University of Cincinnati
04/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/02/2026 13:25
UC names Suzanne Judd, PhD, as inaugural director of new Center for Public Health
UC names Suzanne Judd, PhD, as inaugural director of new Center for Public Health
4 minute read April 2, 2026 Share on facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Print StoryLike
Following an extensive national search, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine has appointed Suzanne E. Judd, PhD, as the inaugural director of its newly established Center for Public Health. Judd, a renowned epidemiologist and interdisciplinary scholar, will lead the center's mission to transform community health through innovative research, education and strategic advocacy.
Suzanne Judd, PhD
Judd joins UC from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where she served as a professor and chair of the Department of Health Behavior. A widely sought-after expert in health disparities, she has more than 26 years of research experience and more than $100 million in National Institutes of Health-funded projects. Her portfolio includes leadership of the landmark REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) and RURAL (Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal) Cohort studies.
"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."
As Center for Public Health director, Judd will develop interdisciplinary research programs and implement evidence-based strategies designed to bridge science, policy and practice, defining a new standard for how academic medicine can improve health outcomes.
Judd's career path began as a research engineer in the consumer products industry before transitioning to public health. She earned a master's in public health in epidemiology and a PhD in nutrition sciences from Emory University. Her research focuses on how dietary patterns and environmental factors contribute to racial disparities in stroke, hypertension and kidney disease. Notably, her work has quantified dietary patterns that explain up to 63% of the racial disparity in stroke risk.
Throughout her career, Judd has mentored more than 60 scholars and has collaborated globally, including as a Fulbright Scholar in France. As an assistant dean at UAB, she launched an undergraduate degree track that grew to more than 500 students in just four years.
"I am honored to serve as the inaugural director of the UC Center for Public Health," said Judd. "Public health is the foundation of a thriving community, and 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."
Judd will officially begin her role at UC on Sept. 1, 2026.
Featured image at top: Exterior of CARE/Crawley building on UC's medical campus. Photo/University of Cincinnati.
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