Suzanne Judd, PhD, officially arrives as inaugural director of the UC Center for Public Health
By Ashley DuveliusEmail AshleyEmail Ashley
July 6, 2026Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine welcomes Suzanne E. Judd, PhD, MPH, as the inaugural director of its newly established Center for Public Health, effective July 6, 2026. A nationally renowned epidemiologist with more than 26 years of research experience, Judd arrives with a clear and ambitious charge: to transform community health in Greater Cincinnati through innovative research, education and strategic advocacy
“Public health is the foundation of a thriving community,” said Judd. “I look forward to building a center that serves as a catalyst for innovation, access and health transformation. By collaborating within UC to integrate already strong interdisciplinary teams working in public health, as well as partnering with community leaders, we will develop sustainable solutions for the most pressing challenges facing our region.”
Leader shaped by data and driven by impact
Judd joins UC from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she served as university professor and chair of the Department of Health Behavior. Throughout her career, she has led more than $100 million in National Institutes of Health-funded research, including two landmark longitudinal studies: REGARDS (REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) and RURAL (Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal), both of which have shaped the national conversation about health disparities
Her research focuses on how dietary and environmental factors contribute to racial disparities in stroke, hypertension and kidney disease — work that has quantified dietary patterns explaining up to 63% of the racial disparity in stroke risk. She has mentored more than 60 scholars throughout her career and has collaborated internationally, including as a Fulbright Scholar in France
Judd’s path to public health is itself distinctive. She began her career as a research engineer in the consumer products industry before earning a master’s in public health in epidemiology and a PhD in nutrition sciences from Emory University — a trajectory that reflects the interdisciplinary thinking she now brings to UC
“Dr. Judd is a visionary leader whose career reflects a rare ability to translate scientific data into actionable community health solutions,” said Gregory C. Postel, MD, dean of the College of Medicine, Christian R. Holmes professor, executive vice president for health affairs at UC and chair of the UC Health Board of Directors. “Her experience leading multi-institutional studies and her commitment to addressing barriers to health care align perfectly with our mission. Dr. Judd’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for our university and our city.”
Leading a new center at a critical moment
As inaugural director, Judd will develop interdisciplinary research programs and implement evidence-based strategies to bridge science, policy and practice — setting a new standard for how academic medicine can improve health outcomes at the community level
Her appointment comes as UC deepens its commitment to population health as a pillar of its academic health enterprise. At UAB, Judd launched an undergraduate degree track in public health that grew to more than 500 students within four years — a signal of both her programmatic vision and her ability to build something meaningful from the ground up
The Center for Public Health is positioned to become a vital force in UC’s approach to addressing the health challenges facing Greater Cincinnati and the region
Featured image at top: Exterior of the CARE/Crawley building on UC’s medical campus. Photo/University of Cincinnati
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