Anke Ehrhardt
Encyclopedia
Anke A. Ehrhardt, Ph.D., is an internationally known researcher in the field of sexual and gender development of children, adolescents, and adults. For the past 35 years, her research has included a wide range of studies on determinants of sexual risk behavior among children, adolescents, heterosexual women and men, and the gay population, and on comprehensive approaches to preventing HIV
and STD
infection. Ehrhardt is the Founding Director of the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, where she has had a particular focus on research and advocacy for female-controlled methods of HIV prevention.
Presently, Ehrhardt is the Vice Chair for Academic Affairs and a Professor of Medical Psychology
in the Columbia University
Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University. She is also Research Division Chief for HIV and Director of the HIV Center, and in addition, she has been a Trustee on the Board of Directors
of the Ford Foundation
since 1999.
A native of Hamburg, Germany
, Ehrhardt completed a doctorate in clinical psychology
at the University of Düsseldorf in Germany based on her pioneering work at Johns Hopkins University
in the field of human gender and sexual development
under the mentorship of sexologist John Money, Ph.D.
With Money, she co-authored Man & Woman, Boy & Girl: Gender Identity
from Conception to Maturity, a landmark 1972 book in the field of sexuality studies. She was subsequently Co-Director of the Program of Psychoendocrinology at Children’s Hospital, State University of New York at Buffalo
. Throughout this period, Ehrhardt has also been a practicing clinical psychologist, working in particular with children with intersex problems and their parents.
Ehrhardt arrived at Columbia University in 1977, and in 1987 founded the HIV Center with what was then the largest single grant ever awarded by the National Institute of Mental Health
. Over its more than 20 year history, the HIV Center has conducted groundbreaking work in behavioral research both in the US and abroad. Under Ehrhardt’s leadership, the HIV Center has focused in particular on the intersection of HIV infection
with gender, sexuality, and mental health.
In recognition of her work, Ehrhardt has been presented with the Distinguished Research Leadership Award from the American Psychological Association
in 1986; the Research Award "For Excellence in Research" from the State of New York Office of Mental Health in 1990; the Award for Distinguished Scientific Achievement for 1991 from the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex; and the first Research Award from the National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation in 1994. Her bibliography includes more than 250 scientific publications.
Ehrhardt was the President of the International Academy of Sex Research
in 1981. She has also been a member of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council, the Executive Committee of the HIV Prevention Trials Network of Family Health International, and the Board of Trustees
of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction.
References
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York State Psychiatric Institute
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies
Faculty Profile for Anke A. Ehrhardt, Ph.D.
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and STD
Sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease , also known as a sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
infection. Ehrhardt is the Founding Director of the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, where she has had a particular focus on research and advocacy for female-controlled methods of HIV prevention.
Presently, Ehrhardt is the Vice Chair for Academic Affairs and a Professor of Medical Psychology
Medical psychology
Medical psychology is a very broad field and has been defined in various ways. The Academy of Medical Psychology's definition applies to both the practices of consultation and prescribing in Medical Psychology, when allowed by statutes...
in the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University. She is also Research Division Chief for HIV and Director of the HIV Center, and in addition, she has been a Trustee on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
since 1999.
A native of Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Ehrhardt completed a doctorate in clinical psychology
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
at the University of Düsseldorf in Germany based on her pioneering work at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in the field of human gender and sexual development
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
under the mentorship of sexologist John Money, Ph.D.
John Money
John William Money was a psychologist, sexologist and author, specializing in research into sexual identity and biology of gender...
With Money, she co-authored Man & Woman, Boy & Girl: Gender Identity
Gender identity
A gender identity is the way in which an individual self-identifies with a gender category, for example, as being either a man or a woman, or in some cases being neither, which can be distinct from biological sex. Basic gender identity is usually formed by age three and is extremely difficult to...
from Conception to Maturity, a landmark 1972 book in the field of sexuality studies. She was subsequently Co-Director of the Program of Psychoendocrinology at Children’s Hospital, State University of New York at Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
. Throughout this period, Ehrhardt has also been a practicing clinical psychologist, working in particular with children with intersex problems and their parents.
Ehrhardt arrived at Columbia University in 1977, and in 1987 founded the HIV Center with what was then the largest single grant ever awarded by the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
. Over its more than 20 year history, the HIV Center has conducted groundbreaking work in behavioral research both in the US and abroad. Under Ehrhardt’s leadership, the HIV Center has focused in particular on the intersection of HIV infection
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
with gender, sexuality, and mental health.
In recognition of her work, Ehrhardt has been presented with the Distinguished Research Leadership Award from the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
in 1986; the Research Award "For Excellence in Research" from the State of New York Office of Mental Health in 1990; the Award for Distinguished Scientific Achievement for 1991 from the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex; and the first Research Award from the National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation in 1994. Her bibliography includes more than 250 scientific publications.
Ehrhardt was the President of the International Academy of Sex Research
International Academy of Sex Research
The International Academy of Sex Research is a scientific society for researchers in sexology. According to John Bancroft, retired director of the Kinsey Institute, IASR "can claim...most of the field's leading researchers." IASR is unique among sexology organizations in that individuals must...
in 1981. She has also been a member of the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
(NIH), Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council, the Executive Committee of the HIV Prevention Trials Network of Family Health International, and the Board of Trustees
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction.
References
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York State Psychiatric Institute
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies
Faculty Profile for Anke A. Ehrhardt, Ph.D.