Craig Cohen MD, MPH

Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Founding Director, Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES)
International Director, UCSF-Gladstone Institute Center for AIDS Research
Director, UCSF Reproductive Infectious Disease Fellowship and UCGHI GloCal Health Fellowship
Attending Physician, San Francisco General Hospital
Co-Director, University of California Global Health Institute Center of Expertise in Women's Health & Empowerment

Dr. Cohen serves conducts clinical and implementation research in two major areas: HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention and HIV/AIDS care and support in developing countries.

In 1994, Dr. Cohen and his colleague Dr. Elizabeth Bukusi at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) established the Research Care and Treatment Program (RCTP), a collaboration with projects in Nairobi and Kisumu, Kenya. In addition to conducting research, the goal of the program is to enhance local capacity to conduct biomedical research through training and infrastructure development. RCTP employs over 700 full-time staff in Kenya including epidemiologists, physicians, nurse-counselors, laboratory technologists, field workers, data managers, biostatisticians and administrative staff.

Dr. Cohen is the Founding Director of the Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES) since its creation in 2004. FACES is a CDC/PEPFAR-funded HIV/AIDS care and treatment program in Western Kenya and Nairobi. As part of FACES, Dr. Cohen has also developed the Student Training Elective Program (STEP), which allows medical students and residents to do research and clinical electives at FACES sites.

Additionally, Dr. Cohen directs the UCSF Reproductive Infectious Disease (RID) Fellowship, which aims to provide Ob/Gyn and post-doctoral trainees with the tools and experience necessary to develop into independent investigators and launch productive careers in the field of RID. He also co-directs the newly established University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI) GloCal Health Fellowship which plans to train 50-60 fellows in global health research between 2012-17 in collaboration with 24 international collaborating institutions. Overall, Dr. Cohen has directly mentored more than 60 doctoral/professional students, residents and post-doctoral fellows, most of whom have conducted research in Kenya.

 

Areas of interest:

  • Prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI)
  • Microbicides, live biotherapeutic products to prevent HIV/STI
  • Integration of reproductive health and HIV services
  • Improvement of care to HIV infected persons living in resource poor settings
  • Multisectoral interventions to improve the lives of families affected by HIV
  • Research training and infrastructure development in developing countries

 

Education:

  • University of California, Berkeley, Bachelor of Arts in molecular biology
  • University of Louisville, Doctor of Medicine
  • Northwestern University, residency in obstetrics and gynecology
  • University of Washington, fellowship in research with the International AIDS Research Training Program
  • University of Washington School of Public Health, Masters of Public Health in epidemiology