Heather A. Pines

Dr. Heather A. Pines serves as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health, San Diego State University. Her research focuses on socio-behavioral epidemiology, examining how behavioral, social, and structural factors influence HIV/STI transmission and prevention among sexual and gender minorities, sex workers, and persons who inject drugs in the United States and Mexico-US border region.

Utilizing integrated epidemiologic, social network, and genetic sequence analysis methodologies, Dr. Pines develops evidence-based HIV prevention strategies with emphasis on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation. Her specialized expertise spans sexual health (HIV, STIs, PrEP), substance use disorders, and social/HIV transmission network dynamics.

Prior to her SDSU appointment, she held an Assistant Professor position at the University of California, San Diego's Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, where she maintains an ongoing secondary affiliation.