Dr. Janani Thapa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of Georgia where she teaches core courses in Obesity Policy and Health Economics. Her academic training is an MPA with a concentration on International Development and an MS/Ph.D. in Applied Economics. Currently, she serves as the Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion for the UGA’s College of Public Health. At the Department she leads the Economic Evaluation Research Group. This group provides evaluation services to stakeholders throughout the state. She is passionate about addressing disparities (rural-urban, racial, gender) in risk factors and patient care primarily among pediatrics patients with obesity and/or mental health.
