Lianne Estefan, PhD, MPH

Dr. Lianne Fuino Estefan is a nationally recognized public health scientist, evaluator, and implementation strategist with more than 20 years of experience leading efforts to prevent multiple forms violence, promote maternal and child health, and improve systems responses to violence and other public health problems. She brings deep expertise in translating research into practice, particularly through implementation science, data-to-action strategies, and equity-centered approaches to public health. Her work has guided local, state, and federal agencies –including the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau – as well as community-based and nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and community-led coalitions in advancing effective, thoughtful, evidence-informed prevention strategies.

As a leader at the CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention for a decade, Dr. Estefan directed a portfolio of innovative violence prevention initiatives – including rigorous research and evaluation projects including topics such as technology-facilitated violence, health equity, and community-focused evaluation. She also directed strategic planning, provided leadership on data-to-action strategies, and provided evaluation and scientific leadership on national initiatives including the Dating Matters comprehensive teen dating violence prevention program, the Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) rigorous research portfolio, and DELTA FOCUS, a national intimate partner violence prevention program. She co-authored the CDC’s updated Intimate Partner Violence Research Priorities and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Resource for Action, helped shape the agency’s implementation science framework, and served as a subject matter expert contributing to the White House’s National Gender-Based Violence Strategy and a Report to Congress on preventing child sexual abuse – which led to the first dedicated funding line for that form of violence.

Dr. Estefan has published over 60 peer-reviewed research articles and government reports, briefed policymakers and interagency stakeholders, and presented nationally on the prevention of violence, maternal and child health, and science-to-practice approaches. Trained in public health, child health, and violence prevention, she has an extensive background in working directly with community organizations to develop and evaluate programs and make sustainable change. She has diverse experience working in federal government, federal non-profit consulting, and academia, which allows her to apply her expertise across contexts. Her work has been honored with awards from CDC, American Public Health Association, and the American Evaluation Association, and she continues to contribute to national conversations on health equity, trauma prevention, and systems change. Dr. Estefan is driven by a core belief that science should serve communities—and that with the right strategies, every organization and community can build safer, healthier futures.

In addition to her professional expertise, Dr. Estefan enjoys spending time with her husband and trying to keep up with her toddler foster son (often a losing battle), yoga, cooking, and reading.

Relevant Experience

Lead Behavioral Scientist, CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention (2020-2025)

Behavioral Scientist, CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention (2015-2020)

Senior Research Scientist, Public Health, NORC at the University of Chicago (2014-2015)

Research Assistant Professor, College of Public Health, University of South Florida (2011-2015)

Education

PhD, Public Health

University of South Florida

MPH, Maternal and Child Health

University of South Florida

BA, Special Interdisciplinary Program (History of Medicine)

The George Washington University