Faculty and Academic Staff

ABBY KING, PhD, is professor of Health Research and Policy and of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology at Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, and her PhD in clinical psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1983. She is an internationally respected scientist and award-winning teacher and mentor who has developed, evaluated, and disseminated creative solutions to major public health challenges related to prevention of chronic disease.

Dr. King leads an interdisciplinary research team aimed at creating cutting-edge behavioral and technological programs promoting the healthy lifestyles necessary for living long and productive lives. Her team’s “borderless” health promotion solutions seek to create health programs that break down barriers related to education, literacy, language, and computer knowledge and access.

Dr. King has published more than 220 peer-reviewed scientific articles and has served on a number of government task forces, including membership on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Secretary’s Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020. She has been the recipient of a number of National Institutes of Health research grants and received the award for Outstanding Scientific Contributions in the area of health psychology from the American Psychological Association. She is an elected member of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research and past president of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Dr. King is committed to the professional development of junior scientists. In 2003, she received the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Distinguished Research Mentor award and has twice received SPRC’s Outstanding Teacher award.