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Joanne
Katz
,
ScD

Professor

Joanne Katz, ScD ’93, MS, is an epidemiologist with expertise in maternal, neonatal, and child health and extensive work experience in Nepal and other South Asian countries.

Contact Info

615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E8546
Baltimore
Maryland
21205
US        

Research Interests

epidemiology; biostatistics; community trials; micronutrients; maternal health; neonatal health; child health; adolescent pregnancy; reproductive health; Nepal
Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
ScD
Johns Hopkins University
1993
MS
Princeton University
1982
BSc
University of Cape Town
1978
Overview
My research aims to reduce mortality and morbidity in under-served populations in the United States and abroad. The underlying discipline bases for this research are epidemiology, community randomized trials and biostatistics. Areas of focus include (1) maternal, neonatal and child health, (2) nutritional deficiencies and (3) infectious diseases.
Current projects include

1. Identify and prioritize modifiable risk factors for stillbirths, preterm and/or small-for-gestational age birth, and early and late neonatal mortality using monthly data from late first trimester through labor and delivery from 3 trials in rural Nepal.

2. Primary data collection to validate maternal recall of receipt of nutrition and other interventions in antenatal care and pregnancy in Nepal.

3. A randomized trial to test the efficacy of a balanced protein energy supplement for daily use during pregnancy on the outcomes of pregnancy and growth of infants during the first 6 months of life in Sarlahi District, Nepal.

4. Granular age-specific data analysis of under 5 child mortality patterns using pregnancy and live birth cohorts from low and middle income countries.

5. Estimate global prevalence of preterm, small-for-gestational-age and low birth weight and the impact of these adverse birth outcomes on neonatal mortality.

6. Understand the current health system readiness, public trust in health authorities, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy to achieve equitable access to and high demand for vaccines as supply increases in Nepal.
Honors & Awards
2019 Golden Apple teaching Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2018 Ernest Lyman Stebbins Medal for extraordinary contributions to the educational programs of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2016 Maryland Women's Hall of Fame
2014 Children's Prize
2011  Johns Hopkins Alumni Knowledge for the World Award
2011  Global Health Excellence in Advising Award, Johns Hopkins University
2011  Golden Apple teaching Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Advising, Mentoring and Teaching Recognition Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2002, 2005, 2011
2009 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Fellow
2009 American Academy of Ophthalmology Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Profession of Ophthalmology
Fellow, American College of Epidemiology, 1994
Delta Omega, 1993
Select Publications
A selection of 5 publication from the past year.
  • Subedi S, Hazel E, Mohan D, Zeger SL, Mullany LC, Tielsch JM, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Black RE, Katz J. Prevalence and Predictors of Spontaneous Preterm Births in Nepal- Findings from a prospective, population- based pregnancy cohort in rural Nepal: A secondary data analysis. BMJ Open. 2022 Dec 1;12(12):e066934. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066934. PMID: 36456014.
  • Saya AR, Katz J, Khatry SK, Tielsch JM, LeClerq SC, Mullany LC. Verbal Autopsy Methods to Describe Causes of Neonatal Mortality in a Community-based Setting of Southern Nepal, 2010-2017. PLOS Glob Public Health 2 (9):e0001072. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.
  • Thorne-Lyman AL, Lama TP, Subedi S, Manandhar P, HeidKamp RA, Munos MK, Bryce E, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Katz J. Cognitive testing of questions about antenatal care and nutrition interventions in southern Nepal. Soc Sci Med. 2022 Aug 30;311:115318. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115318. PMID: 36099684
  • Hazel E, Mullany LC, Zeger SL, Mohan D, Subedi S, Tielsch JM, Khatry SK, Katz J. Development of an imputation model to recalibrate birth weights measured in the early neonatal period to time at delivery and assessment of its impact on size-for-gestational age and low birthweight prevalence estimates: a secondary analysis of a pregnancy cohort in rural Nepal. BMJ Open 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060105. PMID: 35820766
  • Subedi S, Katz J, Erchick DJ, Verhulst A, Khatry SK, Mullany LC, Tielsch JM, LeClerq SC, Christian P, West KP Jr., Guillot M. Does higher early neonatal mortality in boys reverse over the neonatal period? A pooled analysis from three trials of Nepal. BMJ Open 2022;12:e056112. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056112. PMID: 35589346
Projects
Maternal Influenza Vaccine Trial
Cookstore Replacement for Prevention of ARI and Low Birthweight in Nepal
Nepal Cookstove Replacement Trial
Nepal Sunflower Oil Massage Study
Global Age Patterns of Under 5 Mortality
Impact of a Balanced Protein-Energy Supplement in Pregnancy and Early Lactation on Reproductive Outcomes and Growth in Southern Nepal
Improving Nutrition Coverage Measures in Nepal
Prioritization of modifiable risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes and neonatal mortality in rural Nepal