Reshma Mahendra

Deputy Director, Division of Violence Prevention at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Reshma Mahendra is a senior official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specifically serving as the Deputy Director of the Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) within the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC).

Here are some key points about her role and experience:

Current Position: Deputy Director of the Division of Violence Prevention at the CDC.4 5
Responsibilities: She is involved in leadership and management roles, focusing on using data and conducting research to inform violence prevention activities. This includes identifying, evaluating, and applying solutions for preventing various forms of violence such as community violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and youth violence.1 4
Background: Mahendra has a strong background in public health, having served in various roles at the CDC, including as a Lead Public Health Advisor and Deputy Branch Chief in Overdose Prevention.4
Collaborations and Publications: She has been involved in several collaborative efforts and publications, including a book on preventing gang membership, which was a joint project between the CDC and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).3
Research Priorities: Mahendra is also involved in setting and updating research priorities for sexual violence prevention and other areas of violence prevention, ensuring that the research aligns with public health goals and has a significant impact.2

Her work emphasizes a public health approach to violence prevention, focusing on evidence-based practices and community-level interventions to reduce violence.