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Harsha Thirumurthy, PhD
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Founders Professor in Population Health
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Associate Director, Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics
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Research Associate, Population Studies Center
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Senior Fellow, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics
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Associate, Population Aging Research Center
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Co-Director, Health Economics Data Analyst Pool
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Chief, Division of Health Policy, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy
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Co-Director, Behavioral Economics and Global Health Insights Lab
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Department: Medical Ethics and Health Policy
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Graduate Group Affiliations
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- Demography e
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Contact information
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Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy
1e 3600 Civic Center Blvd
3b 8th Floor East, # 8E 221
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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1e 3600 Civic Center Blvd
3b 8th Floor East, # 8E 221
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Office: (215) 746-0410
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Education:
21 7 BA 20 (Economics & Physics) c
28 Oberlin College, 1998.
21 7 MA 16 (Economics) c
28 Yale University, 2002.
21 a MPhil 16 (Economics) c
28 Yale University, 2003.
21 8 PhD 16 (Economics) c
28 Yale University, 2006.
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Permanent link21 7 BA 20 (Economics & Physics) c
28 Oberlin College, 1998.
21 7 MA 16 (Economics) c
28 Yale University, 2002.
21 a MPhil 16 (Economics) c
28 Yale University, 2003.
21 8 PhD 16 (Economics) c
28 Yale University, 2006.
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16f Sheira LA, Ayieko B, Gutin SA, Kwena ZA, Charlebois ED, Agot K, Moody J, Olugo P, Adede D, Lewis-Kulzer J, Gandhi M, Thirumurthy H, Bukusi EA, Camlin CS.: Gaps in Effective HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Screening and Uptake Among Fishermen in Kenya. AIDS and Behavior 30(4): 1211-1220, Apr 2026.
109 Glanz K, Thirumurthy H, D'cruze NA.: Effectiveness of Financial Incentives for Health Behavior Change: A Narrative Review and Analysis. Annual Review of Public Health 47(1): 215-233, Apr 2026.
14c Richterman A, Desire S, Blaise W, Derose E, Moise A, Ward LP, Millien C, Thirumurthy H, Momplaisir F, Ivers LC: Money, Medicine, and Motherhood: Developing a Cash Transfer for Pregnant Women with HIV in Rural Haiti. AIDS and Behavior 30(4): 962-968, Apr 2026.
198 Gutin SA, Nishimura H, Ayieko B, Sheira LA, Kwena ZA, Lewis-Kulzer J, Bukusi EA, Thirumurthy H, Charlebois ED, Camlin CS: Hazardous alcohol use is associated with sexual behaviors that increase risk for HIV acquisition among fishermen in a high HIV prevalence area of Kenya. AIDS Care Page: 1-12, Mar 2026 Notes: Online ahead of print.
2d4 Tachibana, PhD, MS: How to Lower Maternal and Child Deaths Across the World? Give Low-Income Families Cash. Research Brief: Cash Transfer Programs Improve Birth, Nutrition, and Early Childhood Health Outcomes. LDI Population Health. “We hypothesized that the programs can be strong levers for improving population health,” said LDI Senior Fellow Aaron Richterman. The study was co-authored with Senior Fellows Harsha Thirumurthy and Jere Behrman, and Statistical Analyst Elizabeth Bair. (eds.). Mar 2026 Notes: https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/how-to-lower-maternal-and-child-deaths-across-the-world-give-low-income-families-cash/
1a4 Maughan-Brown B, Egbe TI, Bokolo S, Rabin M, Chetty-Makkan C, Kornides M, Long L, Pascoe S, Penuela-Wermers S, van der Linden S, Thirumurthy H, Buttenheim AM.: Understanding HIV Vaccine Misinformation and Vaccine Intentions Among Young Women in South Africa: Insights from an Online Survey. AIDS and Behavior Mar 2026 Notes: Online ahead of print.
1b2 Maughan-Brown B, Kopeka M, Thirumurthy H, Buttenheim A, Lurie M, Rousseau E, Smith P, Bekker LG, Harrison A. : You could hear their breathing slow down": insights on a video-based psychosocial support intervention to increase HIV treatment uptake and improve psychosocial well-being among men living with HIV in South Africa. AIDS Care 38(2): 275-286, Feb 2026.
182 Gibson LA, Richterman A, Randall A, Muruako J, Uzwiak B, Fabian E, Thirumurthy H, Roberto CA: Unconditional cash transfers to improve health behaviors among primary care patients: a qualitative sub-study of a randomized clinical trial. Social Science & Medicine 395: 119068, Feb 2026 Notes: Online ahead of print.
178 Bokolo S, Rabin M, Penuela-Wermers S, Chetty-Makkan CM, Egbe TI, Thirumurthy H, Maughan-Brown B, Buttenheim A. : Characterising concerns and misinformation shaping global HIV vaccine confidence and demand: a structured literature search and content analysis. BMJ Global Health 11(1): e020730, Jan 2026.
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Selected Publications
1a4 Marson K, Kabami J, Buttenheim AM, Bennett D, Petersen ML, Havlir DV, Kamya MR, Ayieko J, Thirumurthy H, Chamie G.: A megastudy of behavioral interventions to promote frequent HIV testing among adults at high risk of HIV infection in Kenya and Uganda: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials May 2026 Notes: Online ahead of print.16f Sheira LA, Ayieko B, Gutin SA, Kwena ZA, Charlebois ED, Agot K, Moody J, Olugo P, Adede D, Lewis-Kulzer J, Gandhi M, Thirumurthy H, Bukusi EA, Camlin CS.: Gaps in Effective HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Screening and Uptake Among Fishermen in Kenya. AIDS and Behavior 30(4): 1211-1220, Apr 2026.
109 Glanz K, Thirumurthy H, D'cruze NA.: Effectiveness of Financial Incentives for Health Behavior Change: A Narrative Review and Analysis. Annual Review of Public Health 47(1): 215-233, Apr 2026.
14c Richterman A, Desire S, Blaise W, Derose E, Moise A, Ward LP, Millien C, Thirumurthy H, Momplaisir F, Ivers LC: Money, Medicine, and Motherhood: Developing a Cash Transfer for Pregnant Women with HIV in Rural Haiti. AIDS and Behavior 30(4): 962-968, Apr 2026.
198 Gutin SA, Nishimura H, Ayieko B, Sheira LA, Kwena ZA, Lewis-Kulzer J, Bukusi EA, Thirumurthy H, Charlebois ED, Camlin CS: Hazardous alcohol use is associated with sexual behaviors that increase risk for HIV acquisition among fishermen in a high HIV prevalence area of Kenya. AIDS Care Page: 1-12, Mar 2026 Notes: Online ahead of print.
2d4 Tachibana, PhD, MS: How to Lower Maternal and Child Deaths Across the World? Give Low-Income Families Cash. Research Brief: Cash Transfer Programs Improve Birth, Nutrition, and Early Childhood Health Outcomes. LDI Population Health. “We hypothesized that the programs can be strong levers for improving population health,” said LDI Senior Fellow Aaron Richterman. The study was co-authored with Senior Fellows Harsha Thirumurthy and Jere Behrman, and Statistical Analyst Elizabeth Bair. (eds.). Mar 2026 Notes: https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/how-to-lower-maternal-and-child-deaths-across-the-world-give-low-income-families-cash/
1a4 Maughan-Brown B, Egbe TI, Bokolo S, Rabin M, Chetty-Makkan C, Kornides M, Long L, Pascoe S, Penuela-Wermers S, van der Linden S, Thirumurthy H, Buttenheim AM.: Understanding HIV Vaccine Misinformation and Vaccine Intentions Among Young Women in South Africa: Insights from an Online Survey. AIDS and Behavior Mar 2026 Notes: Online ahead of print.
1b2 Maughan-Brown B, Kopeka M, Thirumurthy H, Buttenheim A, Lurie M, Rousseau E, Smith P, Bekker LG, Harrison A. : You could hear their breathing slow down": insights on a video-based psychosocial support intervention to increase HIV treatment uptake and improve psychosocial well-being among men living with HIV in South Africa. AIDS Care 38(2): 275-286, Feb 2026.
182 Gibson LA, Richterman A, Randall A, Muruako J, Uzwiak B, Fabian E, Thirumurthy H, Roberto CA: Unconditional cash transfers to improve health behaviors among primary care patients: a qualitative sub-study of a randomized clinical trial. Social Science & Medicine 395: 119068, Feb 2026 Notes: Online ahead of print.
178 Bokolo S, Rabin M, Penuela-Wermers S, Chetty-Makkan CM, Egbe TI, Thirumurthy H, Maughan-Brown B, Buttenheim A. : Characterising concerns and misinformation shaping global HIV vaccine confidence and demand: a structured literature search and content analysis. BMJ Global Health 11(1): e020730, Jan 2026.
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