Marta Schaaf, DrPH, MPH

  • Adjunct Assistant Professor of Population and Family Health
Profile Headshot

Overview

Marta Schaaf has worked in the field of health and human rights for 25 years. She began her career in the NGO sector, working in advocacy and in program planning and implementation in HIV, TB, and maternal child health. She obtained a mid-career doctorate in Leadership in Global Health and Humanitarian Systems and worked in the “Accountability at the Frontlines” project in the Averting Maternal Death and Disability program, and later, as the Director of Program and Operations in the Global Health Justice and Governance program, both in the Department of Population and Family Health at Mailman. Her research at Mailman focused on community-based monitoring and accountability for maternal health care, disrespect and abuse in maternity care, and the impact of conditionality on US bilateral global health funding. She is currently the Director of the Climate, Economic and Social Justice, and Corporate Accountability Program at Amnesty International. Her work is focused on broad trends threatening health and human rights all over the world, including climate change, ever-deepening economic inequality, and the lack of accountability for the human rights harms caused by large corporations.

Academic Appointments

  • Adjunct Assistant Professor of Population and Family Health

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • BA, 1999 Smith College
  • MIA, 2004 Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
  • MPH, 2011 Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
  • DrPH, 2018 Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Research

Research Interests

  • Climate Change
  • Health and Human Rights
  • Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Selected Publications