News

CHQ Welcomes Dr. Crystal Stafford as a Postdoctoral Fellow

Crystal Stafford, DrPH
Dr. Stafford received her Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of Texas (UT) School Of Public Health, Houston. She has experience as a public health practitioner in communities (rural and metropolitan), the nonprofit sector and working with veteran populations.  Her research interests include, community based health services for HIV and STI treatment and prevention, chronic disease management among disadvantaged and vulnerable populations and developing interventions to improve health care outcomes.

CHQ Welcomes Dr. Michelle Deming as a Postdoctoral Fellow

Michelle Deming, Ph.D.
Dr. Michelle Deming earned her Ph.D. in sociology at the University of South Carolina, and her Master’s Degree in Public Sociology at the University of North Carolina (Wilmington).  Her primary research interest lies in addressing HIV-related stigma as it intersects with other stigmatized identities.  During her time at the CHQ, she will focus on the development of interventions and measurement related to HIV stigma.

CHQ Welcomes Dr. Amir Bhochhibhoya as a Postdoctoral Fellow

Amir Bhochhibhoya, Ph.D.
Dr. Amir Bhochhibhoya completed his Ph.D. in Health and Exercise Science and M.S. in Health Promotion from the University of Oklahoma. He also received his Masters of Business Administration from the Oklahoma State University. His area of interest is in designing and evaluating theory-based health education and health promotion programs. His current research focuses on developing and implementing a mindfulness based intervention for people living with HIV/AIDS.

CHQ Welcomes Dr. Joi Anderson as a Postdoctoral Fellow

Joi Anderson, Ph.D., LMSW
Dr. Joi Anderson earned her Ph.D. in Social Work research at the University of South Carolina, and received her Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from Youngstown State University.  Her research interest is in the area of trauma-related cognitions and discontinuity of self as a response to trauma; and, how these factors influence future oriented behavior. Her current research interest is in development, implementation and evaluation of resilience based interventions to address trauma in populations living with HIV/AIDS and made vulnerable by parental HIV/AIDS.

New Funded Project: Big Data Analytics of HIV Treatment Gaps in South Carolina

Dr. Xiaoming Li (PI) and Dr. Bankole Olatosi (PI), in collaboration with Dr. Jianjun Hu, Dr. Sharon Weissman, and Dr. Jiajia Zhang, have secured an NIH project titled, “Big Data Analytics of HIV Treatment Gaps in South Carolina: Identification and Prediction” which is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The purpose of this study is to use novel machine learning techniques such as deep learning using neural networks to further explore, identify, characterize, and explain predictors of missed opportunities for HIV medical care utilization among all living HIV+ individuals in South Carolina.  Continue reading “New Funded Project: Big Data Analytics of HIV Treatment Gaps in South Carolina”