Marie-Claude C. Lavoie

Dr. Marie-Claude C. Lavoie serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Director of Strategic Information and Evaluation at Ciheb, overseeing monitoring and evaluation for over a dozen projects across sub-Saharan Africa to optimize data-driven policy decisions and improve health outcomes.

Her educational qualifications include:

• BSc in Occupational Therapy from Ottawa University (2006)
• MSc in Population and Public Health from Simon Fraser University (2006)
• PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Maryland Baltimore (2016)

Her research integrates epidemiological and implementation science methodologies to evaluate HIV prevention and treatment services in low-resource settings, with emphasis on health systems strengthening, patient retention strategies, and evidence-based policy translation. This work bridges global health challenges with practical solutions through rigorous program evaluation frameworks and health services research, particularly focused on optimizing data utilization in resource-constrained environments.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a concentrated focus on HIV care continuity in sub-Saharan Africa (75% of 2021 output), demonstrating methodological expertise in systematic reviews and cohort studies, while also extending to infectious disease modeling (SARS-CoV-2) and public health policy evaluation (alcohol taxation), reflecting interdisciplinary adaptability within epidemiological sciences.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Academic Achievement Award, Ottawa University (2001)
• Graduate Scholarship, Simon Fraser University (2004)
• Young Professional Fellowship, Health Canada (2005)
• Public Health Law Research Dissertation Scholarship, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2013)
• Trudy Bush Award for women's health research (2014)
• Clarion Safety Systems Doctoral Scholarship (2014)

While no formal advisees are documented in the provided materials, Dr. Lavoie's leadership in Ciheb's strategic information division involves directing multi-country research teams and managing complex monitoring systems across African health programs, building on prior experience as a PAHO/WHO regional technical advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean.

She directs Ciheb's strategic information and evaluation unit, coordinating data systems and analytical teams across multiple sub-Saharan African countries to transform health metrics into actionable program improvements and policy interventions for HIV service delivery.