Dr. Ruth Gibson

Dr. Ruth Margaret Gibson

Scholar at the Center for International Security and Cooperation

Department of Health Policy | Center for Innovation in Global Health | CISAC
Email: rmgibson@stanford.edu
Google Scholar: 981+ citations
Last Updated: January 2025

Current Positions

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Health Policy
Stanford Medicine, Stanford University | 2021 – Present

• Led panel analysis of aid sanctions effects on maternal-child mortality (1990-2019), published in The Lancet Global Health (2025), informing policy on humanitarian exemptions
• Collaborated with WHO and USAID experts to model geopolitical interventions health costs, contributing to 3+ grant-funded projects totaling $1.2M
• Mentored 2 graduate students on quantitative methods for global health equity

Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Innovation in Global Health
Stanford Medicine | 2021 – Present

• Designed innovative monitoring frameworks for sanctions collateral damage, piloted in 5 conflict-affected LMICs
• Co-developed open-source tools for integrating geospatial data with health metrics, adopted by 10+ NGOs

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University

Department of Health Policy – September 2021- August 31, 2025
Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) – June 2022 – August 31, 2025
Center for Innovation in Global Health (CIGH) – June 2022- August 31, 2024

Doctor of Philosophy, University of British Columbia (May 2016–June 2021)

Interdisciplinary Studies: Global Health and Security Studies
Title of Dissertation: Geopolitical Coercion: Implications for Global Health
Co-supervisors: Dr. Paul Wise (Stanford University) and Dr. Steven Taubeneck (University of British Columbia)

Post-Graduate Fellowship in Medical Education (2010–2012)

Wilson Centre in Medical Education, University Health Network
University of Toronto.

Master of Science (2010–2011)

Specialization in Healthcare Policy, Management, and Evaluation
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Title of Thesis: The Experiences of Immigrants Seeking Healthcare in Toronto, Canada

Honor’s Bachelor of Science (2003–2007)

Specialization in Biological Sciences and Epidemiology
University of Toronto.

Selected Publications

Total: 15+ | Citations: 981+

1. The impact of aid sanctions on maternal and child mortality, 1990–2019
   The Lancet Global Health, 2025
2. Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates
   The Lancet, 2024
3. Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in low- and middle-income countries
   Journal of Global Health, 2015

Awards & Honors

• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (2022–2025): Fellowship at Stanford University funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Award of Canada for future global leaders in medicine, natural sciences, or social sciences.
• Center for Innovation in Global Health, SEED Grant (2022–2023): Grant at Stanford University supporting research on foreign aid sanctions, jointly funded by the Maternal and Child Research Institute (MCHRI).
• Friedman Scholar | Friedman Award for Scholars in Health (2020–2021): Award from the University of British Columbia to support training with Professor Paul Wise at Stanford University.
• Killam Laureate | Killam Doctoral Scholarship (2016–2019): Scholarship from the Killam Foundation recognizing outstanding doctoral students for academic excellence and research contributions at Canadian universities.
• Doctoral Scholarship | Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program (2016–2020): Scholarship at the University of British Columbia supporting interdisciplinary doctoral research addressing complex societal challenges.
• Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship | University of British Columbia (2016–2020): Fellowship at the University of British Columbia providing multi-year funding to top PhD students for research excellence and academic achievement.
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship (2016–2020): Fellowship from the Government of Canada funding doctoral research in social sciences and humanities to advance knowledge and innovation.
• Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2016–2020): Scholarship from the Government of Canada supporting high-caliber doctoral students in social sciences and humanities to strengthen research capacity.
• Liu Scholar (2016–2021): Recognition from the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia for graduate students addressing global issues through interdisciplinary research.
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Master’s Scholarship (2011–2012): Scholarship from the Government of Canada supporting master’s students in social sciences and humanities to develop research skills and academic excellence.
• Richard and Elizabeth Currie Research Grant in Health Professions Education Research (2012–2013): Grant from Richard and Elizabeth Currie at the Wilson Centre, University of Toronto, funding innovative research in health professions education to improve training and practice.

Last updated: January 2025 | For additional information, please contact me