Broadly, my research focuses on a range of clinical and social issues that affect persons living with or at risk for HIV infection in resource-poor settings. In Tanzania, our group is applying novel methods to optimize HIV testing uptake among high-risk groups. We recently demonstrated that the Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE), a form of stated preference survey research, is a robust tool for identifying (a) which characteristics of HIV testing options are most preferred by different populations and (b) which tradeoffs individuals make in evaluating testing options. Building on more than a decade of productive HIV testing research in the Kilimanjaro Region, the next phase of our NIMH funded project will test the hypothesis that DCE-derived HIV testing options significantly increases rates of testing among groups at high risk for HIV infection. This work holds promise not only for optimizing HIV testing uptake in the Kilimanjaro Region, but also for applying novel tools in the service of translational epidemiology and implementation research.
Education and Training
- Fellow in Infectious Diseases, Medicine, University of Virginia, 1993 - 1996
- Medical Resident, Medicine, Duke University, 1990 - 1993
- M.D., Duke University, 1990
- M.P.H., University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, 1989
Grants
- Interdisciplinary Research Training Program in AIDS
- Positive Outcomes for Orphans: HIV Risk and Wellbeing as Young Adults
- Fogarty Global Health Training Program
- Immunology Quality Assessment Program Year 7
- Immunology Quality Assessment Program Option 3
- Immunology Quality Assesment Program Options 1-6
- Does preference-based HIV testing increase uptake in high risk populations?