Jessica Kahn, M.D., M.P.H., is an international leader in pediatrics and adolescent medicine, best known for her studies of HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines for preventing cervical cancer.
Dr. Kahn received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and her master of public health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. She completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in adolescent and young adult medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. She then joined Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where she served as the associate chair of academic affairs and career development, a division director, and the director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training.
Dr. Kahn was recruited to Einstein in 2024, where she is a professor of pediatrics, the Dr. Ernest Baden Chair in Head and Neck Pathology, the senior associate dean for clinical and translational research, and the director of the Harold and Muriel Block Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR).
Jessica Kahn, M.D., M.P.H.
When Dean [Yaron] Tomer [M.D.] invited me to lead Einstein’s pioneering efforts in clinical and translational research, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help shape the future of research here. Especially compelling to me were Einstein’s commitment to improving the health of the Bronx community and the truly collaborative culture.
Medicine faces a daunting public health challenge: only about 500 treatments or cures for the 10,000 known diseases, with most breakthroughs taking 10 to 15 years to reach patients. One of my roles is working to shorten the time needed for Einstein and Montefiore discoveries to become safe and effective health solutions. Other key roles are promoting sustainable partnerships with community stakeholders and accelerating pathways to successful careers in clinical and translational research.
We are launching several exciting initiatives in the ICTR to support clinical and translational research. The Shiu Y. Kwok, M.D., Ph.D., Learning Health Systems Pilot Grant program, led by Sharon Rikin, [M.D., M.S.,] provides seed funding and mentorship to help faculty leverage clinical data to improve patient outcomes. A new Qualitative and Mixed Methods Core, directed by Dana Watnick, [Ph.D.,] will strengthen investigators’ research through methodologic training and consultation. Finally, we’re strengthening real-world data research through the ICTR’s Health Informatics Core, which is led by Pavel Goriacko, [M.P.H., Pharm.D.,] in collaboration with Montefiore Information Technology and the new Data Science Institute led by Mimi Kim, [Sc.D.].
I was born and raised in Birmingham, Ala., the fourth of five sisters. My father, a psychiatrist, escaped Vienna during World War II, and my mother was an artist who grew up in the Bronx and attended Hunter College. She was always fascinated by science and medicine and missed the Bronx dearly, so I think she would be delighted to know I’ve returned to her home borough to serve her community.
I’m optimistic that with widespread HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment, eliminating cervical cancer—along with other HPV-caused cancers in both women and men—is within reach.
—Dr. Jessica Kahn
I’ve always been drawn to both art and science, so in college I studied architecture—a wonderful combination of the two. But two experiences shifted my path toward medicine: losing my father to an adverse drug reaction while I was in high school and caring for my mother after her breast cancer diagnosis when I was in college. These experiences inspired me to pursue a career in medicine and research.
I knew I wanted to work with children and focus on disease prevention, which is at the heart of pediatrics. During medical school and residency, I discovered how inspiring it was to care for adolescents and was drawn to the unique field of adolescent medicine. I was fascinated by the complex challenges of this pivotal developmental stage, especially sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and chronic conditions. Most rewarding is knowing that the clinical care, education, and research interventions we provide can improve adolescents’ health and well-being for decades to come.
As a pediatric resident at Boston Children’s Hospital, I worked with a terrific mentor, Dr. Robert DuRant, who directed research in adolescent medicine. He showed me how to readily answer research questions by analyzing large data sets, and his enthusiasm for research was contagious. From that moment I was hooked on research.
We’ve encountered barriers to HPV vaccine uptake, especially after the vaccines were first introduced. Some people were concerned about safety, the possibility of increased sexual activity, and vaccination at younger ages. Over time, we’ve made progress by providing evidence that HPV vaccines are extremely safe, do not lead to changes in sexual behaviors, and are most effective when given at the recommended age of 11 to 12 years. Our great strides in increasing vaccine uptake have led to marked reductions in cervical precancers and cancers. But there’s much work to do, especially in countries with poor access to HPV vaccines and cervical cancer screening.
Clinical trials have consistently shown that HPV vaccines dramatically reduce HPV infections and cervical precancers. Those trials were critical first steps in evaluating the vaccines, but they typically enrolled individuals at low risk for HPV and analyzed data for those who weren’t infected with HPV and had received all recommended vaccine doses. So it was important to determine how well vaccines work in a real-world setting. Our study found that the vaccines are highly effective at preventing HPV infection among adolescents and young adults in the community, even those at high risk for HPV or who hadn’t received the full series of vaccine doses. We also found clear evidence of herd immunity: that widespread vaccination indirectly protected unvaccinated people by reducing overall viral transmission. Given these results, I’m optimistic that with widespread HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment, eliminating cervical cancer—along with other HPV-caused cancers in both women and men—is within reach.
We need to build trust by educating people about vaccine safety and effectiveness while also eliciting and responding to their questions and concerns. I’m excited to be working with the International Pediatric Association and the American Cancer Society to develop webinars and resources that pediatric clinicians can use to address the public’s concerns and strengthen confidence in HPV vaccines.
Mentoring, coaching, and advising are among the most rewarding aspects of my work. I’m thrilled that one of my mentees, a clinical research coordinator, was the first author on our recent JAMA Pediatrics paper. Helping mentees find their purpose and overcome barriers so they can succeed is my personal mission and brings me incredible joy.
