Gretchen Van Wye, PhD

  • Adjunct Associate Professor of Sociomedical Science
Profile Headshot

Overview

Gretchen Van Wye, Ph.D., M.A., teaches courses in vital records and vital statistics and addressing the obesity epidemic. Her pragmatic approach is seasoned by 20 years of experience working in applied public health settings, which enables her to share a grounded and strategic perspective. Dr. Van Wye works full time at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Her recent publications have addressed numerous topics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the impacts of policy and structural factors on health, data quality, obesity and chronic conditions, and the New York City 2015 birth certificate gender marker regulation.

Academic Appointments

  • Adjunct Associate Professor of Sociomedical Science

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • BA, 1991 The Pennsylvania State University
  • MA, 1995 University of Georgia
  • PhD, 2004 Yale University

Editorial Boards

Journal of Communication in Healthcare

Research

Selected Publications

Thompson CN, Baumgartner J, Pichardo C, Toro B, Li L, Arciuolo R, Chan PY, Chen J, Culp G, Davidson A, Devinney K, Dorsinville A, Eddy M, English M, Fireteanu AM, Graf L, Geevarughese A, Greene SK, Guerra K, Huynh M, Hwang C, Iqbal M, Jessup J, Knorr J, Lall R, Latash J, Lee E, Lee K, Li W, Mathes R, McGibbon E, McIntosh N, Montesano M, Moore MS, Murray K, Ngai S, Paladini M, Paneth-Pollak R, Parton H, Peterson E, Pouchet R, Ramachandran J, Reilly K, Sanderson Slutsker J, Van Wye G, Wahnich A, Winters A, Layton M, Jones L, Reddy V, Fine A. COVID-19 Outbreak - New York City, February 29-June 1, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020 Nov 20;69(46):1725-1729. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6946a2. Erratum in: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020 Dec 18;69(50):1930. PMID: 33211680; PMCID: PMC7676643.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) COVID-19 Response Team. Preliminary Estimate of Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Outbreak - New York City, March 11-May 2, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020 May 15;69(19):603-605. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6919e5. PMID: 32407306.

Krieger N, Van Wye G, Huynh M, Waterman PD, Maduro G, Li W, Gwynn RC, Barbot O, Bassett MT. Structural Racism, Historical Redlining, and Risk of Preterm Birth in New York City, 2013-2017. Am J Public Health. 2020 Jul;110(7):1046-1053. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2020.305656. Epub 2020 May 21. PMID: 32437270; PMCID: PMC7287548.

Lee EJ, Gurr D, Van Wye G. An evaluation of New York City's 2015 birth certificate gender marker regulation. LGBT Health. 2017 Oct;4(5):320-327. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2017.0087. Epub 2017 Sep 22

Urban Health Activities

Bureau of Vital Statistics: Dr. Van Wye is the Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Vital Statistics at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. In this capacity she oversees the registration of births and deaths in New York City.