Laura

K.

Beres

,

PhD

I am a social and behavioral scientist focused on the development and evaluation of interventions to effectively prevent and treat HIV in low resource settings, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. I utilize my training in quantitative and qualitative methods to conduct mixed-methods implementation research with the goal of identifying and applying optimized practices in real-world settings.

I am particularly interested in 1) Applying and advancing formative research methods to appropriately tailor implementation strategies and outcomes measurement; 2) Understanding behavior change processes across a social ecological framework including health systems, communities, families and individuals and effectively promoting positive health outcomes; 3) Characterizing and identifying the effect of experiences of violence on HIV and health outcomes, particularly among women, 4) Promoting the translation of evidence to action through systematic reviews, stakeholder engagement, and, most importantly, working with communities and policy makers to ensure that research is relevant, appropriate, and rigorous.

I see public health practice and policy as central to improved health outcomes. I served as an HIV & AIDS Advisor to the Lesotho National Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship (2007-2009), and a Task Force member for Lesotho National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2006-2011. I supported a process for multiple partners in 2013-2014 to draft the ‘Zambian Prisons Health Systems Strengthening Framework’, Zambian Prison Health Action Plan, to establish prison health committees, and to offer health capacity building for prison leadership. I co-authored the 2017 World Health Organization Consolidated guideline on sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV.