Past Events

For recordings of past events and webinars, please refer to CHARM's  channel.

• CHANGE T32: Virtual Open House

  The University of Miami's CHANGE T32 Training Program is actively recruiting pre- and post-doctoral scholars and will hold a Virtual Open House for all interested candidates!

  Led by Drs. Daniel Feaster, Sannisha Dale, and Viviana Horigian, and housed under the UM Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM), CHANGE - Culturally-focused HIV Advancements through the Next Generation for Equity - aims to build the next cadre of scientists focused on mental health, HIV, and health disparities/inequities research.

  We are inviting all pre- and post-doctoral candidates interested in CHANGE to join us for a Virtual Open House on Friday April 12^th from 6-7:30pm ET to engage with our Directors and past and present trainees. The virtual format will allow for breakout rooms to rotate with each group and ask your questions about the program competencies, activities, application process, timeline, and more! 

  We are recruiting pre- and post-doctoral scholars to start during the 2024-2025 academic year. However, start dates may be flexible based on need and fit. Please see attached flyer and the CHANGE T32 website to review eligibility criteria.

  Please send any questions to CHANGE-program@miami.edu.

• Dissemination and Implementation Conference Debrief Session

  Wednesday, March 20th 2024

  EIS Core Investigator Alyssa Lozano sharing her experience and information gained from the 2023 Dissemination and Implementation Conference. 

• UM Research Resources Expo

  The University of Miami Research Resources Expo showcasing the diverse research resources and core facilities across the University of Miami. 

  March 12 and 14, 2024

  Find more information here. 

• Research in Progress: Drs. Audrey Harkness and Nicholas Perry

  March 11, 2024

  Title: Hombre a Hombre: Adapting and Evaluating a Relationship Education Program for Latino Sexual Minority Men's Health

• J.D. Smith, PhD - Implementation Research on Cancer Symptom Management in Treatment and Survivorship: Development & Application of Novel Methods

  Co-Hosted with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

  March 5, 2024

  Presenter: Justin D. Smith, PhD (Equitable Implementation Science Core Consultant) 

• MHD-CE Speaker Series - Daniel Driffin, DrPH: Experiences of HIV Seroconversion Among Black Sexual Minority Men

  Please join us Wednesday, February 28^th 2024 at 2:00 PM for our next Speaker Series seminar with Dr. Daniel Driffin, discussing "Experiences of Seroconversion Among Black Sexual Minority Men." Join via Facebook Live or Zoom. 

• The Miami CFAR 2024 Annual Symposium

  2024 Miami CFAR Annual Symposium, co-sponsored by CHARM. 

  “Breakthroughs in HIV/AIDS: Treatment, Vaccines, and Cure” 

  Friday, February 23, 2024.

• Bonnie Harris - "Building Connections: Thinking Outside the Box - A conversation"

  February 21, 2024 

  Presenter: Bonnie S. Harris, Program Manager, Howard University College of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine

  Co-Hosted by the Combined Cohort Study (CCS), CFAR, and CTSI. 

  Bonnie Harris is Program Manager of an HIV Recruitment strategy project at Howard University College of Medicine. Ms. Harris will discuss recruitment strategies to link individuals living with HIV (ILWH) to care + navigating individuals at greater risk to accessible sexual health (SH) resources, retention and the iterative process of engaging community members in various settings utilizing HIV + sexual health education and prevention information.

• Cooper Fellow Lecture by Dr. Steven Safren

  Our Director, Dr. Steven Safren, presented at a University of Miami Cooper Fellow Lecture by Dr. Steven Safren on February 15, 2024. 

  Find the video on our YouTube page. 

• Research Navigation Portal Launch Event

  On 1/31/2024, CHARM launched our new Research Navigation Portal.

  Watch this video for a summary of what CHARM services you can access through the portal, and a short demo on how to set up your user profile and navigate the Portal.

  For more information on the portal and to see FAQs, see the Research Navigation Portal page on our website. 

• Research in Progress: Zinzi Bailey, PhD

  December 6, 2023 - 2:00 - 3:00 PM

  Dr. Zinzi Bailey presented on her CHARM Pilot Award, "Social and Geographic Displacement in Miami-Dade: Impact on Mental Health and Health Disparities in HIV Positive Patients." 

• CHARM Community Pilot Award - Informational Session

  November 15, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM

  The Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM) at the University of Miami is accepting applications for our Community Pilot Awards Program. The purpose of this program is to encourage community-centered research projects focused on HIV and Mental Health initiatives. Two $25,000 awards will be awarded this cycle with a 1-year project period (tentative June 1st, 2024 – May 31st, 2025). 

  RFA and other information about the new funding mechanism can be found here. 

  Have any questions? View our informational session here, or reach out to Meadgine Ilmet (MHD-CE Core Coordinator, mfi13@miami.edu. 

• CHARM Tech Talk: Scott McIntosh, Ph.D.

  Topic: e-Health and A.I.: Ethical Issues and Considerations

  Location: CTSI Training Center, Don Soffer Clinical Research Center, Room 710

  November 8, 2023 - 2:00 PM

  View the presentation on our YouTube channel. 

• CHARMing Conversations: Intimate Partner Violence, HIV, And Navigating Your Way Out

  October 25^th 2023, 6:30-8:00 PM

  CHARMing Conversations panels are comprised of CHARM CAB members, other community members, and health professionals/experts in the field. 

  Panelists: 

  Sherkila Shaw - CHARM CAB Member, SHINE Community Consultant, Sistas Organizing to Survive

  Ashlee Hollerman - CHARM CAB Member, Empower U, The McKenzie Project

  Dedra Brown - CHARM CAB Member, Empower U

  Nicholas Metheny, PhD - Assistant Professor, University of Miami

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Associate Professor of Psychology, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core, University of Miami

• CHARM Kick-Off Event

  September 14, 2023 - 4:00 - 6:00 PM

  CHARM has officially transitioned from a Developmental AIDS Research Center (D-ARC) to a fully fledged ARC. Community members and researchers joined us for a short presentation on our new structure, resources and activities, and to build relationships and collaborations for the years to come. 

   

• CHARM Tech Talk: Rana Saber, M.S., M.S.L.

  Presenter: Rana Saber, M.S., M.S.L., Director, RADD Team, Northwestern University

  A collaboration with CLaRO and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Rana Saber's presentation was followed by a panel including Dr. Audrey Harkness and Dr. Sara St. George

  August 30, 2023 - 2:00 - 3:00 PM

• Tonia C. Poteat, PhD - Project SHARE

  August 16, 2023, 12:00-2:00 PM

  This event was hosted by CHARM’s Mental Health Disparities and Community Engagement Core in collaboration with the Miami CFAR’s Population Engagement Core. 

  Title: Intersectional Approaches to Addressing Transgender Health Inequities

  Presenter: Tonia Poteat, PhD, Professor, Duke University School of Nursing

  Panelists: Jasmine McKenzie (The McKenzie Project), Morgan Mayfaire (TransSOCIAL), Yahima Ocon (Survivor’s Pathway) and Lydia Fein, MD, MPH

  See event recording on our Youtube Channel. 

    

• CHARM Scholar Award Seminar

  The Developmental Core held a webinar to kick off our new Scholar Award funding opportunity. 

  Please find the recording of the webinar on our YouTube Channel. 

  July 18, 2023 - 3:00 - 4:00 PM 

• Research in Progress: Renessa Williams, PhD

  Dr. Williams presented on her CHARM Pilot Award, "iRISE: Investigating the Relationship between
  Intersectional Stigma and its Effects on Health Outcomes among Black Sexual Minority Men" 

  July 12, 2023 - 2:00 - 3:00 PM

• NIH Virtual Meeting: Pharmacy-Centered HIV Research: Current Landscape and Future Frontiers

  

  Dr. Mariano Kanamori, CHARM’s Equitable Implementation Science Core Co-Director, represented the University of Miami at this significant NIH virtual symposium on June 29th from 1:00pm to 2:20pm. 

  This meeting brings together researchers, pharmacists and other pharmacy-involved professionals, community members, and federal partners to discuss research opportunities in how pharmacies are used to provide HIV testing, prevention, and care. The meeting took place through a virtual format on Wed June 28^th and Thu June 29^th 2023, from 1:00pm-5:00pm ET each day.

  https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/events/announcements/pharmacy-centered-hiv-research-current-landscape-and-future-frontiers

• MHD-CE Speaker Series: Mandy J. Hill, DrPH, MPH

  A Population Health Approach to Linking Cis Black Women to Mental Health Services when Engaging them in HIV Prevention Interventions 

  June 21, 2023 - 3:30 - 4:30 PM

• CHARM Pilot Awards Webinar

  Please find information about our 2023 Pilot Award call for applications here! 

  This webinar's purpose was to describe the application process and answer any questions from interested applicants. 

  May 18, 2023 - 2:00 - 3:00 PM

• Research in Progress: Eduard Suarez, Jr. PsyD , LMHC, MBA

  May 17, 2023 - 2:00 - 3:00 PM

• CHARM and CLaRO Virtual Panel Discussion - Crafting a Culture of Excellence: Fostering Effective Research Assistant and Coordinator Teams for Success

  Target audience includes Research Assistants/Associates, Graduate Assistants, and investigators that lead research teams 

  April 26, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM 

• Victoria Orrego Dunleavy, PhD – Cafecito and Conversation - Microgames Addressing eHealth Literacy & Resilience

  April 12^th 3:05 – 4:05 pm

  CHARM is pleased to co-host Dr. Orrego Dunleavy’s “Cafecito and Conversation” presentation with the School of Communication.

• Research in Progress - Emily Cherenack, PhD

  April 12, 2023 - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM 

• CHARMing Conversations: Women, Empowerment, and Voices 

  March 22nd, 2023, 6:30-8:00 PM

  CHARMing Conversations panels are comprised of CHARM CAB members, other community members, and health professionals/experts in the field. 

  Panelists: 

  Sherkila Shaw - CHARM CAB Member, SHINE Community Consultant 

  Ashlee Hollerman - CHARM CAB Member

  Myka Osorio - CHARM CAB Member, Care Resource Community Health Center, Inc. 

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Associate Professor of Psychology, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core, University of Miami

• Sarah Valentine, PhD - Effectiveness and Implementation of Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD among Pregnant Women with Substance Use Histories seen in an Obstetrics Setting

  February 15, 2023

• Annual HIV Symposium: Science Driving Strategy: Ending the HIV Epidemic

  The Miami Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), the HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases Institute (HEIDI) and the Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM) have partnered to host the 16^th Annual HIV Symposium: Science Driving Strategy: Ending the HIV Epidemic. 

  February 9, 2023 

• CHARM and CLaRO Virtual Panel Discussion: Lessons Learned: Study Team Management

  January 25, 2023 - 2:00 - 3:00 PM

• MHD Speaker Series: Sarit Golub, PhD, MPH - Integrating Implementation Science and Psychology to Promote Equity in HIV Prevention and Care

  January 18, 2023

• CHARMing Conversations: Injectable ART for Treatment and PrEP

  December 14th, 2022, 6:30-8:00 PM

  CHARMing Conversations panels are comprised of CHARM CAB members, other community members, and health professionals/experts in the field. 

  Panelists: 

  Roxana Bolden - CHARM CAB Member, Outreach Coordinator, Community Consultant 

  Daniel Driffin - External Relations Project Manager, HIV Vaccine Trials Network, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center 

  June Romero - Program Specialist I, CAN Community Health  

  Tajma Darlington - CHARM CAB Member, Linkage to Care Specialist, Health Choice Network 

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Associate Professor of Psychology, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core, University of Miami

• CHARM and CLaRO Virtual Panel Discussion: Five-Year Latinx Community Assessment & Dissemination

  CHARM is thrilled to host a panel led by the Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities (CLaRO) in collaboration with Florida International University (FIU) on Friday the 9^th of December, 2022 at 10 AM. 

  Discussions center on findings from a five-year community level assessment of needs, resources, and existing services related to substance abuse, violence/trauma, and HIV/AIDS (SAVA) in vulnerable Latinx communities: (i) farm working (ii) urban/inner-city, and (iii) LGBTQ+. Discussions will also include development of the findings dissemination plan that engages community members, partnering organizations, service providers, and other stakeholders in disseminating culturally appropriate findings to the target communities.

  Please see the event flyer here. 

  Panelists: 

  Elena Bastida, PhD - Professor, Chair of the Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University  

  Gira J. Ravelo, PhD, MSW - Research Assistant Professor, Center for Research on US Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University

  Patricia Rojas, PhD, MPH, MSW - Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University   

  Moderator: 

  Mario De La Rosa, PhD, MSSA - Distinguished Professor, Endowed Univerisity Professor in Health Equity, Director of Center for Research on US Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University 

• 2022 World AIDS Day Seminar - The Interaction of HIV with Mental Health in the Modern Antiretroviral Therapy Era

  December 1, 2022 - 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

  2022 World AIDS Day Seminar - Collaboration between the Miami Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), the Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM), and the HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases Institute (HEIDI). 

  Presenters:

  • Adam Carrico, PhD
  • Roger McIntosh, PhD
  • Robert Paul, Ph.D., ABCN
  • Leah Rubin PhD, MA, MPH
  • Delaram Ghanooni, MD, MPH, CPH 

• MHD Speaker Series: Katherine Quinn, Ph.D. - Impacts of Police and Community Violence on HIV Care for Black Men in Chicago

  October 19, 2022 - 3:00-4:00 PM

• Research in Progress: Victoria Orrego Dunleavy, PhD - The Impact of Media Literacy and Resilience on Low Income Latinx Living with HIV: A Community-Engaged Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

  

  Presenter: Victoria Orrego Dunleavy, PhD

  September 14, 2022 - 3:00-4:00 PM

  Victoria Orrego Dunleavy, PhD will be presenting on her CHARM Pilot Award: The Impact of Media Literacy and Resilience on Low Income Latinx Living with HIV: A Community-Engaged Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

• MHD Speaker Series: Valerie Earnshaw, PhD - HIV and Substance Use Stigma

  September 14, 2022 - 1:00 pm

• CHARMing Conversations: Insights by the Transgender & LGBTQ Community in the Face of Oppressive Legislation

  September 21st, 2022, 6:30-8:00 PM

  CHARMing Conversations panels are comprised of CHARM CAB members, other community members, and health professionals/experts in the field. 

  Panelists: 

  Jasmine McKenzie - Founder/CEO The McKenzie Project Inc. 

  Kimberly Turner - Entrepreneur, CHARM CAB Member

  Morgan Mayfaire - Executive Director, TransSOCIAL, Inc. 

  Tyson Cash - Registered Nurse, CHARM CAB Member 

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Associate Professor of Psychology, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core, University of Miami

• MHD Speaker Series: Tamara Taggart, Ph.D. - Social-Structural and Cultural Determinants of HIV-Related Stigmas among Black People in the US

  August 31, 2022 - 1:00-2:00 PM

  Join via Facebook Live or Zoom.

• MHD Speaker Series: Ali Talan, DrPH - The Impact that Structural Oppression has on Mental Health and HIV

  July 20th, 2022 - 1:00-2:00 PM

• Research in Progress: Claudia Martinez, MD; Lunthita Duthely, EdD; Tiffany Glynn, PhD - Stigma, Resilience and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Women Living with HIV

  

  Presenters: Claudia Martinez, MD, Lunthita Duthely, EdD, Tiffany Glynn, PhD 

  July 13th, 2022 - 2:00-3:00 PM

  Claudia Martinez, MD, will be presenting on her CHARM Pilot Award: Stigma, Resilience and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Women Living with HIV, with her teammates Lunthita Duthely, EdD and Tiffany Glynn, PhD. 

• Methods Core: Implementation Science Seminar

  Topic areas and current work presented include an introduction to Implementation Sciences (IS), barriers to implementing HIV Evidence-Based Interventions, effective-implementation hybrid studies, and implementation strategies such as using social networks.

  Presenters: Audrey Harkness, PhD, Mariano Kanamori, PhD, and Guillermo "Willy" Prado, PhD

  June 15th, 2022 - 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

• MHD Core Speaker Series: Whitney Irie, PhD, MSW - Understanding PrEP Access and Service Delivery for Black Women in the US

  

  Presenter: Whitney Irie, PhD, MSW

  May 25th, 2022 - 1:00-2:00 PM

• Research in Progress: Daniel O'Neil, MD, MPH - Characterizing the Mental Health and Biobehavioral State of South African Women Living with Comorbid HIV and Breast Cancer and Considering a Contextually Appropriate Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management Intervention

  

  Presenter: Daniel O'Neil, MD, MPH

  May 18th, 2022 - 4:00-5:00 PM

  Daniel O'Neil, MD, MPH, will be presenting on his CHARM Pilot Award: Characterizing the Mental Health and Biobehavioral State of South African Women Living with Comorbid HIV and Breast Cancer and Considering a Contextually Appropriate Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management Intervention

• Research in Progress: Kathryn Nowotny, PhD - The Syndemic of Criminal Justice Involvement, Mental Illness, Substance Use, and Interpersonal Violence among Marginalized Adults Living with HIV

  

  Presenter: Kathryn Nowotny, PhD

  April 27th, 2022 - 1:00-2:00 PM

  Kathryn Nowotny, PhD, will be presenting on her CHARM Pilot Award: The Syndemic of Criminal Justice Involvement, Mental Illness, Substance Use, and Interpersonal Violence among Marginalized Adults Living with HIV. 

• CHARMing Conversations: Dynamics and Implications of Age Gap in Intimate Relationships

  April 20th, 2022, 6:30-8:00 PM

  CHARMing Conversations panels are comprised of CHARM CAB members, other community members, and health professionals/experts in the field. 

  Panelists: 

  Alecia Tramel-McIntyre - Founder/CEO Positive People Network, Inc., CHARM CAB Chair, Subject Matter Exper/Consultant 

  Tajma Darlington - Co-Chair of CHARM CAB, HIV Prevention and Testing Manager, Pridelines

  Kimberly Ho Misiaszek - Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinical Director for Institute for Individual and Family Counseling, Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, University of Miami 

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Associate Professor of Psychology, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core, University of Miami

• Methods Seminar: Sierra Bainter, PhD - Using Bayesian Variable Selection to Identify Important Predictors of Mental Health Outcomes

  

  Presenter: Sierra Bainter, PhD 

  April 6th, 2022 - 4:00-5:00 PM 

  Many researchers in the social, behavioral, and health sciences face the challenge of narrowing down a large set of theoretically-relevant predictors to a smaller set which reliably relate to the outcome. For example, risk and protective factors related to HIV outcomes. Attendees will be introduced to Bayesian variable selection methods to address this and related research questions. This workshop will assume a basic familiarity with standard regression analysis.

  Join the Zoom meeting here. 

• Methods Seminar: Utilizing SAS Visual Data Mining and Machine Learning to Build Healthcare Solutions

  March 3rd, 2022 - 12:00-1:00 PM

  Co-Hosted by:

  UM Department of Public Health Sciences Division of Biostatistics and CHARM Methods Core 

  Presenter: DJ Penix, President & Founder, Pinnacle Solutions Inc.

• CHARMing Conversations: Childhood Trauma Coping and Healing

  March 2nd, 2022 - 6:30-8:00 PM

  Panelists: 

  Yahima Ocon - Transgender Program Director, Peer Navigator, Emory University’s Compass Advisory Board 

  Tammy Gordan - CHARM CAB Member

  Gail Ironson, M.D., PhD - Professor of Psychology, Trauma Treatment Program, University of Miami Psychological Services Center

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Miami, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core

• Research in Progress: Tatiana Perrino, PsyD - Engaging Hispanic Immigrants in Mental Health Promotion and HIV Prevention: A Father-Son Initiative

  

  Presenter: Tatiana Perrino, PsyD 

  February 9th, 2022 - 2:00-3:00 PM

  Tatiana Perrino, PsyD, will be presenting on her CHARM Pilot Award: Engaging Hispanic Immigrants in Mental Health Promotion and HIV Prevention: A Father-Son Initiative.

• MHD Speaker Series: Julie Levison H., M.D., M. Phil, MPH - Retention in Care and HIV Self-Management in Latino Migrants

  January 26, 2022 1:00-2:00 PM

  Presenter: Julie Levison H., M.D., M. Phil, MPH 

• MHD Speaker Series: Carol Dawson-Rose, RN, PhD, FAAN - Substance Use in Services for Transitional Age Youth across the HIV Status Neutral Continuum in San Francisco

  December 8, 2021 1:00-2:00 PM

  Presenter: Carol Dawson-Rose, RN, PhD, FAAN

• 2021 World AIDS Day: Substance Use and HIV - Glimpses of Basic, Clinical and Biobehavioral Research

  2021 World AIDS Day Seminar - Collaboration between the Miami Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and the Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM)

  December 1, 2021

  Presenters:

  • Hansel Tookes, MD, MPH 
  • David Serota, MD 
  • Shamsudheen Moidunny, PhD
  • Renessa Williams, PhD, RN 
  • Suresh Pallikkuth, PhD 

• CHARMing Conversations: Youth, Young Adults, and HIV: Impact, Strategies, and Coping

  November 17th, 2021 - 6:30-8:00 PM

  Panelists: 

  Jordan Patrick - ACTS Outreach Coordinator, Divison of Adolescent Medicine, Batchelor Children’s Research Institute

  Kimberly Turner - CHARM CAB Member, Entrepreneur

  Michelle Hylton - Nurse Manager, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Batchelor Children's Research Institute 

  Ashley Cason - Education & Prevention Specialist, CAN Community Health 

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Miami, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core

• MHD Speaker Series: Rosina Cianelli, PhD - The Psychosocial Impact of Living with HIV: An Integral Perspective from Black and Hispanic Women Aged 50+

  November 17, 2021 1:00-2:00 PM

  Presenter: Rosina Cianelli, PhD, MPH, RN, IBCLC, FAAN

• Research in Progress: Candice Sternberg, MD - Bon Sante: Opportunities for HIV Prevention Among Haitian Americans

  

  Presenter: Candice Sternberg, MD

  November 4th, 2021 - 2:00-3:00 PM

  Candice Sternberg, MD, will be presenting on her CHARM Pilot Award: Bon Sante: Opportunities for HIV Prevention Among Haitian Americans.

• MHD Speaker Series: Kathryn M. Nowotny, PhD - The Syndemic Health Consequences of Mass Incarceration

  

  October 20, 2021 1:00-2:00 PM

  Presenter: Kathryn M. Nowotny, PhD

• MHD Speaker Series: William Darrow, PhD - The First 40 Years of HIV: Promising Programs and Limited Success

  September 29, 2021 1:00-2:00 PM 

  Presenter: William Darrow, PhD

• MHD Speaker Series: Mario de la Rosa, PhD - Substance Use with Latino Populations

  September 22, 2021 1:00-2:00 PM 

  Presenter: Mario de la Rosa, PhD

• CHARMing Conversations: COVID's Impact on Mental Health & People Living with HIV

  September 22nd, 2021 - 6:30-8:00 PM

  Panelists: 

  Alecia Tramel-McIntyre - Founder/CEO Positive People Network, Inc., CHARM CAB Chair, Subject Matter Exper/Consultant 

  Jose Rodriguez - CHARM CAB Member, Architectural Designer, OS Design Group

  David Malebranche, MD, MPH - Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician, Sexual health/HIV specialist 

  Candice Sternberg, MD - Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine 

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Miami, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core

  Please find the flyer here. 

• Reproducible Research with R, RStudio and GitHub: How Modern Software is Helping HIV Research

  

  Presenter: Raymond R. Balise, PhD

  September 2, 2021

  This is a talk for people who want to learn how modern analysis software helps write papers. 

  Attendees will be introduced to:

  • The latest tools in the R software ecosystem which seamlessly knit together analysis output and text
  • The rUM package (designed by r users at the University of Miami) which creates a research project complete with the outline of a paper formatted for publication
  • The visual editor in modern RStudio which supports formatting, editing and reference management
  • The GitHub website which makes it easy to share your work

  This presentation has two sections, a prerecorded introduction to the tools which can be watched by anyone at any time and a limited enrollment live presentation which shows how researchers at UM are crafting papers on HIV medication compliance and on COVID vaccine hesitancy in people living with HIV.  This talk is designed to be accessible for everyone from new R users to seasoned code warriors who want to learn the latest tools.  The live presentation will provide a gentle introduction to modern analysis techniques, such as LASSO and CART using the state of the art for modeling in R, the tidymodels ecosystem.

  Register in advance for this meeting (Zoom). 

• CHARMing Conversations: Aging with HIV and Coping with Challenges

  August 25th, 2021 - 6:30-8:00 PM

  Panelists: 

  Daniel E. Jimenez, PhD - Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MSOM, University of Miami

  Arnetta E. Phillips, CAC - Clinical Research Coordinator, MSOM, University of Miami, Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine

  Roxana Bolden - CHARM CAB Member, SHINE Community Consultant

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Miami, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core

  Please find the flyer here. 

• SMARTManage: Developing an eHealth-based intervention to improve HRQoL in MSM living with HIV and cancer

  Presenters:
  
  Frank Penedo, PhD, Department of Psychology

  Marc Puccinelli, PhD, Department of Psychology

  August 18, 2021 

  About the presentation: 

  People living with HIV (PLWHIV) are at greater risk of cancer and the significant compromises both conditions render on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). As this dually diagnosed subgroup of HIV patients continues to grow, they are at elevated psychosocial risk due to the   combined stress and burden of co-managing both conditions. This study aims to develop an eHealth-based stress management and risk reduction program for MSM coping with HIV and cancer.

   

• MHD Speaker Series: MarieGuerda Nicolas: Developing Culturally Effective Mental Health Interventions for People of Color

  August 11, 2021 1:00-2:00 PM 

  Presenter: MarieGuerda Nicolas, PhD

• PrEP-GAT: A social network intervention to increase uptake, retention and adherence to PrEP in Black and Latina Transgender women in South Florida through offering simultaneous services of PrEP and gender affirming treatment

  Presenter:
  
  Laura Beauchamps, MD, MSOM, Infectious Diseases 
  
  July 14, 2021
  
  About the Presentation:
  
  Latina and Black transgender women are disproportionately impacted by HIV.  Qualitative research aiming to understand how transwomen’s social networks impact the PrEP continuum of care cascade is urgently needed. Understanding the social determinants of health including barriers to retention, knowledge of PrEP and gender affirming treatments drug interactions with PrEP will provide information on a potential strategy to increase PrEP uptake within Latina and Black transgender women social networks.

• CHARMing Conversations: Women, Homelessness and Substance Use

  June 23rd, 2021 - 6:30-8:00 PM

  Panelists: 

  Roxana Bolden - CHARM CAB Member

  Lirian Oquendo - Ryan White Case Manager and Substance Abuse Counselor, EMPOWER U

  Sherkila Shaw - Community Member 

  Tiffany Glynn - PhD Candidate in Clinical Health Psychology, University of Miami 

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Miami, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core

  Please find the flyer here. 

• CHARMing Conversations - Youth: Coping with Isolation

  May 26th, 2021 - 6:30-8:00 PM

  Panelists: 

  Jordan Patrick - Undergraduate Senior at the University of Miami, HIV Outreach Coordinator, Batchelor Children’s Research Institute

  Brenda Wilmot - CHARM CAB Member, Hiring Manager, Walmart 

  Dominique Phillips, B.S. - Predoctoral Clinical Psychology Trainee, University of Miami 

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha K. Dale, Ph.D., Ed.M - Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Miami, Director, SHINE Research Program, Director, CHARM Mental Health Disparities Core

  Please find the flyer here. 

• CHANGE T32 Training Program: Kick-Off Event!

  May 11th, 2021

  Thank you for joining us for the Kick-Off event of our new CHANGE T32 Training Program. Please find a recording of the event on YouTube. 

  Event Flyer

  CHANGE Flyer

  For more info on the CHANGE T32 Training Program, click here. 

• CHARMing Conversations - Safe Sex During COVID-19

  Panelists: 

  Camille Lewis - Program Manager for Transgender Services, Empower "U" Community Health Center 

  Jose Rodriguez - CHARM CAB Member, Architectural Designer, OS Design Group

  Allan E Rodriguez, M.D. - Professor of Clinical Medicine, CHARM Developmental Core Co-Director, University of Miami

  Paul Seligmann - PrEP Services Coordinator, Care Resource, Non-government co-chair, PrEP Workgroup for the Miami-Dade DoH

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha Dale, PhD, EdM - Assistant Professor, Director, Mental Health Disparities Core, CHARM, Psychology Department, University of Miami

  Please find the flyer here. 

• CHARMing Conversations - Mental Health and HIV: Stigmas, Strategies, and Striving

  Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 6:30 - 8:00 PM

  In this conversation, we discussed stigmas about HIV and Mental Health and how people continue to strive. 

  Panelists: 

  Alecia Tramel - Chair of CHARM CAB, Executive Director / Founder, Positive People Network, Inc. 

  Tajma Darlington - Co-Chair of CHARM CAB, HIV Prevention and Testing Manager, Pridelines

  Myka Osorio - CHARM CAB Member, PrEP Navigator, Care Resource

  Moderator: 

  Sannisha Dale, PhD, EdM - Assistant Professor, Director, Mental Health Disparities Core, CHARM, Psychology Department, University of Miami

  Please find the flyer here. 

• Syndemics, Cultural factors, and Biological Susceptibility to HIV Acquisition in Latino Men who Have Sex with Men

  Presenter:

  Nicholas Metheny, PhD, School of Nursing and Health Studies

  February 17, 2021

  About the Presentation:

  Despite strong evidence that the disproportionate burden of HIV in Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) is due to a combination of structural, syndemic, and cultural factors, there is little research on mechanisms of action between social stressors and HIV risk. Using biomarker data and sophisticated quantitative analyses, this study aims to understand how social stressors are associated with HIV susceptibility and pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake in Latino MSM.

• 15th Annual HIV Symposium: The Path to Ending the HIV Epidemic

  The Miami Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), the HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases Institute (HEIDI) and the Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM) have partnered to host the 15^th Annual HIV Symposium: The Path to Ending the HIV Epidemic. 

  February 10 & 11, 2021

  Speakers:
  Carl W. Dieffenbach, PhD
  Julia Marcus, PhD
  Brian Mustanski, PhD
  Lynne Mofenson, MD
  Emma Spencer, PhD
  Dennis Burton, PhD

• Introduction to Social Network Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR)

  Presenters: Mariano Kanamori, PhD Assistant Professor University of Miami, Stephen Fallon, PhD Executive Director Latinos Salud

  February 3, 2021
  
  Topics Covered:
  
  CBPR’s Definition, Design Principles and Challenges 
  Developing Partnerships 
  Incorporating Social Network Analysis in CBPR 
  Finding The Right Community Partner 
  Examples of Outcomes of Community Engagements 

• Sex, Drugs and REDCap: How to Collect Research Data on HIV and Substance Abuse

  Presenter: Dr. Raymond R. Balise, Department of Public Health Sciences, Biostatistics

  February 3, 2021
  
  REDCap is a popular, user-friendly, web-based data collection tool that can be used to collect sensitive research data. This presentation will show the process of setting up a REDCap database used for a clinical trial aimed at assessing the utility of an iPhone/Android mobile app designed to support medication adherence in HIV+ men who have sex with men and who use stimulants (cocaine and/or methamphetamine).
  
  The completed project includes a screening survey, study e-consent, randomization into study groups considering race, and tracking of specimen collection over a year. Attendees will see how REDCap can be used to do data validation, control the display of data with action tags and feed data between study instruments/questionnaires with piping. New features in REDCap 10, such as field embedding, to make good-looking questionnaires, will be covered.
  
  Intended audience is people who have some REDCap experience, but novices who would like to learn more about REDCap's capabilities are welcome. Attendees must register in advance and must watch the tutorial videos (1.5 hour length) before the seminar. 
  
  Tutorial videos and information are available here.

• Supporting Treatment Adherence for Resilience and Thriving (START): Assessing intersectional stigma within an mHealth intervention to improve treatment adherence among HIV+ stimulant-using MSM

  Presenters:

  Renessa Williams, PhD, RN - Postdoctoral Fellow Deportment of Surgery

  Chika Christle Chuku, MPH - Pre-doctoral Fellow Deportment of Public Health

  January 27, 2021

  About the Presentation:

  Stimulant-using MSM (SUMSM) may have greater difficulties navigating the HIV care continuum as well as display substantially elevated viral load, amplified HIV transmission risk, and faster clinical HIV progression. Efforts are needed to understand how managing multiple stigmatized identities related to HIV status, substance use, race, and sexual minority status may further challenge HIV-related disparities. This proposed research aims to test an mHealth intervention targeting treatment adherence, substance use, and intersectional stigma among SUMSM.

• 2020 World AIDS Day and Ending the Epidemic in Miami Webinar

  Researchers from the Miami Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and the Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM) present their ongoing NIH-funded HIV Implementation Science projects which, in collaboration with community stakeholders, aim to end Miami’s HIV epidemic. 

   

  Moderators:

  • Savita Pahwa, MD - Director, Miami Center for AIDS Research; Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
  • Steven Safren, PhD - Director, Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health; Professor, Department of Psychology

  Presenters:

  • Rosina Cianelli, PhD, MPH, RN - Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies
  • Sannisha Dale, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
  • Susanne Doblecki-Lewis, MD, MSPH - Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Department of Medicine
  • Audrey Harkness, PhD - Research Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences
  • Mariano Kanamori, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences
  • Allan Rodriguez, MD - Professor of Clinical Medicine, Department of Medicine

• World AIDS Day - Staying Focused: High Priority Areas for HIV/AIDS Prevention in the Era of COVID-19

  Presenters: Dr. Renessa Williams, Dr. Mariya Petrova, Leah Davis Ewart and Ariana Johnson (predoctoral students)

  December 1, 2020

  In celebration of World AIDS Day, the Department of Public Health Sciences hosted a symposium showcasing the ongoing work of its predoctoral and postdoctoral students.

  Research topics include: 

  • Barriers to PrEP uptake
  • Substance use patterns among sexual minority men living with HIV
  • Substance use and HIV disease management in the era of COVID-19
  • HIV-related stigma as a risk factor for unsuppressed viral load

   

• Building mCARES - mobile technology to Improve Adherence among Women with HIV

  Presenter: Dr. Lunthita Duthely

  November 11, 2020

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Duthely's research focuses on improving health outcomes for minority women. Her research interests are in understanding the interplay between individual-level barriers, like HIV stigma, and facilitators, such as resiliency, to adherence to care among African American, Caribbean and Latina women living with HIV. This is foundational for a strengths-based approach to design, adapt and implement education and technology­based solutions to support adherence to care.

  About the Presentation:

  The evolution of the formative work for a multilingual, mHealth intervention to support women living with HIV will be presented. An overview of the study findings, to date, gaps in the literature regarding HIV mHealth interventions and ethical and practical considerations when designing applications for special populations will also be discussed.

   

• Building rapport in the virtual world

  Moderator: Dr. Victoria Behar-Zusman

  Panelists: Marisabel Canedo, Dr. Sannisha Dale, Maria Khalona, Jasmyn Sanders, Dr. Gira Ravelo, Dr. Patricia Rojas, Dr. Jose Colon-Burgos, Arnetta Phillips

  October 9, 2020

  In collaboration with Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities (CLaRO)

  For event recording, click here.

• Engaging the capacity of local comadronas in rural Guatemala: A tool for HIV prevention and maternal health

  Presenter: Dr. Victoria Orrego Dunleavy

  September 30, 2020

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Victoria Orrego's expertise is in health communication with a focus on health promotion and evaluation. Dr. Orrego works to understand and alleviate health disparities among at risk populations such as Latinx and indigenous Mayans by developing innovative, community-based interventions.

  About the Presentation:

  SEPA (Salud/Health, Educaci6n /Education, Prevenci6n/Prevention, and Autocuidado/Self-Care), has been effective in reducing HIV risk behaviors among Hispanic women and can be utilized to address the socio-cultural factors that perpetuate HIV risk among indigenous Mayan women. This presentation will discuss the results of a pilot study focusing on culturally adapting SEPA content for the Mayan community and examining the feasibility and acceptability of the integration of SEPA into current comadrona (traditional birth attendant) training. Next steps to address the Covid-19 consequences will also be discussed.

• ¡HOLA, Amigos! Lowering Cardiometabolic Risk in older Latinos Living with HIV

  Presenter: Dr. Daniel Jimenez

  August 26, 2020

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Jimenez is a clinical psychologist who has dedicated his career to identifying health disparities affecting the nation’s racial/ethnic minority older adults and developing innovative strategies to reduce, and ultimately eliminate these disparities.

  About the Presentation:

  The Happy Older Latinos are Active (HOLA) intervention is an innovative health promotion program that is uniquely tailored to meet the diverse needs and circumstances older Latinos living with HIV. This presentation will discuss the results of a pilot study focusing on lowering cardiometabolic risk and how it is being adapted to address the unintended consequences of COVID-19 prevention and mitigation strategies on older Latinos living with HIV.

• Seminar on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Ethics

  Presenters: Dr. Erin Kobetz and Dr. Victoria Behar-Zusman

  August 11, 2020

  Topics Covered:

  • Overview of CBPR and local application
  • Experiences conducting CBPR in Little Haiti and other poorly served enclaves in the United States and abroad
  • Ethical issues in CBPR

• Solving the Challenges to Behavioral Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  Presenters: Dr. Maria Alcaide, Dr. Lunthita Duthely, Dr. Dainelys Garcia, Dr. Audrey Harkness, Dr. Daniel Jimenez, Dr. Steven Safren, Ms. Maria Tapia, Mr. Andres Vazquez, Dr. Denise Vidot, and Dr. Deborah Jones Weiss

  July 23, 2020

  Topics Covered:

  • Informed consent procedures and other IRB-related issues
  • Administering assessments (e.g., web-based, telephone, etc.)
  • Interventions (e.g., MHealth, telephone, etc.)
  • Specimen collection and safety
  • Compensation (e.g., gift cards, cash transfers, etc.)

• Expanding community virus screening programs and statewide virus elimination efforts

  Presenter: Dr. Emmanuel Thomas

  June 6, 2020

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Thomas's research program is to develop integrated, multidisciplinary approaches for the study of virus driven diseases and to bridge clinical medicine and basic science with translation of fundamental knowledge to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of viral diseases and related cancers.

  About the Presentation:

  Having been raised in Miami-Dade county, Dr. Thomas has a strong commitment to improving the health of our local community. Through our community virus screening programs and statewide virus elimination efforts, we are identifying infected individuals and linking them to care. In addition, we are also facilitating the ability of uninsured patients to receive costly medications through patient assistance programs.

• Five Point Initiative: A Model for Meeting Miami's Black Communities Where They Are in Efforts to End the HIV Epidemic

  Presenter: Dr. Sannisha Dale

  May 13, 2020

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Dale is the Founder and Director of the SHINE (Strengthening Health through INnovotion and Engagement) Research Program. Dr. Dale's primary research interests include investigating psychosocial (e.g.microoggressions, discrimination) and structural factors (e.g. poverty) that relate to HIV health disparities, developing interventions, and engaging community members and stakeholders in research.

  About the Presentation:

  The Five Point Initiative is (1) partnering with five venues in five Miami-Dade zip codes with the highest number of Black individuals living with HIV (2) collaborating with community health organizations funded by the CDC, HRSA, and/or SAMHSA and (3) hosting twenty five events in which community members complete a brief electronic survey in exchange for a service/voucher at a venue and are offered HIV /STI voluntary counseling and testing, and condoms.

• Developing a tailored strategy to increase the scale up and dissemination of HIV prevention and behavioral health services to Latino MSM

  Presenter: Dr. Audrey Harkness

  April 8, 2020

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Harkness is a Research Assistant Professor in the University of Miami Department of Public Health Sciences. Her work focuses on HIV-prevention and treatment integrated with behavioral health, primarily among sexual and gender minority populations and Latino MSM.

  About the Presentation:

  This presentation will provide an overview of the presenter’s mixed methods work which identified barriers and facilitators to Latino MSM utilizing evidence-based HIV-prevention and behavioral health services, and plans to leverage these data to develop a tailored strategy to increase the scale up and dissemination of these services to Latino MSM in the Miami area. The presenter will be seeking feedback on next steps for this program of research. 

• FINISHING HIV: A Network-Based HIV Protection, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program for Latinos

  Presenter: Dr. Mariano Kanamori

  February 19, 2020

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Kanamori is an epidemiologist with 26 years of experience designing, developing, implementing and evaluating HIV interventions for Latino communities, including Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in Miami- Dade County (MDC). He is changing the paradigm for HIV prevention among Latinos through a spatially explicit social network-based model that incorporates geographic information systems and social network approaches.

  About the Presentation:

  Dr. Kanamori will present his NIH-funded project: FINISHING HIV, which uses a pharmacy network and a parks network to increase awareness and utilization of HIV protection, diagnosis, and treatment services among Latino MSM subgroups in MDC. Dr. Kanamori’s studies show that the HIV epidemic in MDC is driven by Latino MSM who identify as gay, those who identify as bisexual and those who identify as straight.

• Implementing a Telemedicine Test and Treat approach at the Miami IDEA Syringe Services Program

  Presenter: Dr. Hansel E. Tookes

  February 12th, 2020

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Tookes is a public health physician with extensive experience in working with people living with HIV and people at high risk for acquiring HIV, including people who inject drugs (PWID).

  About the Presentation:

  PWID experience extensive barriers to engagement in HIV care. It is estimated that less than half of PWID living with HIV in the U.S. are virally suppressed. Test and Treat approaches are associated with viral suppression; however, more is needed when engaging PWID into HIV care. Telemedicine has been successful for direct patient consultation for HIV care. The progress on local implementation and plans for statewide expansion of the Telemedicine Test and Treat approach will be discussed.

• Introduction to Qualitative Research: What is it? When should you use qualitative research?

  Presenters: Dr. Sara Mijares St-George and Dr. Joseph De Santis

  December 6, 2019

  About the presentation:

  Data Collection - Developing a question guide; Participant sampling and sample size considerations; Types of data collection; Interview skills; Equipment, recording procedures; Transcription

• Developing Multi-Level Interventions to Address Suicidality in People Living with HIV who Use Substances

  Presenter: Dr. Adam Carrico

  November 20, 2019

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Carrico is a clinical-health psychologist with expertise in developing and testing integrative interventions to optimize HIV/AIDS prevention efforts with individuals who engage in problematic patterns of alcohol or other substance use.

  About the Presentation:

  Suicidality is a prevalent comorbidity in people living with HIV (PLWH) who use substances. However, little is known about the predictors and consequences of suicidality in this population. This presentation will leverage findings from a study conducted by the NIDA Clinical Trials Network that enrolled PLWH who use substances from 11 hospitals in the U.S. Findings highlight the multi-level determinants of suicidality in PLWH and demonstrate that higher suicidality is independently associated with lower odds of viral suppression.

   

• Machine Learning: Who knows, who cares, why bother...

  Presenter: Dr. Raymond Balise

  November 20th, 2019

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Balise is an award winning lecturer and the author of “Presenting Medical Statistics from Proposal to Publication” and more than a hundred peer reviewed publications and refereed presentations in topics including phonetics to obstetrics, dyspepsia to dyslexia and health disparity to brachytherapy. He is currently working on projects tackling HIV, substance abuse or health disparities.

  About the Presentation:

  This presentation is geared towards people who do not love math but who need to make the best possible predictions about patient outcomes and the effects of health policy changes. Attendees will be introduced to Machine Learning (ML) methods and shown why they make better predictions for patient outcomes when compared to other traditional methods. Examples include using ML to predict breast cancer based on images and predicting survival after catastrophic burns. The utility of traditional hypothesis testing methods and the importance of model validation will be discussed. These methods include k-Nearest Neighbors, Support Vector Machines, Decision Trees, Random Forests and Neural Networks.

• New directions for the Community-Based HIV Awareness for Minority Populations (CHAMP) Program

  Presenter: Sonjia Kenya, Ed.D., M.S., M.A.

  October 23, 2019

  About the Presenter:

  Dr. Kenya is an Associate Professor of General Medicine & Public Health at the University of Miami, and the Director of Community Health at the Weiss Institute for Health Equity at the Sylvester Cancer Center. She conducts various HIV research and service programs targeting high risk Black populations in Miami‐Dade County. Dr. Kenya currently leads one of the largest street‐based rapid HIV testing programs in the County.