Heidi E. Brown, PhD, MPH, has a research focus on understanding vector-borne and zoonotic disease transmission dynamics as a means of improving disease control. She works to identify human disease risk through modeling vector, host and pathogen distributions. Current research areas include vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, spatial epidemiology, and climate change.

Teaching areas include undergraduate epidemiology and a graduate level spatial epidemiology course.

Lab Website

https://sites.arizona.edu/spatialepi-lab

Research Interests

• Vector-borne disease
• Spatial epidemiology
• Climate change and health

Education

• 2007    Ph.D., Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Department of Epidemiology, Yale University
• 2006    M.Phil., Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Department of Epidemiology, Yale University
• 1999    M.P.H., Division of Global Health, School of Public Health, George Washington University
              Major: International Health Promotion
• 1995    B.S., Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
              Major: Psychology, Minor: Biology

Selected Publications

1. *Moore TC, Tang X, Brown HE. “Assessing the Relationship Between Entomological Surveillance Indices and West Nile Virus Transmission, United States: Systematic Review.” Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2025 Feb 13. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2024.0072.
2. Monroy, F., Brown, H.E., Acevedo-Solis, C.M., Rodriguez-Galaviz, A., Dholakia, R., Pauli, L., Harris, RB, “Antibiotic Resistance Rates for Helicobacter pylori in rural Arizona: a molecular based study.” Microorganisms. 2023, 11(9):2290.
3. Austhof, E., Brown, H.E., Flexibility and partnerships perceived as supportive of dual hazard response: COVID-19 and Heat Related Illness, Summer 2020.  J Clim Chang Health 2021. 4:100068.
4. Luz, P.M., Johnson, R.E., Brown, H.E. “Workplace availability, risk group and perceived barriers predictive of 2016-17 influenza vaccine uptake in the United States: a cross-sectional study” Vaccine. 2017, 35(43):5890-5896.
5. **Bui, D.P., Oren, E., Brown, H.E., Harris, R.B., Knight, G.M., Grandjean, L. “Community transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is associated with activity space overlap in Lima, Peru.” BMC Infectious Diseases, 2021, 21(275).

Full list of publications available on PubMed

Languages Spoken

English and German

Currently Teaching

Teaching areas include undergraduate epidemiology, a graduate level spatial epidemiology and an undergraduate mapping course, co-teaching in the data science program.

EPID 676:  Spatial Epidemiology (spring semester/ odd years)

• https://catalog.arizona.edu/courses/0380531 

EPID 309:  Introduction to Epidemiology (spring semester)

• https://catalog.arizona.edu/courses/0351561 

HPS 401: Introduction to mapping for Public Health (summer

• https://catalog.arizona.edu/courses/0379601

EPID 452/552: Health Data Analysis and Communication

• https://catalog.arizona.edu/courses/0405882