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies of orphaned and separated children globally.
