Amy Conroy, PhD

Assistant Professor

I am a behavioral scientist with multidisciplinary training from the fields of public health, psychology, anthropology, and sociology. Broadly, my research seeks to understand and intervene upon health behaviors related to sexuality, HIV/AIDS, and intimate partner violence within international and domestic settings. Specifically, I am interested in dyadic aspects of health within heterosexual and same-sex couples. My primary line of research takes place in southern Africa (Malawi and South Africa) and aims to understand how relationship factors and partner influence shape engagement in HIV care and treatment. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop couples-based interventions for couples living with HIV to improve gender and relationship dynamics, and use of HIV care and treatment. I am also involved with other projects in Southern and East Africa examining how power in relationships affects relationship quality (i.e., intimacy, trust, couple communication) and intimate partner violence. My research is grounded in theory from the field of relationship science, and employs mixed-methods and innovative dyadic analysis techniques (qualitative and quantitative) to understand couple-level health behavior.
Education
Postdoctoral Fellowship in AIDS Prevention Studies, 2016 - Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California San Francisco
Ph.D., 2013 - Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado Denver
M.P.H., 2008 - Public Health, University of Colorado Denver
B.S.E., 2002 - Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa
Honors and Awards
  • K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award, NIMH, 2016-2020
  • Mentored Scientist Award in HIV/AIDS Research, UCSF Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), 2013-2014
  • F31 NRSA Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Award, NIMH, 2010-2013
Publications

  1. Diamond-Smith N, Conroy AA, Tsai AC, Nekkanti M, Weiser SD. Food insecurity and intimate partner violence among married women in Nepal. 2019. PMID: 30774941


  2. Woolf-King SE, Conroy AA, Fritz K, Johnson MO, Hosegood V, van Rooyen H, Darbes L, McGrath N. Alcohol use and relationship quality among South African couples. 2018. PMID: 30407888


  3. Tan JY, Campbell CK, Conroy AA, Tabrisky AP, Kegeles S, Dworkin SL. Couple-Level Dynamics and Multilevel Challenges Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Framework of Dyadic HIV Care. 2018. PMID: 30339464


  5. Conroy AA, McKenna SA, Comfort ML, Darbes LA, Tan JY, Mkandawire J. Marital infidelity, food insecurity, and couple instability: A web of challenges for dyadic coordination around antiretroviral therapy. 2018. PMID: 30172140


  7. Conroy AA, McKenna SA, Leddy A, Johnson MO, Ngubane T, Darbes LA, van Rooyen H. "If She is Drunk, I Don't Want Her to Take it": Partner Beliefs and Influence on Use of Alcohol and Antiretroviral Therapy in South African Couples. 2017. PMID: 28150121


  9. Gamarel KE, Neilands TB, Conroy AA, Dilworth SE, Lisha N, Taylor JM, Darbes LA, Johnson MO. A longitudinal study of persistent smoking among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men in primary relationships. 2016. PMID: 27930901


  10. Conroy AA, Gamarel KE, Neilands TB, Sauceda JA, Darbes LA, Dilworth SE, Taylor JM, Johnson MO. Partner Reports of HIV Viral Suppression Predict Sexual Behavior in Serodiscordant Male Couples. 2016. PMID: 27367791


  11. Conroy AA, Tsai AC, Clark GM, Boum Y, Hatcher AM, Kawuma A, Hunt PW, Martin JN, Bangsberg DR, Weiser SD. Relationship Power and Sexual Violence Among HIV-Positive Women in Rural Uganda. 2016. PMID: 27052844


  13. Conroy AA, McGrath N, van Rooyen H, Hosegood V, Johnson MO, Fritz K, Marr A, Ngubane T, Darbes LA. Power and the association with relationship quality in South African couples: Implications for HIV/AIDS interventions. 2016. PMID: 26859436


  19. Haukoos JS, Campbell JD, Conroy AA, Hopkins E, Bucossi MM, Sasson C, Al-Tayyib AA, Thrun MW. Programmatic cost evaluation of nontargeted opt-out rapid HIV screening in the emergency department. 2013. PMID: 24391706


  23. Yeatman S, Dovel K, Conroy A, Namadingo H. HIV treatment optimism and its predictors among young adults in southern Malawi. 2012. PMID: 23227888


  24. Haukoos JS, Hopkins E, Conroy AA, Silverman M, Byyny RL, Eisert S, Thrun MW, Wilson ML, Hutchinson AB, Forsyth J, Johnson SC, Heffelfinger JD. Routine opt-out rapid HIV screening and detection of HIV infection in emergency department patients. 2010. PMID: 20639562


  25. Haukoos JS, Hopkins E, Byyny RL, Conroy AA, Silverman M, Eisert S, Thrun M, Wilson M, Boyett B, Heffelfinger JD. Design and implementation of a controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of routine opt-out rapid human immunodeficiency virus screening in the emergency department. 2009. PMID: 19673717