Yale University

Sarah K. Calabrese, Ph.D.

Roles:
  • Assistant Professor, Psychology, Columbian College of Arts & Sciences, The George Washington University
  • Former Postdoctoral Fellow, CIRA
Contact:

Biography:

Sarah K. Calabrese earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from George Washington University (Washington, DC) in 2012. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) HIV Prevention Interdisciplinary Training Program at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS at Yale University (New Haven, CT) in 2014. Broadly speaking, her research focuses on racial stereotypes and discrimination in the context of HIV prevention, sexual wellbeing, and mental health.

During her graduate training, Dr. Calabrese received an NIMH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31) to support a mixed methods study examining the implications of racialized sexual stereotypes for sexual wellbeing among Black women living with or at risk for HIV. Her graduate research also focused on antiretroviral medication adherence, including the measurement of adherence and the impact of serostatus disclosure on medication-taking and medical outcomes. Clinically, she developed a strong background in neuropsychological assessment and worked with a wide range of groups living with HIV, including men who have sex with men (MSM), Black women, and perinatally-infected youth. As a postdoctoral fellow, she was actively involved in the development and delivery of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for MSM newly diagnosed with HIV ("Positive Living"), with medication adherence, engagement in care, and positive sexual health among the primary goals of the program.

As an associate research scientist at the Yale School of Public Health, Dr. Calabrese investigates sociocultural factors related to health and healthcare among Black MSM and other marginalized groups, with particular interest in the relevance of intersecting social identities. A primary focus of her work is addressing barriers to the prescription and utilization of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), with the goal of ensuring equitable access across social lines. With the support of an NIMH Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01), Dr. Calabrese is currently conducting a mixed methods study to develop a provider-targeted intervention aimed at promoting PrEP awareness and preventing discriminatory prescription practices.

Selected Publications: