John Sauceda, PhD, MS

Assistant Professor

I have two lines of research that blend principles and methods from health, clinical and quantitative psychology and that are based on a collaborative team science approach. My primary line of research aims to understand and intervene on factors to address health disparities among Latinx communities impacted by HIV. I am particularly interested in applied psychometrics as I believe health disparities research should based on principles of sound measurement, especially of psychological constructs and social factors measured in Spanish or for comparing outcomes across diverse populations. Regarding intervention research, I focuses broadly on using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy to design more dynamic and efficient interventions, such as sequencing behavioral therapies for depression to improve HIV care engagement. My second line of research aims to conduct social and behavioral science research to help address some unresolved challenges in HIV cure research, such as promoting consent understanding, measuring psychological experiences of participants going through risky HIV cure trials, and understanding the perspectives, priorities and concerns of people living with HIV who may be interested in participating in HIV cure research. Across both lines of research in HIV treatment and care outcomes and cure research, the role of mental health and robust measurement remain central priorities.

Additionally, I have a deep commitment to mentoring across the pipeline, from young people who are aspiring researchers through our NIDA-funded Summer HIV/AIDS Research Program (SHARP), up through early-career investigators in my role as Co-Director of the UCSF-Gladstone CFAR Mentoring Program. I am particularly interested in mentoring individuals who are interested in Latinx and HIV health disparities research, and those interested in the social science of HIV cure research.
Education
2020 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of Californa, San Francisco
Fellowship, 2016 - Medicine - Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco
MSc in Global Health Sciences, 2014 - Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
PhD in Health Psychology, 2013 - Department of Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso
Quantitative Methods, 2013 - Department of Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso
MA in Clinical Psychology, 2010 - Department of Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso
Honors and Awards
  • Early Career Research Excellence Award - Behavioral Science, Gladstone-CFAR, 2019
  • LRP Award for Health Disparities Research, NIH/NIMHD, 2018-2020
  • LRP Award for Health Disparities Research, NIH/NIMHD, 2014-2016
Publications
  1. Findings from a probability-based survey of U.S. households about prevention measures based on race, ethnicity, and age in response to SARS-CoV-2.
  2. Reasons People Living with HIV Might Prefer Oral Daily Antiretroviral Therapy, Long-Acting Formulations, or Future HIV Remission Options.
  3. Internalized HIV stigma predicts subsequent viremia in US HIV patients through depressive symptoms and antiretroviral therapy adherence.
  4. Altruism: Scoping review of the literature and future directions for HIV cure-related research
  5. Operationalizing HIV cure-related trials with analytic treatment interruptions during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A collaborative approach.
  6. Perceptions of Next-of-Kin/Loved Ones about Last Gift Rapid Research Autopsy Study Enrolling People with HIV/AIDS at the End-of-Life: A Qualitative Interview Study.
  7. "My Death Will Not [Be] in Vain": Testimonials from Last Gift Rapid Research Autopsy Study Participants Living with HIV at the End of Life.
  8. An Approach to Reducing Problematic Data in an ACASI Sexual Behavior Assessment.
  9. "Holidays Come, Sundays Come. It is Very Sad to be Alone": Transnational Practices and the Importance of Family for Mexican and Puerto Rican Latinxs Living with HIV in the Continental U.S.
  10. Perceptions of HIV Virologic Control Strategies among Younger and Older Age Groups of People Living with HIV in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Survey.
  11. Measuring engagement in HIV care: Measurement invariance in three racial/ethnic patient groups.
  12. Participant Perspectives in an HIV Cure-Related Trial Conducted Exclusively in Women in the United States: Results from AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) 5366.
  13. A collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to HIV transmission risk mitigation during analytic treatment interruption.
  14. The Dose Response: Perceptions of People Living with HIV in the United States on Alternatives to Oral Daily Antiretroviral Therapy.
  15. A Dyadic Investigation of Relationship Dynamics and Depressive Symptoms in HIV-Affected Couples in Malawi.
  16. Internalized HIV Stigma Is Associated With Concurrent Viremia and Poor Retention in a Cohort of US Patients in HIV Care.
  17. Detecting Disengagement from HIV Care Before It's Too Late: Development and Preliminary Validation of a Novel Index of Engagement in HIV Care.
  18. From Theory to Application: A Description of Transnationalism in Culturally-Appropriate HIV Interventions of Outreach, Access, and Retention Among Latino/a Populations.
  19. The influence of the 'good' patient ideal on engagement in HIV care.
  20. Cognitive-affective depressive symptoms and substance use among Latino and non-Latino White patients in HIV care: an analysis of the CFAR network of integrated clinical systems cohort.
  21. If someone cares about you, you are more apt to come around: improving HIV care engagement by strengthening the patient-provider relationship.
  22. An update on the Barriers to Adherence and a Definition of Self-Report Non-adherence Given Advancements in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).
  23. Acculturation, family cohesion, and mental health among Latinos living with HIV on the U.S.-Mexico border.
  24. Factors Associated with Sexual Risk of HIV Transmission Among HIV-Positive Latino Men Who have Sex with Men on the U.S.-México Border.
  25. Nonadherence as 4-day Antiretroviral Therapy Interruptions: Do Depression and Race/Ethnicity Matter as Much in the Modern Antiretroviral Therapy Era?
  26. Partner Reports of HIV Viral Suppression Predict Sexual Behavior in Serodiscordant Male Couples.
  27. Assessing Collectivism in Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and African American Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Psychometric Evaluation.
  28. Childhood sexual abuse and depression in Latino men who have sex with men: Does resilience protect against nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy?
  29. A preliminary RCT of CBT-AD for adherence and depression among HIV-positive Latinos on the U.S.-Mexico border: the Nuevo Día study.
  30. Stigma, Discrimination, and HIV/AIDS: A Cross-Cultural Perspective
  31. Guide to Psychological Assessment with Hispanics
  32. Medication literacy in Spanish and English: psychometric evaluation of a new assessment tool.
  33. The role of prospective memory in medication adherence: a review of an emerging literature.