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 Skhvitidze, has received the 2026 Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia Award for Outstanding Achievements in Science in the field of Medical and Health Sciences.
Following the competitive selection process, a total of 11 awards were granted across six scientific fields. Natia Skhvitidze was one of two scientists selected as winners in the field of Medical and Health Sciences. The award was presented to her on November 10, during an event dedicated to World Science Day, organized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia and the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia.
Natia Skhvitidze’s research focuses on maternal health, health systems, health education, and global health. Her work places particular emphasis on assessing population health, using data-driven evidence, and improving decision-making in the healthcare sector.
In 2024, she defended her doctoral dissertation at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Her dissertation presents a comprehensive analysis of maternal mortality and morbidity based on data from the National Birth Registry.
Her international academic and research experience includes collaboration with leading scientific institutions worldwide. Natia Skhvitidze is a collaborator in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington. In 2025–2026, she served as a Visiting Professor at the University of Kentucky, USA, through the Fulbright Program. Earlier, from 2013 to 2015, she participated in a research mobility program at the University of the Basque Country in Spain.
Natia Skhvitidze has authored and co-authored nearly 30 scientific articles published in high-impact international journals. She regularly participates in national and international scientific conferences and professional meetings, where she shares her research findings and expertise with the international academic community.
Speaking about the significance of the award, Natia Skhvitidze noted:
“For me, this award is, first and foremost, recognition of a long journey from clinical medicine to public and global health. It is also confirmation that evidence based on data should guide decisions aimed at improving population health. My greatest wish is to put the knowledge and experience I have gained over the years at the service of my country and my people, contributing to a better, safer, and healthier life and greater well-being,” says Natia Skhvitidze.
Natia Skhvitidze’s receipt of this prestigious national science award represents significant recognition not only of her longstanding scientific and academic contributions but also of the University of Georgia. Her professional journey, international research collaborations, and scientific achievements once again highlight the contribution of the University’s academic staff to the advancement of health sciences and to strengthening Georgia’s presence in the global scientific community.
