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Kathryn Whetten

Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy
Sanford School of Public Policy
Box 90392, Durham, NC 27710
310 Trent Dr., Suite 314, Box 90392, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Director, Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research
Research Director, Hart Fellows Program,
Professor, Public Policy and Global Health 
Professor, Nursing and Community & Family Medicine 
Pronouns: they/them

Kathryn Whetten is the Principal Investigator on multiple grants and publishes numerous scientific articles every year. In addition, they mentor many students and give guest lectures and presentations throughout the year.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy · 2012 - Present Sanford School of Public Policy
Research Professor of Global Health · 2011 - Present Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers
Professor in the School of Nursing · 2012 - Present School of Nursing

In the News


Published January 3, 2025
Duke 100 Trailblazer: Kate Whetten
Published March 16, 2022
Care, Understanding, Agreement: Seeking a Path Forward in Sexual and Gender Minority Health
Published January 29, 2020
To Help Orphans in East Africa Deal with Grief, a Duke Project Turns Laypeople into Counselors

View All News

Recent Publications


Preexposure Prophylaxis to Prevent HIV Acquisition: Perceptions among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals in North Carolina.

Journal Article South Med J · July 2025 OBJECTIVES: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities at increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be underprescribed preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but PrEP research on SGM communities other than transgender women and cisgender men who ... Full text Link to item Cite

Prevalence and correlates of workplace violence: descriptive results from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey.

Journal Article Occup Environ Med · April 28, 2024 OBJECTIVE: To describe the lifetime prevalence of workplace harassment, physical violence and sexual assault against transgender and non-binary workers targeted due to their gender identity and to identify correlates of this workplace violence. METHODS: Th ... Full text Link to item Cite

Effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy compared to psychosocial counseling in reducing HIV risk behaviors, substance use, and mental health problems among orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia: a community-based randomized controlled trial.

Journal Article AIDS and behavior · January 2024 Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in sub-Saharan Africa are at high risk for HIV infection and transmission. HIV prevention and treatment efforts with OVC are hindered by mental health and substance use problems. This randomized controlled trial compar ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Advancing Equity in Adolescent Health through Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs and Services

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Department of Health and Human Services · 2023 - 2028

AP3 - Duke Teen Health Club

Public ServicePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by NC Department of Health and Human Services · 2023 - 2027

Sustaining and Generalizing Evidence-based Mental Health interventions for children (SAGE-MH)

ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health · 2021 - 2026

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 1994 Ph.D.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 1991 M.P.H.
Bates College · 1985 A.B.