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Faculty

Primary Faculty Within the Social and Behavioral Interventions Program Area

All ranks of professors, scientists, and research associates can serve as an MSPH adviser. All ranks of professors can serve as doctoral student advisers, and all ranks of professors and scientists can serve as doctoral student co-advisers.

Professors, Assistant Professors, and Associate Professors

Svea Closser
Associate Professor
International Health

Svea Closser, PhD, MPH, studies the social relations and political dynamics that shape primary health care.

Julie Denison
Associate Professor
International Health

Julie Denison, PhD '06, MHS '99, develops interventions for youth living with HIV, with a focus on the role of family and environmental and structural determinants of health.

Associate Professor
International Health

Emily E. Haroz, PhD ’15, MHS ’11, MA, researches the implementation of mental health and suicide prevention programs, particularly in partnership with Indigenous communities.

Caitlin Kennedy
Professor
International Health

Caitlin Kennedy PhD ’09, MPH ’04, is a social and behavioral scientist with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention, and resource-limited settings.

Assistant Professor

Victoria M. O’Keefe, PhD, MS, works to achieve strengths-based and culturally informed suicide prevention, mental health promotion, and wellness among Indigenous communities.

Haneefa Saleem
Assistant Professor

Haneefa Tasleem Saleem, PhD ’14, MPH, ’09, conducts research to inform and evaluate approaches aimed at improving HIV prevention and treatment and other health outcomes for people who use drugs globally.

Pamela Surkan
Professor
International Health

Pamela Surkan, PhD, ScD, MS, is a social epidemiologist working in the areas of mental health, child health, and development and testing of interventions to reduce health disparities.

Melissa Walls
Associate Professor

Melissa Walls, PhD, MA, is an Indigenous researcher who works with American Indian and First Nations communities to promote health equity through culturally centered projects.

Peter Winch
Professor
International Health

Peter J. Winch, MD, MPH ’88, develops and evaluates interventions to promote health behaviors for water, sanitation, infectious diseases, and environmental sustainability.

Research Professors, Assistant Research Professors, and Associate Research Professors

Allison Barlow
Research Professor
International Health

Allison Barlow, PhD, MPH ’97, MA, works with Native American communities to co-create strengths-based programs promoting health and education equity and well-being.

Headshot of Laura Beres
Assistant Research Professor
International Health

Laura Beres, PhD ’19, MPH, uses implementation science and participatory approaches to optimize engagement in HIV prevention, care, and treatment services globally.

Assistant, Associate, and Senior Scientists

Assistant Scientist
International Health

Kaitlyn Atkins, PhD '22, MPH, is a social epidemiologist with a focus on community-engaged, mixed-methods research that optimizes the sexual and mental health of multiple marginalized populations.

Mary Cwik
Senior Scientist
International Health

Mary Cwik, PhD, MA, is a child psychologist who studies suicide, substance misuse, and trauma interventions to reduce health disparities among Native Americans and people in East Baltimore.

Dane Hautala
Assistant Scientist
International Health

Dane Hautala, PhD, MA, studies substance use epidemiology and treatment across life spans in American Indian and First Nations communities.

Elli Leontsini
Associate Scientist
International Health

Elli Leontsini, MD, MPH ‘88 specializes in the design of feasible and sustainable behavioral and community-centered vector control and hygiene strategies internationally.

Joseph Rosen
Assistant Scientist
International Health

Greg Rosen, PhD '23, MSPH '18, uses mixed methods and implementation science principles to improve delivery of health interventions for persons living with and/or affected by HIV globally.

Katherine Rucinski
Assistant Scientist

Kate Rucinski, PhD, MPH, is an epidemiologist with a focus on sexual and reproductive health research that promotes the health and wellbeing of marginalized populations in resource-limited settings.

Anita Shankar
Associate Scientist
International Health

Anita Shankar, PhD, MS, researches and develops behavioral interventions to foster personal agency and leadership in vulnerable populations to support human flourishing.

Practice Associates

Senior Research Associates and Research Associates

Fiona Grubin
Research Associate
International Health

Fiona Grubin, MSPH ‘19, coordinates research and practice projects related to mental and behavioral health, health equity, suicide prevention, and Indigenous health.

Ping (Teresa) Yeh
Research Associate II
International Health

Ping Teresa Yeh, MSPH ’16, uses qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate strategies to improve the health of people living in resource-limited settings.

Research Associate
International Health

Shayla Manitowabi Huebner, MSc, coordinates research projects related to mental and behavioral health, Indigenous health, health equity, suicide prevention, and substance use.

Hannah Marker
Research Associate II
International Health

Hannah Marker, MPH ‘18, uses community-based, behavior change approaches and training programs to protect local environments and empower women to achieve their goals.

Research Associate II
International Health

Anna Sundbo, MGH, manages the Center for American Indian Health’s research and training programs, including culturally tailored course delivery and evaluation.

Sydney White
Research Associate
International Health

Sydney White, MPH '21, works to disseminate and implement evidence-based and culturally specific behavioral health interventions in partnership with Indigenous communities.