Dr. Ruanne Barnabas, Associate Professor of Global Health, Medicine (Allergy and Infectious Diseases), and Epidemiology, has been named the new holder of the King K. Holmes Endowed Professorship in STD and AIDS.
South African by birth, Dr. Barnabas received her M.B.,Ch.B. (M.D. Equivalent), cum laude, from the University of Cape Town, South Africa in 1997. After completing her housestaff training, she was selected as a Rhodes Scholar to attend the University of Oxford, where she obtained both a Masters of Science in Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases with distinction in 2000, and a Doctor of Philosophy in 2005, working with Roy Anderson and Geoff Garnett, internationally recognized leaders in mathematical modeling of infectious diseases.
Dr. Barnabas came to the University of Washington in 2006 as a postdoctoral research fellow, joined the faculty in 2010, and was promoted to associate professor on July 1 of this year. Her research focuses on estimating the population-level impact, cost and cost effectiveness of innovative approaches to expand community-based HIV testing and linkage to prevention and care in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the impact of interventions for prevention and management of other STDs. The ultimate aim of her work is to identify effective and efficient HIV and STD prevention and treatment strategies to inform public health policy.
“I am delighted that such a talented and capable person as Dr. Barnabas has been selected for the Holmes Professorship,” said Department of Medicine Chair William Bremner. “I know that she will uphold and extend the outstanding work in STD/HIV that was initiated by King Holmes.”
“Dr. Barnabas’ scholarship, innate curiosity, gracious collaborative nature and strong mentoring ability make her an ideal person to carry on King Holmes’ tradition of outstanding research and training,” emphasized Judith Wasserheit, Chair of the Department of Global Health. “She is a star who brings insight and energy to accelerate advances in HIV and STD prevention and care.”
King K. Holmes Endowed Professorship in STD and AIDS
Named after Dr. King Holmes, this 3-year rotating award is designed to recognize and support a faculty member with exceptional capability and promise, and commitment to STD/HIV research and training. Dr. Holmes is a professor of medicine and global health, former medicine service chief at Harborview and vice-chair of the Department of Medicine and founding chair of the Department of Global Health.