Sandra McCoy

Sandra McCoy is a Professor in Residence in the Department of Epidemiology at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Her research focuses on designing scalable interventions to address global health challenges, particularly in sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, and implementation science. She leads the Mwotaji Clinical Research Center in Tanzania, funded by a $6M NIH grant, focusing on HIV prevention strategies for adolescents. Dr. McCoy’s work emphasizes the use of technology, behavioral science, and human-centered design to improve health outcomes in resource-limited settings.

Education: PhD in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan, and BA in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley. She teaches PH250A: Introduction to Epidemiologic Methods and co-leads the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Concentration in the UC Berkeley Online MPH program. She also mentors through the Global Health Equity Scholars program and a NIH D43 Training Grant in Cameroon.

Her research spans HIV/AIDS prevention, digital health interventions (e.g., AI chatbots for HIV prevention), and reducing stigma around contraception. Notable projects include a cluster-randomized trial in Rwanda demonstrating increased contraceptive use among teens via digital platforms and studies on financial incentives for HIV care retention in Tanzania. Dr. McCoy’s work has been featured in the CDC’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project and the Behavioral Evidence Hub (B-Hub).

Advising/Grants: Co-PI on NIH grants, including the Tanzania-based HIV prevention initiative, and mentorship roles in global health training programs. Her research has informed policy responses to outbreaks (e.g., prison-based pandemic preparedness) and addressed healthcare disparities among marginalized populations.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with institutions in Cameroon, Tanzania, and sub-Saharan Africa through partnerships like the Mzumbe University implementation science program. Her team develops girl-friendly drug vendor networks in Tanzania to increase access to HIV self-testing and contraception.