Renaisa S. Anthony, MD, MPH

Deputy Director

Center for Reducing Health Disparities
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Social and Behavioral Health

Renaisa S. Anthony, MD, MPH, is the Deputy Director of the Center for Reducing Health Disparities at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the College of Public Health and Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Social and Behavioral Health.

Dr. Anthony grew up in the inner city of Detroit, Michigan and witnessed first hand the disease burden that falls disproportionately on inner-city and minority populations. She made an early commitment to improve the health of disadvantaged populations through the practice of medicine. After completing her medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and master's of public health at the Harvard University School of Public Health she joined the Vanderbilt University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a resident house officer. As a resident, Dr. Anthony witnessed first hand the limitations of the current health care system to care for those at highest risk and actively sought opportunities to integrate medicine, public health, and health policy to improve the overall health of disadvantaged communities.

Dr. Anthony moved to Washington, D.C. in 2007 as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Health Policy Fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NICHD) and the Office of the Surgeon General, where she led initiatives to improve the health of minorities, women and children. Her contribution to the U.S. Surgeon General's Conference on the Prevention of Preterm Birth was honored for outstanding service by the Surgeon General.

Prior to her appointment at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Anthony was appointed faculty at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services in the Department of Prevention and Community. She taught the future generation of health professionals courses in preventive medicine, maternal child health, and health disparities. She is the Principle Investigator on an NIH supported study investigating reproductive outcomes in hypertensive women.

In 2009, Dr. Anthony worked with Congressional Leaders to convene sessions in support of health care reform. She testified before Congress on October 27, 2009 emphasizing the urgent need for health care reform to reduce health disparities and was present the evening of the historic passing of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3672).

Dr. Anthony has traveled the world on medical missions providing medical services and supplies to populations in need. She is a member of multiple professional societies including the American Public Health Association (APHA), National Medical Association (NMA), Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Dr. Anthony is the recipient of the 2010 APHA Leadership and Advocacy Award and will be honored for her service at the annual APHA Conference in November, 2010.