Ronald Brooks, PhD

Ronald A. Brooks, PhD, has been involved for over 20 years in social behavioral HIV-related research and in providing training and technical assistance to community-based organizations (CBO) involved in HIV prevention and treatment. Dr. Brooks received his training in HIV-related research as part of a two-year postdoctoral training fellowship at UCLA’s School of Public Health in the Department of Epidemiology under the mentorship of Dr. Roger Detels. The focus of his research is on the development, implementation and evaluation of HIV prevention and treatment interventions for Latino and African-American men who have sex with men.  His current research addresses the challenges with implementing the latest biomedical prevention strategy, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), among racial/ethnic minority gay and bisexual men. With funding from National Institute of Mental Health, he is examining internalized, perceived and enacted PrEP stigma experienced by Black and Latino MSM PrEP users in Los Angeles.  Another focus of his research is on the use of social media and technology in the identification, engagement and retention of HIV-positive racial/ethnic minority MSM in HIV medical care.  Dr. Brooks is the Co-PI of a study examining the use of social media with Latino MSM for HIV testing and linkage to medical care. Dr. Brooks is also the PI of the UCLA Social Media Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration.  The Center is conducting a multi-site evaluation of 10 demonstration sites across the country that are using social media and technology to engage and retain HIV-positive youth and young adults in medical care.

Contact: rabrooks@mednet.ucla.edu