Ali Rowhani-Rahbar

Professor, Epidemiology
Professor, Pediatrics - General Pediatrics
Bartley Dobb Professorship for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Epidemiology
Adjunct Professor, Evans School

Department of Epidemiology
Box 351619
Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, 860
Seattle, WA -

206-221-1602
rowhani@uw.edu

Research Interests

Ali Rowhani-Rahbar is the Bartley Dobb Professor for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Professor of Epidemiology, Professor of Pediatrics, Adjunct Professor of Public Policy & Governance, and Director of the Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program at the University of Washington.

Rowhani-Rahbar’s research focuses on the evaluation of community-based interventions, social programs, and public policies for their impact on multiple forms of violence with a particular emphasis on preventing firearm-related harm. Specifically, his work focuses on intersections of the healthcare system with the civil and criminal legal system to develop and inform equitable initiatives that prevent firearm-related violence and promote public health, public safety, and well-being of communities. In recognition of his innovative, interdisciplinary, and impactful research contributions to firearm violence prevention, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2023.

Rowhani-Rahbar has served on the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Board of the National Research Society for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms, Firearm Data Infrastructure Workgroup of the Safe States Alliance, Advisory Committee of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research & Education, Board of Directors of the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research, Advisory Board of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, and Editorial Board of Injury Prevention.

Since 2012, Rowhani-Rahbar has cotaught core epidemiologic methods courses at the University of Washington and mentored numerous trainees in research methods and violence prevention. He received the University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020 and the University of Washington School of Public Health Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award in 2023. He received his MD from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran, MPH from Yale University, and PhD from the University of Washington. He completed his postdoctoral training at Stanford University and research fellowship at Kaiser Permanente Division of Research.

Education

PhD Epidemiology, University of Washington, 2009

MD Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Iran), 2002

MPH Epidemiology, Yale University, 2005

In the News

A grieving Seattle community considers ways to keep Garfield kids safe
The Seattle Times, 06/24/2024

Supreme Court’s devotion to gun rights faces a challenging test
The New York Times, 11/06/2023

National Academy of Medicine Elects 100 New Members
National Academy of Medicine, 10/09/2023

How rates of mass shootings vary by state, mapped
NBC News, 07/26/2023

US gun violence rates at historic highs ahead of July 4th holiday
USA Today, 06/29/2023

Rise in fatal shootings in Seattle prompts new police task force 
Axios Seattle, 06/26/2023

Should we think of gun violence as a 'disease'? These epidemiologists do 
KUOW, 05/10/2023

Washington state bans sale of assault weapons, including AR-15s
The Washington Post, 04/26/2023

UW researchers say their prevention program could reduce gun violence deaths in children
ABC News, 04/11/2023

Number of people carrying handguns doubles in 4 years
Axios, 11/21/2022