Early Career Spotlight: John Humphrey, MD, MS

John Humphrey, MD, MS, is a physician-scientist with board certification in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Adult Infectious Diseases. His research uses implementation science and mixed methods to understand the barriers influencing HIV outcomes for pregnant and breastfeeding women and their infants.

Much of Humphrey’s research is conducted with the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) program and the East Africa International Epidemiologic Database to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium. He served as the Pediatric Team Leader for the AMPATH in Kenya from 2016-2019.

“The field of infectious diseases is constantly evolving with new knowledge that challenges what we thought we knew about how pathogens are transmitted and cause disease,” Humphrey said. “It really inspires me to be a lifelong learner in the field.”

Samir Gupta, MD, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases, described Humphrey as “outstanding.”

In what Gupta also said was a “testament to Dr. Humphrey’s work and impact,” he received a K23 Career Development Award from the NICHD last year.

“The goal is to improve HIV service delivery for pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV and their infants in resource-limited settings,” Humphrey said of his project.    

Currently, he is conducting a discrete choice experiment to understand women’s preferences for HIV and maternal and child health services. Additionally, he is working on a birth surveillance program to monitor for adverse pregnancy and newborn outcomes for HIV-positive and negative women in Kenya. 

Kara Wools-Kaloustian, MD, who is Humphrey’s mentor, said he was “a remarkable early stage investigator.”

“He is enthusiastic, self-motivated, curious, and deeply committed to the health of marginalized and underserved populations,” she said.

Originally from southern Wisconsin, Humphrey is married to Dr. Connie Keung, a general and colorectal surgeon who works at IU Health Saxony and Tipton Hospitals. When he isn’t working, he enjoys riding the electric cargo bike he got last summer.

“I had a blast cruising around Broad Ripple with my wife and three-year-old son,” he said. “I can’t wait for the weather to warm up again!”