Departmental Affiliations
Center & Institute Affiliations
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
Research Interests
epidemiology; biostatistics; community trials; micronutrients; maternal health; neonatal health; child health; adolescent pregnancy; reproductive health; Nepal
Experiences & Accomplishments
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. 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.
2. Estimate prevalence and risk factors for preterm, small-for-gestational-age and low birth weight and the impact of these adverse birth outcomes on neonatal mortality in low and middle income countries.
3. 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
2023 Dean’s Award for Distinction in Faculty Mentoring
2019 Golden Apple teaching Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (medium size class)
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 Data for Life 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 (medium size class)
Advising, Mentoring and Teaching Recognition Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2002, 2005, 2011
1993 Delta Omega (Public Health Honor Society)
Select Publications
A selection of 5 publication from the past year.
Katz J, SK Khatry, Shrestha L, Summers A, Visscher MO, Sherchand JB Tielsch JM, Subedi S, LeClerq SC, Mullany LC. Impact of topical applications of sunflower seed oil on neonatal mortality and morbidity in southern Nepal: a community-based, cluster-randomized trial. BMJ Global Health 2024;9:e013691. PMID: 10910473
Lawn JE, Ohuma EO, Bradley E, Suárez Idueta L, Hazel E, Okwaraji Y, Erchick D, Yargawa J, Katz J, Lee ACC, *Diaz M, Salasibew M, Requero J, Hayashi C, Moller A, Borghi E, Black RE, Blencowe H, et al. Small babies, big risks: Global estimates of prevalence and mortality for vulnerable newborns to accelerate change and improve counting. Lancet May 08, 2023 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00522-6. PMID: 37167989.
Erchick DJ, Hazel EA, Katz J, Lee ACC, Diaz M, Wu LSF, et al. Subnational Vulnerable Newborn Prevalence Collaborative Group and Vulnerable Newborn Measurement Core Group. Vulnerable newborn types: analysis of subnational, population-based birth cohorts for 541 285 live births in 23 countries, 2000-2021. BJOG. 2023 May 8. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17510. Online ahead of print. PMID: 37156239
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
Katz J, Tielsch JM, Khatry SK, Shrestha L, Breysse P Zeger SL, Kozuki N, Checkley W, LeClerq SC, Mullany LC. Impact of improved biomass and liquid petroleum gas stoves on birth outcomes in rural Nepal: results of 2 randomized trials. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2020 Jul 17:GHSP-D-20-00011. doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-20-00011. PMID: 32680912