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Jeannette Ickovics, PhD

Samuel and Liselotte Herman Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health
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Additional Titles

Dean of Faculty, Yale-NUS College

Director, Program on Climate Change and Urban Health

Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

About

Titles

Samuel and Liselotte Herman Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health

Dean of Faculty, Yale-NUS College; Director, Program on Climate Change and Urban Health; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

Biography

Jeannette R. Ickovics is the Samuel and Liselotte Herman Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Psychology at Yale University. She served as Dean of Faculty at Yale-NUS College in Singapore from 2018-2021, responsible for faculty development and curriculum across the Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities. At the Yale School of Public Health, Dr. Ickovics was Founding Director of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the School of Public Health (2002-2012) and Founding Director of CARE: Community Alliance for Research and Engagement as part of Yale's inaugural Clinical and Translational Science Award (2007-2017). She was also Deputy Director for the Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS where she was Director of an NIH training program for pre- and post- doctoral fellows for 15 years (now in its 24th year).

Dr. Ickovics’ research investigates the interplay of complex biomedical, behavioral, social and psychological factors that influence individual and community health. She uses this lens to examine challenges faced by those often marginalized by the health care system and by society. She has expertise running large, scientifically rigorous clinical trials in community settings. Her community-based research – funded with more than $40 million in grants from the NIH, CDC, and private foundations – is characterized by methodological rigor and cultural sensitivity. In addition to other grants, she has been Principal Investigator on two NIH-funded multi-site randomized controlled trials on an innovative model of group prenatal care, demonstrating >33% reduction in preterm birth and other positive health outcomes for mothers and babies. Based on these results, The United Health Foundation funded a dissemination study of group prenatal care, with an eye toward national scale-up. Dr. Ickovics also was Principal Investigator of a public-private evaluation with Merck for Mothers (evaluating the use of community health workers for pregnant women with chronic disease), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, and an NIH-funded randomized controlled obesity prevention trial at 12 middle schools in collaboration with the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health and the New Haven Public Schools. She is author of more than 225 peer-reviewed publications.

Her newest work, funded by NASA, the Rockefeller Foundation, Yale Planetary Solutions, and the Hecht Faculty Network Award at the Yale Institute for Global Health, focuses on climate resilience, health, and equity. She is working in a close transdisciplinary collaboration with the Resilient Cities Network, representing 100 cities and 220 million residents globally, in low-middle and high-income countries. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Eden Project (United Kingdom, educational charity and social enterprise, nature-based solutions). Dr. Ickovics is recipient of national awards and recognition, including most recently the Martha May Elliot Award honoring extraordinary health services to mothers and children from the American Public Health Association (2023), the Strickland-Daniel Mentoring Award from the American Psychological Association (2018), and elected a Fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research. She is Chair of the Board of Scientific Affairs of the American Psychological Association, and an inaugural member of their Climate Change Advisory Group.

Appointments

Education & Training

DSc
Muhlenberg College, Honorary (2012)
MA
Yale University, Honorary (2008)
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Yale University (1991)
PhD
George Washington University, Applied Social Psychology (1989)
BA
Muhlenberg College, Psychology (1984)

Research

Overview

1. Innovations in Prenatal Care: Nearly 4 million women give birth annually in the US. Rates of preterm birth (>12%) and low birth weight (>9%) have been intransigent for more than three decades. These are leading causes of infant morbidity and mortality, cost >$30 billion annually, and represent extreme racial/ethnic health disparities. The US Department of Health and Human Services refers to preterm birth as “one of the most pressing challenges to maternal, infant, and child health.” An independent review of studies on models of prenatal care found only one randomized controlled trial demonstrated improved birth outcomes. This study, from my research team, compared an innovative model of group prenatal care to standard individual care, and found women randomized to group prenatal care had a 33% lower rate of preterm delivery overall, and a 41%lower rate of preterm delivery for African American women. Moreover, we found that all perinatal and postpartum outcomes were as good or better for women randomized to group care compared to those randomized to traditional individual care (e.g., delivery complications, breastfeeding, psychosocial outcomes, repeat pregnancy, incident postpartum STDs). A second cluster RCT (14 New York City community hospitals and health centers) found that group prenatal care reduced risk for small for gestational age infants and depressive symptoms (which in turn were associated with preterm birth). I was the principal investigator on these two multi-site NIH-funded randomized controlled trials (R01MH/HD61175, R01MH074399). Based on successful outcomes, United Health Foundation funded a dissemination study of group prenatal care in Detroit MI and Nashville TN with an eye toward national scale-up. This work has been recognized as “innovative” as part of the Harvard Health Acceleration Challenge and the Hemsley Challenge.

2. HIV/STD Risk Reduction for Women: Prior to our randomized interventions, I have been PI and co-PI on numerous longitudinal studies of teens and young women to identify factors that influence behavioral and biological outcomes associated with HIV and STD risk. These studies were among the very first focused on women at risk for HIV, impact of testing, and then subsequently on pregnant women and preventing maternal to child transmission. Additional research focused on psychosocial factors impacting HIV progression among women (i.e., viral load, CD4 count). I continue to conduct research on reproductive risk as part of our ongoing RCTs in group prenatal care, and in support of pre- and post-doctoral fellows in our NIH T-32 training program.

3. Training the Next Generation of Prevention Scientists: I was the Founding Director and Principal Investigator of a US National Institutes of Health Training grant for 15 years (now in its 22nd year). The primary objective is to train the next generation of scientists to advance prevention research in general and with regard to HIV risk reduction specifically. We designed the training programme to provide opportunities for professional and personal development to ensure that our scholars have the tools to develop long and productive academic careers. We have trained nearly 100 pre- and post-doctoral scholars. A transdisciplinary program, this included physicians, epidemiologists and psychologists, as well as those from social welfare and social work, applied mathematics, anthropology, education, economics and law. Almost all now hold academic appointments at leading private and public academic institutions. Beyond the NIH Training Program, I have served as a primary mentor with more than two dozen doctoral students and post-doctoral scholars as well as more than 60 women and men as dissertation committee member, master’s, medical school or undergraduate thesis advisor. I was the recipient of the 2018 Strickland-Daniel Mentoring Award from the American Psychological Association.

4. Community Health Needs Assessments: Driven by unprecedented growth in obesity, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer account for 7 of 10 deaths in the US annually. I have made significant contributions to public health’s understanding of the influence of the social and environmental factors that contribute to poor health outcomes. My team has received a number of foundation grants related to this topic, leading community-based interventions that change environments and more fully involve community members to ensure sustainable reductions in obesity (e.g., Kresge, Aetna, Donaghue Foundations). We work directly with New Haven neighborhoods to form local partnerships, empower residents, identify challenges, and provide resources to promote wellness through action. Triennially (beginning in 2009) we have conducted community stratified, population-level health surveys (N>1200, response rate >75%, each year). Concurrently, we conducted a regional survey in 13 cities and towns in the New Haven region (2012) and a Connecticut statewide community health needs assessment (2015, with DataHaven, Inc.). In addition, we conduct collaborative interventions to improve community/population health. Forty percent of residents report that there are people encouraging a healthy lifestyle in their neighborhoods, and 42% report that it has become easier to lead a healthy lifestyle over the past three years. We documented a 7% reduction in obesity from 2012 to 2015.

5. School-based Obesity Prevention: I was the Principal Investigator (MPI with Dr. Marlene Schwartz) on a NIH-funded cluster randomized controlled obesity prevention trial at 12 middle schools in collaboration with the Rudd Center and the New Haven Public Schools (1R01 HD070740). Health for Achievement is a 5-year study that examines the impact of school-based policies on risk factors and outcomes related to obesity, chronic disease and academic achievement. With data from students at 12 participating schools, we have developed and/or implemented interventions to enhance student health. We have conducted research with >1,800 middle school students regarding their physical health, health behaviors, school and neighborhood environments. The results of our research have been disseminated both locally and nationally, aiming to educate our communities and encourage better health for all students.



Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Chronic Disease; Community Health Services; Epidemiology; Obesity; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Urban Health

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Jeannette Ickovics's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

2020

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    Scientific Affairs

  • honor

    Martha May Eliot Award - contributions in maternal and child health

  • activity

    Dean of Faculty

  • honor

    Fellow, Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research

  • honor

    Strickland-Daniel Mentoring Award

Get In Touch

Contacts

Academic Office Number

Locations

  • 60 College Street

    Academic Office

    Ste Room 413

    New Haven, CT 06510