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Karl Larson, PhD, MCHES, is a Professor of Public Health and is dually appointed to the Master’s in Athletic Training program. Dr. Larson has lead the effort to build a presence for public health on the Gustavus campus and has served as the Program Director for the interdisciplinary program in public health since the program’s inception in 2018. Since his arrival at Gustavus in 2005, he has taught more than 20 different courses focusing on individual and population health including offerings such as stress management, sexuality, tai chi, youth coaching, as well as courses in public health programming, global health, behavioral theory, and epidemiology. Dr. Larson has served the campus community on numerous health related efforts and programs.

Professionally, Dr. Larson is nationally recognized as the “case study guy,” after designing and leading the National Case Study Competition in Health Education (NCSCHE), a role he has served in since 2006. He also has served as the president of the Minnesota Society for Public Health Education from 2015-2018, and has been the recipient of the Karen Denard Goldman Mentor Award (SOPHE), the Dean’s Distinguished Lecturer (New York Medical College), and has received the W.E Schaller Presidential Citation from Eta Sigma Gamma for his professional development work with college students. He is the author of four books including Consumer Health and Integrative Medicine and The Truth About Violence.