Mara Decker

Mara Decker, DrPH is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. She holds joint affiliations with the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies and the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, where she leads applied research initiatives focused on adolescent health. Additionally, she teaches at UC Berkeley in the School of Public Health.

• Education: DrPH from UC Berkeley, MHS from Johns Hopkins University, BA in International Relations from Pomona College
• Research Focus: Intersection of health with developmental policies, human rights, social ecology, and empowerment

Decker’s research spans sexual and reproductive health, global health equity, and adolescent development. Her work combines mixed-methods approaches to evaluate interventions like online health education programs for rural youth and behavioral health integration with sports initiatives. Recent publications emphasize curriculum implementation, contraceptive access, and racial disparities in preterm birth through community-academic partnerships.

Notable trends in her 2022–2025 publications include:

• Development of technology-enhanced sexual health education programs
• Analysis of neighborhood-level social determinants affecting adolescent birth rates
• Advocacy for research justice frameworks to address systemic inequities
• Binational studies on Latino and Mexican-origin youth health access

Decker actively collaborates with institutions like the Institute for Global Health Sciences and engages in clinical trials related to adolescent health interventions. Her teaching includes courses on global health empowerment and program evaluation.