Steven Safren, Ph.D., ABPP
I joined the Department of Psychology at the University of Miami in the Fall of 2015 after 18 years working in the Harvard Medical School system at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where I was the founding Director of the current Behavioral Medicine Service and track Director of the Behavioral Medicine Internship track. During this time I was also an Affiliated Investigator at Fenway Health where I led studies related to HIV prevention for men who have sex with men (MSM). I am a clinical health psychologist with expertise in health-related behavior change and a particular focus on psychosocial (mental health and substance use) comorbidities related to HIV prevention and treatment in both domestic and international settings. I have been PI or protocol chair of 12 federally funded studies (via NIMH, NIDA, and NIAID), and, in addition to studies where I am PI, I have regularly served as co-PI, co-investigator, or mentor on studies related to HIV prevention and treatment.
I work with other medical illnesses, and I work on cognitive behavioral approaches to managing adult and adolescent ADHD. My international studies have been via the NIAID-funded AIDS networks (i.e. HIV Prevention Trials Network - HPTN, and the AIDS Clinical Trials Network -ACTG), which span multiple countries, via my own NIH-funded studies, and via the work of my mentees K and R level funded studies in India and Africa. Much of my work on HIV focuses on prevention and treatment with men who have sex with men (MSM), though I have worked extensively with other populations including individuals with depression and those who have struggled with substance use disorders. Finally, during my time at MGH, I worked on studies of cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADHD in adulthood and adolescence.
Currently, my funded work includes a preliminary study involving treating syndemics (intertwined psychosocial problems such as depression, childhood sexual abuse, substance use, interpersonal violence) in HIV-infected individuals with uncontrolled virus, a study on HIV prevention in men who have sex with men in two sites in India, and an effectiveness study on treating depression and improving adherence in HIV-infected individuals in South Africa who have failed first line antiretroviral therapy. Anticipated future studies, based on prior collaborative pilot work, involve pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence in high risk MSM, interventions to reduce crystal meth and increase safer sex (condoms or PrEP) in MSM who use crystal meth, and additional studies addressing syndemics in individuals with HIV and uncontrolled virus.
Pronouns: he/him/his
For my full CV (as of November 2019), please click: CV - Dr. Steven Safren
Olivia Chen, M.S.
Bharat is a first-year graduate student in the Health Track of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. He graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with an M.A. in Psychological Sciences and a graduate certificate in Data Analysis. His earned his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University with a concentration in Technology Innovation. Before joining the University of Miami, Bharat worked in several research labs at USF, where he focused on exploring the syndemic effect of COVID-19 on youth living with HIV in Kenya through a biopsychosocial lens. He has also worked with Black and Latinx gay/bi/queer/same-gender loving men enrolled in the Tampa Bay version of the Stigma-reduction through Education, Empowerment, and Research (SEERs) study, which was originally implemented in Kenya. Bharat’s experiences in both quantitative and qualitative research methods have allowed him to appreciate the significance of being a mixed methods scholar. His research interests revolve around LGBTQ+ mental health, resilience, intersectionality, implementation science, and developing new interventions aimed at preventing HIV and bolstering resilience in marginalized communities, especially for queer people of color. He is also a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and aims to help pass legislation banning sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (commonly known as conversion “therapy”) for LGBTQ+ youth in Florida and beyond.
Kaitlyn graduated from the University of Miami in December 2022 with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Nutrition and minors in Psychology, Public Health, and Chemistry. She has been working with HPAC for the last 2 years as an Undergraduate Research Assistant and now as a part-time RA. Kaitlyn has a passion for advocating for mental health awareness, education, and de-stigmatization and was an active member and 2x Executive Member of UMiami's Counseling Outreach Peer Education (COPE). Her other passions include health equity, medicine, and working with minority and vulnerable populations. She is interested in pursuing a career in medicine and would like to continue to advocate for health equity in the future while practicing medicine from a holistic, public health point of view.
