Karen McDonnell Named New Editor-in-Chief of Women’s Health Issues

Karen A. McDonnell, PhD, has been appointed the new editor-in-chief of Women’s Health Issues, the peer-reviewed journal of the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health (Jacobs Institute) at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH). The journal, which is published by Elsevier, is dedicated to advancing research that improves the health and health care of women across the lifespan.
 
Dr. McDonnell is an Associate Professor of Prevention and Community Health at Milken Institute SPH and a faculty member of the GW Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health. She is a public health program evaluation and implementation specialist with over 20 years of experience working with community groups, public health agencies, and health care systems both locally and globally. Her most recent work includes collaborations to develop and test a community-centered female genital cutting prevention project, evaluating the National Domestic Violence Hotline/loveisrespect Helpline, and taking a public health approach to gender-based violence.
 
Dr. McDonnell assumes the role from Amita N. Vyas, PhD, MHS, whose term as editor-in-chief began in July 2017. Dr. Vyas will continue to serve as an associate editor of the journal.
 
“We thank Dr. Vyas for her years of service to the journal and to women’s health research, including working with the editorial board to launch a process to make the journal’s publication practices more inclusive and equitable,” said Susan F. Wood, PhD, Professor of Health Policy and Management and Director of the Jacobs Institute. “We were also thrilled that Dr. McDonnell accepted this role. Her commitment to rigorous investigations to advance women’s health will help the journal continue to publish high-quality studies at a time when research is essential to understand the impacts of abortion bans and other laws that threaten reproductive autonomy.”
 
“I am honored to become Editor-in-Chief of Women’s Health Issues and look forward to collaborating with the journal’s editorial board, staff, authors, and peer reviewers who play such essential roles in the journal,” Dr. McDonnell said. “Our work publishing high-quality research and commentaries relevant to policies and practice has never been more important.”