FORUM ON GLOBAL HEALTH RESEARCH JUNE 20-30, 2022 - CHILD AND ADOLESCENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING - Washington University in St. Louis
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FORUM ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT GLOBAL HEALTH RESEARCH AND CAPACITY BUILDING JUNE 20-30, 2022
Acknowledgements
FORUM SPONSORS
International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD)
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
SMART Africa Center
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Brown School
Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
(NIMHD)
Eunice Kennedy National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development (NICHD)
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Maryland, USA
Office of the Provost
Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
McDonnell International Scholars Academy
Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Reach the Youth
Kampala, Uganda
1
Welcome from the Office of the Provost,
Washington University in St. Louis
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I am thrilled to welcome you to the Forum on Child and Adolescent
Global Health Research and Capacity Building as we gather in person for the first
time in over two years. The COVID-19 global pandemic required us to connect in
virtual and socially distanced spaces, and this Forum brings us together to
celebrate all we’ve accomplished despite many challenges at all levels. During this
Forum, the International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD) will host
43 early career research trainees from the United States and across Sub-Saharan
Africa from four NIH-funded research training programs: CHILD Global Research
Fellowship, LEAD Global Training Program, Research Resilience Training, and their
newest program, ACHIEVE. Trainees will learn with a transdisciplinary group of
global research experts, faculty mentors, and community partners, to enhance and
advance their research expertise and impact on the lives of the children and
families their work aims to serve.
ICHAD is honored to feature keynote addresses from a variety of partner
institutions leading the charge to reduce poverty and improve the health and
wellbeing of children, adolescents, and families. We are excited to hear from the
Ugandan Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng; the Vice Chancellor
Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe; USAID Mission Director in
Uganda, Mr. Richard Nelson; Global Vice Chancellor and Director of the
McDonnell International Scholars Academy at Washington University in St. Louis,
Prof. Kurt Dirks; and our collaborators and partners across the globe, as well as
trainees who have benefited and continue to benefit from these training programs.
With a longstanding commitment to contribute to the reduction of poverty and
improvement of public health outcomes for children, adolescents and families in
low-resource communities, ICHAD’s work embodies the five guiding principles
defined in Washington University’s strategic plan: inclusion, diversity, equity and
access; global perspective; stewardship; community impact; and academic
distinction. As Vice Provost of Interdisciplinary Initiatives at Washington University,
and longtime collaborator of ICHAD, I am proud to represent a team of
extraordinarily committed researchers, staff, trainees, and partners at this Forum.
I am excited to witness the learning, networking, and groundwork for ongoing
collaboration that will be accomplished during these ten days, and I extend a warm
welcome to each of our honored guests, participants and contributors.
Mary M. McKay, PhD
Vice Provost of Interdisciplinary Initiatives
Washington University in St. Louis
2
Program Schedule:
June 1-16, 2022 (Virtual)
June 1 ACHIEVE Program Orientation
Laura Peer, Chelsea Hand-Sheridan
Program Directors Introduction
Fred Ssewamala, Mary McKay
June 2 Program Directors Introduction
Sean Joe
June 3 Program Directors Introduction
Noeline Nakasujja, Patricia Cavazos-Rehg
June 6 Global Mental Health Priorities at NIMH
Susannah Allison
June 7 Longitudinal Data Analysis: A Whirlwind Tour
Torsten Neilands
June 8 Trainee Scientific Presentations
Damalie Nalwanga, Allan Kalungi, Camelia Harb, Elizabeth
Nakiyingi, Flavia Namuwonge, Edgar Guma, Josephine Nabayinda,
Angel Boulware, Natasja Magorokosho, Montray Smith, Camille
Quinn, Husain Lateef, Zelibeth Gutierrez, Tiffany Taylor
June 9 HomeGrown StL 5th Annual Regional Summit on Black Boys &
Young Men
June 10 NIH Scientific Biosketch Workshop
Amy Suiter, Cathy Sarli
Trainee Scientific Presentations
Emmanuel Mpamizo, Samantha Francois, Molly Naisanga, Hannah
Stewart, Jerell DeCaille, Julia Lopez, Dennis Boyd
June 13 Panel Discussion: Do’s and Don’ts of Working in Local and
Global Partnerships
Vetta Sanders Thompson, Thomas Crea, James Mugisha
Moderator: Proscovia Nabunya
June 14 Scientific Manuscripts Writing Workshop
William Byansi
June 15 Introduction to Data Science Methods
Chenyang Lu
June 16 Panel Discussion: Engaging with Mentors through your
Research
Massy Mutumba, Robert Motley
Moderator: Ozge Sensoy Bahar
3
June 20 – 25, 2022
Venue: Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Monday, June 20
8:30-9:00 am Check-in and Registration
9:00-9:45 am National Anthem / Opening Prayer &
Welcoming Remarks
Fred Ssewamala, Washington University in St. Louis
Noeline Nakasujja, Makerere University
9:45-10:30 am Trainee Scientific Panel: CHILD-GRF
Esther Nanfuka, Yvonne Karamagi, Edgar Guma
Moderator: Noeline Nakasujja, Makerere University
10:30-11:15 am Keynote Address
Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor,
Makerere University
11:15-11:30 am Featured Presentation: McDonnell International
Scholars Academy
Kurt Dirks, Global Vice Chancellor,
Washington University in St. Louis
11:30-11:45 am Break
11:45-1:00 pm ICHAD Research Training Programs Overview
Noeline Nakasujja, Makerere University
Proscovia Nabunya, Washington University in St.
Louis
Laura Peer, Washington University in St. Louis
1:00-2:00 pm Lunch
2:00-3:00 pm Trainee Scientific Panel: LEAD & RRT
Dennis Boyd, Camille Quinn, Josephine Nabayinda,
Nhial Tutlam
Moderator: Proscovia Nabunya, Washington
University in St. Louis
3:00-4:00 pm ACHIEVE Trainee Scientific Panel
Samuel Adjorlolo, Mamadu Baldeh, Catherine
Musyoka, Joyce Nankumbi
Moderator: Fred Ssewamala, Washington University
in St. Louis
4:00-4:15 pm Day 1 Wrap-up
4:15-5:30 pm ACHIEVE Research Training Program Official
Launch
UnJa Hayes, Fogarty International Center, NIH
4
Tuesday, June 21
8:30-9:00 am Mentor Meetings
9:00-9:30 am Featured Remarks
Richard Nelson, USAID Mission Director, Uganda
9:30-10:30 am Keynote
Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health,
Republic of Uganda
10:30-10:45 am Break
10:45-12:00 pm Collaborations: Connecting Research and Policy
Barbara Mukasa, Mildmay Uganda
Abel Mwebembezi, Reach the Youth Uganda
Timothy Opobo, AfriChild, Makerere University
Muthoni Mathai, University of Nairobi
Moderator: Fred Ssewamala, Washington University
in St. Louis
12:00-12:45 pm CHILD-GRF Cohort 1 Trainee Scientific
Presentation
Anita Arinda, Mildmay Uganda
12:45-2:00 pm Lunch
2:00-2:45 pm CHILD-GRF Cohort 1 Trainee Scientific
Presentation
Agatha Kafuko, Makerere University
2:45-3:45 pm Qualitative Methodologies Workshop
Janet Nakigudde, Makerere University
3:45-4:00 pm Day 2 Wrap-up
Wednesday, June 22
Trainee Program (By Invitation Only)
8:30-9:00 am Mentor Meetings
9:00-9:30 am Program Overview
Mary McKay, Washington University in St. Louis
Fred Ssewamala, Washington University in St. Louis
9:30-11:30 am Introduction to Dissemination and Implementation
Science
Fred Semitala, Makerere University
11:30-11:45 am Break
11:45-12:45 pm Trainee Check-In Meetings (By Program)
12:45-2:00 pm Lunch
5
2:00-4:00 pm Methods, Metrics and Measures for Dissemination
and Implementation
Joseph Kalisa, University of Rwanda
Vincent Sezibera, University of Rwanda
4:00-4:45 pm CHILD-GRF Cohort 1 Trainee Scientific
Presentation
Justine Namuli, Makerere university
4:45-5:00 pm Day 3 Wrap-up
Thursday, June 23
Trainee Program (By Invitation Only)
8:30-9:00 am Mentor Meetings
9:00-11:00 am Introduction to Big Datasets
Agnes Kiragga, African Population Health Research
Council, Nairobi, Kenya
11:00-11:15 am Break
11:15-12:45 pm Scientific Integrity and Ethical Conduct of
Research
Tom Lutalo, Uganda Virus Research Institute
12:45-2:00 pm Lunch
2:00-2:45 pm CHILD-GRF Cohort 1 Trainee Scientific
Presentation
Racheal Alinaitwe, Makerere University
2:45-3:30 pm CHILD-GRF Cohort 1 Trainee Scientific
Presentation
Violette Nabatte, Mildmay Uganda
3:30-3:45 pm Day 4 Wrap-up
Friday, June 24
Trainee Program (By Invitation Only)
8:30-9:00 am Mentor Meetings
9:00-11:00 am Research Tools and Measurements for Cognitive
Functioning
April Thames, University of California Los Angeles
11:00-11:15 am Break
11:15-12:00 pm CHILD-GRF Cohort 1 Trainee Scientific
Presentation
Apollo Kivumbi, Makerere University
12:00-12:45 pm CHILD-GRF Cohort 1 Trainee Scientific
Presentation
Esther Nanfuka, Makerere University
12:45-2:00 pm Lunch
6
2:00-3:00 pm Research Budget Development and Justification
Mordecai Tayebwa, Makerere University
3:00-4:00 pm Cost Effectiveness in Research Workshop
Yesim Tozan, New York University
Joshua Kiyingi, Washington University in St. Louis
4:00-4:15 pm Day 5 Wrap-up
Saturday, June 25 Sunday, June 26
Free Day for Sightseeing Trainees Travel to Masaka
June 27- 29, 2022
Venue: Hotel Brovad, Masaka
June 27 Welcome and Opening Remarks (Kimaanya Church Grounds)
xxx x Fred Ssewamala
Keynote Remarks
Hon. Florence Namayanja, Mayor, Masaka City
Launch of New NIH-Funded ICHAD Studies
Rt. Rev. Bishop Serverus Jjumba, Masaka Diocese
Presentation of Research Findings (School-based)
Winnie Kirabo, Francis Ssemujju (Bridges to the Future)
Phionah Namatovu, Joshua Kiyingi, Yesim Tozan (SMART Africa)
Phionah Namatovu, Joshua Kiyingi (Suubi4StrongerFamilies)
Florence Namuli, William Byansi (Suubi4Her)
Leveraging Social Media to Disseminate Research Findings
Britton Clapp, Washington University in St. Louis
June 28 Overview of New NIH-Funded Studies and Presentation of
x Research Findings (Clinic- and Community-based)
Florence Namuli, Phionah Namatovu (Suubi+Adherence)
Herbert Migadde, Scovia Nassaazi (Suubi4Cancer)
Herbert Migadde, Proscovia Nabunya (Suubi4Stigma)
Claire Najjuuko, Olive Imelda Namuyaba (Suubi-Mhealth)
Rashida Namirembe, Jennifer Nattabi (M-Suubi)
Olive Imelda Namuyaba (Youth Health SMS)
Edward Nsubuga, Josephine Nabayinda (Kyaterekera)
Raymond Atwebembere, Gertrude Nabbosa (Obuvumu)
Field Visits to ICHAD Implementing Partners (Schools)
7
June 29 Field Visits to ICHAD Implementing Partners (Clinics &
Community Hotspots)
June 30 Field Visit (Refugee Site) (prior arrangement required)
July 11 Additional Workshop on Advanced Statistical Methods (Virtual)
Samuel Kizito
June 27-29, 2022
St. Louis Site Visits
A St. Louis, USA-based forum for trainees not traveling to Uganda
June 27 Community Science and Capacity to Serve Workshop
27 Sean Joe & Mike Jones
Site Visit to Boys and Girls Club
June 28 Community Science & Capacity to Serve Part
II (Anti-Racism Framework) and
Sean Joe & Mike Jones
Site Visit to SSM Health
Devin Banks and Kanika Cunningham (invited)
June 29 Site Visit: The Spot
8
FORUM HOSTS AND PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Fred M. Ssewamala
William E. Gordon Distinguished Professor, Associate
Dean for Transdisciplinary Faculty Research, Director &
Founder of ICHAD, Director of SMART Africa Center,
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis,
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Program Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE, CHILD-GRF,
LEAD, RRT
Email: fms1@wustl.edu
Dr. Fred Ssewamala leads innovative, interdisciplinary research, funded primarily
by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), that informs, develops and tests family-
based economic empowerment and social protection interventions to improve life
chances and long-term developmental outcomes for children, adolescents and
youth, particularly those impacted by poverty, civil strife and HIV/AIDS in Sub-
Saharan Africa. He has authored more than 150 publications on these topics. His
research engages collaboratively with local institutions to ensure scale-up and
sustainability. In addition, Dr. Ssewamala leads several NIH-funded research
training programs focused on training early career researchers, including PhD
students, recent PhD graduates, and medical doctors, from underrepresented
backgrounds interested in children and adolescent health in a global context.
Before joining the Brown School in 2017, Dr. Ssewamala was a tenured Professor
at Columbia University in New York for 15 years, where he established ICHAD.
Mary M. McKay
Vice Provost of Interdisciplinary Initiatives, Co-Director of
SMART Africa Center, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Program Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE, CHILD-GRF, RRT
Email: mary.mckay@wustl.edu
Dr. Mary McKay joined Washington University as dean of
the Brown School in 2016, continuing the school’s legacy of
creating vital knowledge, initiating social change, and
preparing leaders to address social and health challenges both locally and
globally. Dr. McKay has received substantial federal funding for research focused
on meeting the mental health and health prevention needs of youth and families
impacted by poverty. She also has significant expertise in child mental health
services and implementation research methods, as well as over 20 years of
experience conducting HIV prevention and care-oriented studies, supported by
NIH. She has authored more than 150 publications on mental and behavioral
health, HIV/AIDS prevention and urban poverty.
9Noeline Nakasujja
Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry,
College of Health Sciences, Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda
In-Country Program Director and Mentor: CHILD-GRF, ACHIEVE
Email: drnoeline@yahoo.com
Dr. Noeline Nakasujja is a clinical/research psychiatrist with many years of
experience and expertise in mental health research, with a focus on evaluating
special populations of HIV-positive individuals. Specifically, her research interests
include cognitive impairment in HIV/AIDS. Dr. Nakasujja’s work has focused on
neurocognitive assessments across the life span as well as other areas in the field
of psychiatry. Dr. Nakasujja is currently the research lead for the
DIALOG+intervention at the NIHR Global Health Research Group focused on
developing psycho-social interventions.
Patricia Cavazos-Rehg
Professor, Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the
Department of Psychiatry, Director of Mentored Training
Program in Clinical Investigation, School of Medicine,
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Program Director and Mentor: LEAD
Email: pcavazos@wustl.edu
As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Patricia Cavazos-Rehg has worked to disentangle the
pathways of complex adolescent health risk problems. She focuses her research
on examining the effects of state-level penalties and anti-tobacco/drug media
campaigns on youth substance use behaviors and attitudes. Her research program
is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and involves studying the most
efficacious policies that will reduce substance use involvement while accounting for
today’s new media-saturated environment.
Sean Joe
Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social Development
Founding Director of the Race and Opportunity Lab
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis,
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Program Director and Mentor: RRT
Email: sjoe@wustl.edu
Dr. Sean Joe is a nationally recognized authority on suicidal
behavior among Black Americans, particularly regarding the role of firearms as
a risk factor and is expanding the evidence base for effective practice with urban
Black boys and young men. Dr. Joe is the founding director of the Race and
Opportunity Lab, which examines race, opportunity, and social mobility with an
emphasis on informing policies, interventions, and intra-professional practice to
improve familial and community capacity to lessen ethnic inequality in adolescents’
healthy transition to adulthood.
10Theresa S. Betancourt
Salem Professor in Global Practice, Director, Research Program
on Children and Adversity, Boston College School of Social
Work, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Program Co-Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE
Email: theresa.betancourt@bc.edu
Dr. Theresa Betancourt’s central research interests include the
developmental and psychosocial consequences of concentrated adversity on
children, youth and families; resilience and protective processes in child and
adolescent mental health and child development; refugee families; and applied
cross-cultural mental health research. She leads an intergenerational study of war-
affected youth in Sierra Leone. Dr. Betancourt has also developed and evaluated
the impact of a Family Strengthening Intervention for HIV-affected children and
families and is leading the investigation of a home-visiting early childhood
development intervention to promote enriched parent-child relationships and
prevent violence.
Yesim Tozan
Assistant Professor, School of Global Public Health, New York
University, New York, New York, USA
Program Co-Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE
Email: tozan@nyu.edu
Dr. Yesim Tozan’s research centers on health decision science and
priority setting and explores the costs and cost-effectiveness of
health care interventions using decision analytic models and the issues of health
care resource allocation in low- and middle-income countries. Her main focus has
been infectious disease prevention and control with an emphasis on dengue and
malaria. She has been working on economic evaluation of artemisinin-based
combination therapies for the treatment of uncomplicated childhood malaria using
data from multi-site randomized clinical trials in Africa and Asia. Most recently,
she has expanded her research focus to HIV/AIDS and mental health among
vulnerable populations, specifically in Uganda.
Keng-Yen Huang
Associate Professor, Department of Population Health &
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Grossman
School of Medicine, New York University
New York, New York, USA
Program Co-Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE
Email: keng-yen.huang@nyulangone.org
Dr. Ken-Yen Huang specializes in child development, psychiatric
epidemiology, prevention, implementation, and global public health research. She
implements and collaborates on child development and mental
health implementation research projects in international contexts. Her
research interests include investigating patterns and mechanisms of child mental
health disparities; as well as testing cost-effective family- and system-level
approaches of preventive strategies to address child mental health disparities;
and studying strategies for broader evidence-based program dissemination
and implementation in diverse populations and contexts.
11Stevan Weine
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Director of Global
Medicine, Director, Center for Global Health, School of
Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Program Co-Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE
Email: smweine@gmail.com
Dr. Stevan Weine conducts research with refugees and migrants
in the United States and in post-conflict countries, focused on
mental health, health, and violence prevention. His research mission is to develop,
implement, and evaluate psychosocial interventions that are feasible, acceptable,
and effective with respect to the complex real-life contexts. He has been awarded
two Career Scientist Awards: “Services Based Research with Refugee Families”
from NIMH and “Labor Migration and Multilevel HIV Prevention” from NICHD.
Patricia Akweongo
Senior Lecturer, Head of Department of Health Policy Planning
and Management, School of Public Health, University of Ghana
Accra, Ghana
In-Country Program Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE
Email: akweongo@gmail.com
Dr. Patricia Akweongo’s research has been in the areas of
health systems governance of social protection programs, systems strengthening,
community engagement and empowerment and economics of health care. Her
current research projects include Health systems governance for an inclusive and
sustainable social health protection in Ghana and Tanzania, Strengthening
management at district level to support universal health coverage
(PERFORM2Scale), and Evidence for Better Life Saves (EBLS).
Arvin Bhana
Honorary Associate Professor of Psychology at University of
KwaZulu-Natal, Honorary Research Associate, South African
Medical Research Council, Durban
Durban, South Africa
In-Country Program Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE; Mentee:
Gbotemi Babatunde
Email: arvin.bhana@gmail.com
Dr. Arvin Bhana is a multiple principal investigator on the Southern African
Research Consortium for Mental Health INTegration (SMhINT) Hub funded by
NIMH, a Co-Investigator on a scale-up grant on Mental Health INTegration
(MhINT) funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
capacity building lead on the SMART Africa Center also funded by NIMH. His
scholarly interests include child and adolescent well-being and mental health as
well as integrating mental health into primary care among adults and a specific
interest in brief interventions for substance use in primary care.
12Rebecca Esliker
Head of Department, Mental Health Programme,
University of Makeni,
Makeni, Sierra Leone
In-Country Program Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE
Email: ebesliker@gmail.com
Dr. Rebecca Esliker has a broad background in psychology and
school administration, with specific expertise in mental health service delivery,
clinical supervision of mental health nurses, training front-line service providers in
the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme, and mentoring students, as well
as over 15 years of experience working in human service agencies and teaching
fields across the globe. She has collaborated with a multitude of diverse groups,
including K1-12 students, children with disabilities, refugees, displaced persons,
orphans, challenged young people, and the elderly.
Muthoni Mathai, PhD
Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry,
University of Nairobi,
Nairobi, Kenya
In-Country Program Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE; Mentee:
Catherine Musyoka
Email: muthonimathai@gmail.com
Dr. Muthoni Mathai has been involved in multiple community-
based mental health research projects as well as HIV/AIDS projects with a mental
health component. She leads the MEPI-Linked Project “Research capacity building
in Mental Health for Better Health Outcomes” funded by NIMH. She focuses on
building mental health research capacity among faculty and graduate students at
the College of Health Science in three thematic areas: substance use disorders and
HIV, maternal depression and child health outcomes, and psycho-trauma and
gender-based violence.
Vincent Sezibera
Professor, Department of Psychology,
Director of the Centre for Mental Health,
University of Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda
In-Country Program Director and Mentor: ACHIEVE; Mentee:
Mary Bunn
Email: vsezibera@gmail.com
Dr. Vincent Sezibera is a Clinical Psychologist. He specializes in Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder and child and adolescent traumatic grief. Dr. Sezibera has
conducted research on trauma and bereavement among young survivors of the
1994 genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda. In addition, he has studied the impact of
HIV/AIDS on the mental health of children and families. As a professor, Dr.
Sezibera’s teaching workload includes psychopathology, cognitive and behavioral
approaches to psychotherapy, and grief and mourning. He has also contributed
to social service workforce development in Rwanda, Benin, Republic of Central
Africa, Ivory Coast and Cameroon.
13Ozge Sensoy Bahar
Research Assistant Professor, Co-Director of ICHAD
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Program Co-Lead and Mentor: ACHIEVE, CHILD-GRF, LEAD, RRT
Email: ozge.sensoybahar@wustl.edu
Dr. Ozge Sensoy Bahar’s global research focuses on child and
family well-being in global contexts characterized by poverty and associated
stressors. Within this broad research program, her research examines the multi-
level factors that expose children, youth, and their families to social and economic
vulnerabilities, such as engagement in child labor, sexual risk-taking behaviors,
and mental health, all of which are associated with poverty. In addition, Dr.
Sensoy Bahar serves as a co-principal investigator/co-investigator qualitative
expert on NIH-funded projects that test the effectiveness of combined interventions
that incorporate the family economic empowerment intervention on sexual risk-
taking behaviors and other psychosocial and health outcomes among vulnerable
populations, including children, in Uganda and Ghana.
Proscovia Nabunya
Assistant Professor, Co-Director of ICHAD
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Program Co-Lead and Mentor: CHILD-GRF, LEAD, RRT Alumni
Email: nabunyap@wustl.edu
Dr. Proscovia Nabunya’s global research focuses on HIV-stigma
reduction interventions, mental health, and family and
community-based support systems as protective factors for the development and
well-being of children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS. Dr. Nabunya’s current
research studies, funded by the National Institutes of Health, are focused on:
addressing HIV-associated stigma among adolescents living with HIV and their
families in Uganda and low-resourced communities in the US; examining the
longitudinal HIV treatment adherence outcomes among youth living with HIV
transitioning into young adulthood; and evaluating the long-term impact of
economic empowerment intervention on HIV risk prevention and care continuum
outcomes among orphaned youth transitioning to young adulthood in Uganda.
Laura Peer
Associate Director of Capacity Building, ICHAD
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Program Administrator: ACHIEVE, CHILD-GRF, LEAD, RRT
Email: Lpeer@wustl.edu
Laura Peer supports ICHAD’s priority objective area of
Capacity Building, overseeing four NIH-funded training programs: LEAD Global
Training Program, Researcher Resilience Training Program, CHILD-Global
Research Fellowship, and ACHIEVE, as well as overseeing Center communications
and administration. She has worked at Washington University since 2015 and has
nearly 20 years of experience in global and US public health, higher education,
and research training and administration.
14Chelsea Hand-Sheridan
Training Programs Manager, ICHAD
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Program Administrator: ACHIEVE, CHILD-GRF, LEAD, RRT
Email: c.hand-sheridan@wustl.edu
Chelsea Hand-Sheridan oversees ICHAD’s four NIH-funded
Training Programs, including CHILD-GRF, LEAD, RRT and ACHIEVE. She has 10
years’ experience working with vulnerable global populations both in the United
States and in East Africa. Prior to joining ICHAD, Chelsea worked for nearly eight
years in refugee and immigrant economic integration and advancement with the
International Institute of St. Louis. She also worked with the United States Peace
Corps as a Health Extension Agent in Tanga, Tanzania.
Bethel M. Mandefro
Center Coordinator, ICHAD
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: b.mandefro@wustl.edu
Bethel Mandefro oversees the day-to-day operations of ICHAD-
U.S. office including post-award expense tracking and financial management,
event and logistics coordination for Center activities, and supports the
procurement, scheduling, and other administrative needs of ICHAD. She has
worked at Washington University since 2011. She previously worked at the Africa
Initiative and at the Harris Institute at the School of Law.
Natasja Magorokosho
Administrative Coordinator/Research Assistant, ICHAD
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: natasja@wustl.edu
Natasja Kudzai Magorokosho is a second year PhD student in
Public Health at the European University of Cyprus. Her research
interests include mental health, global health inequality, policy, resilience and
preventive research. She is a current RRT trainee.
Josephine Nabayinda
Graduate Research Associate, ICHAD
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: j.nabayinda@wustl.edu
Josephine Nabayinda is a first year PhD student in the Social
Work program at Washington University in Saint Louis. Her
research interests aim at addressing the social, familial and cultural barriers that
hinder women’s economic mobility and independence in low resource households.
She is a current RRT trainee.
15Flavia Namuwonge
Head of Operations and Research Coordinator, ICHAD Field
Office-Uganda; and Doctoral Student, Brown School at
Washington University in St. Louis
Masaka, Uganda
Email: flavian@wustl.edu
Flavia Namuwonge’s research interests center around working
with children, adolescents/youth and families impacted by
poverty, HIV/AIDS and poor mental health functioning. For the past 8 years, she
has supported the implementation of multiple NIH-funded research studies led by
ICHAD in Uganda and has contributed to the dissemination of findings from the
multiple studies that she coordinates through a number of journal publications and
professional conference presentations and meetings that she co-leads. She is a
current RRT trainee.
Phionah Namatovu
Research Coordinator, ICHAD
Masaka, Uganda
Email: nphionah@wustl.edu
Phionah Namatovu oversees several NIH-funded R01-level
research projects at ICHAD, including study coordination, data
collection, and data entry and management. Phionah is
interested in implementation science and is passionate about addressing
contextual barriers related to the social determinants of health for low-resource
communities. She leads ICHAD’s efforts of connecting research to local policies in
Uganda.
Joshua Kiyingi
Doctoral Student, Research Associate, ICHAD
Brown School, Washington university in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: j.kiyingi@wustl.edu
Joshua Kiyingi’s research focuses on vulnerable women
engaged in commercial sex work, specifically, drivers of sex work, challenges, as
well as possible interventions to address these challenges. Joshua is also interested
in cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis of research interventions and
implementation science for scale-up and sustainability. He is an RRT alumni.
Claire Najjuuko
Data and IT Manager, ICHAD
Masaka, Uganda
Email: najjuukoclaire@gmail.com
Claire Najjuuko is responsible for coordinating, planning, and
leading computer-related activities and overseeing research
data collection, entry, cleaning, storage and transfer. She also
serves as a data manager responsible for coordinating all data entry, cleaning,
and storage activities. Previously, she coordinated a study aimed at developing a
mobile health intervention to address depressive symptoms among youth living
with HIV in Uganda.
16Rebecca Walugembe
Training Programs Coordinator, ICHAD
Kampala, Uganda
Email: rebeccawalu218@gmail.com
Rebecca Walugembe has over forty years of experience
working in the banking sector, NGOS, research institutions, and
diplomatic missions. Rebecca has worked in Kenya, Uganda,
Southern Africa and the United Kingdom in the field of human resources and
resources procurement.
Michael Jones
Associate Director, Community Science
Race & Opportunity Lab, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: mikejones@wustl.edu
Dr. Michael Jones is a St. Louis native and is passionate about his
hometown’s ability to increase our capacity by building the
necessary infrastructure and support systems for marginalized
populations. Prior to joining the Race & Opportunity
Lab, Michael previously worked at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and
Community Engagement cultivating student leader and learning opportunities
that partner with K-12 schools and local nonprofits.
17GUESTS OF HONOR
Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng
Minister of Health, Republic of Uganda
Kampala, Uganda
Email: info@health.go.ug
Hon. Dr. Aceng is a Pediatrician expert. She has vast
experience both as a manager and practicing medical
personnel, which she accumulated while serving in various
capacities as Medical Officer, Senior Medical Officer,
Medical Officer Special Grade, Medical Superintendent,
Consultant Pediatrician, Senior Consultant Pediatrician, Hospital Director. Prior
to her appointment as Minister of Health, Dr. Aceng served as the Director
General Health Services where she was responsible for coordinating technical
functions for the delivery of Health services. As Minister of Health, she possesses
the constitutional powers and functions of spearheading the Ministry. Among
them are administration, policy formulation and direction. She is also responsible
for defending the Ministerial budget and issue orders and statutory regulations
on the sector. In addition, she initiates and presents to Cabinet, the Ministry
memorandums and accounts for the State, operations, function and achievements
of the health sector.
Barnabas Nawangwe
Vice Chancellor, Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda
Email: nawangwe@gmail.com
Prior to his appointment as the Vice Chancellor in 2017,
Professor Barnabas Nawangwe served as the Deputy
Vice Chancellor, Ag. Principal of the College of
Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, Dean of the Faculty of Technology and
Head of the Department of Architecture from its inception, all at Makerere
University. Prof. Nawangwe has published more than 40 articles in peer-
reviewed journals and has served as external examiner at several universities
within and outside Africa. He has chaired boards of several national, regional
and international boards of professional organizations and currently chairs the
Board of the Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa and the Resilient Africa
Network. Prof. Nawangwe is a Registered Professional Architect and has
worked widely as a consulting Architect in Uganda and beyond. His research
interests are in Vernacular Architecture and Informal Settlements.
18Richard Nelson
Mission Director, USAID Uganda
Kampala, Uganda
Email: UsambassadorUganda@state.gov
Richard Nelson served as the Deputy Coordinator for Power
Africa, prior to his assignment as the USAID’s Mission Director
in Uganda. This Pretoria-based assignment involved
responsibility for all field level coordination and oversight for Power Africa,
including working with senior U.S. Government Mission leadership in more than
20 countries to achieve Power Africa’s goal of doubling access to power in sub-
Saharan Africa. Prior, Mr. Nelson served as the Resident Legal Officer at USAID
offices in Pretoria, Bangkok, Baghdad, and Washington, providing support over
that period on the full suite of legal issues to numerous USAID Missions.
Hon. Florence Namayanja
Mayor, Masaka City
Masaka, Uganda
Email: masakacity@masakacity.go.ug
Hon. Florence Namayanja is the pioneer Mayor of Masaka
City and the former Member of Parliament for Bukoto
County East, the position she served for ten years (2011-
2020). In her political career, she was the LCV Councilor for Kawempe Division,
where she also served as Council’s secretary for Finance. She represented
Kawempe North in the Kampala City Council in 2001 and served as Deputy
Mayor of Kampala capital city from 2006-2011. Before joining active politics,
she served as an Administrator and Personal Secretary to the Managing
Director, National Water and Sewerage Corporation. She served as a Member
of the Council at Mulago School of Nursing and Kyambogo University Council,
and a Board Member at NWSC. During her tenure in Parliament, she served on
the Committee of Natural Resources and Committee on Commissions, State
Authorities & State Enterprises.
Rt. Rev. Bishop Serverus Jjumba
Diocese of Masaka
Masaka, Uganda
Email: serverjum@gmail.com
Rt. Rev. Serverus Jjumba was consecrated as a Bishop on 6
July 2019 at Kitovu, Masaka. He completed his theological
studies at St. Mary’s National Major Seminary, at Ggaba,
in Kampala, Uganda. Bishop Jjumba holds a Master of
Education degree and a Diploma in Religious Studies,
awarded by Makerere University. He was ordained a priest on 20 June 1992
at Masaka. He served at Bikira Parish from 1991 until 1993 and as a formator
and treasurer at Bukalasa Minor Seminary between 1993 and 2000. In 2000,
he was appointed as the treasurer of the Catholic Diocese of Masaka, serving
in that capacity until 2014. He was the Vicar General of the Masaka Diocese
from 2014 until 2019. The diocese of Masaka is one of ICHAD’s longtime and
strong collaborators in the region. This partnership was nurtured by the Late
John Baptist Kaggwa, who welcomed ICHAD to partner with the diocesan
schools and health clinics in the greater Masaka region in 2004.
19FEATURED SPEAKERS
Kurt Dirks
Vice Chancellor, International Affairs, Director,
McDonnell International Scholars Academy
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: dirks@wustl.edu
Dr. Kurt Dirks’ research is in the field of Organizational
Behavior and focuses on issues related to leadership and
teams. He is best known for his research on the determinants, barriers, and
outcomes of trust within organizations and published a number of highly cited
and award-winning articles on the topic. The research has been covered by
popular press such as Business Week, New York Times, and Washington Post. In
addition to his academic work, Dr. Dirks played a key role in the launch of the
IIT Bombay-Washington University Executive MBA program, the only degree
program in India offered by a US business school, and the only joint degree
program at Washington University. Dr. Dirks was co-founder and co-director of
the Bauer Leadership Center at the Olin Business School, which focuses on value-
based leadership.
UnJa Hayes
Fellows and Scholars Program Officer
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Email: unja.hayes@nih.gov
Dr. UnJa Hayes’ research focuses on determining what experiences (e.g.,
mating, pregnancy, parturition, and social) and neurobiological changes are
necessary for infanticidal animals to suppress aggressive behaviors and show
parental behaviors. Her previous projects have focused on whether women at
risk of depression, due to pre-existing mental illnesses and/or social disparities,
are affected by medical interventions during childbirth delivery.
20TRAINEE WORKSHOP FACILITATORS AND PRESENTERS
Susannah Allison
Program Officer, Division of AIDS Research
Training Director, Division of AIDS Research and Center for
Global Mental Health Research
National Institute of Mental Health
Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Email: allisonsu@mail.nih.gov
Dr. Susannah Allison oversees a portfolio of research and research training
grants that focus on innovative strategies to prevent HIV infection among
children, adolescents, and young adults as well as research on how to best
enhance the well-being of youth who are living with HIV. She serves as the co-
chair of the Sexual and Gender Minority Research Coordinating Committee at
NIH. Prior to working at NIMH, Dr. Allison worked with children and families
infected and affected by HIV in Baltimore, Miami, and Washington, DC.
Raymond Atwebembere
Study Coordinator, ICHAD
Masaka, Uganda
Email: atwebembereraymond77@gmail.com
Dr. Raymond Atwebembere coordinates the three year
NIH-funded Obuvumu study, which aims at improving health
services uptake for survivors of sexual violence. Raymond’s
research interests are around the prevalence and factors associated with
suicidal behavior among adolescents living with HIV in Uganda. He is a current
CHILD-GRF trainee.
Devin Banks
Assistant Professor, Psychological Sciences
University of Missouri St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: devinbanks@umsl.edu
Dr. Devin Banks’ research focuses on improving racial equity in
the research and treatment of substance use and related
behavioral health outcomes (e.g., sexual behavior, traumatic
stress), particularly among Black people. Her work seeks to understand the
development of substance use among minoritized communities and prevent
related problems that disproportionately affect those communities. Ultimately,
her goal is to improve behavioral health equity via culturally-responsive
prevention across development. Dr. Banks is a LEAD alumni.
21William Byansi
Postdoctoral Research Associate, ICHAD
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: byansiw@wustl.edu
Dr. William Byansi’s research focuses on developing and
testing interventions around child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing,
particularly for those living in low-resource settings. Dr. Byansi is currently
implementing a Fogarty funded supplement to the Suubi+Adherence-R2 study
examining the impact of COVID-19 on the emotional wellbeing of youth living
with HIV in Uganda. He is an RRT alumni.
Britton Clapp
Adjunct Instructor, School of Engineering,
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: clapp@wustl.edu
Britton has worked in IT for over 15 years specializing in
web application development, continuous integration, and
automation. In addition, he specializes in building websites using open-source
technologies.
Kanika Cunningham
Family Practice Specialist
Dr. Kanika Cunningham is a physician that has built a strong
professional practice, as well as helped build the faith-
based community in more undeserved areas of Saint Louis.
Dr. Cunningham provides trainings mostly in community
settings but is equally comfortable speaking at health
centers or sitting on panels at conferences. Dr. Cunningham’s mission is to spread
education on SUD and OUD in regards to standardizing practices,
destigmatizing substance use, and integration into primary care.
Joseph Kalisa
Capacity Building Manager, Centre for Mental Health,
University of Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda
Email: josephka300@gmail.com
Joseph Kalisa is a licensed mental health practitioner and
Researcher in Rwanda. Mr. Kalisa is experienced in clinical
practice and practice-based research as well as evidence-
based implementation for the past 5 years. In Rwanda and abroad, he has
worked to support organizations and institutions develop and translate
research into community interventions and implementation through decolonizing
and culturally appropriate ways.
22Agnes Kiragga
Research Scientist, Data Science and Evaluation-African
Population and Health Research Center, African Population
Health Research Council
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: agnes.kiragga@gmail.com
Dr. Agnes Kiragga has over 15 years’ experience handling
large, diverse non-conventional and conventional data including longitudinal
population cohorts in Africa. She leads data and methodology work stream on
a formative phase of the Africa Population Cohort Consortium and has
spearheaded data management and analytics cores for multi-country research
projects in Cancer and HIV that are hinged on the need to leverage the
advancement in big-data analytics, data science and artificial intelligence tools
to tackle public health.
Samuel Kizito
Doctoral Student, Research Associate, ICHAD
Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis,
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: kizito.s@wustl.edu
Dr. Samuel Kizito is a PhD student at the Brown School at
Washington University in St. Louis and a physician-
epidemiologist interested in research methodology. He is
passionate about improving treatment outcomes among adolescents living with
HIV. He is an RRT alumni.
Chenyang Lu
Fullgraf Professor, Department of Computer Science &
Engineering, Founding Director of the Institute of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Medical Things for
Healthcare
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: lu@wustl.edu
Dr. Chenyang has worked extensively in the area of articifial intelligence
(AI) for healthcare, specializing in developing and predictive models based
on multimodal clinical data and wearable data. In collaboration with
clinicians, he developed and piloted machine learning models to predict
postoperative complications based on preoperative and intraoperative
clinical data and wearable data, support early warning systems for
clinical deterioration among patients in general and oncology hospital
wards, predict hospital readmissions of heart failure patients and oncology
patients, and predict mental health outcomes based on wearable and clinical
data.
23Herbert Migadde
Study Coordinator, ICHAD
Masaka, Uganda
Email: herbertmigadde@gmail.com
Herbert Migadde coordinates the NIH-funded Suubi4Cancer
and Suubi4Stigma studies. He is interested in supporting
children, families, and communities that are economically struggling. Herbert
believes in designing programs that can help the most vulnerable children and
their families in poor countries to address the social, economic, and
psychological challenges they go through.
Robert Motley
Assistant Professor, Boston College School of Social Work
Boston, Massechussets, USA
Email: robert.motley@bc.edu
Dr. Robert Motley is the principal investigator of the Racism-
based Violence Injury & Prevention Lab at Boston College
School of Social Work. Dr. Motley’s research examines the intersection of
racism, violence, and trauma for Black emerging adults ages 18-29 and
associated adverse mental and behavioral outcomes. Specifically, he looks to
identify risk and protective factors that can be targeted by behavioral and
mental health preventive and intervention programs to ensure the personal
safety and well-being of Black emerging adults. He is an RRT alumni.
Allan Mugarura
IT Officer, Acting Study Coordinator, ICHAD
Masaka, Uganda
Email: mugallans@gmail.com
Allan Mugarura is responsible for coordinating the
Suubi+Adherence4Youth study. He is also responsible for
trainings related to using progressive systems and
applications, including accounting software, mass communication procedures
and organizational apps, as well as developing inventive software solutions to
increase the productivity and efficiency of staff.
James Mugisha
Dean of Social Work and Social Administration, Kyambogo
University
Programs: CHILD-GRF, LEAD, ACHIEVE
Mentees: Raymond Atwebembere, Anita Arinda, Husain
Lateef, Nhial Tutlam
Email: jmmugi77@hotmail.com
Dr. James Mugisha’s research focuses on systems strengthening in low-income
settings and integration of mental health in primary health care. He has
collaborated on research studies that integrate management of mental illness
in HIV/AIDS care, supported by Welcome Trust U.K. and several studies funded
to ICHAD by NIH. Additionally, he has published a number of manuscripts in
high impact journals.
24Barbara Mukasa
Executive Director, Mildmay Uganda
Kampala, Uganda
Programs: CHILD-GRF, ACHIEVE
Mentees: Violette Nabette, Ronald Olum
Email: barbara.mukasa@mildmay.or.ug
Dr. Barbara Mukasa has over 23 years of diverse
experience as a health care professional in a developing
setting with demonstrable expertise in strategic HIV program design,
implementation, and performance monitoring & evaluation. Her research
interests include behavioral and clinical strategies to improve HIV care and ART
access/ adherence among children, adolescents and young people. Dr. Mukasa
has collaborated on several projects implemented in partnership with
ICHAD, RAND Cooperation, Makerere University, Howard University,
Michigan State University, Boston University and Washington University in St.
Louis.
Massy Mutumba
Assistant Professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Email: mmutumba@umich.edu
Dr. Massy Mutumba has worked extensively within clinical
contexts in Uganda. In addition to her clinical and research
experience with pediatric HIV in Uganda, Dr. Mutumba has
been involved in several projects related to building
institutional capacity for health in areas related to sexual
and reproductive health, mental health and human resources for health. In
collaboration with Dr. Ssewamala, she is currently engaged in several NIH-
funded research projects related to use of economic strengthening interventions
to reduce HIV stigma and reduce alcohol use among adolescents and youth
living with HIV in Uganda. She is a LEAD alumni.
Abel Mwebembezi
Executive Director, Reach the Youth-Uganda
Kampala, Uganda
Email: mwebembezi.abel@yahoo.com
Dr. Abel Mwebembezi serves as the in-country
implementation partner for ICHAD in Uganda. Dr.
Mwebembezi has previously managed a UNFPA grant
supporting more than 12 NGOs implementing
reproductive health and HIV/AIDS projects; coordinated the Advocacy Project
for reproductive health and HIV/AIDS under the African Youth Alliance
program funded by the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation and has managed
multiple child sponsorship education programs. Dr. Mwebembezi also served
as a Planning Officer with the UN Africa Peace Keeping Mission in Darfur. He
has been serving as an in-country co-investigator and implementation partner
to ICHAD’s and SMART Africa’s NIH-funded studies.
25Gertrude Nabbosa
Deputy Study Coordinator, Counsellor, ICHAD
Masaka, Uganda
Email: gnabbosa1@gmail.com
Getrude Nabbosa is a licensed counsellor. She is currently
a deputy study coordinator of a three-year NIH-funded
study Obuvumu, at ICHAD. She also has extensive
experience conducting both qualitative and quantitative interviews.
Additionally, she provides counseling service to study participants. She is a
member of the Uganda Counselling Association.
Kirabo Winnie Nabwire
Study Coordinator, ICHAD, Masaka, Uganda
Email: winniekirabo27@gmail.com
Kirabo Winnie Nabwire is a Mental Health Counseling
Psychologist. She coordinates the Bridges R2 study at
ICHAD. Previously, Winnie worked as a counselor at Kitovu
Mobile, which provides innovative, mobile health services
and empowers marginalized communities affected by HIV, TB, Cancer and
other emerging life-threatening chronic illnesses.
Janet Nakigudde
Behavioural Scientist and Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry,
College of Health Sciences, Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda
Program: CHILD-GRF; Mentees: Justine Namuli, Nhial
Tutlam
Email: janetnakigudde@gmail.com
Dr. Janet Nakigudde is a clinical psychologist and a mental
health researcher with expertise in providing intervention and evaluation
services for children and young adults with diverse mental health problems in
Uganda. She also has expertise in qualitative research. She has collaborated
on several research projects that investigate mental health problems among
children/adolescent with HIV/AIDS and substance use. She has been the MPI
on two NIMH-funded studies focused on child mental health; and examining the
effectiveness and implementation of an early childhood school-based mental
health intervention.
Rashida Namirembe
Study Coordinator, ICHAD
Masaka, Uganda
Email: namrashidah@gmail.com
Rashida is interested in working with families of children
and youth experiencing mental health challenges, HIV, and
poverty. She currently coordinates the M-Suubi Study at
ICHAD. She has worked as a social worker for Uganda Youth Development
Link, UYDEL, an NGO that conducts health awareness campaigns, advocating
and providing psychosocial support to sexually exploited adolescents using
drugs in the slums of Kampala district.
26Florence Namuli
Study Coordinator, ICHAD
Masaka, Uganda
Email: florencenamuli1@gmail.com
Florence Namuli worked as a teacher at Sacred Heart
Kiteredde Secondary School and Uganda Martyrs
Secondary School Sembabule. She currently works as the acting study
coordinator and a deputy study coordinator for two NIH-funded studies at
ICHAD: Suubi4Her Study, and Suubi4Stronger Families. She is interested in
behavioral and social science research.
Olive Imelda Namuyaba
Study Coordinator, ICHAD
Masaka, Uganda
Email: oliveimelda@gmail.com
Olive Imelda Namuyaba currently co-coordinates the
Suubi+Adherence4Youth, Youth Health SMS and Suubi-
Mhealth studies. Her research interests lie in adolescent
mental health research to help bridge the mental health gaps in Uganda
through applied innovative research.
Scovia Nassaazi
Head of Qualitative Data Management, ICHAD, Masaka,
Uganda
Email: nassaazi2012@gmail.com
Scovia Nassaazi is responsible for ensuring quality data
collection, transcription, and translation of qualitative data
across all research studies. Scovia is interested in the
improvement of the wellbeing of orphaned children and families impacted by
HIV/AIDS.
Jennifer Nattabi
Doctoral Student, Research Associate, ICHAD
Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: j.nattabi@wustl.edu
Jennifer Nattabi’s research interest areas include
international child welfare, child poverty, and social and
economic transitions among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries.
Prior to joining Washington University as a doctoral student, Jennifer worked
with ICHAD on several NIH-funded studies as a study and field coordinator.
She currenlty works with the Center as a research associate on the M-Suubi
Study. She is an RRT alumni.
27Torsten Neilands
Professor, Division of Prevention Science, Department of
Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS)
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, USA
Email: torsten.neilands@ucsf.edu
Dr. Torstein Neilands has served as a data analyst, co-
investigator, or consultant on over 80 federally- and non-federally funded
prevention research projects. He has directed the CAPS Methods Core and has
been a mentor in the CAPS Visiting Professor program for early-career scholars
conducting HIV prevention and care research in US communities and
populations disproportionately impacted by the HIV epidemic. Dr. Neilands’
areas of methodological interest are: 1) longitudinal data analysis approaches,
including mixed models with random coefficients (i.e., HLM), latent growth curve
modeling, and generalized estimating equations (GEE); 2) latent variable
modeling, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods,
structural equation modeling, latent class analysis, and growth mixture
modeling with a specialized emphasis on employing these methods to develop
new psychometric scales; and 3) dyadic data analysis approaches.
Edward Nsubuga
Study Coordinator, ICHAD
Kampala, Uganda
Email: nsubugard60@gmail.com
Edward Nsubuga currently coordinates the NIH-funded
Kyaterekera study at ICHAD. He has worked with ICHAD
for 6 years in various capacities. Mr. Nsubuga supervises daily study activities
including intervention delivery, coordinating stakeholder meetings, data
collection, and ensures that project activities are implemented per the
approved study protocol. Through his work at ICHAD, he has gained
experience with interviewing, conducting cognitive assessments, and supervising
group-based family strenthening intevnetions geared towards improving the
wellbeing of vulnerable populations.
Timothy Opobo
Executive Director, AfriChild Center, Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda
Program: CHILD-GRF TAC Member
Email: topobo@africhild.or.ug
Timothy Opobo’s primary interests are in social challenges
affecting children and young people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He has over 12 years of development practice experience. He directs the
AfriChild Center, a multidisciplinary training and research center, that
contributes to knowledge building and skills development; and influences
policy, programming and practice concerning the wellbeing of the African child.
Mr. Opobo previously worked with the African Network for the Prevention and
Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect in Uganda and Liberia.
28Cathy Sarli
Senior Librarian, Bernard Becker Medical Library
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: sarlic@wustl.edu
Cathy Sarli supports faculty, staff and students in the areas
of research impact and scholarly communication.
Amy Suiter
Research Support Librarian, Bernard Becker Medical Library
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Email: asuiter@wustl.edu
Amy Suiter supports faculty, staff and students in the areas
of research impact and scholarly communication.
Francis Ssemujju Ssenabulya
Deputy Study Coordinator, ICHAD
Masaka, Uganda
Email: ssemufranc@gmail.com
Francis Ssenabulya is the Deputy Study Coordinator for
Bridges R2 study. He previously worked as the Assistant
Programs Manager, and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
under Reach the Youth Uganda, for the DREAMS project in
Lwengo District.
Mordecai Tayebwa
Senior Grants Manager, College of Health Sciences
Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda
Email: tayebwa.mordecai@gmail.com
Mordecai Tayebwa oversees and supervises grant
activities for all funded applications both domestic and
foreign. He has more than 10 years of experience in managing grant
applications. He has had substantial research output in the field of grant writing
and management and has presented these findings at international
conferences.
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