Jeffrey Wickersham, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (AIDS)Cards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Contact Info
About
Titles
Assistant Professor of Medicine (AIDS)
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global HealthBiography
Jeffrey Wickersham is Assistant Professor of Medicine in the section of infectious diseases. His research is focused on improving HIV treatment and prevention outcomes among sexual and gender minorities, including transgender women, gay men, and bisexual men. Dr. Wickersham's research has focused on development of biomedical and behavioral interventions, including peer/patient navigation, implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, development of artificial intelligence-based "chatbot" technology to improve uptake of HIV testing, and adaptation of mHealth applications for transgender women to scale-up HIV testing and linkage to PrEP services. Most of this research is being conducted in Southeast Asia, primarily at sites in Malaysia and Thailand.
Active Research
- Integrated online-to-offline (O2O) model of care for HIV prevention and treatment among men who have sex with men
- Grant No: R34 MH128114-01A1
- Online HIV self-testing (HIVST) with virtual e-counseling provides an innovative approach to improving and retaining individuals in regular HIV testing. This study combines online HIVST with a novel online-to-offline intervention to improve post-testing linkage to prevention care (HIV-) and treatment (HIV+) among MSM
- Strengthening the HIV care continuum for transgender women living with HIV in Malaysia
- Grant No: R21 MH128114-01A1
- This study aims to improve HIV treatment outcomes among transgender women in Malaysia by adapting an evidence-based peer navigation program. The award leverages dyadic data analysis to explore the unique peer-patient relationship and its impact on HIV treatment outcomes.
- Gamification to enhance engagement in HIV prevention and co-morbid conditions in YMSM
- Grant No: R21 AI167773-01A1
- This award leverages gamification through an evidence-based smartphone application to engage young men who have sex with men in HIV testing and HIV prevention interventions.
- Developing an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot to Promote HIV Testing
- Grant No: R21AI152927
- This NIAID-funded R21 focuses on the development and evaluation of an artificial intelligence-based "chatbot" application to improve uptake of HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM), including gay and bisexual men, in Malaysia. The project will leverage machine learning technology to create an adaptive and resourceful tool that links and retains vulnerable, high-risk MSM in routine HIV testing and prevention services.
- Improving HIV testing and PrEP for transgender women through mHealth
- Grant No: R21AI157857
- This multiple PI award (Yale: Jeffrey Wickersham; UConn: Roman Shrestha) aims to adapt and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a mHealth smartphone application to improve HIV testing uptake and retention, as well as facilitate linkage to PrEP, for transgender women in Malaysia. The selected application will include a clinician's portal that can empower smaller, community-based health care providers to engage with transgender patients and facilitate continuity of care.
Appointments
Infectious Diseases
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS
- Clinical & Community Research (YCCR)
- Dean's Advisory Council for LGBTQI Affairs
- Directories
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
- Research Interest
- Yale Institute for Global Health
- Yale Medicine Outlist
- Yale-UPR Integrated HIV Basic and Clinical Sciences Initiative
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Associate
- Yale School of Medicine (2012)
- PhD
- University of Connecticut (2010)
- MA
- University of Maine (2005)
- BA
- Southwestern University (2000)
Research
Overview
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
ORCID
0000-0001-7701-9162- View Lab Website
Yale Clinical & Community Research
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Frederick Lewis Altice, MD, MA
Roman Shrestha, PhD, MPH
Sandra Ann Springer, MD
Sheela Shenoi, MD, MPH, FIDSA
Lydia Aoun-Barakat, MD
Lyu Azbel, PhD
HIV Infections
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Transgender Persons
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sex Work
Health Services for Transgender Persons
Publications
High rates of deferring antiretroviral treatment for patients with HIV and substance use disorders: Results from a national sample of HIV physicians in Ukraine
Ottesen T, Wickersham J, Lawrence J, Antoniak S, Zezuilin O, Polonsky M, Antonyak S, Rozanova J, Dvoriak S, Pykalo I, Filippovych M, Altice F. High rates of deferring antiretroviral treatment for patients with HIV and substance use disorders: Results from a national sample of HIV physicians in Ukraine. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0305086. PMID: 39028735, PMCID: PMC11259278, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAntiretroviral therapy prescriptionAntiretroviral therapyCD4 countSubstance use disordersIncreased levels of stigmaNational sampleLevel of stigmaIndependent of risk groupSuboptimal antiretroviral therapyInitiate antiretroviral therapyPopulation of peopleHIV expertsHIV incidenceHIV physiciansHIV treatmentKey populationsTransgender womenAntiretroviral treatmentFeeling thermometerDrinking alcoholSex workersPhysiciansSex partnersPWHRisk groupsFACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE AMPHETAMINE-TYPE STIMULANT USE AMONG MALAYSIAN TRANSGENDER WOMEN
JadKarim L, Shrestha R, Galka J, Azwa I, Razali N, Restar A, Gautam K, Wickersham J. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE AMPHETAMINE-TYPE STIMULANT USE AMONG MALAYSIAN TRANSGENDER WOMEN. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110037. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110037.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchExploring Attitudes Toward Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention Prior to Implementation Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia: Results from a Qualitative Study
Foley S, Keene D, Shrestha R, Brown S, Gautam K, Sutherland R, Maviglia F, Saifi R, Wickersham J. Exploring Attitudes Toward Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention Prior to Implementation Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia: Results from a Qualitative Study. Patient Preference And Adherence 2024, 18: 797-807. PMID: 38595805, PMCID: PMC11003429, DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s413423.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsFemale sex workersPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV preventionFSWs’ willingnessMethod of HIV preventionSex workersAcceptability of PrEPHIV prevention practicesPrevention of HIV transmissionGrounded theory approachSemi-structured interviewsCondom promotionPrEP usePrEP rolloutPrevention practicesTranslated interviewsEmpowerment componentsQualitative studyHarm reductionHIV transmissionOral PrEPPerceived challengesPrEPCondom useQualitative explorationPreferences for mHealth Intervention to Address Mental Health Challenges Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Nepal: Qualitative Study
Gautam K, Aguilar C, Paudel K, Dhakal M, Wickersham J, Acharya B, Sapkota S, Deuba K, Shrestha R. Preferences for mHealth Intervention to Address Mental Health Challenges Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Nepal: Qualitative Study. JMIR Human Factors 2024, 11: e56002. PMID: 38551632, PMCID: PMC11015371, DOI: 10.2196/56002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricDigital health interventions for suicide prevention among LGBTQ: A narrative review
Paudel K, Gautam K, Bhandari P, Shah S, Wickersham J, Acharya B, Sapkota S, Adhikari S, Baral P, Shrestha A, Shrestha R. Digital health interventions for suicide prevention among LGBTQ: A narrative review. Health Prospect 2024, 23: 1-10. PMID: 38645301, PMCID: PMC11027749, DOI: 10.3126/hprospect.v23i1.62795.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDigital health interventionsMcGill Mixed Methods Appraisal ToolRandomized controlled trialsDigital interventionsHealth interventionsSuicide preventionHealth servicesQualitative studyMixed Methods Appraisal ToolIncrease help-seeking behaviorImpact of digital interventionsConventional health servicesMethods Appraisal ToolHelp-seeking intentionsObtaining such servicesPre-posttest designHelp-seeking behaviorSuicidal thoughtsMiddle-income countriesDigital-based interventionsProportion of participantsPowered randomized controlled trialsNon-overlapping studiesLGBTQ communityPerceived stigmaHigh Interest in the Use of mHealth Platform for HIV Prevention among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Nepal
Gautam K, Paudel K, Ahmed A, Dhakal M, Wickersham J, Poudel K, Pagoto S, Acharya B, Deuba K, Valente P, Shrestha R. High Interest in the Use of mHealth Platform for HIV Prevention among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Nepal. Journal Of Community Health 2024, 1-13. PMID: 38281283, DOI: 10.1007/s10900-024-01324-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsHIV prevention servicesHIV preventionPreventive servicesAccess HIV prevention servicesModerate to severe depressive symptomsRespondent-driven sampling surveyRisk of HIV acquisitionHIV prevention effortsSevere depressive symptomsHealth care workersMultivariate linear regression analysisMHealth interventionsHIV risk-related behaviorsMHealth strategiesMobile healthMHealth platformParticipant characteristicsMSM populationUtilization of communication technologiesMHealthRisk-related behaviorsDepressive symptomsCare workersMedian scoreMonthly incomeTesting the Feasibility and Acceptability of Using an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot to Promote HIV Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Malaysia: Mixed Methods Study.
Cheah M, Gan Y, Altice F, Wickersham J, Shrestha R, Salleh N, Ng K, Azwa I, Balakrishnan V, Kamarulzaman A, Ni Z. Testing the Feasibility and Acceptability of Using an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot to Promote HIV Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Malaysia: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Human Factors 2024, 11: e52055. PMID: 38277206, PMCID: PMC10858413, DOI: 10.2196/52055.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsUptake of HIV testingHIV testingPre-exposure prophylaxisUnified Theory of AcceptanceFrequency of HIV testingTheory of AcceptanceAI chatbotsPromote HIV testingMental health supportHIV risk assessmentHIV prevention effortsHIV-related informationMixed methods studyPresence of stigmaUse of TechnologyConsequences of HIVEffort expectancySexually transmitted infectionsWeb-based surveyEngaging MSMArtificial intelligenceTranscribed verbatimPrEP uptakeHealth supportMental healthLGBTQ Stigma
Earnshaw V, Logie C, Wickersham J, Kamarulzaman A. LGBTQ Stigma. 2024, 15-44. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36204-0_2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsLGBTQ stigmaHealth equityHealth inequalitiesLGBTQ individualsReduce stigmaEvidence-based intervention strategiesIntervention strategiesPublic health researchPromote policy changeSocial norms campaignsLGBTQ populationsGlobal SouthGlobal NorthEmployment opportunitiesLGBTQHealth researchSocial exclusionPolicy changesPoor healthcareStigmaEnhance educationBolstering resiliencePerpetrator stigmaPolicy makersDocument waysMediating role of food insecurity in the relationship between perceived MSM related stigma and depressive symptoms among men who have sex with men in Nepal
Paudel K, Bhandari P, Gautam K, Wickersham J, Ha T, Banik S, Shrestha R. Mediating role of food insecurity in the relationship between perceived MSM related stigma and depressive symptoms among men who have sex with men in Nepal. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0296097. PMID: 38166131, PMCID: PMC10760890, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296097.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDepressive symptomsHigher ageCross-sectional studyHealth-related confoundersResource-limited countriesCondom-less sexMental health concernsRespondent-driven samplingPrEP uptakeFood insecurityDearth of evidenceUnadjusted modelsAdjusted modelSymptomsHealth concernMSMOutcome variablesConfidence intervalsMenMonthly incomeSexAssociationStigmaAgePrevious studiesLGBTQ Stigma
Earnshaw V, Logie C, Wickersham JA, Kamarulzaman A. LGBTQ Stigma. In: Hwahng, S.J., Kaufman, M.R. (eds) Global LGBTQ Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36204-0_2Chapters
Links & Media
News
- August 17, 2022Source: Medscape
Chemsex, HIV Risk Require Tailored Harm Reduction Strategies
- November 09, 2021
Discoveries & Impact, November 2021
- April 13, 2017
Yale Welcomes Malaysian HIV Scientist to Campus
- January 20, 2014
HIV-infected women experience worse treatment outcomes after release from jail
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