Craig Cohen, MD, MPH

Craig Cohen, MD, MPH, is a Professor in the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, an Attending Physician at San Francisco General Hospital and co-Director of the University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI: www.ucghi.universityofcalifornia.edu). He conducts clinical and implementation research in two major areas: HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention and HIV/AIDS care and support in developing countries including the development of live biotherapeutic products to prevent bacterial vaginosis and HIV acquisition in women. In 1994, Dr. Cohen and his colleague Dr. Elizabeth Bukusi at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) established the Research Care and Treatment Program (RCTP) a collaboration with projects in Nairobi and Kisumu, Kenya. In addition to conducting research, the goal of the program is to enhance local capacity to conduct biomedical research through training and infrastructure development. RCTP employs over 700 full-time staff in Kenya including epidemiologists, physicians, nurse-counselors, laboratory technologists, field workers, data managers, biostatisticians and administrative staff. Dr. Cohen is the Founding Director of the Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES: www.faces-kenya.org) since its creation in 2004. FACES is a CDC/PEPFAR-funded HIV/AIDS care and treatment program in Western Kenya and supports the Ministry of Health to care for ~50,000 persons living with HIV. As part of FACES, Dr. Cohen has also developed the Student Training Elective Program (STEP), which allows medical students and residents to do research and clinical electives at FACES sites. Additionally, Dr. Cohen directs the UCSF Reproductive Infectious Disease (RID) Fellowship, which aims to provide Ob/Gyn and post-doctoral trainees with the tools and experience necessary to develop into independent investigators and launch productive careers in the field of RID. He also co-directs the newly established University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI) GloCal Health Fellowship which train fellows in global health research between in collaboration with 20 international collaborating institutions. Overall, Dr. Cohen has directly mentored more than 70 doctoral/professional students, residents and post-doctoral fellows, most of who have conducted research in Kenya. Areas of Interest: •Prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) •Microbicides, live biotherapeutic products to prevent HIV/STI *Integration of reproductive health and HIV services •Improvement of care to HIV infected persons living in resource poor settings *Multisectoral interventions to improve the lives of families affected by HIV •Research training and infrastructure development in developing countries