W. Douglas Evans

Dr. W. Douglas Evans is a Professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University, specializing in Prevention and Community Health. His work bridges health communication, social marketing, and digital health technologies to address behavioral and health disparities globally.

• Ph.D. in Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University (1991)
• M.A. in Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University (1988)
• B.A. in Psychology/Philosophy, Reed College (1984)

Dr. Evans focuses on:

• Designing and evaluating digital health interventions for non-communicable diseases
• Applying social marketing and branding theories to public health
• Reducing health disparities through mobile health (mHealth) technologies
• Conducting quasi-experimental and randomized trials in low- and middle-income countries

His research spans mobile apps for breastfeeding support, vaccine promotion campaigns, and anti-FGM programs. Recent publications emphasize social norms, dose-response effects, and infodemiology.

Dr. Evans leads grants from:

• National Cancer Institute (CA253013)
• National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (MD016829, MD018296)
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-043363, INV-033413)

He founded the BRIGHT Institute to advance digital health research and oversees initiatives like the KULEA-NET app and Saleema program in Sudan.