Kenneth J. Rothman, DrPH

Professor, Boston University School of Public Health

Biography

Dr. Rothman has 48 years of professional experience in Epidemiologic research. His research has included work on the epidemiology of cancer, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, environmental epidemiology, pharmaceutical products, and methodological, conceptual and ethical issues in epidemiology. Specific projects have included research on the teratogenicity of vitamin A, the health effects of cellular telephone use, and factors affecting fecundability. Dr. Rothman is the author of two widely used textbooks of epidemiologic methods, Modern Epidemiology and Epidemiology: an Introduction, and is the founding editor of Epidemiology, a leading public-health journal. He received the American Public Health Association’s Abraham Lilienfeld Award for 2002, recognizing excellence in the teaching of epidemiology during the course of a career. He was the recipient of the Society for Epidemiologic Research Career Accomplishment Award in 2017, and an honorary MD degree in 2017 from University of Aarhus, Denmark. He is a Fellow of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology, and an honorary fellow of the American College of Epidemiology. Dr. Rothman is also a Distinguished Fellow at RTI International, where he holds the position of Vice President for Epidemiologic Research at RTI Health Solutions.

Publications

  • Published 4/12/2026

    Mazzoli R, Chiari A, Rothman KJ, Vitolo M, Boriani G, De Girolamo G, Carrozzi G, Tondelli M, Filippini T, Vinceti M. Cardiometabolic diseases and risk of early-onset dementia: a population-based case-control study in Northern Italy. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2026 Apr 12; 104760. PMID: 42014279.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/1/2026

    Wesselink AK, Geller RJ, Lovett SM, Nillni YI, Savitz DA, Rothman KJ, Hatch EE, Wise LA. A prospective study of periconceptional perceived stress and rate of miscarriage. Hum Reprod. 2026 Apr 01; 41(4):606-615. PMID: 41677054.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/17/2026

    Lovett SM, Wise LA, Richardson AS, Campbell EJ, Vrkljan KA, Kirwa K, Wesselink AK, Rothman KJ, Willis MD. A preconception cohort study of historical mortgage lending discrimination and present-day fecundability. Am J Epidemiol. 2026 Mar 17; 195(4):1185-1194. PMID: 41342351.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/1/2026

    Coleman CM, Wesselink AK, Yland JJ, Sommer GJ, Eisenberg ML, Bertisch SM, Rothman KJ, Hatch EE, Wise LA. A North American preconception study of sleep health and semen quality. Hum Reprod. 2026 Feb 01; 41(2):275-284. PMID: 41330355.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/8/2026

    Sundermann AC, Jasper EA, Jukic AMZ, Rothman KJ, Wise LA. Pregnancy Test Use and Timing of Pregnancy Detection in a Prospective Cohort of Pregnancy Planners. Obstet Gynecol. 2026 Mar 01; 147(3):394-403. PMID: 41505757.

    Read at: PubMed

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Other Positions

  • Professor, Medicine
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Websites

Education

  • Harvard University, DPH/DrPH
  • Harvard University, DMD
  • Harvard University, MPH
  • Colgate University, AB

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