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Home » Who We Are » Staff Team » Debra Efroymson
Debra Efroymson
Regional Director
Debra has worked for HealthBridge since 1995, first in Hanoi, Vietnam, then since
1998 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She has worked since 1995 on tobacco control, providing
technical support to programs in several countries, and writing various guides to
tobacco control. She also conducted groundbreaking research on the connection between
tobacco use and poverty. She has organized research on and co-
More recently, Debra has become involved in Livable cities, transport, and urban planning, writing various reports and giving speeches at international conferences. She currently gives technical assistance to programs on Livable cities, transport, gender, and tobacco control to several countries. In addition to her native English, she speaks Spanish, French, Bengali, Nepali and Vietnamese.
Education
Harvard School of Public Health
Master of Science in Population and International Health, 1993.
Harvard College
Bachelor of Arts in English and American Literature and Language, 1987. Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa.
Experience
HEALTHBRIDGE (FORMERLY PATH CANADA), ASIA PROGRAM
Regional Director (April 2001-
Conduct research, write, and build capacity on issues of livable cities, ecocities,
and transport. Support and provide technical assistance to ecocities, gender and
tobacco control programs in Asia. Regularly speak at workshops, trainings, conferences
and press conferences in Bangladesh and internationally. Advised on drafting of tobacco
control legislation, co-
As of July 2007, also serve as Technical Advisor on Tobacco Control to the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) under the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, providing technical assistance in Bangladesh, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
PATH CANADA IN VIETNAM, HANOI, MARCH 1995 -
Representative (July-
Planned, wrote proposal for, and coordinated project to assist local organizations in tobacco control, including education of the public and of policymakers. Wrote reports on health, economics, and advertising, and produced educational materials. Organized and led team to study policy issues on the tobacco industry and tobacco control legislation.
Project manager for "Youth Write about Reproductive Health"
Planned, wrote proposal for, and coordinated project with Vietnam Women's Union to
educate youth about reproductive health. Organized and analyzed research on knowledge
and attitudes of youth towards sexuality issues; wrote research reports. Co-
HEALTH CONSULTANT, HANOI, MARCH 1995 -
Consultant to World Bank
Led team from the Center for Care and Protection of Children to gather information on communications for behavior change; wrote report.
Advisor to Karolinska Institutet, IHCAR, Sweden
Analyzed drug information situation as part of review of national drug policies in Vietnam, wrote report.
Consultant to ICOMP
Helped design and conduct evaluation of income generating project for rural Vietnamese
women in two districts; co-
Population and Development International -
PROGRAM MANAGER, HANOI, JANUARY 1994 -
Managed integrated family planning and health project with Vietnam Women´s Union. Planned and coordinated activities, monitored and evaluated progress, wrote reports and developed proposals.
Publications
BOOKS AND REPORTS
Efroymson, D, TTKT Ha and PT Ha. Public Spaces, How they humanize cities. HealthBridge and WBB Trust, Dhaka, October 2009.
Bari, M and D Efroymson, Detailed Area Plan (DAP) for Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP), A critical review. WBB Trust, Dhaka, March 2009.
Efroymson, D and Alam, SM. Enforcement of Tobacco Control Law, A Guide to the Basics. HealthBridge, February 2009.
Efroymson, D, M Rahman and R Shama. Making Cities More Livable. HealthBridge and WBB Trust, February 2009.
Efroymson, D, R Hafiz and L Jones, ed. Ecocity Planning: Images and Ideas. WBB Trust, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and HealthBridge, November 2008.
Efroymson, D. Promoting Male Responsibility Towards Greater Gender Equality, Lessons Learned. HealthBridge, April 2008.
Efroymson, D. and L Jones, eds. The Collaborative Funding Program for Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Research Regional Research Report on Tobacco. Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, 2007.
Efroymson, D, ed. Addressing Tobacco and Poverty in Bangladesh: Research and Recommendations on Agriculture and Taxes. WBB Trust and HealthBridge, October 2007.
Efroymson, D, B Biswas and S Ruma. The Economic Contribution of Bangladeshi Women through their Unpaid Labor. HealthBridge and WBB Trust, October 2007.
Efroymson, D and M Bari, Dhaka Strategic Transport Plan (STP), A Critical Review. WBB Trust, Dhaka: May 2007.
Efroymson, D and M Velasco, eds. Tobacco Use in Southeast Asia: Key Evidence for Policy Development. Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, May 2007.
Efroymson, D, South-
Efroymson, D., S. FitzGerald and L Jones, ed. Promoting Male Responsibility for Gender Equality, Summary Report of Research from Bangladesh, India and Vietnam. HealthBridge August 2006.
Efroymson, D. Using Media and Research for Advocacy: Low Cost Ways to Increase Success. HealthBridge, June 2006.
Bari, M and D Efroymson, Vehicle Mix and Road Space in Dhaka: The Current Situation and Future Scenarios. WBB Trust, Dhaka: December 2005.
Bari, M and D Efroymson, Rickshaw Bans in Dhaka City: An Overview of the Arguments For and Against. Roads for People, Dhaka: August 2005.
Bari, M and D Efroymson, Efficient Use of Road Space and Maximisation of Door-
Efroymson, D and M Rahman, Transportation Policy for Poverty Reduction and Social Equity. WBB Trust, Dhaka: May 2005.
Efroymson, D. and M Bari, Improving Dhaka’s Traffic Situation, Lessons from Mirpur Road. WBB Trust, Dhaka: February 2005.
Efroymson, D, ed. Tobacco and Poverty, Observations from India and Bangladesh. PATH Canada, Dhaka, October 2002.
Efroymson, D. Guide to Low-
Must, E and D Efroymson, Using the Media for Tobacco Control.PATH Canada, August 2002.
Dey, AR, N Kabir, and D Efroymson, Noise Pollution: Research and Action. Work for a Better Bangladesh, Dhaka, August 2002.
Efroymson, D, E Must, and F Tanudyaya. A Burning Issue: Tobacco Control and Development;
A manual for non-
Efroymson, D. PATH Canada Guide: Tobacco Control Law. PATH Canada, Dhaka, August 2001.
Efroymson, D, R Deb, AI Sujon, et al. British American Tobacco’s Youth Smoking Prevention
Campaign: What are its actual objectives? Work for a Better Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Anti-
Khanh, TTM, D Efroymson, and F Tanujaya, Training Guide for Sexuality, Love, Health. PATH Canada, Hanoi, May 2001.
Efroymson, D and S Ahmed, Hungry for Tobacco: An analysis of the economic impact of tobacco on the poor in Bangladesh.PATH Canada, Dhaka: July 2000.
Trang, NQ, D Efroymson, NK Linh. Growing up, Puberty, Blossoming. Hanoi: Women's Publishing House, 1998.
Trang, NQ, D Efroymson, and NK Linh. Talking about Gender, Love, and Health. Hanoi: Women's Publishing House, 1998.
Efroymson, D, VPN Thanh, and DT Phuong, It's Rude to Say No: Vietnamese opinions about tobacco control. Report for the International Tobacco Initiative, Hanoi, July 1997.
Trang, NQ and D Efroymson. Youth who love life know about HIV/AIDS. Hanoi: Women's Publishing House, 1996.
ARTICLES
Efroymson, D. It's Not Practical. The New Colonist, 2010
Efroymson, D. Cars and the Economy: Liberating ourselves from the bondage of “common
knowledge”. Carbusters Issue #40, Dec. 2009-
Efroymson, D. Fighting the Current, Carfree Activities in Low-
Efroymson, D. Cycling in Hanoi: Can the Past Become the Future. Bicyclefixation.com, 2008.
Naher, F, D Efroymson, and S Ahmed, Tobacco Cultivation and Poverty in Bangladesh, Issues and potential future directions. Case study prepared for WHO, February 2007.
Efroymson, D. Buyer Beware in Carbusters Issue 27, June-
Efroymson, D and ZR Litu, Taking School into the Streets in Carbusters Issue 26,
Mar-
Efroymson, D. Dhaka’s Rickshaws Under Threat in Car Busters Issue 22, Jan-
Efroymson, D. Robbing the Poor. WHO Lifeline, SEARO, Volume 1 Issue 2, April-
Efroymson, D and S Ahmed. Building Momentum for Tobacco Control: The Case of Bangladesh in Tobacco Control Policy: Strategies, Successes & Setbacks. World Bank and RITC 2003.
Efroymson, D, S Ahmed, J Townsend, et al. Hungry for Tobacco: An analysis of the
economic impact of tobacco on the poor in Bangladesh. Tobacco Control 2001;10:212-
Efroymson, D. Vietnam Faces Modern Sexuality Problems with Inadequate Knowledge and Solutions, SIECUS Report Vol. 24, No. 3, February/March 1996.
Efroymson, D. A case study of a promotion ban -
ABSTRACTS AND PRESENTATIONS
Lead trainer in two-
Public Transport, Comparing the Options and Separating by Income, Impoverishing Ourselves.
Hanoi, A Livable City for All, Hanoi, 1-
Valuing Women. Roundtable on The Economic Contribution of Women through their Unpaid Work, Dhaka, 22 July 2009.
Role of Media in Tobacco Control. Press briefing organized by the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA), Sri Lanka, 28 July 2009.
Key trainer in two-
Facilitator at SEATCA Regional Meeting on Research on Smoking in Girls and Young Women, Kuala Lumpur, 19 May 2008.
Developing Ecocity Initiatives: the South to South Ecocity Alliance (SSEA) and Dhaka:
could it be a mega-
Lead trainer in two-
Tobacco and Poverty. Plan Sweden seminar, Stockholm, 31 May 2007.
Promoting Policy Change on Transport: The Shortest Road to an Ecocity Future. Ecocity
6 Conference, Bangalore, India, 4-
The Power of People and the Pen -
Working with media for law passage and implementation: practical guidelines. 13th
World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Washington D.C. 12-
Livable Cities, International Lessons. Department of Urban and Regional Planning (URP), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), URP Seminar Series, 14 March 2006.
Women and Tobacco: An Overview of Gender Issues. Regional Workshop on Women and Tobacco,
Taipei, 1-
Old and new strategies of the tobacco industry. 1st International Symposium on Women and Tobacco, Toledo, Spain, October 2005.
Strategies for everyday walking culture. Walk21, Zurich, September 2005.
Participant on panel, The right to mobility for all and Saving the cycle rickshaws of Bangladesh. Towards Carfree Cities V, Budapest, July 2005.
Facilitator in three-
Sole trainer in five-
Challenging the Industry in Bangladesh and Grassroots Tobacco Control. Southeast Asia Alliance Workshop, Penang, Malaysia, April 2004.
Tobacco and Development, Refusing Industry Money, andInvolving NGOs in Tobacco Control. NGO workshop, Hanoi, Vietnam, April 2004.
Sole trainer in four-
Trainer in workshop on Tobacco Control for NGOs and the Media, Niamey, Niger, October 2002.
Empowerment towards an Advertising Ban. Southeast Asian Alliance workshop, Penang, Malaysia, September 2002.
Trainer in Southeast Asian Alliance workshop, Penang, Malaysia, September 2002.
La malnutrition, conséquence peu connue de la consommation du tabac dans les pays pauvres. 1st Annual International Francophone Conference on Tobacco control, Montreal, September 2002.
Trainer in workshop on The Role of NGOs in Advocacy for Tobacco Control Law and the FCTC, Nagarkot, Nepal, July 2002.
Tobacco’s Toll on the Environment. 1st National Conference on Environmental Health in Bangladesh, February 2002.
Malnutrition Attributable to Tobacco Use. 8th Bangladesh Nutrition Conference, March 2002.
Efroymson, D, S Ahmed, S FitzGerald. The link between tobacco consumption and poverty in Bangladesh. Seventh Canadian Conference on International Health, November 2000.
Trainer in Rockefeller-
1) Satellite television advertising in Bangladesh, 2) Adequate warning systems for tobacco products, 3) Malnutrition attributable to tobacco use, 4) Highlighting the Economic Costs of Tobacco: Suggestions from Bangladesh and Vietnam, and 5) Coalition Building in Bangladesh. 11th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Chicago, August 2000.
Co-
Efroymson, D, VPN Thanh, and NQ Trang, Confusions and contradictions: Results of qualitative research on youth sexuality. Population Council workshop, Hanoi, December 1997.
Efroymson, D, VPN Thanh, S FitzGerald. Vietnamese women and tobacco: Concern for the future? Fourth Canadian Conference on International Health, November 1997.
Efroymson, D, VPN Thanh, NQ Trang, S FitzGerald. Barriers to safer sex among Vietnamese youth. Fourth Canadian Conference on International Health, November 1997.
Efroymson, D, DT Phuong. Analysis of Tobacco Policy in Vietnam. 10th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Beijing, August 1997.
Languages
Bengali, French, Nepali, Spanish and Vietnamese; native English
HealthBridge Bangladesh
House #49, Road #4/A, Dhanmondi R/A
Dhaka-
Phone: +8802.966.9781
Fax: +8802.862.9271
Email:debra@healthbridge.ca
