Professor Dr. Mary Bassett

Biography

Mary T. Bassett is the Director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University and serves as the François-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Practice in Health and Human Rights at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. With over 30 years of experience in public health, Dr. Bassett has dedicated her career to advancing health equity. Prior to her directorship, Dr. Bassett served as the Commissioner of Health for New York City for four years, where she worked to ensure that neighborhoods supported the health of residents and aimed to close gaps in population health across the city. Originally from New York City, she spent 20 years living in Zimbabwe, where she contributed to various health initiatives. Dr. Bassett previously held the position of Program Director for the African Health Initiative and the Child Well-being Program at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. She received her B.A. in History of Science from Harvard University and her M.D. from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, followed by a medical residency at Harlem Hospital Center. Additionally, she holds a master's degree in Public Health from the University of Washington and is a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar.

Research Interests