Sitaji Gurung

Sitaji Gurung is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at the New York City College of Technology, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. She is affiliated with the School of Professional Studies and has a robust research program focused on HIV/AIDS interventions, health disparities, and behavioral health among marginalized populations, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals and youth living with HIV.

• PhD in Public Health, Community Health and Health Policy – CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (2020)
• MPH in Health Care Policy & Administration – Brooklyn College, CUNY (2013)
• Doctor of Medicine – De La Salle University, Philippines (2005)

Dr. Gurung's research is centered on the intersection of HIV and chronic disease, particularly cardiovascular health, and the application of syndemics theory to understand how overlapping health and social conditions affect health behaviors such as smoking and substance use. She is deeply involved in implementation science, focusing on integrating evidence-based practices into clinical care for people living with HIV, and leveraging mobile health (mHealth) and electronic health records (EHR) to bridge gaps between research, policy, and practice. Her work emphasizes psychosocial interventions for marginalized populations and improving chronic disease management in diverse communities.

Her recent publications and research projects reflect a strong trend in using technology and data-driven approaches to study HIV care, adherence, and cardiovascular outcomes. She has contributed to numerous NIH-funded studies under the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network (ATN), particularly in protocols related to adherence (ATN 144 SMART), prevention (ATN 145 YMHP), and cascade monitoring (ATN 154). Her current active grant, as Co-Investigator on an NHLBI R01, examines the role of sleep in cardiovascular health among HIV-positive sexual minority men.

Dr. Gurung has presented her work at major national and international conferences including the American Public Health Association, Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, and the Society of Behavioral Medicine. She has served as a mentor to students and research staff and has taught courses in biostatistics, research methods, and public health at various CUNY colleges.

• Co-Investigator, NHLBI R01 HL156788: "Tracking Health: The Role of Sleep in Cardiovascular Health Among Men Living with HIV" (2021–2026), $3.9M
• Lead, U19 Scale It Up Recruitment and Enrollment Center (NIH/ATN)
• Protocol Chair and Co-Investigator on over 20 multisite clinical and implementation studies

Dr. Gurung has been instrumental in leading nationwide studies utilizing mHealth and virtual care technologies. She developed and oversaw multiple NIH-funded protocols focused on improving HIV care and prevention among adolescents and young adults, particularly through digital and clinic-based interventions. Her leadership in the U19 center involved managing seven ATN protocols simultaneously, demonstrating strong organizational and scientific leadership.