Marni Sommer

Marni Sommer is a Professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, where she leads the Gender, Adolescent Transitions and Environment (GATE) Program. Her work spans global health, adolescent development, menstrual health and hygiene, and the intersection of public health with education and gender issues. She has established herself as a leading expert in menstrual health research, particularly in low-resource and humanitarian settings.

• BS, 1994 University of Pennsylvania
• BS, 1999 Johns Hopkins University
• MS, 2001 Johns Hopkins University
• MPH, 2001 Johns Hopkins University
• DrPH, 2008 Columbia University

Dr. Sommer's research focuses on child and adolescent health, community health, global health, and maternal and reproductive health with particular emphasis on menstrual health and hygiene. Her work explores how puberty, menstruation, and gender intersect with education, health systems, and environmental factors to shape adolescent development trajectories. She has pioneered research on menstrual health in humanitarian contexts, recognizing that over 26 million displaced girls and women struggle to manage menstruation safely and with dignity. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications, developing puberty education materials used in over ten countries worldwide.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on menstrual health infrastructure, particularly menstrual-friendly public toilets across global urban settings. Her research spans both low- and high-income contexts, examining menstrual health in humanitarian emergencies, schools, universities, and among homeless populations. There's a clear trajectory toward systems-level interventions that address menstrual health beyond product provision to include infrastructure, policy, and education.

• Doctoral Dissertation with Distinction, 2008
• Marisa de Castro Benton Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Sociomedical Sciences, 2008
• Award for Excellence in Global Health for a Doctoral Student, 2008
• The Johns Hopkins Nurses' Alumni Association Award, 1999

Dr. Sommer leads the GATE Program, which has secured funding from sources including Elrha's Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises, USAID's Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance, and the Waterloo Foundation. Her work has resulted in practical tools including the MHM in Emergencies Toolkit, Menstrual Disposal Guidance Compendium, and the Menstrual-Friendly Public Toilet Toolkit. She has established partnerships with the International Rescue Committee, UN agencies, and researchers worldwide to translate research into actionable programs.

The GATE Program operates across multiple domains including global puberty research (developing puberty books in ten countries), menstrual health in emergencies (addressing the needs of displaced populations), menstrual health in the U.S. (focusing on adolescents, homelessness, and universities), and menstrual-friendly public toilets (a six-city global study). Dr. Sommer's approach integrates community-based participatory research with practical resource development to address critical gaps in adolescent health and menstrual health globally.