Dr. Waridibo Allison | Health Professions | Innovator of the Year Award

Professor and Vice President of Health Policy at University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, United States

Dr. Waridibo (Wari) E. Allison, MD, PhD, FACP, CPE, FIDSA, is a renowned physician-scientist and health policy leader dedicated to improving health equity through research, clinical innovation, and public policy. With board certifications in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, she blends clinical expertise with a robust background in public health and community medicine. Dr. Allison currently serves as Vice President of Health Policy and Executive Director of the Center for Health Policy at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. Her career spans over two decades and several continents, having held key academic and leadership roles in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. She is a national leader in HIV care, rural health innovation, and workforce development, often bridging the gap between academic research and practical implementation. Her work focuses on underserved populations and health systems transformation. A dynamic mentor and change-maker, Dr. Allison was recently named a 2024 Finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring—the highest national honor recognizing excellence in STEM mentoring. Her contributions reflect a lifelong commitment to using research and policy to address health disparities and improve care delivery at scale.

Professional Profile

• Scopus Profile

Education

Dr. Allison has an interdisciplinary and global educational background that underpins her distinguished career in medicine, public health, and research. She earned her PhD in Public Health and Community Medicine from The Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, in 2009. Her doctoral training provided the foundation for her expertise in health services research, epidemiology, and health policy. Prior to her PhD, she obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), equivalent to an MD in the United States, from the prestigious Imperial College School of Medicine in London, UK, in 2000. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Anatomical Sciences from the University of Dundee in Scotland in 1995. Dr. Allison also pursued advanced clinical training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases through residency and fellowship programs at leading U.S. institutions, including New York Presbyterian Hospital–Weill Cornell and NYU Langone Medical Center. In addition to her medical and research training, she holds a Certified Physician Executive (CPE) credential from the American Association for Physician Leadership and has completed the Media and Medicine Program at Harvard Medical School, which speaks to her ability to merge science communication, leadership, and policy in her work.

Professional Experience

Dr. Allison brings a wealth of leadership experience from academia, clinical practice, and government-funded public health programs. Currently, she holds dual leadership roles as Vice President of Health Policy and Executive Director of the Center for Health Policy at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. She previously served as an Associate Professor and Program Director at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where she led major initiatives like the South Central AIDS Education Training Center and the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Program. Dr. Allison has also worked internationally, including as a Lecturer at the University of New South Wales and as a physician in both Australia and the UK. Her professional trajectory is marked by a strong commitment to advancing healthcare access for underserved populations through evidence-based models and federal grant-funded initiatives. She has managed large-scale, multisite projects, including the national Rural Telementoring Training Center and programs integrating HIV education into clinical training. Her executive acumen and ability to lead complex, multi-million-dollar federal programs distinguish her as an innovator and advocate for systemic health improvements through research-driven policy implementation.

Research Interests

Dr. Allison’s research interests center on public health innovation, infectious disease prevention, and the delivery of equitable healthcare to marginalized and rural populations. Her academic work is grounded in implementation science, epidemiology, and health systems research, with a particular emphasis on translating evidence into scalable interventions. She has a longstanding focus on HIV/AIDS education, training, and care models, demonstrated by her leadership in the national AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) Program. She is especially passionate about using telementoring and technology-enabled learning platforms to overcome healthcare workforce shortages and to extend best practices to underserved areas. Her projects often integrate workforce development with access to care initiatives, especially in relation to chronic infectious diseases. Dr. Allison is also a leader in applying research to inform and develop health policy, ensuring that innovations are sustainable and impactful at the systems level. Through her research and service, she aims to reduce disparities in care access, improve clinical outcomes, and empower communities. Her background in both clinical medicine and public health provides a rare combination of skills that allow her to design, evaluate, and scale impactful programs rooted in data and community engagement.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Allison’s excellence in research, leadership, and mentorship has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards and honors. In 2024, she was named a Finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring—an elite national recognition of her contributions to developing underrepresented talent in STEM fields. She was elected a Fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America in 2021 and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians in 2020, reflecting her clinical expertise and contributions to the field of internal medicine and infectious diseases. She has received accolades for her leadership and service, including the Bexar County Medical Society’s Outstanding Women in Medicine Award in 2019 and UT Health San Antonio’s Community Engagement Hero Award in 2018. Her research excellence was acknowledged early on with awards like the Rising Research Superstar Award and inclusion on the Dean’s List at the University of New South Wales. Dr. Allison has also been competitively selected for leadership development programs, including the AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Seminar. These recognitions highlight her sustained impact on healthcare innovation, mentorship, and community-engaged research.

Conclusion

Dr. Waridibo Allison is an outstanding candidate for the Research for Innovator of the Year Award. Her work demonstrates a rare blend of scientific research, community service, policy innovation, and program development—particularly in the critical areas of HIV care, rural health, and public health education.

While additional emphasis on scholarly outputs and tech innovation detail would enhance her application, her leadership, national impact, and successful translation of research into real-world outcomes make her exceptionally well-suited for this honor.

Publications Top Notes

• Title: Accessing Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Telemedicine: Perspectives From People With HIV

• Authors: Waridibo E. Allison, Aro N. Choi, Keito Kawasaki, Anmol Desai, Trisha V. Melhado

• Journal: Health Promotion Practice

• Year: 2023

• DOI: 10.1177/15248399231169925