Hassanatu Blake

Dr. Hassanatu Blake is a global health leader, whose broad work and current focus at the intersection of digital innovation and health equity, support the transformation of health in marginalized populations and hard-to-reach communities globally.

As Associate Clinical Professor and Director of the Global Health Undergraduate Program at the University of Maryland, she prepares the next generation of public health leaders through an interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizing global experiential learning, world languages, and digital innovation. Her scholarship critically examines how structural inequities and cultural contexts shape health behaviors, with particular focus on leveraging technology to overcome barriers to health in sub Saharan Africa, Caribbean, and North America. Dr. Blake’s recent research focused on digital health solutions for HIV prevention among female sex workers in Cameroon. Her work has been published in leading journals such as PLOS Digital Health and AIDS Care. Her commitment to community-engaged research translates evidence into actionable solutions.

Dr. Blake has previously worked with global organizations including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Agency of International Development (USAID), National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and BroadReach Healthcare addressing HIV prevention and care, COVID-19 Response, health systems strengthening, and health program cycle improvement in the US and several African countries.

Dr. Blake advises initiatives nationally addressing health disparities. Appointed by Maryland's governor Wes Moore to the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) in 2023, Dr. Blake shapes policies to improve healthcare quality, access, and equity across the state. In 2025, she was nominated and serves on the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) Global Engagement and Partnerships Advisory Committee. A recipient of several recognitions including being named a White House Champion of Change in 2012 and Rock Health's Top 50 in Digital Health in 2024, Dr. Blake bridges research, policy, and community empowerment to help shape the future global health landscape.