Yale University

Dr. Nathan Hansen To Head Department of Health Promotion and Behavior at University of Georgia

Nathan Hansen, Ph.D., former Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, former Director of HIV Prevention and Mental Health Research at The Consultation Center, and former Director of CIRA's Development Core, ends his tenure at Yale on June 30, 2013. Dr. Hansen is moving to the University of Georgia where he will be an Associate Professor of Public Health and Head of the Department of Health Promotion and Behavior.

Dr. Hansen came to Yale in 2000 as a CIRA Postdoctoral Fellow, after completing his graduate work at Brigham Young University. He joined the Psychiatry faculty in 2002 and became a keystone of the CIRA team, providing leadership to the Development Core and the T32 Training Program. He also served as a Member of the Executive Committee and an Investigator with the Clinical and Health Services Research Core. His unparalleled work as a mentor to pre- and postdoctoral fellows at CIRA has provided a foundation for the next generation of HIV prevention scientists. Known at CIRA as a "mentor extraordinaire" his wisdom and experience will be sorely missed. "I was always impressed with how genuinely Nate extended any resources or advice he had at his disposal to help postdocs get through any challenges - whether professional or personal,” commented Amy Carroll-Scott, a former Postdoc and Assistant Professor of Public Health at Drexel University. "I'll never forget how he helped me figure out how to build and balance my academic career."

His own research focuses on the development of mental health interventions to prevent HIV infection and improve the lives of people living with the virus. In particular, Dr. Hansen's initiatives seek to provide support to survivors of trauma in order to reduce high-risk behaviors and increase adherence to care. Dr. Hansen's research portfolio includes projects in New Haven, New York City, Liberia, Sierra Leone, India, and Russia. Jon Atherton, Administrative Director of CIRA's Training Program described Dr. Hansen's work as "Truly interdisciplinary...His investment in team building and collaboration has been inspiring to all of us."

Dr. Hansen's dedication and contribution to the CIRA organization and its affiliated scientists was recognized at the Center's annual retreat last month by CIRA Director Paul Cleary and Deputy Director Jeannette Ickovics. "Nate's departure is a tremendous loss for CIRA and the larger Yale community," Dr. Ickovics stated. "However, I am thrilled to see him take on this exciting new leadership position at the University of Georgia and wish him all the best."



Published: Monday, July 1, 2013