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.
Media Queries
- H. Andrew Schwartz
- Chief Communications Officer
- 202.775.3242
- aschwartz@csis.org
- Paige Montfort
- Media Relations Manager, External Relations
- 202.775.3173
- pmontfort@csis.org
In the News
Can Latin America Improve Access to Digital Health Care?
Katherine E. Bliss in Inter-American Dialogue — February 9, 2023
What Biden's State of the Union address means for PEPFAR
Katherine E. Bliss in Devex — February 9, 2023
Venezuela’s alarmingly low vaccine rate among worst in world
Katherine E. Bliss in Associated Press — July 15, 2022
Is Latin America Easing Covid-19 Rules Too Quickly?
Katherine E. Bliss in Latin America Advisor — April 25, 2022
To Counter COVID Amid Crises, Peacebuilding Steps Are Vital
Erol Yayboke and Katherine E. Bliss in United States Institute of Peace — March 23, 2022
How Has Covid-19 Forced Health Care to Restructure?
Katherine E. Bliss in Latin America Advisor — December 15, 2021
Global vaccine equity: Calls rise to put principle into practice
Katherine E. Bliss in The Christian Science Monitor — December 3, 2021
Why Is Vaccine Rollout So Uneven in Latin America?
Katherine E. Bliss in Latin America Advisor — October 21, 2021
All content by Katherine E. Bliss
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Professor Heidi Larson, co-founder of The Global Listening Project: "The only way you're going to be relevant is if you listen."
Podcast Episode by Katherine E. Bliss — April 27, 2023

Minister Dan Jørgensen of Denmark: “Imagine a Pandemic Where You’re Not Able to Treat the Disease Because of Resistance”
Podcast Episode by Katherine E. Bliss — April 20, 2023

Goodbye, Coronavirus Crisis Update. Hello, The CommonHealth!
Podcast Episode by J. Stephen Morrison , Katherine E. Bliss , and H. Andrew Schwartz — March 23, 2023

Reaching People in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings with Immunization Services
Brief by Katherine E. Bliss and Mackenzie Burke — March 10, 2023
Report Launch: Building the CDC the Country Needs
Event by J. Stephen Morrison , Katherine E. Bliss , Tom Inglesby , Julie Gerberding , Tom Frieden , and Susan Brooks — January 17, 2023
Report Launch: Building the CDC the Country Needs
Transcript by J. Stephen Morrison and Katherine E. Bliss — January 17, 2023
Dr. Jeffrey L. Sturchio: The EHE initiative is worth investing in because “the money is getting results”
Podcast Episode by Katherine E. Bliss — December 16, 2022

Can Pandemic Preparedness and HIV Programming Be Mutually Reinforcing?
Commentary by Alicia Carbaugh and Katherine E. Bliss — December 16, 2022
Delivering Immunizations in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings to Strengthen Global Health Security
Event by Katherine E. Bliss , Ahmed Arale , Ted Chaiban , and Anuradha Gupta — December 14, 2022
Report Launch: Transforming Health Crises with Pandemic Therapies
Event by Katherine E. Bliss , J. Stephen Morrison , Gary Edson , and Jenelle Krishnamoorthy — November 10, 2022