Katherine E. Bliss

Senior Fellow and Director, Immunizations and Health Systems Resilience, Global Health Policy Center
Katherine E. Bliss

Katherine E. Bliss brings her expertise in the social sciences, Latin American studies, and international relations to her work analyzing U.S. government support for health programs in low- and middle-income countries. She is particularly interested in how political and cultural perspectives shape approaches to such global health challenges as HIV/AIDS; vaccine-preventable diseases; and access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Trained as a historian, Katherine spent the early part of her career teaching at the university level and publishing books and articles on gender relations and public health in twentieth-century Mexico. A Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship enabled her to shift her focus to global health policy, placing her at the U.S. Department of State, where she worked on environmental health issues and the development of foreign policy approaches to pandemic preparedness. At CSIS, Katherine has previously served as deputy director and senior fellow within both the Americas Program and Global Health Policy Center, where she oversaw a multi-program project on the influence of the BRICS countries on the global health agenda and directed the Project on Global Water Policy. Her recent work has examined the health situation in the context of the Venezuelan political crisis and the challenges facing immunization programs within fragile or disordered settings. Katherine received her A.B. in history and literature, magna cum laude, from Harvard College and her Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago. She completed a David E. Bell Fellowship at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies.

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Vaccine Exemptions for Kids are on the Rise

The ongoing measles outbreak—the largest since 2019—threatens unvaccinated children across the United States, where the rise of nonmedical vaccine exemptions in kindergarteners has widened gaps in immunity to the disease. 

Analysis by Priya Chainani and Katherine E. Bliss — May 20, 2025

PEPFAR’s Golden Era Is Over. It Urgently Needs a Five-Year Transition Plan

There is no path back to PEPFAR’s old model, but with political will and skilled leadership, it is possible to navigate PEPFAR’s reduced capabilities and mission, manage current shocks, ensure an orderly handoff, and achieve an accelerated, five-year transition plan.

Critical Questions by Jirair Ratevosian, J. Stephen Morrison, and Katherine E. Bliss — May 16, 2025

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PEPFAR’s Golden Era Is Over. It Urgently Needs a Five-Year Transition Plan

An audio version of “⁠⁠⁠⁠PEPFAR’s Golden Era Is Over. It Urgently Needs a Five-Year Transition Plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS's Jirair Ratevosian, J. Stephen Morrison, and Katherine E. Bliss. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Jirair Ratevosian, J. Stephen Morrison, and Katherine E. Bliss — May 16, 2025

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A Quarter-Century of Disease Prevention Efforts at Risk

Not only does cutting support for national and global immunization programs threaten the U.S. measles elimination certification, it also limits economic growth, undermines the viability of U.S. trading partners, and imperils the health of children around the world.

Commentary by Katherine E. Bliss — April 2, 2025

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A Quarter-Century of Disease Prevention Efforts at Risk

An audio version of “A Quarter-Century of Disease Prevention Efforts at Risk,” a new commentary by CSIS's Katherine E. Bliss. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Katherine E. Bliss — April 2, 2025

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