Dr. Circe Gray Le Compte
Co-Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Circe J. Gray Le Compte (she/her/hers), an accomplished leader and academic with a distinguished career in public health research and communications, served on the 2014 founding board of HPHR Journal at Harvard University. After a brief tenure as deputy editor, she became editor-in-chief, and has served in that position or as co-editor-in-chief for nearly a decade.

Dr. Le Compte has played a leading role in transitioning HPHR from a small student-led publication to a premiere peer-reviewed journal publishing authors addressing challenging health issues through the lenses of equity and justice. She began this process while at Harvard, expanding the Journal’s editorial reach and vision through the inclusion of editors, reviewers, and contributors from other universities and health organizations.

She also led the expansion of HPHR’s online presence, working with the organization’s web development partner, Computer Ally, to transition the Journal to a sophisticated online platform. Together, they created a website that seamlessly integrated HPHR’s diverse social media channels and online manuscript submission system, Scholastica. These efforts, combined with her work to create a carefully curated and segmented constituent relationship management database, has enabled HPHR to reach thought leaders in health and health-aligned fields worldwide. Today, tens of thousands of unique visitors engage with HPHR and its communications channels every month.

In all, Dr. Le Compte has helped spearhead the publication of nearly 80 special editions featuring hundreds of authors and more than 500 articles. In addition, she has edited and produced video and other multimedia content to expand HPHR‘s reach and engagement , as well as implemented the Journal digital object identifier (DOI) system for all content. She also partnered with Dr. Carpenter to create a rigorous training for new editors and reviewers intended to facilitate onboarding at HPHR and other editorial boards, ensuring the highest editorial and ethical standards.

Beyond her role at HPHR Journal, Dr. Le Compte serves as co-CEO of the Boston Congress of Public Health, the 501(c)3 organization, founded in 2021, which publishes the Journal. Her leadership extends to the broader field of public health as she continues to make a significant impact through her roles as an Executive Producer of Great Health Debates, co-Producer of The Humor Scientist alongside Matt Kazam, and creator of Health History Mysteries.

Dr. Le Compte holds both Master of Science and Doctor of Science degrees from Harvard University, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her academic background is rich, with a focus on social and behavioral sciences theory/research methods, as well as racial and sexual/gender minority health.

Her independent research has centered on innovative interventions and modalities, such as soap operas and PhotoVoice, aimed at improving the health outcomes of medically underserved populations. Her doctoral dissertation, employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, delved into the nuanced understanding of how lived experiences shape the health conceptualizations and sexual harm reduction practices of Black/African-American gay and bisexual men and transwomen.

Dr. Le Compte’s extensive experience in communication spans several decades and includes leadership roles within university-based research centers and national non-profit organizations. While at Harvard, she also excelled in her role as a teaching assistant for multiple graduate-level classes, receiving a prestigious teaching award in 2020. She currently is a postdoctoral scholar at Columbia University.  

Dr. Le Compte’s visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to scholarly excellence, and dedication to advancing health equity have left an indelible mark on both the HPHR Journal and the broader public health community.