WASHINGTON, DC (October 6, 2022) — Julia Strasser, DrPH, MPH, has been appointed the new director of the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health (Jacobs Institute) at the George Washington University (GW) Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH). The Jacobs Institute’s mission is to identify and study aspects of healthcare and public health, including legal and policy issues, that affect women’s health at different life stages; to foster awareness of and facilitate dialogue around issues that affect women’s health; and to promote interdisciplinary research, coordination, and information dissemination, including by publishing the peer-reviewed journal Women’s Health Issues.
Dr. Strasser is an Assistant Research Professor of Health Policy and Management at Milken Institute SPH. She has worked in healthcare for over 15 years, including previous positions at the National Cancer Institute, the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, and Planned Parenthood of Western Washington. Her research focuses on contraception, abortion, and access to care for underserved populations. Currently, she serves as co-PI for the Reproductive Health Workforce research project in the GW Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity. She holds a DrPH in Health Policy from the GW Milken Institute SPH, an MPH from The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a concentration in women's and reproductive health, and a BA in History from Yale University.
Susan F. Wood, PhD, served as the director of the Jacobs Institute beginning in 2009. She is stepping down from her role as Jacobs Institute director and will remain a Research Professor at Milken Institute SPH. “I am excited that Dr. Strasser is taking on this new role as Director of the Jacob's Institute of Women's Health,” said Dr. Wood. “Her research and expertise in reproductive health, rights, and justice ensures that GW and the Jacobs institute will lead in both academic and policy issues related to women's health.”
“I am thrilled and honored to step into this role, particularly at such a critical moment in women’s health,” said Dr. Strasser. “I look forward to continuing the important work that Dr. Wood has led conducting research on key policy issues and engaging with partners on women’s health and in reproductive justice.”