Dr. Robert Anda

Dr. Robert Anda graduated from Rush Medical College in 1979 and received his Board Certification in Internal Medicine in 1982. During 1982-1984, he completed a Fellowship in Preventive Medicine at the University of Wisconsin, where he also received a Master's Degree (MS) in Epidemiology.

Anda spent 20 years conducting research as a medical officer in the U.S. Public Health Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. His research covered a range of areas including disease surveillance, behavioral health, mental health and disease, cardiovascular disease, and childhood determinants of health.

He played a principal role in the design of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study and serves as its Co-Principal Investigator. Anda has over 200 peer-reviewed and government publications, including reports for the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and book chapters, reflecting his extensive research contributions. He has been recognized with numerous awards for his scientific achievements. He is also featured in the documentary "Resilience" by Jamie Redford, which was accepted to the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and is now being shown across the nation.

Anda now works with ACE Interface, a company he co-founded, to deliver training on neurobiology, epigenetics, ACEs, resilience, and community capacity development. His aim is to contribute to the creation of a trauma-informed nation. His role as the designer, writer, and communicator about the ACE Study over the past 25 years and how it has evolved into a national movement provides unique insights and perspectives for professional and lay audiences alike.