Karen Siegel, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Previously, she was an Epidemiologist in the Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control, from 2015-2022, where she led analyses to examine dietary patterns as they relate to type 2 diabetes prevention and diabetes control, and managed two large research networks, Natural Experiments in Diabetes Translation (NEXT-D) and Location, Environmental Attributes, and Disparities Network. She still serves as a consultant for CDC, working with both the Division of Diabetes Translation and Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity). She completed her PhD in Emory's Nutrition and Health Sciences Program in October 2014, where she was a Woodruff Fellow and ARCS Scholar, and her MPH at Yale University School of Public Health (Global Health and Chronic Disease Epidemiology). She co-edited the book Sick Societies (Oxford University Press 2011), the first book to synthesize the evidence surrounding chronic disease providing comprehensive coverage of the subject and address prevention and control of chronic disease from epidemiologic, economic, prevention/management, and political economy perspectives.

Dr. Siegel’s research focuses on food and agricultural policy approaches for preventing type 2 diabetes cardiometabolic disease in the United States and globally, as well as strengthening food systems for improved availability and accessibility of healthier foods. Most recently, she has led pilot grants on addressing food insecurity in Atlanta and the feasibility of implementing Produce Prescription Programs in Emory Healthcare, as well as examining the impact of implementing Food Service Guidelines on human and environmental health, and sales/revenue for organizations. She is a member of the Emory Sustainable Food Committee, the Georgia Organics Program and Advocacy Committee, and the RSPH Food Insecurity Task Force.