Education

PhD Epidemiology, University of Washington, 2012
MPH Epidemiology, University of Washington, 2005
BA Women Studies, Wesleyan University, 2000

Contact

jbalkus@kingcounty.govjbalkus@uw.edu

Bio

Dr. Balkus (she/her/hers) is an infectious disease epidemiologist whose work spans across the fields of sexual and reproductive health. She is the Senior Epidemiologist for the HIV/STI/HCV Program at Public Health – Seattle & King County. Her work in public health practice and research is centered in health equity and focusses on approaches to understanding which communities are most impacted by HIV, STIs and hepatitis C in King County and informing novel approaches for intervention and communication to reduce disease burden. Dr. Balkus is open to working with students who are interested in these topic areas who are seeking to gain experience in public health practice-related epidemiology. 

Previously, Dr. Balkus was core faculty in the Epidemiology Department where her research focused on sexual health across the lifecourse. She has expertise in conducting both clinical trials and observational studies, in the US and globally, and led multiple NIH-funded projects related to vaginal health and STIs among people assigned female sex at birth. In addition to her research, Dr. Balkus developed and taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the School of Public Health and served as the inaugural faculty co-chair or the Department’s Equity and Diversity and Inclusion Committee.