Meagan Zarwell

Dr. Meagan Zarwell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's College of Health and Human Services. She leads innovative research focused on reducing health disparities among sexual and gender minority groups through community-engaged and implementation science approaches to HIV prevention.

Her research interests span HIV prevention, PrEP access, transgender health, and implementation science, with particular emphasis on addressing health disparities in the Southern United States. Dr. Zarwell employs community-engaged methodologies to develop culturally appropriate interventions that reduce barriers to HIV services for marginalized populations.

Dr. Zarwell's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on HIV prevention strategies, with particular attention to PrEP uptake among transgender populations, social network approaches to HIV service delivery, and implementation science frameworks for reducing health disparities. Her work often examines how social determinants and structural barriers impact health outcomes for sexual and gender minority communities.

• Nexus Innovation Award (APHI), UNC Charlotte (2023)
• CHHS Faculty Excellence Award in Community Engagement, UNC Charlotte (2023)
• Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, Elected Member (2022)
• UNC Charlotte Catalyst Fellow (2020)
• MU Chapter UNC Charlotte Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars (2019)
• NIH Loan Repayment, National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities (2017-2019)

Dr. Zarwell actively mentors students across multiple degree programs and leads significant research initiatives including Community Engaged Approaches to HIV Self-Testing (CATEST) and Respond Carolinas. Her work bridges academic research with community needs through partnerships with local organizations serving sexual and gender minority populations in Charlotte.

She directs research through the UNC Charlotte Academy for Population Health Innovation and collaborates extensively with community organizations to ensure her research addresses real-world health disparities and produces actionable interventions that improve health outcomes for marginalized communities.