Ross Brownson

A leading expert in chronic disease prevention and an internationally-recognized expert in the area of dissemination and implementation science, Ross C. Brownson is regarded as one of the academic and practice leaders in the field of evidence-based public health. Brownson has a joint appointment with the university’s School of Medicine in the Department of Surgery and the Siteman Cancer Center.

Brownson directs the Prevention Research Center, a center that develops innovative research to speed the translation of scientific findings to use in public health settings. His research has been supported by a broad array of federal and foundation sources, including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

He is an associate editor of the Annual Review of Public Health and on the editorial board of five other journals. Brownson has published over 600 articles and 17 books including: “Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control,” “Evidence-Based Public Health,” and “Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health: Translating Science to Practice.” He has been listed as one of the “World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds.” Brownson is past-president of the American College of Epidemiology and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. Brownson is also active in the American Public Health Association.

Ross Brownson

Areas of Focus:

  • Evidence-based public health
  • Dissemination and implementation science
  • Chronic disease prevention through environmental and policy change

In The News

Brownson Named SOPHE 2024 Honorary Fellow
January 16, 2024

Brown School Scholars on ‘Highly Cited Researchers’ List
November 27, 2023

More Work Needed to Improve Equity Focus in Public Health Departments
August 1, 2023

Brownson, Proctor Edit Third Edition of Health Research Guide
July 14, 2023

Brown School Co-hosts Meeting Focused on Improving Diversity in Scientific Publishing
May 1, 2023

How Health Departments Can Offer More Programs That Work
March 13, 2023

Training Helps Scholars Put Their Research into Practice, Achieve Equity
January 24, 2023

Brownson, Powell, Proctor Again Rank on Highly Cited Researchers List
December 13, 2022

Parra Perez Coordinates Network to Bolster Neighborhood Resilience During COVID
September 8, 2022

Brown School Faculty Among Most-Cited Scientists
March 1, 2022

Brown School Presentations at APHA 2021
October 25, 2021

Evidence-Based Public Health Instruction Shows Tangible Results
June 30, 2021

Transportation “Snapshot” Reveals Gaps Affecting Cancer Prevention and Treatment
June 14, 2021

Implementation Science Should Give Higher Priority to Health Equity
April 6, 2021

Brownson, Powell, Proctor Among Most Highly Cited Researchers
January 13, 2021

Innovative training program boosts expertise in putting cancer research into practice
January 5, 2021

Over 60% of Public Schools Are Within 1,000 Feet of Tobacco Retailers, Finds New Study
October 21, 2020

Reimagining public health in aftermath of COVID-19
August 21, 2020

Brown School Recognizes Faculty Authors and Editors
May 7, 2020

Coronavirus challenges facing rural America
March 31, 2020

Featured Publications

Mapping the lay of the land: Using interactive network analytic tools for collaboration in rural cancer prevention and control
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
June 1 2022

Quantitative measures used in mental health policy implementation: A systematic review
Implementation Research and Practice
2022

Variation in research designs used to test the effectiveness of dissemination and implementation strategies: A review
Frontiers in Public Health
February 19 2018