Karsten Lunze MD, MPH, DrPH, FACPM, FAAP
Associate Professor, General Internal Medicine
801 Massachusetts Ave | (617) 414-7399karsten.lunze@bmc.org
lunze@bu.edu
Sections
General Internal Medicine
Centers
Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit
Biography
Karsten Lunze holds a medical degree and doctorates in genetic epidemiology and public health. Following clinical training in pediatrics at Charité Berlin, Germany, and the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Baltimore, MD, and in public health/preventive medicine and addiction medicine at BMC, he has conducted research concerned with individual and structural risks affecting disadvantaged populations. His clinical health services research has been devoted to improving the health of women and newborns in resource-limited environments. Karsten's federally and foundation-supported global health research aims to improve access to quality care for disadvantaged populations worldwide by addressing intersectional stigma and other barriers to prevention and care via multi-level behavioral and pharmacological interventions for people with addictions, HIV, TB and other conditions.
Director of Global Health, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center
Co-Director, Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Substance Use Research Core
Access to quality care for disadvantaged people
Stigma, HIV prevention and care in key populations
Behavioral interventions in humanitarian settings
Implementation Science
Global maternal and newborn health
Education
MD, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Public Health, DPH/DrPH, Boston University School of Public Health
Medical Sciences & Management, DM, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
MPH, Harvard School of Public Health
Publications
Kirvalidze M, Kasrashvili M, Tskitishvili A, Aladashvili G, Chelidze N, Tvildiani N, Lunze K, Nadareishvili I. Access to Medical Residency: A Qualitative Study of Medical Graduates' Experiences in Georgia. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2025; 12:23821205251342050. PMID: 40357006.
Published on 3/30/2025Aladashvili G, Kirvalidze M, Tskitishvili A, Chelidze N, Tvildiani N, Pkhakadze G, Bossert TJ, Lunze K, Nadareishvili I. Strengthening Health Workforce in Georgia: Identifying Gaps and Integrating Evidence-Based Strategic Planning. Int J Health Plann Manage. 2025 Mar 30. PMID: 40159301.
Published on 3/1/2025Davis A, Nyblade L, Sun Y, Balabekova O, Landers SE, Gryazev D, Tucker JD, Gulyaev V, Rosenthal SL, Lunze K, Tang W, Kuskulov A, Terlikbayeva A, Primbetova S, Chang M, Denebayeva AY, Akhmetova AU, Absemetova A, Karzhaubayeva S, Kassymbekova S, Maximova M, Mussina Z, Bekenova G, Nugmanova Z, Kalmatayeva Z, Polyakova L, Zhazykbaeva ZK, Vinogradov V, Shaikezhanov A, Darisheva M, Orynbetova B, Norakidze E, Kozhakhmet M, Tolegenova A, Imadillda A, Satkhozhina D, Kartamyssov A, Kanieva Z, Aleshina A, Makhan O, Muravyova A, Rahimzanova A, Duisenbayev A, Tursynbek Z, Dias N, Beken M, Murzakhan M, Brown ZA, Maitekov D, Li A, Mergen S, Mergenov D, Kuanysh A, Rakhimbekov A, Baisbay Y, Aruzhan A, Kozhambet Z, Grebenchishikov D, Bekker D, Kozhamberdiev S, Salykov D, Sagimbayeva M, Yussupova K, Mergenova G. A digital citizen science intervention to reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV testing: a randomized clinical trial among adolescents and young adults in Kazakhstan. Sex Health. 2025 Mar; 22. PMID: 40146739.
Published on 2/13/2025Salnikova A, Makarenko O, Sereda Y, Kiriazova T, Lunze K, DeHovitz J, Ompad DC. Depression among people living with tuberculosis and tuberculosis/HIV coinfection in Ukraine: a cross-sectional study. Glob Health Action. 2025 Dec; 18(1):2448894. PMID: 39943845.
Published on 11/7/2024Lunze K, Carroll JJ, Ahuja N, Lira MC, Tsui JI, Ventura A, Colasanti JA, Liebschutz JM, Del Rio C, Samet JH. Opioid risk-reduction strategies for people with HIV on chronic opioid therapy: A qualitative study of patient perspectives. SSM Ment Health. 2024 Dec; 6. PMID: 39990723.
Published on 10/17/2024Nadareishvili I, Rao SR, Otiashvili D, Gnatienko N, Samet JH, Lunze K, Kirtadze I. Post-legalization shifts in cannabis use among young adults in Georgia-A nationally representative study. Addiction. 2025 Feb; 120(2):335-346. PMID: 39417804.
Published on 7/9/2024Rossi SL, Young K, Wade P, Khan SM, Lunze K. Women's Perceived HIV Stigma and Testing in Stann Creek District, Belize: A Population-Representing, Mixed-Methods Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2024 Sep 04; 111(3):589-597. PMID: 38981505.
Published on 7/1/2024Davis A, Rosenthal SL, Tucker JD, Balabekova O, Nyblade L, Sun Y, Gryazev D, Lunze K, Landers SE, Tang W, Kuskulov A, Gulyayev V, Terlikbayeva A, Primbetova S, Mergenova G. A citizen science approach to develop a digital intervention to reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV self-testing among adolescents and young adults: a mixed methods analysis from Kazakhstan. J Int AIDS Soc. 2024 Jul; 27 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):e26314. PMID: 39030847.
Published on 6/18/2024Pinkhover A, Celata K, Baker T, Chatterjee A, Lunze K. Mobile addiction treatment and harm reduction services as tools to address health inequities: a community case study of the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center mobile unit. Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1407522. PMID: 38957203.
Published on 5/6/2024Spata A, Gupta I, Lear MK, Lunze K, Luoma JB. Substance use stigma: A systematic review of measures and their psychometric properties. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2024 Jun; 11:100237. PMID: 38779475.
Media Mentions
Published on 3/25/2022
Research partners from Boston, Ukraine, Russia fear war will hurt HIV and substance use efforts
Published on 3/24/2022
Researcher Refuses to Give Up on His Public Health Efforts in Russia and Ukraine
View full list of 2 media mentions.