About the INSHHR group

The Interdisciplinary Sexual Health and HIV Research (INSHHR) group was formed in 2014 by School of Nursing clinical and research faculty, postdocs, and PhD students. Our mission was to pool and leverage investigator diversity, creativity, experience, and skills across multiple disciplines to increase innovation, productivity, and impact in the conduct of primary research aimed at improving sexual health and HIV-related outcomes with a focus on marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Members of the Sexual Health and HIV group at a meetingOur collective vision is to advance sexual health and HIV science that ameliorates sexual health-related issues and has an impact on ending the HIV epidemic nationally and globally.

The biopsychosocial organization of sexual health, sexuality, gender relations, sexual identity and orientation, and concomitant power inequality, social and economic marginalization, and health disparities, informs the basic behavioral science, health services research, and intervention implementation work conducted by members of the INSHHR group. In addition, we recognize and embrace the power of communities to drive real world action in response to public health concerns and inequities.

Join Us

The INSHHR group encourages qualified candidates working in the field of sexual health and/or HIV science to apply for an open fellowship position. Interested candidates can reach out to one of our members to discuss the program and potential mentorship.

INSHHR Faculty & Students

Natalie Leblanc, PhD, MPH, RN, BSN Contact Information

Natalie Leblanc, PhD, MPH, RN, BSN

Chair, Interdisciplinary Sexual Health & HIV Research group
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Harriet J. Kitzman Endowed Fellow in Health Disparities

See Natalie's Profile
James McMahon, PhD Contact Information

James McMahon, PhD

Endowed Chair for Innovation in Health Care
Co-Director, Dissemination and Implementation Science Function, CTSI
Professor, School of Nursing

See James' Profile
Hugh Crean, PhD Contact Information

Hugh Crean, PhD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing, School of Nursing

See Hugh's Profile
Chen Zhang, PhD, MPH Contact Information

Chen Zhang, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

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Danielle C. Alcéna-Stiner, PhD, RN Contact Information

Danielle C. Alcéna-Stiner, PhD, RN

Asst. Director, Life Sciences Learning Center, URMC
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

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Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba’are, PhD, MA Contact Information

Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba’are, PhD, MA

Assistant Professor & Inaugural Harriet J. Kitzman Endowed Fellow in Global Health Research, School of Nursing
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences

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Paula Amina Alio, Ph.D. Contact Information

Paula Amina Alio, Ph.D.

Faculty, Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester

See Paula's Profile
Osman Wumpini Shamrock, PhD Contact Information

Osman Wumpini Shamrock, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate

See Osman's Profile
Erin Vernetti, MS, RN Contact Information

Erin Vernetti, MS, RN

PhD student
Advisor: Natalie Leblanc, PhD, MPH, RN, BSN

See Erin's Profile
JJ (John) Jackson, MA, NCC, LCPC Contact Information

JJ (John) Jackson, MA, NCC, LCPC

PhD Student

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Anne Woodruff Contact Information

Anne Woodruff

Administrative Assistant, Harriet Kitzman Center for Research Support

Contact Anne

CONNECT

Learn more

Interested in pursuing research at the University of Rochester School of Nursing? Connect with us to discuss postdoctoral and tenure-track faculty opportunities.