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George Mason University social epidemiologist Jhumka Gupta has received the 2026 Senior Investigator Award from the Health Equity Interest Group of AcademyHealth.
The award recognizes researchers who demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing health equity and contributing meaningfully to health disparities research. A professor of global and community health in the College of Public Health, Gupta focuses her research on gender-based and intimate partner violence against women and girls, refugee and immigrant populations, reproductive health, and the health impacts of conflict and forced displacement. She examines the mental and reproductive health consequences of violence against women and girls and conducts community intervention trials for prevention and support.
Her current research involves adapting and rigorously testing a violence against women intervention from the Global South for use with Global South for use with refugee communities in the United States. This is the first adaptation of this kind. She also leads research on menstrual equity and period poverty that has informed public policy discussions.
“This award is especially meaningful to me because it recognizes steady and longstanding commitment to health equity that is not limited to one country, but the globe,” Gupta said. “Much of my work has focused on cultivating connections with communities affected by violence, displacement, and societal inequities, it takes a lot of time, and I’m grateful to see that work acknowledged.”
Gupta is also director of George Mason’s PhD in Public Health and is an associate editor for PLOS Global Public Health.
AcademyHealth is a national nonpartisan organization focused on health policy and health services research.