Posts classified under: Administrative

Edgar Enrique Sanchez, MPH

Edgar Enrique Sanchez, MPH, serves as the CHIPTS Core Coordinator. Responsibilities include supporting center-wide communications (maintaining the CHIPTS website, email listservs, and social media accounts); collecting and organizing information for evaluating center-related activities; supporting center data compilation and literature reviews; and providing administrative and coordination support for center events and meetings. Prior to working with CHIPTS, Mr. Sanchez provided administrative support to both government agencies and local non-profit organizations in Los Angeles County. He is heavily involved in community outreach, having promoted health education on a series of health challenges: Type 2 Diabetes, Leukemia & Lymphoma, and most recently COVID-19. He is a recent graduate from California State University – Los Angeles and has a Masters in Public Health.

Contact: EESanchez@mednet.ucla.edu

Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus, PhD

Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus, PhD is a professor of clinical psychology and Director of the Global Center for Children and Families at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Her research interests include HIV/AIDS prevention with adolescents, children and family wellness, assessment and modification of children’s social skills, suicide among adolescents and homeless youths. Dr. Rotheram-Borus has spent the past 30 years developing, evaluating, and disseminating evidence-based interventions for children and families. She has directed and implemented several landmark intervention studies that have demonstrated the benefits of providing behavior change programs and support to families in risky situations. Several of these programs have received national and international recognition. She mounted and evaluated multiple interventions which have been selected and reviewed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Psychological Association (APA) as efficacious programs. She founded the Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services (CHIPTS) at UCLA in 1998 and served as its Director from 1998-2016. She currently serves as an expert advisor to the CHIPTS senior leadership team.

FEATURED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Rotheram-Borus, M. J., Christodoulou, J., Asarnow, L. D., Norwood, P. P., Yalch, M., Vogel, S. L., & Tomlinson, M. (2025). The relationship of sleep problems between eight-year-old South African children and their mothers. Journal of global health, 15, 04122.

2. Arnold, E. M., Rotheram-Borus, M. J., Christodoulou, J., Yalch, M. M., Murphy, D. A., Norwood, P., Comulada, W. S., Swendeman, D., & ATN CARES Team (2025). Increasing Sustained Viral Suppression Among Youth Living with HIV: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Stepped Care Intervention. AIDS and behavior, 29(7), 2287–2298.

3. Ma, A. M., Lewis, K. A., Wani, M., Liu, C., Ghalambor, S., Yuva Raju, R., Wong, C., Swendeman, D., ATN CARES Study Team, Abdalian, S. E., Arnold, E., Bolan, R., Bryson, Y., Chaplin, A., Comulada, W. S., Cortado, R., Donahue, C., Fernandez, M. I., Flynn, R., Fournier, J., … Urauchi, S. (2025). Online Peer Support for Youth at Higher Risk of or Living with HIV: A Qualitative Content Analysis. AIDS and behavior, 29(7), 2135–2143.

 

Last updated: 11/25/2025

Pamina M. Gorbach, MHS, DrPH

Pamina M. Gorbach, MHS, DrPH, research focuses on bio-behavioral dynamics of sexual health, with a focus on HIV transmission, acquisition and progression, especially around substance abuse. She is a Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles in the Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health and in the Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine and is co-director of the UCLA Center for AIDS Research Program on Biobehavioral Epidemiology and Substance Use.  In Los Angeles, Dr. Gorbach is the Co-PI with Steven Shoptaw of a National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded research platform based on a cohort of young MSM of color with a large biorepository entitled “The mSTUDY” and CDC funded surveillance of anal HPV among YMSM.  Most recently Dr. Gorbach with Suzanne Siminski from Frontier Science as co-principle investigator was awarded the Collaborating Consortium of Cohorts NIDA Producing Opportunities (C3PNO) to stimulate science utilizing data and specimens across ten NIDA funded North American of HIV infected and at risk longitudinal cohorts by creating a virtual repository and mechanisms to access common data elements.  Dr. Gorbach has also been involved in research and training in Cambodia since 1997 where she heads a Fogarty supported training program in HIV/AIDS.  She is also co-PI with Dr. Judy Currier of the NIMH supported Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Program in Global HIV Prevention Research at UCLA. Her global health experience includes Cambodia, Vietnam, Peru, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Mali, Malawi, South Africa, and Ghana.

Contact: pgorbach@ucla.edu

FEATURED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Park, S. Y., Takayama, C., Ryu, J., Sattah, M., Badii, Z., Kim, J. W., Shafer, R. W., Gorbach, P. M., & Lee, H. Y. (2025). Design and evaluation of next-generation HIV genotyping for detection of resistance mutations to 28 antiretroviral drugs across five major classes including lenacapavir. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, ciaf458. Advance online publication.

2. Setrakian, N., Bui, H. T. M., Adamson, P. C., Hoang, T. N., Gorbach, P. M., & Giang, L. M. (2025). Impact of changing pre-exposure prophylaxis regimens on retention among men who have sex with men in Hanoi, Vietnam (2020-2023): a cohort study. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 28 Suppl 2(Suppl 2), e26478.

3. Setrakian, N., Gelberg, L., Koerber, J., Chung, U. Y., Akabike, W. N., Gorbach, P. M., Seamans, M. J., Shoptaw, S., Cerezo, A., & Javanbakht, M. (2025). Cannabis use, risk of cannabis use disorder, and anxiety and depression among bisexual patients: A comparative study of sex and sexual identity differences in a large health system. Drug and alcohol dependence, 274, 112762.

 

Last updated: 11/19/2025

Jennifer Baughman, MPA

Jennifer Baughman, MPA, holds a Master of Public Administration with a focus on nonprofit management. As the Center Administrator, she oversees budget allocations and subcontracting procedures for CHIPTS and regularly monitor spending. She provides guidance and consultation to young Investigators on how to structure their research teams and on issues of compliance with applicable grant and University regulations. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, the majority of which have been dedicated specifically to coordination of NIH-funded projects including clinical trials and behavioral research.

Contact: jbaughman@mednet.ucla.edu

Thomas Coates, PhD

Thomas J. Coates, PhD, is Director of the University of California Global Health Institute, which brings together the 10-campus UC system to solve global health problems and train future leaders. He is Distinguished Research Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine and Director Emeritus of the UCLA Center for World Health.  Before coming to UCLA, Dr. Coates spent 21 years at the University of California, San Francisco. He co-founded the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) in 1986 and was the Founding Executive Director of the UCSF AIDS Research Institute in 1996.  Both continue with extramural and intramural support. San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown declared July 24, 2003 Dr. Thomas J. Coates Day in San Francisco in honor of his work against HIV.  Dr. Coates’ work has focused on HIV testing and community-level prevention interventions.  Dr. Coates’ NIH and foundation supported research continues to focus on HIV prevention with disadvantaged populations, especially in Malawi and South Africa.  His current work focuses on strategies for bringing men into testing and treatment, pre-exposure prophylaxis for pregnant and post-partum women, and strategies to enhance the growth and development of HIV-exposed but uninfected infants. Dr. Coates was elected to Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) in 2000.

FEATURED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Mphande, M., Robson, I., Hubbard, J., Lungu, E., Chikuse, E., Phiri, K., Cornell, M., Phiri, S., Coates, T. J., & Dovel, K. (2025). Developing a male-specific counselling curriculum for HIV treatment in Malawi. Gates open research, 9, 52.

2. Hubbard, J., Mphande, M., Robson, I., Balakasi, K., Phiri, K., Chikuse, E., Thorp, M., Phiri, S., Choko, A. T., Cornell, M., Coates, T., & Dovel, K. (2024). Core components of male-specific person-centred HIV care: a qualitative analysis from client and healthcare worker perspectives in Malawi. BMJ public health, 2(2), e001100.

3. Joseph Davey, D. L., Mvududu, R., Mashele, N., Bheemraj, K., Khadka, N., Johnson, L. F., Dean, S. S., Gorbach, P., Bekker, L. G., Coates, T. J., & Myer, L. (2024). Initiation and continued use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis among pregnant and postpartum women in South Africa (PrEP-PP): a demonstration cohort study. The lancet. HIV, 11(11), e746–e755.

 

Last updated: 11/18/2025

Uyen H. Kao, MPH

Uyen H. Kao, MPH, currently serves as the Executive Director of CHIPTS.  She has over 15 years of experience in research administration, program management, and grant development. She also has experience in business marketing, organizational management, and assisting organizations in leading, implementing, and monitoring strategic planning processes.   Her past research work has focused on the facilitation of the use of evidence-based practices and prevention interventions in public health and in real-world practice settings.  Ms. Kao has managed numerous research projects from private, local, state, and federal funders in the areas of HIV, STDs, and substance abuse.  She has also worked with the Cochrane Collaboration Drugs and Alcohol Group and for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Contact: ukao@mednet.ucla.edu

FEATURED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Zamantakis, A., Gomez, W., Lukose, L., Pachicano, A. M., Kassanits, J., Katomski, A. S., Rosenberg-Carlson, E. P., Willging, C. E., Nelson, L. E., Valeriano, T., Karris, M., Blumenthal, J. S., Rana, A. I., Brewer, R. A., Hamilton, A., Kemp, C., Humphries, D., Benbow, N. D., Kao, U., Lee, S. J., … Rosen, J. G. (2025). Barriers to Same-Day Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Implementation in Federally Funded HIV Clinics Within High-Burden Areas of the U.S.: A Coincidence Analysis. AIDS and behavior, 10.1007/s10461-025-04898-2. Advance online publication.

2. Katomski, A. S., Pachicano, A. M., Zamantakis, A., Benbow, N. D., Willging, C., Rosen, J. G., Rosenberg-Carlson, E. P., Gomez, W., Hamilton, A. B., Kassanits, J. E., Lanzi, R. G., Jones, J. L., Valeriano, T., Brewer, R. A., Rana, A. I., Kao, U., Karris, M., Blumenthal, J., Schwartz, S. R., & Beres, L. K. (2025). Policymaker Perspectives on Implementation Determinants of Rapid ART and Same-Day PrEP in Seven Priority Jurisdictions for Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Multisite Qualitative Study. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999), 98(5S), e192–e204.

3. Jones, J. L., Schwartz, S., Kassanits, J. E., Pyra, M., Brewer, R. A., Kao, U., Blumenthal, J., Rana, A. I., Valeriano, T., Benbow, N. D., & NISH 001 Study Team (2025). Rapid ART, Rapid PrEP, and Status Neutral Implementation in Ryan White-Funded Clinics: Results From a Multisite Survey. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999), 98(5S), e136–e145.

 

Last updated: 11/19/2025

Raphael J. Landovitz, MD, MSc

Raphael Landovitz, MD, MSc, is Professor of Medicine at the UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research & Education. He is also the Center Director of CHIPTS. He has led combination prevention intervention studies and projects using Post-Exposure (PEP) and Pre-Exposure (PrEP) strategies for MSM and TGW, as well as being part of leadership groups of the DAIDS-funded AIDS Clinical Trial Groups (ACTG), HIV Prevention Trial Network (HPTN), and former adolescent Trial Network (ATN). He recently completed a term as chair of the ACTG Antiretroviral Strategies Scientific Committee, is the principal investigator of two multisite PrEP demonstration project in Los Angeles County, and leads the NIH/DAIDS-funded Phase 2 and Phase 3 registrational clinical trials evaluating long-acting injectable Cabotegravir for PrEP. He serves on the Executive Committee of the HIV Prevention Trials Network, and was awarded the HIVMA HIV Research Award in 2017. His research agenda focuses on the optimization of the use of antiretroviral medication for both HIV treatment and HIV prevention.

Contact: rlandovitz@mednet.ucla.edu

 

FEATURED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Hanscom, B., Marzinke, M. A., Li, X., Donnell, D., Bies, R., Hendrix, C. W., Wang, Z., Acuipil, C., Rinehart, A., Collins, J. W., Rooney, J. F., Soto Torres, L., Richardson, P., Chariyalerstsak, S., Valdez Ramalho Madruga, J., Hurt, C. B., Magnus, M., Frank, I., McCauley, M., Grinsztejn, B., … Landovitz, R. J. (2025). Estimation of prevention-effective CAB-LA concentrations among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in HPTN 083. The Journal of infectious diseases, jiaf561. Advance online publication.

2. Moore, H. P., Fogel, J. M., Marzinke, M. A., Halvas, E. K., Parikh, U. M., Mellors, J. W., Penrose, K. J., Seisa, M., Petropoulos, C., Price, A. L., Moser, A., Wang, Z., McCauley, M., Valencia-Huamaní, J., Rinehart, A. R., Rooney, J. F., Soto-Torres, L., Grinsztejn, B., Landovitz, R. J., & Eshleman, S. H. (2025). Sustained HIV Suppression With Co-formulated Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir in a Person With Transmitted Dolutegravir Resistance and Pretreatment Resistance to Lamivudine: a Case Report From HPTN 083. Open forum infectious diseases, 12(11), ofaf645.

3. Moucheraud, C., Trujillo, D., Wagner, Z., Garland, W., Smith, T., Hoffman, R. M., & Landovitz, R. J. (2025). Preferences for HIV prevention conditional cash transfers among Black/African American and Latinx cisgender MSM in Los Angeles. AIDS (London, England), 10.1097/QAD.0000000000004361. Advance online publication.

 

Last updated: 11/18/2025

Steve Shoptaw, PhD

Steven Shoptaw, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and is the Center C0-Director for CHIPTS. He is Professor in the UCLA Departments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Vice Chair of Research in Family Medicine. Dr. Shoptaw has a portfolio of work that focuses on the treatment of addiction and HIV prevention in the context of addiction in the Western U.S. where stimulant use is the single strongest predictor of HIV transmission. Dr. Shoptaw is a member of the DAIDS-funded, HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) Executive Committee, and Clinical Site Leader for several HPTN studies, including HPTN 061, which documented that high-risk Black men who have sex with men (MSM) have 7% incidence in Los Angeles. As high rates of stimulant and alcohol use link with new infections in his studies, Dr. Shoptaw also is MPI on a 5-year cooperative agreement (U01 DA036267; the MStudy) to establish a cohort of MSM of color to investigate interactions between non-injection use of methamphetamine, cocaine, opiates and binge drinking and HIV transmission dynamics.

Contact: sshoptaw@mednet.ucla.edu

Featured Publications:

1. Okafor, C. N., Ware, D., Kasraian, L., Gustafson, D., Stosor, V., Meanley, S., Shoptaw, S., Haberlen, S., Friedman, M., & Plankey, M. (2025). Understanding Perceived Pill Burden in Older Adults with HIV: Exploring Clinical and Demographic Determinants. AIDS and behavior, 10.1007/s10461-025-04864-y. Advance online publication.

2. Jha, M. K., Ghitza, U. E., Shoptaw, S., Minhajuddin, A., Kuruvila, S., Wakhlu, S., Nunes, E. V., Schmitz, J., Coffin, P. O., Bart, G., Carmody, T., & Trivedi, M. H. (2025). Early Change in Depressive Symptom Severity With Naltrexone-Bupropion Combination and Its Association With Reduction in Methamphetamine Use in ADAPT-2 Trial. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 86(3), 25m15825.

3. Okafor, C. N., Yoon, J. H., Jean-Berluche, D., Mayes, T. L., Shoptaw, S., Trivedi, M. H., Potter, J. S., & Schmitz, J. (2025). Exploring the Impact of Reduction in Methamphetamine Use on Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women: Findings from the ADAPT- 2 Trial. International journal of behavioral medicine, 10.1007/s12529-025-10364-z. Advance online publication.

 

Last updated: 11/25/2025

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