Alison Norris, MD, PhD

Chair and Professor

Epidemiology

Alison Norris

Contact

1841 Neil Ave.
326 Cunz Hall
Columbus, OH, 43210
Email: norris.570@osu.edu
Phone: 614-688-3219
View CV
Website: Ohio Policy Evaluation Network
Umoyo wa Thanzi

Dr. Alison Norris is an epidemiologist and a medical doctor who studies sexual and reproductive health with a goal to support reproductive autonomy, excellent reproductive health outcomes and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. She has a particular interest in understanding how policy, endemic disease, social norms, demographic factors, and cultural and institutional structures influence health and disease.

Dr. Norris has been with Ohio State since 2011 and currently chairs the Division of Epidemiology and holds courtesy appointments in the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. As faculty, her goal is to develop, conduct and evaluate epidemiologic and social science research to improve sexual and reproductive health.

To understand how laws and policies impact access to abortion and contraception, she co-leads a collaborative research program called OPEN (Ohio Policy Evaluation Network). With scholars from across Ohio and neighboring states, OPEN produces evidence for health care providers, community stakeholders and lawmakers.

Dr. Norris also co-leads the research steering committee for #WeCount, a national effort housed at the Society of Family Planning. #WeCount measures the impact of the significant changes in abortion care following the 2022 Dobbs v Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Much of her research has been conducted in eastern and southern Africa. Partnering with an interdisciplinary team of scientists and health practitioners at Ohio State and in Malawi, Dr. Norris initiated a research program called Umoyo wa Thanzi (UTHA, Health for Life). The project aims to illuminate how women’s and men’s decision making impacts fertility, family planning, pregnancy, childbirth, and testing and treatment for infectious diseases. With funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and multiple Ohio State grants, the project has carried out five waves of a longitudinal study of more than 1,000 women and their partners.