Center for Global Health Faculty

Professor

Associate Chair, Director of the Global Disease Epidemiology and Control Division

Academic Degrees

• ScD
• MS

Departmental Affiliation

• Name:

  International Health

  Affiliation Type:

  Primary

  Division:

  Global Disease Epidemiology and Control

• Name:

  Biostatistics

  Affiliation Type:

  Joint

• Name:

  Epidemiology

  Affiliation Type:

  Joint

Departmental Address

Contact Information

Email:

jkatz+jhsph.edu

Phone:

410-955-7016

Fax:

410-955-2029

Link:

SciVal Experts Research Profile

Research and Professional Experience

BSc, Statistics and Economics, University of Cape Town, 1978

MS, Mathematical Statistics, Princeton University, 1982

ScD, International Health, Johns Hopkins University, 1993

My research aims to reduce mortality and morbidity in under-served populations in the United States and abroad. The underlying discipline bases for this research are epidemiology, community randomized trials and biostatistics. Areas of focus include (1) macro and micronutrient deficiencies, (2) neoantal and maternal health, (3) interaction between nutrition and infection, (4) ophthalmic epidemiology and blindness prevention.

Current projects include

1. A randomized trial to assess the impact of newborn massage with mustard seed versus sunflower seed oil on neonatal morbidity and mortality in rural Nepal.

2. A randomized trial to assess the impact of maternal influenza vaccination on respiratory infections in mothers and infants in Sarlahi, Nepal.

3. Step wedge trial to assess the impact of improving cook stoves to reduce indoor air pollution and respiratory infections in young children in rural Nepal.

4. Global and regional estimation of the neonatal and infant mortality burden of being born preterm and/or small for gestational age, and maternal risk factors for preterm and/or small for gestational age outcomes through the Child Health Epidemiology Research Group (CHERG).

5. A study to examine whether iron and/or zinc supplementation in utero and/or in early childhood (prior to age 3) has an impact on cognition at age 6-7 years in rural Nepal.

6. Randomized community trial in Bangladesh to assess the impact of maternal supplementation with multiple micronutrients on infant morbidity and mortality.

7. Multi-centered clinical trial of treatment for uveitis.

Keywords

epidemiology, biostatistics, community trials, vitamin A, iron, zinc, micronutrients, neonatal and maternal health, adolescent pregnancy, reproductive health, ophthalmology, blindness and visual impairment, Nepal, Bangladesh.

Honors and Awards

2011  Johns Hopkins Alumni Knowledge for the World Award

2011  Global Health Excellence in Advising Award, Johns Hopkins University

2011  Golden Apple teaching Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Advising, Mentoring and Teaching Recognition Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2002, 2005, 2011

2009 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Fellow

2009 American Academy of Ophthalmology Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Profession of Ophthalmology

Fellow, American College of Epidemiology, 1994

Delta Omega, 1993

Selected Publications

1. Repka MX, Friedman DS, Katz J, Tielsch J, Owoeye JI. The prevalence of ocular structural disorders among pre-school age children. J Amer Assoc Pediatric Ophthalmol Strabis (accepted for publication).
2. Coles CL, Rahmathullah L, Sandiford D, Katz J, Thulasiraj RD, Kanungo R, Tielsch JM. Pneumococcal carriage at age 2 months associated with growth deficits at age 6 months among infants in South India. J Nutr (accepted for publication).
3. Keay L, Lindsley K, Tielsch J, Katz J, Schein O.  Routine preoperative medical testing for cataract surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (accepted for publication).
4. Murray-Kolb LE, Khatry SK, Katz J, Schaefer BA, Cole PM, LeClerq S, Tielsch JM, Christian P.  Iron-folic acid and zinc supplementation between 12-35 months and intellectual and motor functions in early school age children in Nepal. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (accepted for publication).
5. Schmitz J, West KP Jr., Wu L, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Karna SL, Katz J, Pillion J. Extended impact of preschool vitamin A supplementation on young adult hearing loss in Southern Nepal. BMJ  2012;344 doi: 10.1136/bmj.d7962.
6. Frick KD, Drye LT, Kempen JH, Dunn JP, Holland GN, Latkany P, Rao, NA, Nida Sen H, Sugar EA, Thorne JE, Wang RC, Holbrook JT for The Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) Trial Research Group. Association among visual acuity and vision- and health-related quality of life among patients in the Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment Trial. IOVS 2012, doi:10.1167/iovs.11-8259.
7. Kozuki N, Lee ACC, Katz J on behalf of the Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group. Moderate to severe, but not mild, maternal anemia, is associated with increased risk of small-for-gestational-age outcomes. J Nutr 2012;doi:10.3945/jn.111.149237.  PMID:  22190028
8. Siegel EH, Kordas K, Stoltzfus RJ, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Tielsch JM. Inconsistent effects of iron-folic acid and/or zinc supplementation on the cognitive development of infants. J Health Popul Nutr 2011;29(6):593-604.  PMID:   
9. Tarczy-Hornoch K, Varma R, Cotter SA, McKean-Cowdin R, Lin JH, Borchert MS, Torres M, Wen G, Azen SP, Tielsch JM, Friedman DS, Repka MX, Katz J, Ibironke J, Giordano L, Joint Writing Committee for the Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study and the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study Groups.  Risk factors for decreased visual acuity in preschool children:  the multi-ethnic pediatric eye disease and Baltimore pediatric eye disease studies.  Ophthalmology 2011;118(11):2262-2273.  PMID 21856014
10. Borchert MS, Varma R, Cotter SA, Tarczy-Hornoch K, McKean-Cowdin R, Lin JH, Wen G, Azen SP, Torres M, Tielsch JM, Friedman DS, Repka MX, Katz J, Ibironke J, Giordano L, Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study and the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study Groups.  Risk factors for hyperopia and myopia in preschool children:  the multi-ethnic pediatric eye disease and Baltimore pediatric eye disease studies.  Ophthalmology 2011;118(10):1966-1973.  PMID 21856013
11. Cotter SA, Varma R, Tarczy-Hornoch K, McKean-Cowdin R, Lin J, Wen G, Wei J, Borchert M, Azen SP, Torres M, Tielsch JM, Friedman DS, Repka MX, Katz J, Ibironke J, Giordano L, The Joint Writing Committee for the Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study and the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study Groups.  Risk factors associated with childhood strabismus:  The Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease and Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Studies.  Ophthalmology 2011;118(11):2251-2261.  PMID 21856012
12. McKean-Cowdin R, Varma R,  Cotter SA, Tarczy-Hornoch K, Borchert MS, Lin JH, Wen G, Azen SP, Torres M, Tielsch JM, Friedman DS, Repka MX, Katz J, Ibironke J, Giordano L, Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study and the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study Groups.  Risk factors for astigmatism in preschool children:  the multi-ethnic pediatric eye disease and Baltimore pediatric eye disease studies.  Ophthalmology 2011;118(10):1974-1981.  PMID: 21856010.
13. Lee AC, Mullany LC, Tielsch JM, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Adhikari RK, Darmstadt GL. Incidence of and risk factors for neonatal respiratory depression and encephalopathy in rural Sarlahi, Nepal.  Pediatrics 2011;128(4):e915-e924.  PMID 21949140
14. Christian P, Morgan ME, Murray-Kolb L, LeClerq SC, Khatry SK, Schaefer B, Cole PM, Katz J, Tielsch JM. Preschool Iron-Folic Acid and Zinc Supplementation in Children Exposed to Iron-Folic Acid In Utero Confers No Added Cognitive Benefit in Early School-age. J Nutr 2011;141(11):2042-2048.  PMID 21956955
15. The Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) Trial Research Group; Writing Committee: Kempen JH, Altaweel MM, Holbrook JT, Jabs DA, Louis TA, Sugar EA, Thorne JE. Randomized comparison of systemic anti-inflammatory therapy versus fluocinolone acetonide implant for intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis: the Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment Trial. Ophthalmology 2011;118:1916-1926. PMID 21840602.
16. Checkley W, West KP Jr, Wise RA, Wu L, LeClerq SC, Khatry S, Katz J, Christian P, Tielsch JM, Sommer A:  Supplementation with vitamin A early in life and subsequent risk of asthma.  Eur Respir J 2011; Jun 23.  [Epub ahead of print].  PMID:  21700611
17. Karas DJ, Mullany LC, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Darmstadt GL, Tielsch JM:  Home care practices for newborns in rural southern Nepal during the first 2 weeks of life.  J Trop Pediatr 2011;June 24.  [Epub ahead of print].  PMID:  21705765
18. West KP Jr., Christian P,  Labrique AB, Rashid M, Shamim AA, Klemm RDW, Massie AB, Mehra S, Schulze KJ, Ali H, Ullah B, Wu LSF, Katz J, Banu H, Ahkter HH, Sommer A:  Effects of vitamin A or beta carotene supplementation on pregnancy-related mortality and infant mortality in rural Bangladesh:  a cluster randomized trial.  JAMA 2011;305(19):1986-1995.  PMID: 21586714
19. Danaei G, Finucane MM, Lu Y, Singh GM, Cowan MJ, Paciorek CJ, Lin JK, Farzadfar F, Kang YH, Stevens GA, Rao M, Ali MK, Riley LM, Robinson CA, Ezzati M on behalf of the Global Burden of Metabolic Risk Factors of Chronic Diseases Collaborating Group (Blood Glucose). National, regional and global trends in fasting plasma glucose and diabetes prevalence since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiologic studies with 370 country-years and 2.7 million participants. Lancet 2011;378(9785):31-40. PMID:  21705069
20. Lee AC, Mullany LC, Tielsch JM, Katz J, Khatry SK, LeClerq SC, Adhikari RK,  Darmstadt GL. Community-based stillbirth rates and risk factors in rural Sarlahi, Nepal. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2011;113(3):199-204. PMID:  21458812
21. Hennessy AL, Katz J, Covert D, Kelly CA, Suan EP, Speicher MA, Sund NJ, Robin AL. A video study of drop instillation in both glaucoma and retina patients with visual impairment. Am J Ophthalmol 2011;152:982–988. PMID: 21821228. 
22. Hennessy AL, Katz J, Ramakrishnan R, Krishnadas R, Thulasiraj RD, Tielsch JM, Robin AL. The utility of relative afferent pupillary defect as a screening tool for glaucoma: Prospective examination of a large population-based study in a south Indian population.  Br J Ophthalmol 2011; 95(9):1203-1206.  PMID: 21349935
23. Garcia CR, Mullany LC, Rahmathullah L, Katz J, Thulasiraj RD, Sheeladevi S, Coles C, Tielsch JM.  Breast-feeding initiation time and neonatal mortality risk among newborns in South India.  J Perinatology 2011;31(6):397-403.  PMID:  21164424
24. Wu LA, Katz J, Mullany LC, Khatry SK, Darmstadt GL, LeClerq SC, Tielsch JM.  The association of preterm birth and small birthweight for gestational age on childhood disability screening using the Ten Questions Plus tool in rural Sarlahi district, southern Nepal.  Child Care Health Dev 2011.doi:10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01221.x.  PMID:  21375569
25. Ibironke JO, Friedman DS, Repka MX, Katz J, Giordano L, Hawse P, Tielsch JM.  Child development and refractive errors in preschool children.  Optometry and Vision Science 2011;88(2):181-187.  PMID:  21150680
26. Rathinam SR, Krishnadas R, Ramakrishnan R, Thulasiraj RD, Tielsch JM, Katz J, Robin AL, Kempen JH for the Aravind Comprehensive Eye Survey Research Group.  Population-based Prevalence of Uveitis in Southern India.  Br J Ophthalmol 2011;95:463-467.  PMID: 20693551
27. Danaei G, Finucane MM, Lin JK, Singh GM, Paciorek CJ, Cowan MJ, Farzadfar F, Stevens GA, Lim SS, Riley LM, Ezzati M on behalf of the Global Burden of Metabolic Risk Factors of Chronic Diseases Collaborating Group (Blood Pressure). National, regional, and global trends in systolic blood pressure since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 786 country-years and 5.4 million participants. Lancet 2011;377(9765):568-577. PMID:  21295844
28. Finucane MM, Stevens GA, Cowan MJ, Danaei G, Lin JK, Paciorek CJ, Singh GM, Gutierrez HR, Lu Y, Bahalim AN, Farzadfar F, Riley LM, Ezzati M for the Global Burden of Metabolic Risk Factor of Chronic Diseases Collaborating Group (Body Mass Index). National, regional, and global trends in body-mass index since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 960 country-years and 9.1 million participants. Lancet 2011;377(9765):557-567. PMID:  21295846
29. Farzadfar F, Finucane MM, Danaei G, Pelizzari PM, Cowan MJ, Paciorek CJ, Singh GM, Lin JK, Stevens GA, Riley LM, Ezzati M on behalf of the Global Burden of Metabolic Risk Factors of Chronic Diseases Collaborating Group (Cholesterol). National, regional, and global trends in serum total cholesterol since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 321 country-years and 3.0 million participants. Lancet 2011;377(9765):578-586. PMID:  21295847