Tonychris Nnaka is Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Research at Texas Christian University's College of Nursing. Research develops digital therapeutics for cardiovascular management in minority populations through precision health approaches. Nnaka's NIH-funded work examines culturally adapted interventions for hypertension and heart failure using mobile health technologies. Recent publications address geriatric correctional healthcare equity (2025) and digital craving-reduction therapies (2024). Methodological expertise includes community-based participatory research and microrandomized trial designs. Scholarly evolution shows progression from behavioral health (2017) toward precision digital interventions and institutional equity frameworks.
Katie Newby is an Associate Professor in Health Behaviour Change at the University of Hertfordshire’s Research School of Life and Medical Sciences, Department of Psychology, Sport and Geography. She leads the Public Health and Applied Behaviour Change Laboratory and holds affiliations with the Centre for Research in Psychology and Sports. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating health behavior change interventions, particularly digital interventions and risk appraisal strategies targeting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), vaccination uptake, and sexual behavior. Dr. Newby has secured significant funding from bodies such as the Medical Research Council (MRC), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and Cancer Research UK. She has led projects including the Halo trial (2024–2028), a randomized controlled trial to reduce STIs among high-risk groups, and the ELBOW project evaluating health check systems with online booking. Her work also involves adapting health interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as remote exercise referral programs. Her research interests emphasize digital health innovation, behavioral intervention design, and public health strategy. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles in journals like PLOS Digital Health and BMC Public Health , focusing on topics ranging from condom use promotion to vaccine risk communication. Collaborations span global health initiatives, such as HIV self-testing trials in Uganda, and interdisciplinary projects on virtual reality exergames for youth. Key Projects: Halo Trial: Reducing STIs via behavioral interventions ELBOW: Evaluating health check systems CoPACT: Community-based pandemic response evaluation Funding Sources: MRC, NIHR, Cancer Research UK Labs/Teams: Public Health and Applied Behaviour Change Laboratory
Amanda E. Tanner is an Associate Professor in Public Health Education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and an affiliate faculty in Social Sciences and Health Policy at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Her research focuses on HIV prevention and care among marginalized populations, including adolescents, young adults, Latinx communities, and gender/sexual minorities. MPH, Indiana University (2003) PhD in Health Behavior, Indiana University (2007) Postdoctoral Fellowships: Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (2009), Indiana University School of Medicine (2008) Dr. Tanner's work addresses health disparities through community engagement, infectious disease behavioral science, and sexual/reproductive health promotion. Methodologically, she employs quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method designs across her studies in HIV/AIDS , LGBTQ health , and health inequalities . Recent projects include technology-based interventions to improve HIV care transitions and alcohol-related sexual risk behavior prevention. Her research is supported by multiple NIH grants (R01NR019512, R34MH116805, R01 AA022931) and collaborations with CDC, HRSA, and NICHD. She has published extensively in journals like American Journal of Public Health and The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health . W.K. Kellogg Community Health Scholar Fellowship (2009) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Indiana University School of Medicine (2008) Dr. Tanner's leadership spans principal investigator roles on NIH-funded projects targeting Appalachian populations and co-investigator roles in CDC- and HRSA-supported initiatives. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges public health theory with community-driven solutions.
Aaron Siegler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences at Emory University, with a secondary appointment in Epidemiology. His work focuses on infectious disease prevention, integrating biomedical advances, epidemiological research, and behavioral science to address healthcare access disparities. He co-leads the Emory CFAR Prevention and Implementation Sciences Core and has led projects like COVIDVu (tracking SARS-CoV-2 prevalence) and ePrEP (telemedicine PrEP trials). His research spans geospatial healthcare analysis, HIV prevention strategies, and scaling PrEP access in rural areas. Education: PhD (Emory University), MHS (Johns Hopkins University), BA (Emory University). Research interests include leveraging technology for health interventions (e.g., geosocial apps for HIV prevention in China), telemedicine, and statistical modeling to optimize prevention strategies. His NIH-funded projects emphasize PrEP adherence, stigma reduction, and implementation science to address disparities. Notable grants: NIH R01 grants for PrEP trials (e.g., Making it Last, ePrEP), and the PrEP Locator database project. Media coverage includes New York Times and Smithsonian Magazine for innovations in condom design and HIV care access in the Deep South.
Tara MacDonald is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen's University. She holds a B.A. (Hons.) from the University of Western Ontario (1991) and a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo (1996). Her research focuses on cognitive neglect in decision-making, particularly how alcohol intoxication influences risky behaviors like drunk driving and unsafe sex. She also investigates attitudinal ambivalence and the impact of romantic relationships on health outcomes. Key research interests include understanding why individuals engage in behaviors conflicting with their stated attitudes, such as unprotected sex despite knowing risks. Her work spans experimental psychology, health psychology, and social psychology, with a focus on interventions to reduce health-risk behaviors. Publications highlight her contributions to understanding alcohol’s role in impaired judgment, relationship dynamics, and the application of behavioral frameworks in healthcare settings. Her research often integrates theoretical models like attachment theory and ambivalence to explain complex social behaviors. While no awards are explicitly listed, her extensive publication record and systematic reviews demonstrate significant scholarly contributions. She maintains an active lab and collaborates on projects addressing public health challenges, such as improving hand hygiene compliance in long-term care facilities.
Fan Ye is a Benjamin Peirce Fellow at Harvard University, affiliated with the Department of Mathematics. Their contact information includes fanye@math.harvard.edu and office location SC 505h. Research focuses on public health, maternal and child health, and cardiometabolic disorders. Active in clinical trials, meta-analysis, and global health policy implementation. Research interests span nutrition science, infectious disease impact on pregnancy, and biostatistical analysis of health trends. Recent work addresses birth outcomes in Ethiopia and Bangladesh, while earlier studies explore carnosine's metabolic effects and diet-related non-communicable diseases. Key articles trends include pragmatic clinical trials in rural health systems, biochemical analysis of dietary interventions, and large-scale epidemiological studies. Their work combines field research with advanced statistical modeling for global health impact. Scientific Awards: Benjamin Peirce Fellowship
John Casterline holds the Robert T. Lazarus Professorship in Population Studies at Ohio State University. His research investigates fertility decline patterns in low/middle-income countries, focusing on unmet family planning needs, unwanted fertility, and reproductive change in sub-Saharan Africa. Research examines social diffusion models of fertility change, contraceptive decision-making, and reproductive preferences across Africa and Asia. Recent publications analyze contraceptive discontinuation in Kenya, fertility desire persistence in Africa, and measurement challenges in pregnancy intention studies. Conducted fieldwork across Africa and Asia including Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. Current projects analyze fertility transitions in Africa using longitudinal data and qualitative approaches.
Shanti Parikh is a Professor of Sociocultural Anthropology and Chair of African and African-American Studies at Washington University. She holds a PhD from Yale University and has dual appointments in Anthropology and African/African-American Studies, with courtesy appointments in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Urban Studies. Her research focuses on intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and capitalism, particularly in Uganda, examining how global health interventions shape local realities. Current projects include an ethnography on black masculinity along the TransAfrica Highway and studies of commercial sex in HIV hotspots. Her work critiques how HIV/AIDS policies inadvertently increase women’s vulnerability through marital sex norms. Notable publications include Regulating Romance (2015) and The Secret: Love Marriage and HIV (2009). She has held leadership roles in Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program and T.H. Eliot Residential College. Courses are cross-listed in International Studies and American Cultural Studies. Research methodologies combine ethnography with active engagement in public health debates, emphasizing anthropology’s role in critiquing development practices. Current research explores infidelity’s role in HIV transmission and the social history of post-colonial Ugandan sexuality.
Friedrich Kohle is a Senior Lecturer at Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUAS), affiliated with the Academy for AI, Games & Media. He has been tenured since 2012 and specializes in documentary filmmaking and impact producing. His research spans film production, post-production management, and social media integration in media. He currently chairs BUAS's participation council and serves as an external examiner at Nord University, Norway. Education: MA in Film and TV Production (Sheffield Hallam University), PhD in Media Studies (University of Edinburgh, 2018). Industry experience includes roles as location manager on Channel 4's Prometheus , head of post-production at Bigfoot Entertainment (Philippines), and post-supervisor at Studio Babelsberg (Berlin) for Wim Wenders' Soul of a Man . Notable works include documentaries A Safe Haven (refugee children), God, Church, Pills & Condoms (Philippine teen pregnancies), and The Old Normal Is Killing Us (2021 GBIENNALE GECO21 premiere). He served as Visiting Associate Professor at American University in Bulgaria (2020), teaching video journalism and poetic documentary production. Awards: 2023 Best Experimental Short Film, 2023 Brexit Field Trip Award, 2011 God, Church, Pills & Condoms Documentary Award Advising/Grants: No explicit student advisees listed, but oversees production projects at BUAS. Activities include panel chairing, international lectures on Philippine filmmaking, and teaching workshops at Rhein Main University and AUBG.
Mohammad Kadir is a Lecturer in Public Health at Torrens University Australia, specializing in health promotion, behavior change interventions, and hygiene practices. He holds a PhD in Health Promotion from Griffith University (2016), an MSc in Psychology from the University of Dhaka (2002), and a BSc (Honours) in Psychology from the same institution (2000). His research focuses on designing evidence-based interventions for hygiene behavior, physical activity promotion, and sexual health, funded by Procter & Gamble and DFAT Australia. Teaches public health and health promotion courses Expertise in behavior change theories and program evaluation Current projects include mental healthcare policy in Bangladesh and handwashing campaigns in Solomon Islands Research spans Bangladesh, South Africa, and Pacific Island nations, addressing topics like child feces disposal, adolescent physical activity, and condom usage policies. He has published 15 peer-reviewed articles since 2010, with recent work focusing on mental healthcare malpractice and social marketing strategies in Asia. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health (SDG3) and education (SDG4). Collaborations include Procter & Gamble, UNICEF Malawi, and institutions in Bangladesh, Australia, and the Solomon Islands.
Sarah Christie is an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of General Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, Yale University. Her research focuses on global public health, particularly in HIV/AIDS, adolescent health, and vaccine communication strategies. She holds a PhD from the University of Western Cape (2022), an MPH from New York University, and a BSc in Psychology from the University of Connecticut. Christie’s work spans global health initiatives in Africa and the U.S., including projects addressing HIV service delivery, sexual and reproductive health among adolescents, and vaccine messaging in crises. She has led collaborations with organizations like Project Last Mile, developing campaigns such as 'Girl Champ' to improve health service uptake in eSwatini. Her research also examines public-private partnerships in global health and trust-building frameworks. Recent articles highlight her contributions to vaccine communication strategies for Ukrainian refugees and marginalized populations. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates public health, behavioral science, and policy to address systemic health challenges.
David Huebner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University. His research focuses on LGBTQ+ health disparities, family dynamics, and HIV prevention interventions, particularly among sexual minority populations. He has pioneered studies on parental responses to LGBTQ+ youth, minority stress, and the intersection of race, gender, and sexual orientation with health outcomes. Key research interests include adolescent sexual health, psychosocial impacts of discrimination, and equity-focused academic-community partnerships. His work addresses disparities in HIV/AIDS care, mental health, and substance use among marginalized groups such as Black sexual minority men and Latinx youth. Dr. Huebner’s interventions aim to strengthen family support systems and reduce structural barriers to healthcare access. His articles reflect a commitment to understanding how systemic discrimination and interpersonal relationships shape health behaviors. Recent studies examine the mental health implications of the pandemic for HIV-positive individuals, the role of incarceration history in health inequities, and the efficacy of parent-focused HIV prevention programs for young men who have sex with men (YMSM). No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided texts. His current research collaborations involve community organizations and public health agencies in Washington, DC, focusing on translational research to address health disparities.
Carolyn Blake is a Research Fellow in Public Health at the School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow. Her work focuses on sexual and reproductive health, participatory systems mapping, gender-based violence, and social accountability in public health. She employs mixed-methods research to address health inequalities and promote gender justice. BA in Social and Political Sciences, University of Lausanne (2004-2008) MSc in Global Health, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (2009-2010) Her research spans global contexts, including Scotland, Sub-Saharan Africa, Switzerland, and the Philippines. Current projects include Equally Safe at School (NIHR-funded) and CONUNDRUM Action (NHS-funded). Recent completed projects involve participatory systems mapping for population health and workplace mental health interventions. Published extensively on sexual harassment in schools, condom use during the pandemic, and systems-informed health interventions Collaborates with institutions like MRC Cambridge, ESRC Surrey, and De La Salle University Recipient of the 2024 Early Career Scientist Award (UK Society for Behavioural Medicine) Blake’s work emphasizes youth engagement in health policymaking and cross-cultural studies of workplace environments.
Dr. Vijayasarathi Ramanathan is a Senior Lecturer in Sexual Health (Sexology) at the Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney. His expertise spans transcultural sexual health, clinical sexual dysfunction management, and medical education. He holds postgraduate qualifications in sexual health medicine and is a Fellow of the European Society for Sexual Medicine and the Higher Education Academy. Dr. Ramanathan has over 15 years of interdisciplinary clinical practice in India and Australia, focusing on psychosexual therapy and public health initiatives. His research interests include the intersection of culture and sexuality, particularly among immigrant populations, and improving healthcare professionals' sexual health literacy. He has supervised a PhD project on vaginismus and its impact on women's sense of self. Dr. Ramanathan is affiliated with organizations such as the Society for Australian Sexologists and the Indian Medical Association. Education: MBBS (India), MM(SexHlth), GCert-HighEd, PhD (University of Sydney) Grants: Lead investigator on a 2009 project funded by Eli Lilly Australia on male sexual dysfunction management. Media: Regular contributor to SBS Radio (Tamil) and ABC Everyday on sexuality topics. His work bridges clinical practice and education, emphasizing culturally sensitive approaches to sexual health. He collaborates internationally, including guest lectures at the University of Madras on sexuality and health.
Dr. Kelly L'Engle is an Associate Professor in the Population Health Sciences Department at the University of San Francisco's School of Nursing and Health Professions. She has served as department chair and program director since 2015, teaching courses in program evaluation, health communication, and adolescent health. With 25 years of experience, her expertise spans global health interventions, mobile health (mHealth), and behavioral health program development. Education: Ph.D. in Health Behavior and Education (UNC Chapel Hill), MPH (Emory University), BA in Development Studies (Brown University) Global Experience: Senior Scientist at FHI 360 (2007–2015), WHO consultant, and mHealth advisor for projects in Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, and Nigeria Leadership Roles: Chair of the Faculty Association, Program Director for the MPH-Behavioral Health concentration, and advisor for youth climate activism training programs Her research focuses on digital health solutions for adolescent well-being, eco-anxiety mitigation, healthcare worker burnout, and culturally tailored interventions. Notable studies include mobile interventions for female sex workers in Kenya and digital coaching programs for chronic disease prevention among Latinas. Awards include the 2021 USF Innovation in Teaching Award and 2021-22 Society of Behavioral Medicine Leadership Fellowship. Her work emphasizes mHealth scalability, ethical climate communication, and reducing health disparities through technology. Grants: Ignatian Teaching and Research Fellowship (2019-2020) Key Labs/Teams: Lead researcher in Break the Cycle of Children’s Environmental Health Disparities Training Program and member of the Laudato Si' Working Group
