As an infectious disease epidemiologist, my research focuses on the syndemics of substance use, mental health, and infectious diseases. I have led and collaborated on diverse projects examining vaccine-preventable diseases, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted infections with a particular emphasis on the intersecting epidemics of HIV, substance use, and mental health. Further, much of this work is grounded in Southern California, providing me with a nuanced understanding of the region’s unique public health challenges and health disparities.
Center Affiliations
Education
- PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
- MPH, Yale University
- BA, University of California, Santa Barbara
Dr. W. Scott Comulada, DrPH, is Professor-in-residence in the UCLA Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Health Policy and Management, Director of the Semel Institute Center for Community Health, a statistician, and a public health researcher. His work focuses on the development and evaluation of AI-enhanced digital health interventions that incorporate chatbots and virtual reality.
Semel Institute Center for Community Health
Education
- DrPH, Biostatistics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 2006
- MS, Biostatistics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 2000
- MPH, Biostatistics, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 1998
- BS, Biophysics, Pacific Union College, Angwin, CA, 1993
Sung-Jae Lee, PhD, is a Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, with a joint appointment in the Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. He is the Director of Research and Evaluation at the Nathanson Family Resilience Center, Division of Population Behavioral Health. Dr.
Education
- PhD, Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
- MPH, Epidemiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- BA, Social Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA
I joined UCLA in 2009 and am an Associate Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology and a member of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Prior to coming to UCLA I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an agency of the World Health Organization.
Education
- PhD, Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY
- MPH, Boston University, Boston, MA
- AB, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Elizabeth D'Amico is an adjunct professor in the Department of Community Health Science. She is a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation and a licensed clinical psychologist. D'Amico is nationally recognized for her work developing, implementing, and evaluating interventions for adolescents. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and the interventions she has developed all utilize motivational interviewing (MI).
Education
- PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX
