Nora West

Nora West is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine - Pulmonary Division at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Her research focuses on TB screening, diagnostics, and therapeutics, with an emphasis on mental health trajectories during TB diagnosis and treatment, and implementation science for integrating mental health services into TB care. She employs qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, addressing the intersection of mental health, HIV, and TB care cascades.

Her work explores social determinants of health affecting TB diagnostic uptake, stigma experienced by women who use drugs in Tanzania, and the mental health impacts of the HIV care continuum. She has contributed to studies in Uganda, South Africa, and other regions, investigating mechanisms linking adversity and substance use to HIV risk and stigma.

• Key research areas include:
  • Psychological distress among HIV-positive individuals
  • Adherence to TB/HIV treatment
  • Health equity and community-based interventions

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the H-Center for TB and institutions like Rakai Health Sciences Program (Uganda), focusing on pragmatic trials and implementation strategies to improve health outcomes.