Dr. Kanathy Haney is a health sciences and education professor and chair of the human trafficking coalition at Palm Beach State College. She is also a researcher and instructor at the University of Florida with the Department of Epidemiology. Dr. Haney received her doctorate in public health at the University of Florida in which she focused her dissertation on sex trafficking in the United States. She has been working in public health social work since 2007. Dr. Haney is working to spread awareness and prevention of human trafficking from a public health perspective. She believes that by better understanding the nature of this kind of trauma she can create evidence-based community interventions. This would promote social justice and enhance public health goals to reduce harm. Dr. Haney advocates for a multi-disciplinary approach to reduce mental health and substance use issues among human trafficking victims and survivors by implementing an effective trauma-informed and survivor-centered continuum of care. She also places importance on the ability of professionals in the field to identify risk factors and intersections among those affected by human trafficking. Dr. Haney is a member of the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches and the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force.

Dr. Haney also obtained doctoral level epidemiology, biostatistics, and pathology training from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences. She obtained her bachelor’s of social work in 2008 from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) magna cum laude along with a child welfare certificate. She then received her Master of Science in exercise science and health promotion from FAU. She is is Certified in Public Health (CPH) and a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Dr. Haney has worked in community agencies focused on promoting health across the spectrum of prevention since 2007. She understands how to translate research into sustainable community practice to influence communities. By utilizing existing resources there can be feasible, multi-disciplinary approaches to prevention.

Dr. Haney believes that by better understanding the spectrum of human trafficking she can develop effective interventions across levels of prevention. She has a desire to work towards social justice and health equity among all individuals by reaching across cultural barriers and empowering populations to engage in healthy, longstanding behavior change. Her goal is to address the public health issue of human trafficking across the United States and around the globe to reduce health disparities and enhance health for all global citizens.