Our Team
The range of expertise held by the CCHE team reflects our belief that strategies to halt the HIV epidemic must involve a range of disciplines not confined to medicine and public health. Our leadership, faculty, staff, and students are drawn from all corners of the University including the Biological Sciences Division, the College, the Crown School of Social Work Policy and Practice, the Booth School of Business, the Harris School of Public Policy Studies, the Law School, the Human Rights Program, the Committee on Southern Asian Studies (COSAS), and the Urban Health Initiative.
Leadership
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Director
Dr. John Schneider MD, MPH (he/him/his) is an infectious disease specialist and network epidemiologist in the Departments of Medicine and Health Studies. His NIH funded research focuses on how social networks can be leveraged to improve the health of vulnerable populations in resource restricted settings. Clinically, he specializes in adolescent and adult HIV primary care and has a specific interest in provision of high-quality care to SGM community members. He has extensive experience with advancing the physician patient relationship in resource restricted settings, including his current clinic at a Federally Qualified Health Center on the South Side of Chicago and during his time working in Southern India.
Dr. Schneider’s research employs social and sexual network analysis to accelerate prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infections among adolescents and younger adults in resource restricted settings. This research program was fostered by a unique co-mentorship structure with Ken Mayer and Ed Laumann (internationally recognized leaders in HIV prevention science and sexual network analysis respectively) during his post-doctoral fellowship and career development awards. With support from a Lancet international fellowship, his HIV research program started in South India where he lived and worked focusing upon community-based HIV prevention among mobile men including long-distance truck-drivers and men who have sex with men. His work now operationalizes novel prevention intervention strategies in resource restricted settings through: 1) rigorous social network assessment; and 2) leveraging social network structures as human interventions integrated with biomedical prevention. He has expertise in using technology-supported network approaches, such as cell phones and Facebook, to recruit and retain marginalized populations into HIV prevention studies both in the United States and India. Using these methods, he has completed some of the first formal network analyses of substance users in emerging epidemics, Black SMM and people experiencing criminal legal involvement as part of an interdisciplinary team at CCHE. This work is continuously informed and improved by his clinical work in a major epicenter of the domestic HIV and overdose epidemic. Dr. Schneider also enjoys spending time in the outdoors, including biking, birdwatching and trekking.
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Co-Director
Alida M. Bouris (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor in the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. Her primary research area is in the development of family-based interventions to prevent HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, and unplanned pregnancies among Latino and African American adolescents and young adults. She also is working on the development of family-based interventions to support the health and well-being of sexual minority youth. Within these areas of research, Professor Bouris is primarily working with African American and Latino young men who have sex with men and with Latino adolescents and young adults.
At SSA, Professor Bouris teaches courses on social work practice and cognitive-behavioral therapy. She has published extensively in the field of adolescent health and HIV prevention and is Co-Principal Investigator of the newly developed STI and HIV Intervention Network (SHINE) at SSA. Professor Bouris’s research has been funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute of Mental Health. Her current research is examining the role of families in supporting the sexual and mental health of young MSM.
Center Directors
Directors & Principal Investigators
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Associate Director of Biostatistics
Ellen Almirol (she/her/hers) is the Associate Director of Biostatistics trained in Epidemiology and interested in behavioral and health outcomes across the HIV primary and secondary prevention continua, particularly among women in marginalized communities. Her previous experience include serving as the Assistant Project Director for the Women’s HIV Interagency Study (WIHS), and a statistician for the UCLA Global Center for Children and families, focusing on maternal and child outcomes in a cluster-randomized controlled trial over eight years post-birth. Ellen received her dual Master’s in Medical Sciences (MAMS) and Public Health (MPH) from Boston University and her Bachelor’s degree from University of California, San Diego.
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Director of Community Engaged Research
Dr. Russell Brewer (he/him/his) currently serves as Research Professor at the University of Chicago Medicine and Director of Community Engaged Research and Southern Initiatives at the Chicago Center for HIV Elimination. He has more than 25 years of experience in program development, implementation, evaluation, and public health research in a variety of settings (e.g., non-profit, governmental public health, and philanthropy) and levels (e.g., local, state, and national).
His HIV research and programmatic efforts are focused on addressing the socio-structural barriers (e.g., incarceration, stigma) to HIV prevention and care among Black men who have sex with men (BMSM), persons living with HIV infection, and criminal justice-involved populations in Chicago and the Southern United States (US). From 2010-2012, he was an HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) Scholar conducting research to explore the relationship between incarceration and HIV among BMSM enrolled in the HPTN 061 study. From 2008-2011, he was Program Manager at FHI 360 (formerly AED) in Washington, DC where he managed the partnership component of an NIH-funded national education initiative designed to build awareness and support for HIV vaccine research among African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, and gay/bisexual men of all races. He is a peer reviewer for multiple journals and former member of the American Journal of Public Health Editorial Board. He received his Doctorate degree in Public Health from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Brewer is an explorer at heart and has lived in Liberia, Seychelles, Kenya, and 8 US cities.
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Director of ED STI/HIV Testing
Dr. Stanford (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Section of Emergency Medicine. Her research focuses on the use of the emergency department visit to address the social determinants of health, including infectious diseases, sexual and reproductive health, homelessness, and human trafficking. Dr. Stanford coordinates the HIV screening program in the emergency department (ED), and she developed an innovative ED syphilis screening program that was introduced in 2019. Her future goals include expanding these programs to other emergency departments locally and nationally, as well as increasing screening for other STIs in our emergency department. Her current research projects focus on utilizing syphilis screening as a means of improving HIV prevention and PrEP uptake, as well as optimizing ED visits early in pregnancy to include STI screening and linkage to prenatal or abortion care. In addition to her work on HIV and STIs, she has developed a human trafficking policy and educational series for the adult and pediatric emergency departments and has an ongoing project to improve understanding of the barriers to placement in shelter of the ED homeless population. Dr. Stanford mentors emergency medicine residents working on projects in all of these topics, she is active in social emergency medicine on a state and national level, and she works clinically in the adult emergency department.
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Director of Development & Administration
Jessi (she/her/hers) joined the center in 2017 as the Manager of Supportive Services. Her previous work experience includes project development, management, and providing clinical services to marginalized communities, including low income men and women with chronic mental health diagnoses, and women reentering the community from incarceration. With CCHE being a young organization in 2017, Jessi saw administrative needs that the Center had, which aligned with her own professional interests around organizational development and supporting staff. In 2019, Jessi moved into the Senior Manager of Center Growth & Development role, where she oversaw the Center’s strategic planning, internal HR, staff development and foundation grant writing. As a social worker in an administrative role, Jessi brings a unique perspective when approaching the CCHE’s organizational needs and growth, making meaningful relationships with collaborators and community members, keeping her focus person-centered, and advocating for necessary policy change within the larger system of the University. Now as the Director of Development & Administration, Jessi focuses on organizational growth and advances, moving the Center’s mission forward ultimately to end the HIV epidemic. Jessi has two cats who often join in team meetings over zoom, Rafi and Cass. Jessi’s hobbies include working out to stay sane, crafting, and spending time with friends and family!
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Senior Director of Research
Dr. Durrell (she/her/hers) will provide oversight for all of CCHE’s research programs including the Methodology and Advanced Analytics Resource Center (MAARC). She will also have a leadership role in developing the research agenda for the Center. Dr. Durrell is bringing more than a decade of experience in the development, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention interventions in minority and underserved communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States.
Prior to joining CCHE, Dr. Durrell worked at Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, where she managed multiple research projects, led cross-functional research teams and collaborated with stakeholders at different levels. She successfully launched and led the implementation of performance monitoring systems, evaluation and research for Jhpiego’s Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) for HIV prevention program that was implemented in 11 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Early in her career, she served as Director for HIV/AIDS Research and Policy Institute at Chicago State University, whose mission was to address the disproportionate incidence and complex burdens of HIV/AIDS in minority populations through research and policy.
Dr. Durrell received her Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health and her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Loyola University Quinlan School of Business.
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Director of Prevention Services
Rebecca (she/her/hers) is the Director of Prevention for CCHE. She oversees program and staff development for the Center. Her previous experience includes research study design and implementation, counseling with adolescents and young adults, adolescent STI/HIV prevention, and wrap-around case management for individuals and families living with or affected by HIV. Rebecca is particularly interested in implementation science and the translation of research into clinical practice among individuals at increased vulnerability for HIV infection. Rebecca holds a Master’s in Clinical Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago.
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Staff Scientist
Eleanor (Nora) Friedman (she/her) PhD, MS is an epidemiologist with expertise in the study design and data analysis of infectious diseases as well as reproductive epidemiology. She completed her MS and PhD studies at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, where she researched dengue infection in pregnant women. After graduation, she served in two postdoctoral fellowship positions at the Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While at the CDC she gained experience using national Medicaid and Medicare data to analyze outcomes related to HIV, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis screening. She joined CCHE in 2017 and has been the data analyst and biostatistician on a number of NIH and CDC funded grants related to HIV testing and HIV care continuum outcomes.
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Director of STI Services
Dr. Anu Hazra (he/him/his) is an Assistant Professor in the Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health. His research and clinical interests center around sexually transmitted infections and their impact on sexual and gender minorities as well as other vulnerable populations. He is passionate about the equitable delivery of healthcare to LGBTQ people of color.
His past work at Fenway Health identified patients at highest risk for syphilis infection and reinfection as a means to implement primary care strategies to establish syphilis control. He plans to continue this STI work at CCHE with a focus on transgender women of color and Black men who have sex with men. His other clinical interests include complex HIV management, hepatitis C treatment, high-resolution anoscopy, treatment of opioid use disorder, and medical education. He is certified in office-based treatment for opioid use disorders and aims to address the clinical needs of the opioid crisis within our sexual and gender minority populations. In addition to his HIV primary care clinic, he has also runs a walk-in STI clinic at the University’s medical center.
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Director of Biostatistics and Computational Modeling
Anna Hotton (she/her/hers) is Director of Biostatistics and Computational Modeling at CCHE and a Research Associate Professor Appointment with the Department of Medicine. Dr. Hotton is an epidemiologist with expertise in complex study design and quantitative methods. Her current research focuses on the impact of socio-structural stressors on HIV/STI risk and patterns of care engagement. Future goals include application of computational modeling approaches to advance understanding of mechanisms by which structural barriers impact HIV related outcomes among diverse groups, including MSM and transgender women.
Dr. Hotton received her MPH and PhD in epidemiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. She has been engaged in collaborative HIV/STI prevention research with academic and community partners in Chicago for over eight years, serving as a biostatistician on numerous NIH and CDC funded studies. Past and ongoing work has involved evaluation of primary and secondary prevention interventions, and studies aimed at understanding psychosocial and contextual influences on risk behavior, PrEP uptake, and engagement and retention in care. Learn more.
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Director of HIV Testing
Moira McNulty (she/her/hers) is a Clinical Instructor in the Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health. Moira’s research focuses on HIV testing and how it can be optimized to engage individuals in the HIV care and prevention continuum. She is also interested in strengthening existing academic partnerships with public health entities and is currently working with the Chicago Department of Public Health. In her clinical practice she cares for individuals living with HIV as well as providing PrEP for individuals at risk.
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Director of Structural Interventions
Darnell N. Motley PhD (he/him/his), is a clinical community psychologist committed to promoting sexual health among individuals who experience multiple forms of oppression. Dr. Motley’s research examines and challenges the ways that structural factors (like racism, homophobia, and health stigma) attempt to limit the experiences of racial, sexual, and gender minorities, as well as individuals living with HIV. More specifically, DR. Motley uses qualitative research to inform the development of interventions intended to impact social determinants of sexual health. Most recently, Dr. Motely was the lead researcher for the LGBTQ Health team at University of Chicago’s Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Ci3) And is now joining the University of Chicago and CCHE as Research Assistant Professor.
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Director of Status Neutral Care
Dr. Pagkas-Bather (she/her/hers) is interested in HIV prevention efforts among minority men who have sex with men (MSM) using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). She is also interested in ways to combine PrEP with other STI prevention strategies among this population through community outreach, and collaboration with local organizations in order to make HIV and STI prevention efforts more patient-centered and less stigmatizing.
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Director of Health Policy Research
Dr. Mai Tuyet Pho (she/her/hers) is an infectious diseases physician and health outcomes researcher. Her work seeks to improve health outcomes and public policy at the intersection of HIV, HCV, and substance use. She has trained in decision modeling and health economics under the mentorship of Kenneth Freedberg, Rochelle Walensky, Milt Weinstein and David Meltzer. Current projects includes understanding the shifting epidemiology of HCV and opioid overdose, network characterization of people who inject drugs in rural communities, linkage to HCV care at reentry for criminal justice involved individuals, economic evaluation of routine HCV and HIV screening and treatment coverage policies, discrete choice experiments to examine heterogeneity in willingness to pay for therapy, and qualitative analyses on optimizing shared decision making surrounding HCV in marginalized populations.
She is the recipient of a K99/R00 Award for her work in comparative and cost-effectiveness modeling for HCV treatment and is co-PI for a UG3/UH3 cooperative agreement aimed at understanding the epidemiology of HCV and HIV and expanding harm reduction services among people who inject opioids in rural Illinois. Her work has been supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research and Grand Challenges Canada.
Dr. Pho served as the interim Chief Medical Officer at the Illinois Department of Public Health and is currently a Medical Advisor for Healthcare Policy and Research in the Office of the Director. She leads multiple efforts at the Department around the opioid epidemic and HCV, including analysis on fatal and nonfatal overdose, HCV surveillance, naloxone overdose prevention and GME education around safe opioid prescribing. She is a member of the Illinois Statewide Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council, subcommittees on Prescriber Practices, Criminal Justice Populations, Medication-Assisted Therapy, and Public Awareness and Education. She is an active infectious diseases clinician providing inpatient specialty consultation and outpatient care in HIV and HCV. She currently mentors medical students, graduate students and Fellows who are interested in public health, health economics and public policy. Learn more.
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Director of Predictive Analytics
Dr. Jessica Ridgway (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health. Her research focuses on the use of predictive analytics to improve care along the HIV care continuum. She also utilizes clinical informatics to improve HIV testing and linkage to prevention services including PrEP care among high-risk HIV-negative individuals. In her Infectious Diseases clinic, she provides primary care for adults and pregnant women with HIV, as well as PrEP care.
Dr. Ridgway’s research involves using “big data” in the form of advanced electronic medical records to understand and predict risk factors for falling out of care at each stage of the HIV care continuum. She developed an electronic algorithm to identify high-risk HIV-negative clients to guide prevention outreach and PrEP referral. She is currently creating a tool to predict HIV-positive clients’ risk of poor retention in care to guide multidisciplinary, personalized retention interventions. She leads the CDC-funded Data to Care Initiative, an effort to use electronic algorithms to identify and re-link HIV-positive patients back into care. Dr. Ridgway also serves as the Associate Hospital Epidemiologist at University of Chicago, where she oversees clinical informatics for infection prevention. Learn more.
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Director of HIV Clinical Engagement
Jessica (she/her/hers) is the Director of HIV Clinical Engagement and a licensed clinical social worker for the Section of Infectious Diseases and CCHE. Jessica oversees implementation of HIV care and prevention initiatives at The University of Chicago’s Medical Campus with the HIV Prevention and Care Team (HIV-PACT) to improve access to services for people living with HIV and those vulnerable to HIV. She serves as the program director for the Expanded HIV Testing and Linkage to Care (xTLC) and the Gilead FOCUS program supporting routine HIV and HCV screening, working with local partner hospitals and health clinics to improve routine screening programs. Jessica holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s in International Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research
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Senior Director of Research
As Senior Director of Research, Dr. Durrell (she/her/hers) will provide oversight for all of CCHE’s research programs including the Methodology and Advanced Analytics Resource Center (MAARC). She will also have a leadership role in developing the research agenda for the Center. Dr. Durrell is bringing more than a decade of experience in the development, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention interventions in minority and underserved communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States.
Prior to joining CCHE, Dr. Durrell worked at Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, where she managed multiple research projects, led cross-functional research teams and collaborated with stakeholders at different levels. She successfully launched and led the implementation of performance monitoring systems, evaluation and research for Jhpiego’s Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) for HIV prevention program that was implemented in 11 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Early in her career, she served as Director for HIV/AIDS Research and Policy Institute at Chicago State University, whose mission was to address the disproportionate incidence and complex burdens of HIV/AIDS in minority populations through research and policy.
Dr. Durrell received her Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health and her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Loyola University Quinlan School of Business.
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Research Coordinator
Erin (she/her/hers) recently graduated from DePaul University’s Master of Public Health program with a concentration in Community Health Practice. Her public health interests lie within examining the social determinants of health and structural barriers that prevent individuals from achieving each step in the HIV care continuum process. Additionally she is interested in harm reduction efforts, specifically looking at overdose and disease transmission prevention and how stigma and shame contribute to opioid-related harm.
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Research Manager
Myles Castro (he/him/his) joined CCHE as Manager for Implementation Research. Prior to this role, he worked as a Program Manager for the Health Equity & Assessment Research team at Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI), overseeing various public health projects and mixed-methods research. Additionally, he interned at the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, where he investigated trends in patient PrEP usage and retention to care.
Myles’ work has been dedicated to addressing hyper-local health inequities, with a focus on youth trauma and community violence. Notably, he co-directed the Chicago Gun Violence Research Collaborative (CGVRC), leading data-driven, community-based research initiatives to identify solutions to community violence in Chicago. He also collaborated with local and national partners to develop community health needs assessments and implementation plans for local hospital systems, a public safety plan, and a community assessment tool for local organizations. His contributions were recently recognized with DePaul University’s Chicago Changemakers Honor Roll award.
In his personal time, Myles is an avid endurance runner, a French fry enthusiast, and enjoys sampling regional delicacies from around the globe!
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Assistant Manager of Implementation Research
Shalissa Corpus (they/them/theirs) is the Assistant Manager of Research Implementation. They are an Austin, TX native with a Bachelors degree from the University of North Texas in Human Development and Family Sciences and a minor in LGBT Studies. It was there where they found a passion for combating the stigma that surrounds both sex and people living with HIV. After their schooling they went on to work at UT Southwestern Medical Center where they worked on the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Project for Dallas, TX. While working on the NHBS Project they helped pilot a new cycle for the Trans community and led interviews in a collaborative project with Amelia Court on depression and people living with HIV. After their time with UTSW they went on to work more closely with patients at Prism Health North Texas and it was there where they created TX Trans Pride a free celebratory event for all members of the trans community full of trans inclusive resources and gender affirming items. Brandon is a passionate person that finds joy in providing service to the communities they serve and works to create positive lasting changes in the places theylive. They are new to Chicago and looking forward to the adventures to come with their time with the University of Chicago. Shalissa is working with Dr. Mai Pho on the PROMOTE and ETHIC grants.
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Senior Manager of Implementation Research
Prior to joining CCHE, Cami (she/her/hers) worked at the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, of Cook County Health, where she managed the operations of a variety of HIV/AIDS, STI, and COVID-19 clinical trials. Cami was a member of the CORE Center Research Committee where she provided insight for project feasibility/implementation across various projects implemented across Illinois Medical District institutions and was a selected member of the Protocol Intensity Committee of the NIH’s AIDS Malignancy Consortium where she offered evaluation support for protocols in development. Her professional interests include infectious diseases as related to prevention, social drivers of health, community-based participatory research, and health equity; maternal child health; and regulatory research compliance.
Cami holds a Bachelor’s in Science (BS) and Masters in Public Health (MPH) from DePaul University. She is an adjunct instructor within DePaul’s College of Science and Health at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Outside of work, Cami enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, family and friends; walking their dog Chewie (Chewbacca); reading; reality tv; and crafting.
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Research Specialist
I am Ankshita Dasgupta, a first year MPH student in the Epidemiology and Global Health track. I am an international student from India and was raised in Muscat, Oman. My research interests are mainly community-based participation and understanding community needs. I have previously worked at the IPPH as a student RA and helped with participant recruitment. I love spending time outdoors and absolutely adore dogs! I am super excited to be a part of the CCHE team!
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Research Assistant
Ellyse (she/her) is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago currently working on the team of Dr. Darnell Motley. Ellyse’s primary research interests lie in intersectional approaches to mental health care, and she is dedicated to increasing healthcare accessibility for members of stigmatized groups. She has a background in working with adolescent psych patients, people who have cognitive disabilities, LGBTQ+ youth, and people who have experienced sexual violence. During her time at Loyola, Ellyse served on a 24 hour hotline to support survivors of gender-based violence, intimate partner abuse, stalking, and domestic violence. She has aspirations of pursuing a higher degree in the field of psychology, either in counseling or clinical psychology, and hopes to work with members of the LGBTQ+ community.
In her free time, Ellyse loves to oil paint, practice French on Duolingo, and has recently started trying to learn flower arranging.
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Research Coordinator
Bella Matthews (she/her/hers) is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, and received her undergraduate degree from Purdue University with a double major in Political Science and Global Studies with a double minor in Human Rights and Spanish. This August, Bella will be graduating from UChicago with a Masters in Sociology from the MAPPS program.
Bella’s thesis focuses on the historical reimagining of public safety within the Black community of Indianapolis in the 60s and 70s. Exploring questions about communities providing for their own safety when the state apparatuses fail to do so, as well as outlining the importance of a localized approach to historical work and their connection to the broad understanding of community safety are what drive this upcoming work. With this in mind, she hopes to continue this work through a Ph.D. program in the future.
During her time as a graduate student at the University of Chicago, Bella has come to truly value and contribute to the formulation of new knowledge surrounding forgotten communities, whether that is through community organizing, youth advocacy or equity for all within the state. Not only is it important, but vital for institutional change. She carries these themes as well as dedication and passion to everything she does.
Bella is currently a research coordinator with CCHE. Probably one of Bella’s biggest fun fact is that she has about 30 plants in my 1 bedroom right now, so if you ever want to talk about plants please reach out to her! Also, she is still pretty new to Hyde Park, so fun activities, places to go, and the overall history of the neighborhood are always welcome!
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Research Specialist
Daisy Montero (they/she – any with respect) is a Research Specialist at CCHE. Proud child of Mexican immigrants, Daisy’s a first generation college graduate from the University of Michigan -Ann Arbor with a B.S in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. As a Chicagoan, they have the duty and passion to give back and help their community thrive in mental and physical wellness, education, research, and/or advocacy. As someone who’s always had an innate curiosity for understanding why and how things work and why people behave the way they do, their passions lie in research based on underrepresented populations, cultural humility, evidence-based care/trauma-informed care, and community engagement/culture.
During their undergrad, they participated in two research labs. Robinson Lab (Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology) and Resilience In Context (Department of Psychology), which investigated factors that promote resilience in adolescents who navigate contextual risks associated with living in poverty, specifically the effects of exposure to community violence. The undergrad team’s poster presentation titled, ” ‘We’re all affected by it’: A Mixed-Method Study of Familismo, Community Violence Exposure [CVE] & PTSD in Latinx Urban Adolescents” was submitted and approved for the 29th Annual UCLA Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference. Their passion for research sky-rocketed from there.
Their approach to everything in life is with a “Echale ganas!” (give it your all!) mindset, which were the daily words of encouragement from their father. Their personal goals are to increase education, awareness, and engagement for BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ individuals within healthcare as well as monolingual Spanish speakers in the Chicagoland area and beyond. In their free time, they enjoy drawing, watching video essays, reading, sight-seeing nature, social action and community change, video games, current events and news, memes, and influencing their niece and nephews to like everything they did growing up. (lol such as Ed, Edd, and Eddy and Kirby.)
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Senior Research Coordinator
Darjai (she/her/hers) was born and raised on the South side of Chicago in the South Shore neighborhood as the only child to a single mother. She attended Kenwood Academy High school and scored a full ride scholarship to Rust College in Holly Springs, MS. There, Darjai received her BS in Biology. She decided to return home and began working as a Quality Assurance Lab Technician at Marie’s Salad Dressing. Within one year of working, she enrolled into graduate school at Chicago State University. While working full time at night, Darjai would attend school in the afternoon and after two years of tasting a lot of salad dressings and dips, she graduated with her Master in Public Health and began working for non-for-profit organization where she was a care coordinator for seniors over 65 years old. Unfortunately, the organization closed down but gratefully Darjai was offered a position at Rush Medical University as a research assistant. Now, six years later, Darjai is excited to be working at The University of Chicago Medical Center as a research coordinator!
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Research Specialist
Sophie (any pronouns) moved to Chicago from Boston for undergrad, and graduated with a degree in anthropology and creative writing, with their research focusing on abolitionist movements, community care, and the role art plays in the two. They joined CCHE as an N2 interviewer because they were excited by the opportunity to do meaningful community-centered work, and they’re grateful for the opportunity to develop that work further as a research specialist for CCHE!
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Ishida (she/her/hers) worked for NORC @ the University of Chicago as a Field Manager for over 16 years and at NORC for over 30 years. A Field Manager is one who provides administrative leadership and support for the Field Interviewers (FIs) on the Project/s they have been assigned to manage-a connection between the field and project staff. Ishida managed day to day activities with FI’s, track their work, have weekly meeting, keep them updated on progress, sign time sheets & expenses. Field Managers often assist with interviewer recruiting tasks, training field interviewers, write and review project materials, lead troubleshooting teams, mentor the interviewing staff and to complete other tasks as directed by the Regional Manager.
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Senior Research Coordinator
Jordan Victorian (any pronouns) is a research professional invested in equitable and liberatory interventions to support greater sexual and holistic wellbeing. At CCHE, they coordinate studies focused on employment, sexual health, and health equity interventions for Black GBTQ+ men among other vulnerabilized populations. Jordan has published work in Families, Systems, & Health; Women, Gender, and Families of Color; and GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies; and co-edited two academic zine collections. They earned an MA in Feminist Studies from UC Santa Barbara and a BA in culture, gender, and sexuality studies from Washington University in St. Louis; and have developed further through advanced coursework and professional training. Originally from Louisiana, Jordan now lives in Chicago with their feline companion.
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Assistant Manager of Implementation Research
Jeannette (she/her/hers) is the Assistant Manager of Implementation Research for the Building Agent-Based Models of Racialized Justice Systems (BARS) project. She has been a part of Public Health Education and Health Promotion programs in Correctional Settings 20+ years. Her previous experience includes Women’s Health Promotion, Employee Health support, HIV testing and counseling, research study implementation, Correctional Health Education ( for various incarcerated populations ), STI prevention, and discharge planning for individuals with HIV. Empowerment of Women and Youth are just a few of her passions related to Research and Health Education. She has also worked with the University of Illinois at Chicago on research projects that support the same goals. Jeannette has a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. She is currently working with the CCHE team to implement the multi-site LINK2 – research project that will provide support for youth impacted with HIV.
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Research Specialist
Allison (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate from The University of Alaska Anchorage with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Justice. She is interested in developing and disseminating substance use disorder treatment practices and interventions for justice-involved individuals – particularly accessibility to treatment and support resources upon community reentry that promotes positive intergenerational family health and reduces recidivism. Additionally, she is interested in understanding the experiences of marginalized communities, exploring ways to eliminate barriers of stigma to promote accessibility to treatment resources for all, and justice policy reformation. She has experience working with justice-involved populations, conducting qualitative interviews, and has served in several RA positions during her undergraduate studies. Outside of work she enjoys painting, playing golf, spending time outside, and taking care of her two cats Dorito and Kitty Cudi.
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Hello! I’m Chad (he/him), a current emergency medicine resident and medical school graduate of Oregon Health & Science University. I grew up in a small, rural Oregon city and attended the University of Oregon, majoring in biology and human physiology. I then pursued a MSc Control of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and subsequently worked for a few years as an infection prevention specialist/infection preventionist at two academic medical centers. I’m interested in critical care, quality improvement, healthcare-associated and emerging infections, and leveraging emergency department encounters for public health interventions.
Administration
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Director of Development & Administration
Jessi (she/her/hers) joined the center in 2017 as the Manager of Supportive Services. Her previous work experience includes project development, management, and providing clinical services to marginalized communities, including low income men and women with chronic mental health diagnoses, and women reentering the community from incarceration. With CCHE being a young organization in 2017, Jessi saw administrative needs that the Center had, which aligned with her own professional interests around organizational development and supporting staff. In 2019, Jessi moved into the Senior Manager of Center Growth & Development role, where she oversaw the Center’s strategic planning, internal HR, staff development and foundation grant writing. As a social worker in an administrative role, Jessi brings a unique perspective when approaching the CCHE’s organizational needs and growth, making meaningful relationships with collaborators and community members, keeping her focus person-centered, and advocating for necessary policy change within the larger system of the University. Now as the Director of Development & Administration, Jessi focuses on organizational growth and advances, moving the Center’s mission forward ultimately to end the HIV epidemic. Jessi has two cats who often join in team meetings over zoom, Rafi and Cass. Jessi’s hobbies include working out to stay sane, crafting, and spending time with friends and family!
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Manager of Operations & Administration
Patricia V. Braboy (she/her/hers) is a proud 2014 graduate of THEE Jackson State University and a certified sexual health educator through the University of Michigan’s Sexual Health Educator Certification Program (2020). She is a lifelong resident of Chicago’s Southeast Side, dedicated to making South Shore a thriving community for future generations of her family. With a deep passion for educating Black folx about sexual health, Patricia’s mission is to break the taboo and stigma surrounding conversations about sex and kink in the African American community. Patricia is forever grateful for the opportunities that have shaped her journey and is excited to continue her growth and impact at CCHE.
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Operations & Development Senior Coordinator
Jacqueline Olson (she/her/hers) is a lifelong Chicagoan – aside from her time in Ann Arbor studying psychology at the University of Michigan. There, she worked for the Department of Intergroup Relations, where she was trained and certified as an inter-group dialogue and workshop facilitator. Prior to arriving at CCHE, she did management consulting work for nonprofits in the arts and education space. Her current passions include learning sewing and crochet, (re)learning French, playing cello, and exploring all the green space the city has to offer.
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Research Administrative Coordinator
Crystal Johnson (she/they) is a passionate advocate for education, public health, and community empowerment, bringing a diverse background in research administration, nonprofit leadership, real estate, and ministry. Crystal current works at CCHE as a Research Administrative Coordinator. In her spare time, Crystal works to address the intersectionality of faith, LGBTQ+ issues, and HIV support by fostering inclusive spaces, securing funding, and launching wellness programs to promote health equity on Chicago’s South Side. With years of experience in outreach programs for the homeless, educating ministry leaders, and empowering women, they have dedicated their career to building informed, compassionate communities. Previously, as a Community Life Architect, Crystal curated engaging events to strengthen neighborhood connections, and as Assistant Operations Manager at Empower Global Inc., they facilitated programs that educate community leaders on critical health and social issues.
Currently pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences at Northwestern University, Crystal is committed to eliminating racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ healthcare disparities through social work and public health advocacy. In addition to their professional and academic pursuits, Crystal hosts a podcast for NICU parents, providing vital resources and support for families navigating complex medical journeys. They also enjoy watching sci-fi movies, writing, gardening and raising their two sons alongside their wife, embodying their dedication to both family and advocacy.
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Research Technician
Esbeidy holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy (MPP) with a specialization in Public Health and Data Analysis from The University of Chicago. Esbeidy works as a Research Technician at the University of Chicago’s Chicago Center for HIV Elimination (CCHE), where she contributes to cutting-edge research on policies and projects aimed at eliminating new HIV transmission events.
Esbeidy's career has consistently focused on addressing the needs of underserved groups, from Latinx individuals affected by HIV in Chicago to her international work across Latin America and Egypt, where she has tackled fiscal transparency and social policy issues. This unique blend of local and global experience allows Esbeidy to navigate complex policy landscapes and make impactful contributions to both public health and international development.
Esbeidy is fluent in Spanish, English, and French and is passionate about public health, poverty reduction, and research.
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Project Assistant IV
Zanariah (ZiZi) Phillips (she/her/they/them) was raised in Rogers Park, Chicago. She attended school at Gale Academy where she discovered her gender truth through an event called Gender Bender Day. “It felt good to express myself as an unassigned gender”. In High school she was a part of a Physical Education class that was based on dance. She soon succeeded from this and starting dancing at the All City Dance Ensemble in 2006. After that, ZiZi started an internship for the Joffrey Ballet that ended in 2007. Zanariah is still building her technique and performance abilities with the aspiration to become a professional dancer. She recently got a scholarship at Joel Hall Dance Center and will be training throughout this year. Zizi has also invested her talents and experiences to advocate for the trans community around the country as part of YEPP and Forty to None Campaign by the Cyndi Lauper foundation The True Colors Fund.
Supportive Services
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Director of Prevention Services
Rebecca (she/her/hers) is the Director of Prevention for CCHE. She oversees program and staff development for the Center. Her previous experience includes research study design and implementation, counseling with adolescents and young adults, adolescent STI/HIV prevention, and wrap-around case management for individuals and families living with or affected by HIV. Rebecca is particularly interested in implementation science and the translation of research into clinical practice among individuals at increased vulnerability for HIV infection. Rebecca holds a Master’s in Clinical Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago.
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Senior Supportive Services Coordinator
Devin (he/him) is a clinical social worker with a focus on the intersection of HIV and mental wellness. With an interest in HIV networks in rural and urban settings, data privacy is especially important to him as well as how we can achieve Getting to Zero without state surveillance/biometric tracking. Prior to his work in mental health, Devin provided HIV testing, and college and career counseling. Devin's client-facing work is rooted in abolition, harm reduction, behavioral function, and acceptance.
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Supportive Services Coordinator
Quincy Raggs (he/him/his) identifies as a worker that is a “Jack of all trades”. Quincy studied Culinary Arts at Kendall College in Chicago. Quincy speaks 3 languages fluently and has a strong background in HIV/STI prevention and has worked and collaborated with various Chicago based organizations, focusing on community education, testing, and linkage to care. In his spare time, he collaborates with a few non profit organizations where he teaches, promotes and performs traditional Afro-Latin genres of music from the Caribbean.
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Supportive Services Coordinator
Lisa Nicole Corday S.M.E , (she/her/hers) the new J.U.M.P. intern is the building. She identifies as a Trans Woman of color who loves historical movies and has a zest for high fashion. Having over 10 years in the LGBTQA Ballroom Scene Lisa is well known as well as respected within her community, mentoring and guiding many of those who have come to her seeking knowledge and support. As a Trans CHW with years of experience working in the field has a strong focus on HIV Prevention within the LGBTQA community. Lisa’s passion for helping others has her to continue educating herself on the advancements in the fight against HIV.
Having the pleasure of being apart of NMAC BLOC Training Program which was life changing she soon found herself with a meaningful opportunity, becoming an Ambassador for the National Trans Visibility March on DC in an effort to fight for the right to be included on the US Census as well as shining a light on the many of her Trans Sisters that have been murdered and met with the social injustices of society.
Starting out her career in Community Health Lisa was a CHAP Apprentice with Chicago House where she received training in HIV Prevention, Counseling and Testing. After completing her apprenticeship she was offered a 4 month internship at Chicago House where she experienced the internal workings of a non profit organization, learning the ins and outs of Chicago House. Later after completing her internship she was offered a CHW position with Heartland Alliance which she accepted and excelled in her work there impressing her co-workers and giving the opportunity to organize and put together a free ball for the community which turned out to be a success. As she progressed in the field her work in helping those like her soon led her back to where it all began Chicago House in collaboration with Howard Brown Lisa was offered the position of Career Specialist. She knew that she had been giving the chance to help trans women like herself find employment and thus put them in a position where they would not have to subject themselves to Sex Work. After 2 years of dedicating herself to helping people in her community both young and old seek employment she embarked on yet another journey in her career. Joining the team at Sinai Health Systems who partnered with the Aids Foundation of Chicago in an effort to help Black Women of color who were HIV Positive and recently released from prison connect with care.
Now she finds herself joining the team of C.C.H.E where she is ready to take on new challenges and learn all the things that will be offered to her.
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Supportive Services Coordinator
Maxine (she/her/hers)is a current undergraduate student obtaining her BS in Hospital Administration. She has goals of getting into the field of healthcare and doing work revolving client focused practices. She also has a passion for information, facts and serving her community. She loves any shows that are Science Fiction and/or Non-Fiction. One cool fact about her is that she is a tumbling instructor on the South Side of Chicago.
HIV & STI Testing
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Director of Prevention Services
Rebecca (she/her/hers) is the Director of Prevention for CCHE. She oversees program and staff development for the Center. Her previous experience includes research study design and implementation, counseling with adolescents and young adults, adolescent STI/HIV prevention, and wrap-around case management for individuals and families living with or affected by HIV. Rebecca is particularly interested in implementation science and the translation of research into clinical practice among individuals at increased vulnerability for HIV infection. Rebecca holds a Master’s in Clinical Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago.
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Assistant Care Manager
Billy (he/him/his) is the Team Lead Operation & Outreach, Disease Intervention Specialist, & Project Coordinator for TRIP (Transmission Reduction Intervention Project). He has been working in HIV & STI prevention, screening, and counseling for nearly 10 years. His passion for bringing education and supportive services to the community is only surpassed by his ability to use his networking skills for referrals and outreach services. Billy utilizes his skills and knowledge to ensure success of current programs at The Village as well as to develop new programs and initiatives for the community.
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HIV & STI Tester
Chy (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate of The University of Illinois at Chicago with her BS in Psychology. She has goals of staying within the field of healthcare to help her community and those who she shares similar identities and interests with. Since she was young, she has always had aspirations of working in healthcare in any capacity. She has a hidden obsession with Harry Potter and Avatar the Last Airbender. She also knows how to solve a Rubik’s cube in under 3 minutes.
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Senior Testing Coordinator
Toniya (she/her/hers) is one of the HIV & STI tester based at The Village. She recently received her Certificate of completion for Phlebotomy. Toniya is also a licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, among many other professions. Toniya is self-described as a “Queen of All Trades” and a “Master of Most.”
Biostatistics
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Director of Biostatistics and Computational Modeling
Anna Hotton (she/her/hers) is Director of Biostatistics and Computational Modeling at CCHE and a Research Associate Professor Appointment with the Department of Medicine. Dr. Hotton is an epidemiologist with expertise in complex study design and quantitative methods. Her current research focuses on the impact of socio-structural stressors on HIV/STI risk and patterns of care engagement. Future goals include application of computational modeling approaches to advance understanding of mechanisms by which structural barriers impact HIV related outcomes among diverse groups, including MSM and transgender women.
Dr. Hotton received her MPH and PhD in epidemiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. She has been engaged in collaborative HIV/STI prevention research with academic and community partners in Chicago for over eight years, serving as a biostatistician on numerous NIH and CDC funded studies. Past and ongoing work has involved evaluation of primary and secondary prevention interventions, and studies aimed at understanding psychosocial and contextual influences on risk behavior, PrEP uptake, and engagement and retention in care. Learn more.
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Associate Director of Biostatistics
Ellen Almirol (she/her/hers) is the Associate Director of Biostatistics trained in Epidemiology and interested in behavioral and health outcomes across the HIV primary and secondary prevention continua, particularly among women in marginalized communities. Her previous experience include serving as the Assistant Project Director for the Women’s HIV Interagency Study (WIHS), and a statistician for the UCLA Global Center for Children and families, focusing on maternal and child outcomes in a cluster-randomized controlled trial over eight years post-birth. Ellen received her dual Master’s in Medical Sciences (MAMS) and Public Health (MPH) from Boston University and her Bachelor’s degree from University of California, San Diego.
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Staff Scientist
Eleanor (Nora) Friedman (she/her) PhD, MS is an epidemiologist with expertise in the study design and data analysis of infectious diseases as well as reproductive epidemiology. She completed her MS and PhD studies at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, where she researched dengue infection in pregnant women. After graduation, she served in two postdoctoral fellowship positions at the Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While at the CDC she gained experience using national Medicaid and Medicare data to analyze outcomes related to HIV, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis screening. She joined CCHE in 2017 and has been the data analyst and biostatistician on a number of NIH and CDC funded grants related to HIV testing and HIV care continuum outcomes.
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Data Management and Reporting Analyst
Micah Arnold (any pronouns) is a Master of Public Health student at UChicago with a professional background in clinical trials and a Bachelor of Arts in Statistics from the University of Florida. At UF, their research and studies focused on health geography and globalization as a driver of economic and health inequities in the global south. Currently, their interests lie in social epidemiology and understanding how the built environment exacerbates health inequity in urban settings. At CCHE, they support routine HIV and HCV screening programs, Ryan White-funded services, and the CM2 study. Outside of their role, Micah enjoys knitting, traveling, and exploring Chicago nightlife.
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Statistician
Matthew Bucala is a biostatistician at the University of Chicago specializing in HIV prevention and elimination research. With an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Michigan, he has expertise in statistical modeling, healthcare quality improvement, and social determinants of health. He has contributed to numerous academic publications and conference presentations and is proficient in R, SAS, Python, SQL, and ARCGis for data analysis. His research focuses on infectious disease epidemiology, policy analysis, and public health interventions, using data-driven insights to inform policy and improve health outcomes.
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Statistician
Joe (he/him/his) is originally from Austin, Texas where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Computational Biology from the University of Texas at Austin. He is interested in all things data, having worked as a Vaccine Data Analyst for Merck while studying for his Master’s in Data Science from the University of Texas at Austin. Back in his local Texas community, he previously spent his time volunteering as a firefighter/EMT. Outside of work, Joe enjoys hiking, tennis, and paddleboarding when he doesn’t fall in the water too much.
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Senior Data Reporting Analyst
Mayra Malagón (any pronouns) is a Senior Data Reporting Analyst with a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from Benedictine University and a BA in Medical Anthropology from the University of Iowa. Passionate about improving health outcomes through evidence-based practices, her focus is on supporting vulnerable populations. Mayra has extensive experience in mental health and substance use treatment, as well as in data analysis, policy development, and program expansion. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys reading poetry, traveling, and exploring unique coffee shops around Chicago.
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Research Data Analyst
Ella will be the Research Data Analyst for the Biostats – Biobehaviorial team and will be primarily working on N2 and the fMRI study. She received her BA in Psychology from Coe College and recently graduated with her Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her primary interests are in infectious disease epidemiology, issues of health equity, and social determinants of health. She has experience in HIV research, data analysis, and quality assurance testing. As a QA analyst, she developed a passion for data quality. Outside of work, she enjoys reading fiction, spending time outside, visiting family, and baking (especially pies).
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Senior Qualitative Analyst
Alicia (she/her/hers) is a senior qualitative researcher with a diverse background in public health, mental health and quality improvement research. She received a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018, and M.A. from the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice in 2024. Her primary interests include bringing a social work approach to qualitative research, understanding the lived experiences of marginalized communities and exploring ways to improve health equity, outcomes, and access for vulnerable groups. She has experience conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups in many different settings, and she is excited to expand her research horizons to the realm of HIV treatment and prevention. Outside of work, Alicia enjoys dancing and exploring Chicago neighborhoods by trying new coffee shops.
HIV-PACT
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Director of HIV Clinical Engagement
Jessica (she/her/hers) is the Director of HIV Clinical Engagement and a licensed clinical social worker for the Section of Infectious Diseases and CCHE. Jessica oversees implementation of HIV care and prevention initiatives at The University of Chicago’s Medical Campus with the HIV Prevention and Care Team (HIV-PACT) to improve access to services for people living with HIV and those vulnerable to HIV. She serves as the program director for the Expanded HIV Testing and Linkage to Care (xTLC) and the Gilead FOCUS program supporting routine HIV and HCV screening, working with local partner hospitals and health clinics to improve routine screening programs. Jessica holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s in International Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Supportive Services Coordinator
Jessica (she/her/hers) has been working in the Healthcare field for about 13 years. In 2015 Jessica began working with an FQHC organization. During that time, she was introduced and had the pleasure of working with patients who were living and newly diagnosed with HIV. During my time there Jessica fell in love with learning and growing with the people within the community. In 2019, Jessica became a part of the Gastroenterology team at The University of Chicago Medicine. While working in that department was an exciting and educational experience, she felt like something was missing. 2020 The GI department moved to a different floor where the team shared a clinic space with Infectious Disease. During the time shared, Jessica was able to work with a different dynamic group of patients, and she believes she found what was missing. With this new position, Jessica is excited to help patients receive the help and resources they may not know that CCHE and UCM offers.
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Nehemiah “NeNe” Clark (He/Him) is a Nigerian/Ghanaian American, born in North Carolina, and from the west side of Chicago as well. Formally a trans woman; recently returned to CisMale. NeNe loves all things tropical (fruits, scents, scenery, etc). His favorite color is Orange and Purple. Favorite foods are Caribbean, African, and Soul Food. NeNe has been in the public health field for almost 5 years, graduating the CHAP Program at Chicago House as certified HIV Tester during the pandemic and worked his way up to being a Community Health Worker at UChicago Medicine. When it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, NeNe has the living and working experience.
“My goal is to help end HIV and discrimination against Black and Brown individuals in the Chicagoland area and around the world.” – NeNe
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Research Project Manager, PACT
Samantha (she/her/hers) is an implementation research scientist and project manager for the PACT Research Team and Dr. Jessica Ridgway. Sam has contributed to the study design, qualitative data collection and analysis, and dissemination of research findings regarding key and vulnerable populations. Her research background includes HIV prevention and care continua outcomes, perspectives of people living with HIV and people who use substances, insight and context to predictors of disease transmission (I.e., perceived risk and vulnerability), and influences of decision-making for public health initiatives (i.e., Ending the HIV Epidemic). Her current research projects primarily focus on implementing interventions at the patient, provider, and system level to increase PrEP awareness and uptake among Black/African women across various settings such as community health centers in the Midwestern and Southern United States, sexual and reproductive health centers in Illinois, emergency departments in the U.S., and family planning centers in Paris and Seine-Saint-Denis, France. Sam received her Master of Science in Global Health from the University of Notre Dame in 2019 and has worked at CCHE since 2019. She is originally from Chicago and enjoys baking, travel, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
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Project Coordinator
Alton (he/him/his) is a native of Chicago. I’ve been working as a case manager for nearly 20 years in numerous Chicago neighborhoods. Proud Turtle dad and recent cat dad!
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Research Coordinator
Jesus Estrada (he/him/his), is a graduate from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s in psychology and minoring in children’s studies and biology (Neuroscience). He started working in the HIV field in the year of 2018 at a community agency. After Jesus’ small journey there, he decided to pursue his passion in working in the clinical setting, which led him to Cook County Health. There, Jesus started as a health educator and worked up the ladder to become a Regional HIV and PrEP coordinator. While expanding and having many PrEP programs under my supervision, he managed to successfully train providers in PrEP care, certify clinical members to become HIV testers, and involve PrEP and LGBTQ+ health studies into primacy care physician’s repertoire. Jesus worked with many specialties such as Peds/adolescent, geriatrics, Infectious Disease, and Family Practice. He am really excited to be part of the research team at UChicago and opening a whole new chapter to his career. One fun fact about me is that he loves going to the gym as much as he loves food.
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Senior Linkage to Care Coordinator
Damaris (she/her/hers) is the Senior Linkage to Care Coordinator for the Sexual Wellness Clinic, with a strong focus on LGBTQ+ and women’s health. She collaborates with FQHCs and CDPH to enhance patient education, access, and treatment. With 7 years of experience in healthcare, Damaris is passionate about health equity and committed to bridging gaps to ensure inclusive and accessible sexual health services.
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Research Specialist
Shwath (he/him) just recently completed his master’s at the University of Chicago in Biomedical Sciences. While at UChicago, he assisted Dr. Kimberly Stanford with the Emergency Department Social Medicine Team. His current interests lie in developing targeted interventions for homeless people and people struggling with substance misuse disorder. In his free time, Shwath enjoys cooking, crocheting, reading, playing basketball, climbing, or hanging out with his cat!
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Research Coordinator
Jackson (he/him/his) is a midwesterner through and through, he grew up in a small West Michigan town and is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Prior to working with CCHE, Jackson was involved in undergraduate research at the Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities and Michigan Medicine wherein he assisted on studies focusing on improving adolescent sexual and behavioral health outcomes. His research interests include expanding access to HIV prevention and education tools for racial, gender, and sexual minorities, and the ways in which digital health technologies impact sexual health outcomes. Outside of work, Jackson enjoys the simplicity of life by grabbing a coffee with friends and exploring the Windy City.
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Assistant Manager of Implementation Research
Emily (she/her/hers) is a research scientist with a diverse background in public health and biomedical sciences. Her previous research activities include the investigation of pathogens found in the urban built environment, characterization of drug-resistant urinary tract infections, and development of molecular diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections. Emily also coordinated new journalistic endeavors covering the COVID-19 pandemic and led educational seminars on vaccine history and importance. With a passion for sexual health and community engagement, Emily is interested in how the collaboration of different stakeholders can contribute to thoughtful research and result in effective public health interventions. Emily received her Master of Public Health from UC Berkeley in 2021. She is originally from California and moved to Chicago in 2023, and enjoys live music, cooking, crocheting, and walking her two dogs on the lakefront. Item description
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Clinical Social Worker
Michelle (she/her/hers) has been the social worker for the Section of Infectious Diseases and the HIV clinic at the University of Chicago for fourteen years. She is also the lead linkage to care coordinator for the Expanded HIV Testing and Linkage to Care Initiative (xTLC) and is often the first contact for new patients. Michelle received her Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University.
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Assistant Care Manager of Clinical Engagement
Lindsey Wesley-Madgett (she/her/hers) is our Assistant Care Manager of Clinical Engagement, she works with people living with HIV or HCV through our Data2Care program, xTLC Program, Resource Plus, and our HCV project. Lindsey previously worked with our xTLC program at an FQHC. Lindsey is a Certified Medical Assistant, African-American Education and HIV/STI Prevention Instructor, Certified HIV Prevention and Partner Services Counselor, Certified HIV tester.
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Family Nurse Practitioner – Infectious Disease
Shannon Casey (she/her) is a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in infectious diseases. She is the primary provider for the Sexual Wellness and HIV PrEP Clinic, where she strives to create a safe, judgment-free space for patients to receive the care they need. Shannon is committed to providing comprehensive, evidence-based care, focusing on prevention, treatment, and education. She believes in meeting patients where they are, fostering open and honest conversations, and empowering individuals to take charge of their health. Whether it’s discussing PrEP options, STI testing and treatment, or addressing overall sexual well-being.
Her approach to care is rooted in compassion, advocacy, and a deep understanding of the unique needs of the communities she serves. She is passionate about breaking down barriers to healthcare and making sexual wellness accessible and affirming for everyone.
Temps and Interns
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Temp Research Assistant
Miya is a 4th-year undergraduate studying Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago. Since she was 15, she’s been hard at work to find a career that involves promoting sexual wellness with ample opportunity to talk about it. She looks forward to graduate school and entering the Public Health field as an Epidemiologist. Issues of interest for Miya are sex mis-education, the spread of STIs, and drug abuse — all on a global scale. In her free time, Miya enjoys reading romance novels, trying new foods, and creating the ultimate travel bucket list. Miya is a proud Chicagoan who is happy to have a hand in HIV elimination at CCHE.
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Temp Senior Research Coordinator
Originally from Milwaukee, WI, DeJuan (he/him) relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana to be closer to family and loved ones. His professional background is in educational leadership and public health research with a unique focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion work. He holds a BA in Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a master’s in educational leadership and policy analysis from Marquette University. In his spare time, DeJuan loves to spend quality time with loved ones and binge-watching Netflix series. DeJuan is elated to be a part of the CCHE team!
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Lauren Landry (She/her/hers) is a Student Administrative Assistant at the CCHE and is working towards her Master’s degree in Art History.
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Social Administration Intern
Ryan (he/him/his) is a 2nd-year Social Work Master's student at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. He comes from Singapore, where he received his Bachelor's in Psychology from Yale-NUS College at the National University of Singapore. He assists in running the Black Incubator & Accelerator (BIA) Project, a capacity-building program with Black-led community-based organizations that address health equity issues in and around HIV in the South and West Sides of Chicago. He has also been a long-time youth advocate, having been a volunteer high-school tutor and online youth mental health befriender back in Singapore, as well as a Social Work & Supportive Services Intern during his 1st-year Master's field placement at MetroSquash, Woodlawn. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing video and board games, exercising, recreational frisbee, and hiking.
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Temporary UX Designer
Mia Johnson (she/her) graduated from DePaul University with a B.S. in User Experience Design and a minor in Information Technology. She is passionate about creating accessible, intuitive, and efficient design solutions. During her undergraduate studies, she worked with See Me! Seniors On The Move…, a nonprofit organization that provides resources for individuals with dementia, to develop their website.
In her free time, she enjoys reading and listening to music.