Sophia Hussen

Sophia Hussen is an Associate Professor in the Hubert Department of Global Health at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. She holds a secondary faculty appointment in the School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases. Her research focuses on HIV care outcomes and mental health among young Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YB-GBMSM), with additional work on Ethiopian communities and health disparities. She is also a faculty physician at Grady Memorial Hospital and Grady Infectious Disease Program.

Education:

• AB, Harvard University
• MPH, University of Michigan
• MD, University of Pennsylvania

Research Interests: Her work addresses HIV prevention, mental health service utilization, qualitative research methods, and the intersection of social determinants like immigration status and discrimination. She emphasizes community-engaged research to improve healthcare transition for adolescents, stigma mitigation, and culturally competent care for marginalized populations.

Articles Trends: Recent work highlights interventions for transitioning adolescents to adult HIV care (e.g., iTransition), mental health disparities among YB-GBMSM, and TB vaccination acceptance in Ethiopia. Her studies often integrate structural determinants, stigma, and resilience frameworks.

Grants & Advising: She teaches GH 563 - AIDS: Global PH Implications. Her grants include CDC’s Minority HIV/AIDS Research Initiative (MARI) and NIH-funded studies on methamphetamine use and HIV stigma. She collaborates with community organizations to design mobile HIV clinics and media campaigns.

Labs/Teams: Engaged with the CDC MARI initiative and the Emory Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). Leads interdisciplinary teams addressing HIV care continuum gaps in the Southern U.S. and globally.