Sitara M Weerakoon, PhD, MPH

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Associate Research Scientist in Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Appointments

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Primary

Contact Info

sitara.weerakoon@yale.edu

About

Titles

Associate Research Scientist in Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Biography

Dr Weerakoon's program of research explores neighborhood- and environmental-level risk and protective factors for adolescent polysubstance use, with a focus on advanced biostatistical and GIS methods.

Appointments

Social and Behavioral Sciences
Associate Research Scientist
Primary
Social and Behavioral Sciences

Education & Training

PhD: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Epidemiology & Biostatistics (2022)

MPH: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Epidemiology (2019)

BA: Austin College, Public Health (2017)

The Substances and Sexual Health (SASH) Lab

Research

Research at a Glance

Publications Timeline

A big-picture view of Sitara M Weerakoon's research output by year.

20Publications

Publications

2023

Neighborhood Characteristics and the Burden of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury: An Ecological Comparison Study.
Lee H, Weerakoon SM, Harrell MB, Messiah SE, Rao DR. Neighborhood Characteristics and the Burden of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury: An Ecological Comparison Study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol 2023, 36: 16-22. PMID: 36930825, DOI: 10.1089/ped.2022.0133.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Racial and ethnic disparities in chronic disease risk in adolescence after prenatal polydrug exposure: Examination of the Hispanic paradox.
Weerakoon SM, Chen B, Harrell MB, Vidot DC, Messiah SE. Racial and ethnic disparities in chronic disease risk in adolescence after prenatal polydrug exposure: Examination of the Hispanic paradox. J Ethn Subst Abuse 2023, 1-18. PMID: 36840527, DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2023.2181257.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Race, Ethnicity, and Language of Patients Screened for Violence against Persons at a Safety-Net Hospital
Beauchamp, A. M., Weerakoon, S. M., Nagaraj, M. B., Scroggins, H., Pahl, B., Pitt, A., ... & Jetelina, K. K. (2023). Race, Ethnicity, and Language of Patients Screened for Violence against Persons at a Safety-Net Hospital. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 32(6), 837-851.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research

2022

Clinical manifestations of EVALI in adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abdallah B, Lee H, Weerakoon SM, Messiah SE, Harrell MB, Rao DR. Clinical manifestations of EVALI in adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatr Pulmonol 2022 PMID: 36530031, DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26283.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Comparison of Long-Term Complications of COVID-19 Illness among a Diverse Sample of Children by MIS-C Status.
Messiah SE, Xie L, Mathew MS, Shaikh S, Veeraswamy A, Rabi A, Francis J, Lozano A, Ronquillo C, Sanchez V, He W, Weerakoon SM, Srikanth N, Borel M, Kapera O, Kahn J. Comparison of Long-Term Complications of COVID-19 Illness among a Diverse Sample of Children by MIS-C Status. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022, 19 PMID: 36293968, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013382.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Francis JKR, Weerakoon SM, Lucas SL, Mathew MS, Durante JC, Kelly N, Tiro JA. Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open 2022, 5: e2234000. PMID: 36121657, PMCID: PMC9486449, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.34000.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Relationship Between Dating Violence and Contraceptive Use Among Texas Adolescents.
Srikanth N, Weerakoon SM, Mathew MS, Xie L, Messiah SE. Relationship Between Dating Violence and Contraceptive Use Among Texas Adolescents. Journal Of Interpersonal Violence 2022, 8862605221119519. PMID: 36000420, DOI: 10.1177/08862605221119519.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Possible substance use disorders among first responders during the COVID-19 era: a quasi-experimental study of personal and residential vulnerability.
Beauchamp AM, Weerakoon SM, Ponder WN, Jetelina KK. Possible substance use disorders among first responders during the COVID-19 era: a quasi-experimental study of personal and residential vulnerability. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2022, 1-10. PMID: 35867134, DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2022.2088376.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Trustworthiness, health literacy, and self-efficacy: factors in communicating with COVID-19 vaccine hesitant audiences.
Weerakoon S, Henson-Garcia M, Valerio-Shewmaker M, Messiah S, Knell G. Trustworthiness, health literacy, and self-efficacy: factors in communicating with COVID-19 vaccine hesitant audiences. JMIR Formative Research 2022 PMID: 35878123, DOI: 10.2196/38076.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Implementation of a telehealth-enhanced home visiting programme for families of young children.
Jetelina KK, Oke O, Rodriguez P, Weerakoon SM, Barlow SE. Implementation of a telehealth-enhanced home visiting programme for families of young children. Journal Of Telemedicine And Telecare 2022, 28: 266-279. PMID: 32772762, DOI: 10.1177/1357633X20938282.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research

See All Publications

Links & Media

News

November 15, 2022
Public Health Students Learn Firsthand That Jackson, Mississippi’s Problems Go Far Beyond Water
Read more

Get In Touch

Contacts

sitara.weerakoon@yale.edu

Appointments

Contact Info

Titles

Biography

Appointments

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Research at a Glance

Publications Timeline

Publications

2023

2022

News

Public Health Students Learn Firsthand That Jackson, Mississippi’s Problems Go Far Beyond Water

Contacts