John Sauceda, PhD, MS

Faculty

I am an Associate Professor in Residence and a health psychologist in the Division of Prevention Science in the Department of Medicine. My research is interlocked with my commitment to high-quality mentoring and working on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. This includes co-directing three NIH-supported mentoring programs for post-doctoral fellows and early-career faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students: (1) The UCSF Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Mentoring Program, (2) the CFAR Scholars DEI Pathway Initiative, and (3) the Summer HIV/AIDS Research Program, as well as being Co-Director of the Developmental Core at the NIMH-funded Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS).

My two research programs 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. I focuses broadly on using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to design more dynamic and efficient interventions. 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.

I have a deep commitment to mentoring across the pipeline. I am particularly interested in mentoring individuals who are interested in Latino/a/x 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. Campbell DM, Dubé K, Cowlings PD, Dionicio P, Tam RM, Agarwal H, Stockman JK, Auerbach JD, Sauceda JA, Conroy AA, Johnson MO. "It comes altogether as one:" perceptions of analytical treatment interruptions and partner protections among racial, ethnic, sex and gender diverse HIV serodifferent couples in the United States. 2022. PMID: 35810288


  2. Flentje A, Clark KD, Cicero E, Capriotti MR, Lubensky ME, Sauceda J, Neilands TB, Lunn MR, Obedin-Maliver J. Minority Stress, Structural Stigma, and Physical Health Among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals: Examining the Relative Strength of the Relationships. 2021. PMID: 34228052


  4. Christopoulos KA, Colasanti J, Johnson MO, Diaz Tsuzuki M, Erguera XA, Flores R, Kerman J, Dance K, Sauceda JA, Neilands TB, Dilworth SE, Koester KA, Gutierrez J, Schneider JA, Montgomery E, McNulty MC. Are Patients and Their Providers Talking About Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy? Penetration into Clinical Encounters at Three U.S. Care Sites. 2022. PMID: 35873299


  5. Dube K, Eskaf S, Barr L, Palm D, Hogg E, Simoni J, Sugarman J, Brown B, Sauceda JA, Henley L, Deeks SG, Fox L, Gandhi R, Smith DM, Li J. Participant Perspectives and Experiences Following an Intensively Monitored Antiretroviral Pause (IMAP) in the United States: Results from the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) A5345 Biomarker Study. 2022. PMID: 35323030


  6. Dubé K, Kanazawa J, Patel H, Louella M, Sylla L, Sheehy J, Dee L, Taylor J, Adair J, Anthony-Gonda K, Dropulic B, Sauceda JA, Peluso MJ, Deeks SG, Simoni J. Ethical and practical considerations for cell and gene therapy toward an HIV cure: findings from a qualitative in-depth interview study in the United States. 2022. PMID: 35397551


  7. Peluso MJ, Williams MC, Campbell DM, Dee L, Taylor J, Ngo LH, Hoh R, Dubé K, Sauceda JA, Deeks SG. SARS-CoV-2 Booster Vaccination for Participants in "HIV Cure"-Related Clinical Trials. 2022. PMID: 35147584


  8. Maiorana A, Zamudio-Haas S, Santiago-Rodríguez EI, Sauceda JA, Rodríguez-Díaz CE, Brooks RA, Myers JJ. HIV Disclosure Practices to Family among Mexican and Puerto Rican Sexual Minority Men with HIV in the Continental USA: Intersections of Sexual Orientation and HIV Stigma. 2022. PMID: 35225747


  9. Miall A, McLellan R, Dong K, Ndung'u T, Saberi P, Sauceda JA, Dubé K. Bringing social context into global biomedical HIV cure-related research: An urgent call to action. 2021. PMID: 35169489


  10. Peluso MJ, Kelly JD, Lu S, Goldberg SA, Davidson MC, Mathur S, Durstenfeld MS, Spinelli MA, Hoh R, Tai V, Fehrman EA, Torres L, Hernandez Y, Williams MC, Arreguin MI, Ngo LH, Deswal M, Munter SE, Martinez EO, Anglin KA, Romero MD, Tavs J, Rugart PR, Chen JY, Sans HM, Murray VW, Ellis PK, Donohue KC, Massachi JA, Weiss JO, Mehdi I, Pineda-Ramirez J, Tang AF, Wenger MA, Assenzio MT, Yuan Y, Krone MR, Rutishauser RL, Rodriguez-Barraquer I, Greenhouse B, Sauceda JA, Gandhi M, Scheffler AW, Hsue PY, Henrich TJ, Deeks SG, Martin JN. Persistence, Magnitude, and Patterns of Postacute Symptoms and Quality of Life Following Onset of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Cohort Description and Approaches for Measurement. 2021. PMID: 35106317


  11. Santiago-Rodriguez EI, Maiorana A, Peluso MJ, Hoh R, Tai V, Fehrman EA, Hernandez Y, Torres L, Spinelli MA, Gandhi M, Kelly JD, Martin JN, Henrich TJ, Deeks SG, Sauceda JA. Characterizing the COVID-19 Illness Experience to Inform the Study of Post-acute Sequelae and Recovery. 2021. PMID: 34918211


  13. Dubé K, Kanazawa J, Dee L, Taylor J, Sauceda JA, Gianella S, Smith D, Deeks SG, Peluso MJ. Considerations for designing and implementing combination HIV cure trials: findings from a qualitative in-depth interview study in the United States. 2021. PMID: 34663375


  14. Johnson MO, Gandhi M, Fuchs JD, Sterling L, Sauceda JA, Saag MS, Riley ED, Sevelius JM. The impact of COVID-19 on mentoring early-career investigators: "Everything can wait. Listen more than usual and share your own struggles". 2021. PMID: 34622852


  15. Christopoulos KA, Neilands TB, Koester KA, Sauceda JA, Dilworth SE, Mugavero MJ, Crane HM, Fredericksen RJ, Cachay ER, Mayer KH, Moore RD, Napravnik S, Johnson MO. The HIV Index: Using a Patient-Reported Outcome on Engagement in HIV Care to Explain Sub-Optimal Retention in Care and Virologic Control. 2020. PMID: 33372942


  16. Santiago-Rodríguez EI, Rivas CE, Maiorana A, Pérez AE, Erguera X, Johnson MO, Christopoulos KA, Marquez C, Sauceda JA. Unpacking the "backpack of shame": Exploring intersections of stigma among Latinx people living with HIV in San Francisco, CA. 2021. PMID: 34410754


  18. Dubé K, Kanazawa J, Taylor J, Dee L, Jones N, Roebuck C, Sylla L, Louella M, Kosmyna J, Kelly D, Clanton O, Palm D, Campbell DM, Onaiwu MG, Patel H, Ndukwe S, Henley L, Johnson MO, Saberi P, Brown B, Sauceda JA, Sugarman J. Ethics of HIV cure research: an unfinished agenda. 2021. PMID: 34193141


  19. Sauceda JA, Patel AR, Santiago-Rodriguez EI, Garcia D, Lechuga J. Testing for Differences in the Reporting of Somatic Symptoms of Depression in Racial/Ethnic Minorities. 2021. PMID: 34080483


  20. Dubé K, Kanazawa J, Campbell C, Boone CA, Maragh-Bass AC, Campbell DM, Agosto-Rosario M, Stockman JK, Diallo DD, Poteat T, Johnson M, Saberi P, Sauceda JA. Considerations for Increasing Racial, Ethnic, Gender, and Sexual Diversity in HIV Cure-Related Research with Analytical Treatment Interruptions: A Qualitative Inquiry. 2021. PMID: 33947268


  21. Peluso MJ, Dee L, Shao S, Taylor J, Campbell D, Collins S, Gandhi M, Johnston R, Deeks SG, Sauceda JA, Dubé K. Operationalizing HIV cure-related trials with analytic treatment interruptions during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A collaborative approach. 2020. PMID: 32841311


  23. Santiago-Rodriguez EI, Maiorana A, Peluso MJ, Hoh R, Tai V, Fehrman EA, Hernandez Y, Torres L, Spinelli MA, Gandhi M, Kelly JD, Martin JN, Henrich TJ, Deeks SG, Sauceda JA. Characterizing the COVID-19 illness experience to inform the study of post-acute sequalae and recovery: a qualitative study. 2021. PMID: 33758881


  24. Dubé K, Kanazawa J, Dee L, Taylor J, Campbell DM, Brown B, Johnson MO, Saberi P, Sauceda JA, Sugarman J, Peluso MJ. Ethical and practical considerations for mitigating risks to sexual partners during analytical treatment interruptions in HIV cure-related research. 2021. PMID: 33757411


  25. Johnson MO, Fuchs JD, Sterling L, Sauceda JA, Saag MS, Fernandez A, Evans CH, Gandhi M. A mentor training workshop focused on fostering diversity engenders lasting impact on mentoring techniques: Results of a long-term evaluation. 2021. PMID: 34221458


  26. Peluso MJ, Kelly JD, Lu S, Goldberg SA, Davidson MC, Mathur S, Durstenfeld MS, Spinelli MA, Hoh R, Tai V, Fehrman EA, Torres L, Hernandez Y, Williams MC, Arreguin MI, Bautista JA, Ngo LH, Deswal M, Munter SE, Martinez EO, Anglin KA, Romero MD, Tavs J, Rugart PR, Chen JY, Sans HM, Murray VW, Ellis PK, Donohue KC, Massachi JA, Weiss JO, Mehdi I, Pineda-Ramirez J, Tang AF, Wenger M, Assenzio M, Yuan Y, Krone M, Rutishauser RL, Rodriguez-Barraquer I, Greenhouse B, Sauceda JA, Gandhi M, Hsue PY, Henrich TJ, Deeks SG, Martin JN. Rapid implementation of a cohort for the study of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection/COVID-19. 2021. PMID: 33758895


  27. Diepstra KL, Barr L, Palm D, Hogg E, Mollan K, Henley L, Stover A, Simoni J, Sugarman J, Brown B, Sauceda JA, Deeks SG, Fox L, Gandhi R, Smith DM, Li J, Dube K. Participant Perspectives and Experiences Entering an Intensively Monitored Antiretroviral Pause (IMAP): Results from the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) A5345 Biomarker Study. 2021. PMID: 33472545


  29. Sauceda, J.A., Santiago-Rodriguez, E.I., Zaragoza, G., Rivas, C.E., Venegas, L., Zamudio-Haas, S., Gutierrez-Mock, L., Bass, S.B., & Sevelius.. Housing stability and transactional sex among Spanish-speaking and English-speaking transgender women 2020. PMID:


  31. Dubé, K., Hosey, L., Starr, K., Barr, L., Evans, D., Hoffman, E., Campbell, D.M., Simoni, J.M., Sugarman, J., Sauceda, J.A.,...Scully, E.. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 2020. PMID:


  32. Dubé K, Willenberg L, Dee L, Sylla L, Taylor J, Roebuck C, Palm D, Campbell D, Newton L, Patel H, Perry KE, Kanazawa J, Gerrard J, Brown B, Saberi P, Sauceda JA, Peluso MJ. Re-examining the HIV 'functional cure' oxymoron: Time for precise terminology? 2020. PMID: 33251025


  34. Dube K, Campbell DM, Perry KE, Kanazawa JT, Saberi P, Sauceda JA, Poteat T, Evans D. Reasons People Living with HIV Might Prefer Oral Daily Antiretroviral Therapy, Long-Acting Formulations, or Future HIV Remission Options. 2020. PMID: 32829645


  35. Christopoulos KA, Neilands TB, Dilworth S, Lisha N, Sauceda J, Mugavero MJ, Crane HM, Fredericksen RJ, Mathews WC, Moore RD, Mayer KH, Napravnik S, Johnson MO. Internalized HIV stigma predicts subsequent viremia in US HIV patients through depressive symptoms and antiretroviral therapy adherence. 2020. PMID: 32769764


  36. Dubé K, Perry KE, Mathur K, Lo M, Javadi SS, Patel H, Concha-Garcia S, Taylor J, Kaytes A, Dee L, Campbell D, Kanazawa J, Smith D, Gianella S, Auerbach JD, Saberi P, Sauceda JA. Altruism: Scoping review of the literature and future directions for HIV cure-related research. 2020. PMID: 33294210


  37. Dube K, Patel H, Concha-Garcia S, Perry KE, Mathur K, Javadi SS, Taylor J, Kaytes A, Brown B, Sauceda J, Little SJ, Hendrickx S, Rawlings S, Smith DM, Gianella S. 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. 2020. PMID: 32449624


  38. Perry KE, Dubé K, Concha-Garcia S, Patel H, Kaytes A, Taylor J, Javadi SS, Mathur K, Lo M, Brown B, Sauceda JA, Wohl DA, Little S, Hendrickx S, Rawlings SA, Smith DM, Gianella S. "My Death Will Not [Be] in Vain": Testimonials from Last Gift Rapid Research Autopsy Study Participants Living with HIV at the End of Life. 2020. PMID: 32449625


  39. Pollack LM, Sauceda JA, Cotten PD, Blair J, Woods WJ. An Approach to Reducing Problematic Data in an ACASI Sexual Behavior Assessment. 2020. PMID: 32500813


  40. Maiorana A, Zamudio-Haas S, Sauceda J, Rodriguez-Díaz CE, Brooks RA, Santiago-Rodríguez E, Myers JJ. "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. 2020. PMID: 32500399


  42. Sauceda JA, Lisha NE, Dilworth SE, Johnson MO, Christopoulos KA, Wood T, Koester KA, Mathews WC, Moore RD, Napravnik S, Mayer KH, Crane HM, Fredericksen RJ, Mugavero MJ, Neilands TB. Measuring engagement in HIV care: Measurement invariance in three racial/ethnic patient groups. 2020. PMID: 32281823


  43. Dube K, Hosey L, Starr K, Barr L, Evans D, Hoffman E, Campbell D, Simoni J, Sugarman J, Sauceda J, Brown B, Diepstra KL, Godfrey C, Kuritzkes DR, Wohl DA, Gandhi R, Scully E. Participant Perspectives in an HIV Cure-Related Trial Conducted Exclusively in Women in the United States: Results from AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) 5366. 2020. PMID: 32160755


  44. Peluso MJ, Dee L, Campbell D, Taylor J, Hoh R, Rutishauser RL, Sauceda J, Deeks SG, Dubé K. A collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to HIV transmission risk mitigation during analytic treatment interruption. 2020. PMID: 32175090


  45. Dube K, Eskaf S, Evans D, Sauceda J, Saberi P, Brown B, Averitt D, Martel K, Meija M, Campbell D, Barr L, Kanazawa J, Perry K, Patel H, Luter S, Poteat T, Auerbach JD, Wohl DA. The Dose Response: Perceptions of People Living with HIV in the United States on Alternatives to Oral Daily Antiretroviral Therapy. 2019. PMID: 31608651


  46. Tuthill EL, Neilands TB, Johnson MO, Sauceda J, Mkandawire J, Conroy AA. A Dyadic Investigation of Relationship Dynamics and Depressive Symptoms in HIV-Affected Couples in Malawi. 2019. PMID: 31273489


  47. Christopoulos KA, Neilands TB, Hartogensis W, Geng EH, Sauceda J, Mugavero MJ, Crane HM, Fredericksen RJ, Moore RD, Mathews WC, Mayer KH, Chander G, Hurt CB, Johnson MO. Internalized HIV Stigma Is Associated With Concurrent Viremia and Poor Retention in a Cohort of US Patients in HIV Care. 2019. PMID: 31513551


  48. Johnson MO, Neilands TB, Koester KA, Wood T, Sauceda JA, Dilworth SE, Mugavero MJ, Crane HM, Fredericksen RJ, Mayer KH, Mathews WC, Moore RD, Napravnik S, Christopoulos KA. Detecting Disengagement from HIV Care Before It's Too Late: Development and Preliminary Validation of a Novel Index of Engagement in HIV Care. 2019. PMID: 30865180


  49. Sauceda JA, Brooks RA, Xavier J, Maiorana A, Georgetti Gomez L, Zamudio-Haas S, Rodriguez-Diaz CE, Cajina A, Myers J. From Theory to Application: A Description of Transnationalism in Culturally-Appropriate HIV Interventions of Outreach, Access, and Retention Among Latino/a Populations. 2018. PMID: 29767401


  50. Koester KA, Johnson MO, Wood T, Fredericksen R, Neilands TB, Sauceda J, Crane HM, Mugavero MJ, Christopoulos KA. The influence of the 'good' patient ideal on engagement in HIV care. 2019. PMID: 30921440


  51. Sauceda JA, Lisha NE, Neilands TB, Christopoulos KA, Mathews WC, Levison JH, Dennis AM, Johnson MO. 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. 2018. PMID: 30377875


  52. Wood TJ, Koester KA, Christopoulos KA, Sauceda JA, Neilands TB, Johnson MO. If someone cares about you, you are more apt to come around: improving HIV care engagement by strengthening the patient-provider relationship. 2018. PMID: 29872277


  54. Sauceda JA, Wiebe JS, Chan K, Kutner BA, Simoni JM. Acculturation, family cohesion, and mental health among Latinos living with HIV on the U.S.-Mexico border. 2018. PMID: 29389148


  57. 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


  60. Simoni JM, Wiebe JS, Sauceda JA, Huh D, Sanchez G, Longoria V, Andres Bedoya C, Safren SA. A preliminary RCT of CBT-AD for adherence and depression among HIV-positive Latinos on the U.S.-Mexico border: the Nuevo Día study. 2013. PMID: 23812892


  61. Sauceda JA, Wiebe JS, Rao D, Pearson CR, & Simoni JM. Stigma, Discrimination, and HIV/AIDS: A Cross-Cultural Perspective 2013. PMID:


  62. Wiebe JS, Sauceda JA, Lara C. Guide to Psychological Assessment with Hispanics 2012. PMID:


  63. Sauceda JA, Loya AM, Sias JJ, Taylor T, Wiebe JS, Rivera JO. Medication literacy in Spanish and English: psychometric evaluation of a new assessment tool. 2012. PMID: 23229985


  64. Zogg JB, Woods SP, Sauceda JA, Wiebe JS, Simoni JM. The role of prospective memory in medication adherence: a review of an emerging literature. 2011. PMID: 21487722