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
615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E5032
Baltimore
Maryland
21205
US
Research Interests
Adolescent health, HIV/AIDS, chronic illness self-management; 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; sub-Saharan Africa; Zambia; Uganda; and Tanzania.
Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
PhD
Bloomberg School of Public Health
2006
MHS
Bloomberg School of Public Health
1999
BA
Clark University
1992
Overview
Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) 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 ALHIV 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). My research interests also include understanding the environmental and structural determinants of health, gender disparity, human rights and ethical issues. My current research portfolio includes: a) a study among adolescents living with HIV and their parent/guardians in Zambia to examine adherence to ART, sexual and reproductive health behaviors, and family-level influences on health decisions; and b) a multi-country study examining retention to care and adherence to ART among adults living with HIV in Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. This research builds upon my experience conducting operational research and program evaluation with globally implemented HIV prevention, care and treatment services utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Honors & Awards
• 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. Renewal awarded for 2016-2017.
• 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
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. Renewal awarded for 2016-2017.
• 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 network analysis, regression analyses and qualitative in-depth interviews.
- 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, Mitchell MM, Maragh-Bass AC*, Knowlton AR. Caregivers' support network characteristics associated with viral suppression among HIV care recipients. AIDS Behav. 2017 Mar 17. doi: 10.1007/s10461-017-1746-1.[Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28315082.
- 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.
Projects
Pilot of Family-Based Self-Management for HIV-Infected Adolescent in Zambia
Mindfulness training with HIV-positive youth and adult family members to improve treatment adherence
Transitioning Adolescents to HIV Self-Management in Ndola, Zambia