Education
PhD, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2006
MHS, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 1999
Overview
Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) remain a critical group to engage in HIV prevention and care strategies. HIV programs in low and middle-income countries, however, tend to focus on ALHIV in a clinic setting without addressing the social and familial context in which they live. My research focuses on how families and communities influence adolescent health decisions including accessing HIV testing, seeking care and treatment and adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART). My research interests also include understanding the environmental and structural determinants of health, gender disparity, human rights and ethical issues. My current research portfolio includes: a) a study among adolescents living with HIV and their parent/guardians in Zambia to examine adherence to ART, sexual and reproductive health behaviors, and family-level influences on health decisions; and b) a multi-country study examining retention to care and adherence to ART among adults living with HIV in Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. This research builds upon my experience conducting operational research and program evaluation with globally implemented HIV prevention, care and treatment services utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Honors and Awards
• The JHSPH Study Assembly AMTRA (Advising, Mentoring, & Teaching Recognition)
Award, 2017
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program
LRP) funded by National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
NIMHD) 2014-2016. Renewal awarded for 2016-2017.
• National Institute of Mental Health, National Research Service Award Recipient
2003-2005.
• Fulbright Scholar 2003-2004.
• Fogarty International Research Grant Recipient 2003-2004.
• Johns Hopkins Department of International Health Scholarship Recipient 2000