Departmental Affiliations
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.
Contact Info
Research Interests
Adolescent and young adult health, HIV/AIDS, chronic illness self-management; implementation science, human centered design, HIV prevention; behavioral interventions; mindfulness; family-based interventions; youth engagement; HIV care and treatment; people living with HIV (PLHIV); HIV testing: systematic review; meta-analysis; Baltimore; Zambia; Uganda; and Tanzania.
Experiences & Accomplishments
Adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYALHIV) remain a critical group to engage in HIV prevention and care strategies. HIV programs in low and middle-income countries, however, tend to focus on AYALHIV in a clinic setting without addressing the social and familial context in which they live. My research focuses on how families and communities influence adolescent health decisions including accessing HIV testing, seeking care and treatment and adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Based on research findings and work with a youth task force in Zambia, our team is developing interventions to address HIV stigma, mental health and HIV-treatment outcomes among AYALHIV. My research interests also include understanding the environmental and structural determinants of health, the development and scaling up of successful interventions, human rights, and ethical issues. My current research portfolio includes: a) a study to refine and pilot test the integration of Project YES! Youth Engaging for Success (CDC-designated evidence based intervention) with a WHO- endorsed mental health approach, Self-Help Plus (SH+) to create Project YES+, using human centered design and implementation science methods; and b) a cluster randomized controlled trial to test the impact of Family Connections, a youth and caregiver dyad facility-based group intervention, on the health and well-being of AYALHIV. These interventions draw upon the power of lived experience and the skills and talents of a youth task force in Ndola, Zambia.
Honors & Awards
Honors
- Magna Cum Laude, Clark University, 1992
- Phi Beta Kappa, Clark University, 1992
Awards
- Nominated for the Supervisor of the Year Award, JHU Student Employment Program, 2021
- The JHSPH Study Assembly AMTRA (Advising, Mentoring, & Teaching Recognition) Award, 2017
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program (LRP) funded by National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) 2014-2016. Renewals awarded for 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.
- National Institute of Mental Health, National Research Service Award Recipient 2003-2005.
- Fulbright Scholar 2003-2004.
- Fogarty International Research Grant Recipient 2003-2004.
- Johns Hopkins Department of International Health Scholarship Recipient 2000
Select Publications
These publications reflect my work in HIV care and treatment internationally with a focus on adolescents and caregivers. These publications also represent different methods I utilize including both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Denison JA, Willis K, DeLong SM, Sievwright KM*, Agwu Al, Arrington-Sanders R, Kaufman MR, Prabhu S, Williams AM, Fields EL, Alexander KA, Lee L, Yang C, JHU CFAR AYA SWG. Advancing adolescent and young adult HIV prevention and care and treatment through use of multi-level theories and frameworks: a scoping review and adapted HIV ecological framework. AIDS and Behavior. 2024 Feb 14:1-4. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-023-04255-1
Beres LK*, Mwamba C, Bolton‐Moore C, Kennedy CE, Simbeza S, Topp SM, Sikombe K, Mukamba N, Mody A, Schwartz SR, Geng E, Holmes CB, Sikazwe I, Denison JA. Trajectories of re‐engagement: factors and mechanisms enabling patient return to HIV care in Zambia. Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2023 Feb;26(2):e26067.DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26067
Merrill KG*, Frimpong C, Burke VM*, Abrams EA*, Miti S, Mwansa JK, Denison JA. “Project YES! has given me a task to reach undetectable”: Qualitative findings from a peer mentoring program for youth living with HIV in Zambia. PlosOne. 2023 Oct 13;18(10):e0292719. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292719
Denison JA, Packer C, Nyambe N, Hershow RB, Caldas S, Miti S, Sudarsan S, Chen M, Bernholc A, Mwansa JK, McCarraher DR. Family Connections randomized controlled trial: assessing the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention with adolescents living with HIV and their caregivers in Ndola, Zambia. AIDS Care. 2021 Mar 23:1-0. DOI:10.1080/09540121.2021.1902935
Denison JA, Burke VM*, Miti S, Nonyane BA, Frimpong C, Merrill KG*, Abrams EA*, Mwansa, JK. Project YES! Youth Engaging for Success: A randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a clinic-based peer mentoring program on viral suppression, adherence and internalized stigma among HIV-positive youth (15-24 years) in Ndola, Zambia. PloS one. 2020 15(4), e0230703. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230703
Merrill KG*, Campbell JC, Decker MR, McGready J, Burke VM*, Mwansa JK, Miti S, Frimpong C, Kennedy CE, Denison JA. Past-year violence victimization is associated with viral load failure among HIV-positive adolescents and young adults. AIDS and Behavior. 2020 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-020-02958-3
Denison JA, Pettifor A, Mofenson LM, Kasedde S, Marcus R, Konayuma KJ, Koboto K, Ngcobo ML, Ndleleni N, Pulerwitz J, Kerrigan D. Youth engagement in developing an implementation science research agenda on adolescent HIV testing and care linkages in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS. 2017 Jul 1;31 Suppl 3: S195-S201. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001509. PubMed PMID: 28665877.
Denison JA, Banda H, Dennis AC, Packer C, Nyambe N, Stalter RM, Mwansa JK, Katayamoyo P, McCarraher DR. "The sky is the limit": adhering to antiretroviral therapy and HIV self-management from the perspectives of adolescents living with HIV and their adult caregivers. J Int AIDS Soc. 2015 Jan 13; 18:19358. doi:10.7448/IAS.18.1.19358. PubMed PMID: 25591915.
Denison JA, Koole O, Tsui S, Menten J, Torpey K, van Praag E, Mukadi YD, Colebunders R, Auld AF, Agolory S, Kaplan JE, Mulenga M, Kwesigabo GP, Wabwire-Mangen F, Bangsberg DR. Incomplete adherence among treatment-experienced adults on antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. AIDS. 2015 Jan 28;29(3):361-71. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000000543. PubMed PMID: 25686684; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4728173.
Sweat MD, Denison JA. Reducing HIV incidence in developing countries with structural and environmental interventions. AIDS. 1995;9 Suppl A: S251-7. Review. PubMed PMID: 8819593.