Professor at the School of Health Sciences of the University of Georgia and Deputy Director of the Global and European Health Education and Research Institute (GEHESI), Natia Skhvitaridze, has won the 2026 Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation Award “For Outstanding Achievements in Science” in the field of Medical and Health Sciences.
This year, a total of 11 awards were issued across six scientific disciplines. Natia Skhvitaridze is one of two winners recognized in Medical and Health Sciences. The award was presented to her on November 10 at an event dedicated to World Science Day, organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth and the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation.
Natia Skhvitaridze’s scientific work encompasses maternal health, healthcare systems, medical education, and global health issues. The primary goal of her research is the assessment of population health and the improvement of evidence-based medical decision-making.
In 2024, she defended her doctoral dissertation at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Based on national birth registry data, the thesis is dedicated to a comprehensive analysis of maternal mortality and morbidity.
She actively collaborates with leading scientific institutions worldwide. Natia Skhvitaridze is a Global Burden of Disease study collaborator at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. In 2025–2026, under the Fulbright program, she served as a visiting professor at the University of Kentucky, USA, and from 2013–2015, she was at the University of the Basque Country in Spain.
The scientist has authored and co-authored nearly 30 scientific articles published in highly-ranked international journals. Furthermore, she regularly participates in national and international conferences, sharing her experience and research with the academic community.
Speaking about the significance of the award, Natia Skhvitaridze notes:
“For me, this award is, first and foremost, an evaluation of a long journey from clinical medicine to public and global health, and a confirmation that data-driven evidence must determine decisions for improving population health. My ultimate desire is to dedicate the knowledge and experience gained over these years to my country and my people for a better, safer, and healthier life and well-being,” says Natia Skhvitaridze.
Natia Skhvitaridze receiving the National Science Award is a significant recognition of both her many years of scientific and academic work and the University of Georgia. Her professional path, international research collaborations, and scientific activities once again demonstrate the contribution of the university’s academic staff to the development of health sciences and Georgia’s representation in the global scientific arena.
