Current Trainees

Lauren A. Graybill, PhD, MSc

Lauren is a postdoctoral trainee in the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research uses causal inference methods to evaluate the impact of different interventions on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent girls and women of reproductive age in southern and eastern Africa. Dr. Graybill is currently engaged in several studies related to pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention, primarily among pregnant and lactating women, and serves as a technical advisor on UNICEF’s Last Mile to EMTCT initiative.

Tapiwa Tembo, MSc

    1. Meek CJ, Munkhondya TEM, Mphande M, Tembo TA, Chitani M, Jean-Baptiste M, et al. Examining the feasibility of assisted index case testing for HIV case-finding: a qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators to implementation in Malawi. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024;24(1):606

    2. Tembo TA, Mollan K, Simon K, Rutstein S, Chitani MJ, Saha PT, et al. Does a blended learning implementation package enhance HIV index case testing in Malawi? A protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2024;14(1):e077706.

    3. Tembo TA, Ahmed S, Rosenberg NE. Assisted partner services for people with HIV who inject drugs. The Lancet Global Health. 2024;12(5):e731-e2.

    4. Masiano SP, Tembo TA, Yu X, Wetzel E, Mphande M, Chitani M, et al. The prevalence, incidence, and recurrence of intimate partner violence and its association with adverse childhood experiences among pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV in Malawi. Therapeutic advances in infectious disease. 2023;10:20499361221148875.

    5. Tembo TA, Markham CM, Masiano SP, Sabelli R, Wetzel E, Ahmed S, et al. Intervention Fidelity to VITAL Start (Video Intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life) in a Randomized Controlled Trial Among Women Living With HIV in Malawi. Health promotion practice. 2023:15248399231177303

    6. Rosenberg NE, Tembo TA. Implementing HIV Assisted Partner Services in routine settings. The Lancet Global Health. 2023;11(5):e642-3.

    7. Rosenberg NE*, Tembo TA*, Simon KR, Mollan K, Rutstein SE, Mwapasa V, et al. Development of a Blended Learning Approach to Delivering HIV-Assisted Contact Tracing in Malawi: Applied Theory and Formative Research. JMIR formative research. 2022;6(4):e32899.

    8. Masiano SP, Yu X, Tembo T, Wetzel E, Mphande M, Khama I, et al. The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and common mental disorders among pregnant women living with HIV in Malawi. J Affect Disord. 2022;312:159-68

    9. Tembo TA, Simon KR, Kim MH, Chikoti C, Huffstetler HE, Ahmed S, et al. Pilot-Testing a Blended Learning Package for Health Care Workers to Improve Index Testing Services in Southern Malawi: An Implementation Science Study. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999). 2021;88(5):470-6.

    10. Masiano S, Machine E, Mphande M, Markham C, Tembo T, Chitani M, et al. Video-Based Intervention for Improving Maternal Retention and Adherence to HIV Treatment: Patient Perspectives and Experiences. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(4).

    11. Kim MH, Tembo TA, Mazenga A, Yu X, Myer L, Sabelli R, et al. The Video intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life (VITAL Start): protocol for a multisite randomized controlled trial of a brief video-based intervention to improve antiretroviral adherence and retention among HIV-infected pregnant women in Malawi. Trials. 2020;21(1):207.

    12. Tembo TA, Kim MH, Simon KR, Ahmed S, Beyene T, Wetzel E, et al. Enhancing an HIV index case testing passive referral model through a behavioural skills-building training for healthcare providers: a pre-/post-assessment in Mangochi District, Malawi. Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2019;22 Suppl 3:e25292.

    13. Kim MH, Ahmed S, Tembo T, Sabelli R, Flick R, Yu X, et al. VITAL Start: Video-Based Intervention to Inspire Treatment Adherence for Life-Pilot of a Novel Video-Based Approach to HIV Counseling for Pregnant Women Living with HIV. AIDS and Behavior. 2019. PMID: 31410618

    14. Katie R. Simon, Robert J. Flick, Maria H. Kim, Rachael A. Sabelli, Tapiwa Tembo, Benjamin Ryan Phelps, Nora E. Rosenberg, Saeed Ahmed; “Family testing: an index case finding strategy to close the gaps in pediatric HIV diagnosis” J Acquir Immune Defic Sydr Supplement 2, August 2018

    15. Gutnik L, Moses A., Stanley C., Tembo T., Gopal S., Lee C.;” From Community Laywomen to Breast Health Workers: A successful training model to implement clinical breast exam screening in Malawi”,  PLOS ONE March 2016

    16. Gloria Hamela, Charity Kabondo, Tapiwa Tembo, Chifundo Zimba, Esmie Kamanga, Innocent Mofolo, Bertha Bulla, Christopher Sellers, R.C. Nakanga, Clara Lee, Francis Martinson, Irving Hoffman , Charles van der Horst, Mina C. Hosseinipour; “Evaluating the benefits of incorporating traditional birth attendants in HIV Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission service delivery in Lilongwe, Malawi”, African Journal of Reproductive Health March 2014

    17. G Hamela, T Tembo, N.E Rosenberg, I Hoffman, C Lee, M Hosseinipour; “Women experiences of HIV testing and counseling in the labour ward: A case of Bwaila Hospital”, Malawi Medical Journal June 2013

Tapiwa is a doctoral candidate in the faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town. She is a scientist and public health expert with a background in clinical research, implementation science, research ethics, and public health programming. Her research is aimed at improving uptake and implementation of evidence-based interventions in low resource settings. Tapiwa has overseen implementation of studies on HIV testing, treatment, and prevention among adults and malaria vaccine trials for children under 5 years. Her doctoral work is focused on capacity-building for health care workers to improve health service delivery in resource-constrained settings.

Meredith Wang, MPH, MPA

Meredith is a doctoral student in Health Behavior at UNC Chapel Hill with expertise in epidemiology, intervention development, and global health. Her research focuses on identifying determinants of poor health outcomes for adolescents, children, and mothers, and developing interventions to improve their health in the context of HIV/AIDS and mental health in LMIC. Meredith obtained her MPH/MPA from the University of Washington and a Bachelor in Labor and Social Security from Zhejiang University. Her experience includes NIH-funded HIV studies, disease modeling and quantitative analysis, and fieldwork in Kenya, Myanmar, and China.

    1. Graybill LA, McKay CN, Wang J, Sam‐Agudu NA, Yotebieng M, Saidi F, et al. (2025). Characterizing populations prioritized for PrEP in 19 African countries: a review of national guidance. J Int AIDS Soc. 2025 Jan;28(1):e26407.

    2. Wang, J., Hatcher, A. M., Rosenberg, N. E. (2024). Violence to resilience: Structural change to protect adolescent girls. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 8(9), 613–614. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00177-9

    3. Meek CJ, Munkhondya TEM, Mphande M, [et al, including Wang J]. (2024) Examining the feasibility of assisted index case testing for HIV case-finding: a qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators to implementation in Malawi. BMC Health Services. 2024 May 9;24(1):606.

    4. Mugo C, Firdawsi O, Wang J, Njuguna IN, Wamalwa DC, Slyker JA, et al. (2023). "When they are all grown, I will tell them”: Experience and perceptions of parental self-disclosure of HIV status to children in Nairobi, Kenya. BMC Public Health. 2023 Mar 17;23(1):519.

    5. Wang J*, Zhao P*, Hall BJ, Sakyi K, Rafiq MY, Bodomo A, et al. (2022). HIV testing uptake, enablers, and barriers among African migrants in China: A nationwide cross-sectional study. J Glob Health. 2022 Dec 17;12:11015. *Co-first authors

    6. Wang J, Mugo C, Omondi VO, Njuguna IN, Obimbo EM, Inwani I, et al. (2022). Home ‑ based HIV Testing for Children: A Useful Complement for Caregivers with More Children, Who are Male, and with an HIV Negative Partner. AIDS Behav [Internet]. 2022; Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-022-03643-3

    7. Vos T, [et al, including Wang J], GBD2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators. (2020). Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet. Volume 396, Issue 10258, 1204 – 1222.

    8. Murray CJ, [et al, including Wang J], GBD 2019 Viewpoint Collaborators. (2020). Five insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet. Volume 396, Issue 10258, 1135 – 1159.

    9. Tiwari R, Wang J, Han H, Kalu N, Sims LB, Katz DA, et al. (2020). Sexual behaviour change following HIV testing services: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 23(11). https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.2563

    10. Mugo C, Wang J, Begnel ER, Njuguna IN, Maleche-Obimbo E, Inwani I, et al. (2020). Home- and clinic-based pediatric HIV index case testing in Kenya: Uptake, HIV prevalence, linkage to care, and missed opportunities. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Sep 15 Publish Ahead of Print.

    11. Wang J, Jacob‐Files E, Becerra R, Mallma G, Fieno JT da, Nielsen KR. (2020). Sustainability of high flow in a Peruvian PICU: A qualitative analysis. International Nursing Review. 67(3):352–61.

Milenka Jean-Baptiste, MPH

Milenka is a doctoral candidate in Health Behavior at UNC Chapel Hill. She has domestic and global experience implementing community-based public health solutions and managing qualitative and mixed methods studies from inception to completion. She values the interplay between research and practice and seeks to carry out research that informs public health programming and addresses the underlying determinants of health inequity. She has previous technical experience with HIV, TB, malnutrition, maternal health, patient-reported outcomes, patient-provider interactions, and community health. Her current work focuses on HIV stigma reduction. Milenka holds a Master of Public Health from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

    1. Jean-Baptiste MC, Jean-Baptiste M, Pognon PR, Lutz A, Mukherjee J, Millien C. Matrones as accompagnateurs: A model for accompaniment. SSM-Qualitative Research in Health. 2025 Feb 26:100541.

    2. Williams BO, Jean‐Baptiste M, Divaris K, Moretti A, De Kok I, Christensen JR. “In Their Own Words”: Families' Experiences With Tooth Autotransplantation for the Replacement of Maxillary Incisors in Children. Dental Traumatology. 2025.

    3. Tembo TA, Mollan K, Simon K, Rutstein S, Chitani MJ, Saha PT, Mbeya-Munkhondya T, Jean-Baptiste M, Meek C, Mwapasa V, Go V. Does a blended learning implementation package enhance HIV index case testing in Malawi? A protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ open. 2024 Jan 1;14(1):e077706.

    4. Dulli L, Touré F, Mama AD, Evens E, Murray K, Djè NN, Koné S, Sadate-Ngatchou P, Bovary A, Eichleay M, Jean-Baptiste M. Feasibility and acceptability of integrating mass distribution of azithromycin to children 1–11 months into a trachoma mass drug administration campaign to reduce child mortality in Côte d’Ivoire. PLOS Global Public Health. 2024 Jul 10;4(7):e0003426.

    5. Jean-Baptiste M, Millien C, Pognon PR, Jean-Baptiste MC. Reframing the Three Delays framework: factors influencing referrals to facilities by matrones in rural Haiti. BMJ Global Health. 2023 Nov 1;8(11):e011957.

    6. Grant SJ, Jean-Baptiste M, Mills JA, Mihas P. “First, Trust Needs to Develop”: Hematologists’ Perspectives on Factors Influencing Black Persons’ Participation in Clinical Trials. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 2024 Oct 18:1-4.

    7. Meek CJ, Munkhondya TE, Mphande M, Tembo TA, Chitani M, Jean-Baptiste M, Vansia D, Kumbuyo C, Wang J, Simon KR, Rutstein SE. Examining the feasibility of assisted index case testing for HIV case-finding: a qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators to implementation in Malawi. BMC Health Services Research. 2024 May 9;24(1):606.

    8. Zhu Y, Jean‐Baptiste M, Lenderking WR, Bell JA, Revicki DA, Lin HM, Brake R, Reeve BB. Identifying symptomatic adverse events using the patient‐reported outcomes version of the common terminology criteria for adverse events in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 20 insertion mutations. Cancer Medicine. 2023 Mar;12(5):5494-505.

    9. Jean-Baptiste M, Itzler R, Prusty S, Supina D, Martin ML. The symptom experience of hereditary angioedema (HAE) patients beyond HAE attacks: literature review and clinician interviews. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. 2022 Jun 16;17(1):232.

    10. Jean-Baptiste M, Gries KS, Lenderking WR, Fastenau J. Symptom burden and health-related quality of life impacts of smoldering multiple myeloma: the patient perspective. Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes. 2020 Dec;4:1-0.

    11. Stulac SN, Jean-Baptiste M, Mathews CS, Mukherjee JS. HIV Prevention and Treatment in Children and Adolescents.

Mentorship

Mentoring the next generation of global public health scholars is a central professional commitment. Dr. Rosenberg mentored dozens of Malawian scientists between 2012-2017. Her commitment to global scholars has continued in her faculty role at UNC.

    1. Chapola JC, Lee F, Bula A, Rosenberg NE, Tseka J, Chagomerana M, Hosseinipour MC, Tang JH. Knowledge and perceptions about Dolutegravir and Dolutegravir counselling: a qualitative study among women living with HIV. BMC Womens Health. 2023. [Full Text]

    2. Sasse SA, Harrington BJ, DiPrete BL, Chagomerana MB, Klyn LL, Wallie SD, Maliwichi M, Jumbe AN, Hoffman IF, Rosenberg NE, Tang JH, Hosseinipour MC; S4 Study. Factors associated with a history of treatment interruption among pregnant women living with HIV in Malawi: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2022. [Full Text]

    3. Kumwenda W, Kunyenje G, Gama J, Chinkonde J, Martinson F, Hoffman I, Hosseinipour M, Rosenberg N. Information management in Malawi's prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Program: Health workers' perspectives. Malawi Med J. 2017. [Full Text]

    4. Mtande TK, Weijer C, Hosseinipour MC, Taljaard M, Matoga M, Goldstein CE, Nyambalo B, Rosenberg NE. Ethical issues raised by cluster randomised trials conducted in low-resource settings: identifying gaps in the Ottawa Statement through an analysis of the PURE Malawi trial. J Med Ethics. 2019. [Full Text]

    5. Amuquandoh A, Escamilla V, Mofolo I, Rosenberg NE. Exploring the spatial relationship between primary road distance to antenatal clinics and HIV prevalence in pregnant females of Lilongwe, Malawi. Int J STD AIDS. 2019. [PubMed]

    6. Malava JK, Lancaster KE, Hosseinipour MC, Rosenberg NE, O'Donnell JK, Kauye F, Mbirimtengerenji N, Chaweza T, Tweya H, Phiri S, Pence BW, Gaynes BN. Prevalence and correlates of probable depression diagnosis and suicidal ideation among patients receiving HIV care in Lilongwe, Malawi. Malawi Med J. 2018. [Full Text]

    7. Khan S, Liomba G, Rosenberg NE, Stanley C, Kampani C, Dhungel BM, Hosseinipour MC. Utilization of fine needle aspiration cytology at Kamuzu central hospital. PLoS One. 2018. [Full Text]

    8. Matoga MM, Rosenberg NE, Stanley CC, LaCourse S, Munthali CK, Nsona DP, Haac B, Hoffman I, Hosseinipour MC. Inpatient mortality rates during an era of increased access to HIV testing and ART: A prospective observational study in Lilongwe, Malawi. PLoS One. 2018. [Full Text]

    9. Ngongondo M, Rosenberg NE, Stanley CC, Lim R, Ongubo D, Broadhurst R, Speight C, Flick R, Tembo P, Hosseinpour MC. Anemia in people on second line antiretroviral treatment in Lilongwe, Malawi: a cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis. 2018. [Full Text]

    10. Chawla KS, Rosenberg NE, Stanley C, Matoga M, Maluwa A, Kanyama C, Ngoma J, Hosseinipour MC. HIV and early hospital readmission: evaluation of a tertiary medical facility in Lilongwe, Malawi. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018. [Full Text]

    11. Moses A, Mwafongo A, Chikasema M, Kafantenganji L, Stanely C, Chimzukira E, Kampani C, Krysiak R, Gopal S, Rosenberg NE, Shores CG, Hosseinipour MC. Risk factors for common cancers among patients at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi: A retrospective cohort study. Malawi Med J. 2017. [Full Text]

    12. Chikaonda T, Nguluwe N, Barnett B, Gokhale RH, Krysiak R, Thengolose I, Rosenberg NE, Stanley C, Mpunga J, Hoffman IF, Hosseinipour M, Scott L, Stevens W. Performance of Xpert® MTB/RIF among tuberculosis outpatients in Lilongwe, Malawi. Afr J Lab Med. 2017. [Full Text]

    13. Chikaonda T, Ketseoglou I, Nguluwe N, Krysiak R, Thengolose I, Nyakwawa F, Rosenberg NE, Stanley C, Mpunga J, Hoffman IF, Papathanasopoulos MA, Hosseinipour M, Scott L, Stevens W. Molecular characterisation of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Malawi. Afr J Lab Med. 2017. [Full Text]

    14. Kopp DM, Tang JH, Stuart GS, Miller WC, O'Shea MS, Hosseinipour MC, Bonongwe P, Mwale M, Rosenberg NE. Dual Method Use among Postpartum HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Malawian Women: A Prospective Cohort Study. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2017. [Full Text]

    15. Kopp DM, Rosenberg NE, Stuart GS, Miller WC, Hosseinipour MC, Bonongwe P, Mwale M, Tang JH. Patterns of Contraceptive Adoption, Continuation, and Switching after Delivery among Malawian Women. PLoS One. 2017. [Full Text]

    16. Hauser BM, Miller WC, Tweya H, Speight C, Mtande T, Phiri S, Ball LM, Hosseinipour MC, Hoffman IF, Rosenberg NE. Assessing Option B+ retention and infant follow-up in Lilongwe, Malawi. Int J STD AIDS. 2018. [Full Text]

    17. Lemani C, Tang JH, Kopp D, Phiri B, Kumvula C, Chikosi L, Mwale M, Rosenberg NE. Contraceptive uptake after training community health workers in couples counseling: A cluster randomized trial. PLoS One. 2017. [Full Text]

    18. Flick RJ, Kim MH, Simon K, Munthali A, Hosseinipour MC, Rosenberg NE, Kazembe PN, Mpunga J, Ahmed S. Burden of disease and risk factors for death among children treated for tuberculosis in Malawi. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2016. [Full Text]

    19. Stanley CC, Westmoreland KD, Heimlich BJ, El-Mallawany NK, Wasswa P, Mtete I, Butia M, Itimu S, Chasela M, Mtunda M, Chikasema M, Makwakwa V, Kaimila B, Kasonkanji E, Chimzimu F, Kampani C, Dhungel BM, Krysiak R, Montgomery ND, Fedoriw Y, Rosenberg NE, Liomba NG, Gopal S. Outcomes for paediatric Burkitt lymphoma treated with anthracycline-based therapy in Malawi. Br J Haematol. 2016. [Full Text]

    20. Sih AM, Kopp DM, Tang JH, Rosenberg NE, Chipungu E, Harfouche M, Moyo M, Mwale M, Wilkinson JP. Association between parity and fistula location in women with obstetric fistula: a multivariate regression analysis. BJOG. 2016. [Full Text]

    21. Mlombe YB, Rosenberg NE, Wolf LL, Dzamalala CP, Chalulu K, Chisi J, Shaheen NJ, Hosseinipour MC, Shores CG. Environmental risk factors for oesophageal cancer in Malawi: A case-control study. Malawi Med J. 2015. [Full Text]

    22. Mwafongo AA, Rosenberg NE, Ng'ambi W, Werner AB, Garneau WM, Gumulira J, Phiri S, Hosseinipour MC. Treatment outcomes of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma under a routine antiretroviral therapy program in Lilongwe, Malawi: bleomycin/vincristine compared to vincristine monotherapy. PLoS One. 2014. [Full Text]

    23. Kendig CE, McCulloch DJ, Rosenberg NE, Samuel JC, Mabedi C, Shores CG, Hosseinipour MC, Matoga M, Charles AG. Prevalence of HIV and Disease Outcomes on the Medical and Surgical Wards at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi. Trop Med Health. 2013. [Full Text]

    24. Maliwichi M, Rosenberg NE, Macfie R, Olson D, Hoffman I, van der Horst CM, Kazembe PN, Hosseinipour MC, McCollum ED. CD4 count outperforms World Health Organization clinical algorithm for point-of-care HIV diagnosis among hospitalised HIV-exposed Malawian infants. Trop Med Int Health. 2014. [Full Text]

    25. Mphonda SM, Rosenberg NE, Kamanga E, Mofolo I, Mwale G, Boa E, Mwale M, Martinson F, Hoffman I, Hosseinipour MC. Assessment of peer-based and structural strategies for increasing male participation in an antenatal setting in Lilongwe, Malawi. Afr J Reprod Health. 2014. [Full Text]

    26. Hamela G, Tembo T, Rosenberg NE, Hoffman I, Lee C, Hosseinipour M. Womens experiences of HIV testing and counselling in the labour ward: a case of Bwaila hospital. Malawi Med J. 2013. [Full Text]