Cassidy W. Claassen

Cassidy W. Claassen serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and directs the CIHEB Global Health Fellowship program. Based full-time in Lusaka, Zambia, she implements community-based HIV interventions and consults at the University Teaching Hospital of Lusaka, where she instructs residents in advanced infectious disease medicine.

Her educational credentials include:

• 2002: Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Bethel College
• 2008: Master of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• 2009: Medical Doctor, University of Maryland School of Medicine
• 2009-2012: Internal Medicine Residency, Yale University School of Medicine
• 2013-2015: Infectious Diseases Fellowship, University of Maryland Medical Center

Dr. Claassen's research centers on HIV care cascade optimization in sub-Saharan Africa through community-facility integration models like the CHEC program targeting 90-90-90 goals. She specializes in health system capacity building for key populations including MSM, CSW, and IVDU across Zambia and Kenya, while advancing international medical education through rotational programs for US trainees. Her work bridges clinical infectious disease practice with implementation science in resource-limited settings.

Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on operational challenges in African healthcare systems, with recent work (2015-2016) emphasizing tuberculosis case-finding in Haiti, bidirectional global health exchanges, and novel HIV service delivery models. Earlier research examines malaria drug resistance dynamics in Malawi, HIV treatment efficacy in resource-constrained environments, and virologic resistance patterns - all demonstrating methodological rigor in tropical medicine and public health implementation.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• U.S. Public Health Service Training Grant (2007)
• Doris Duke Malaria Research Fellowship (2008)
• Benjamin H. Kean Traveling Fellowship (2008)
• Gold Humanism Honor Society (2009)
• Johnson & Johnson Global Health Scholar Award (2011)

Dr. Claassen mentors fellows and residents through international rotations while leading NIH-funded projects on key population surveillance, third-line HIV regimens, and integrated substance use/HIV treatment. Her grant portfolio targets implementation gaps in Zambia's HIV response through community epidemiology and health systems strengthening.

Based at the University Teaching Hospital of Lusaka, she co-leads the CIHEB research team conducting community HIV testing campaigns, key population outreach programs, and health workforce development initiatives focused on sustainable epidemic control in Zambia.