Stephanie A. S. Staras, Ph.D.

Title: Research Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research Contact Information: Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research 1329 S.W. 16th Street, Room 5241 P.O. Box 100177 Gainesville FL 32610-0177 Phone: 352.265.0111 ext. 86523 Fax: 352.265.8047 E-mail: sas@ephr.ufl.edu Education: Ph.D., Epidemiology, Emory University M.S.P.H., Epidemiology, Emory University B.S., Mathematics and Biology, Bucknell University Publications Research Grants Professional Bio: Dr. Stephanie A. S. Staras is an infectious disease epidemiologist with a concentration in prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and congenital infections. Her research interests include Cytomegalovirus (CMV), HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections. Dr. Staras is interested in the role of alcohol use and sexually transmitted infection acquisition. Dr. Staras was involved in the first national seroprevalence study of CMV. This work included the first estimates of CMV prevalence and incidence in a nationally representative sample of the United States and emphasized the great need for strategies to prevent CMV infections; an estimated 500,000 women of childbearing age experience a CMV infection each year in the US. In order to guide prevention messages, Dr. Staras also investigated the relative influence of known transmission modes (sexual and non-sexual close contact) on CMV seroprevalence. Dr. Staras has considerable experience with health surveys; she has also been involved in various multi-stage, nationally representative surveys including the Youth Tobacco Survey, Global Youth Tobacco Survey, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, and the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Currently, she is involved in a study of sexually transmitted diseases and characteristics of sexual partners. Additionally, Dr. Staras is co-principal investigator in a project evaluating Florida Healthy Start (Shenkman). Expertise: Infectious Disease Epidemiology, HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Methodology, Racial/Ethnic Disparities