Stephen L. Schensul, Ph.D. Professor of Community Medicine and Health Care and Director of the Center for International Community Health Studies Department of Community Medicine and Health Care Research Interests Research Activities Educational Activities

• Alternative medical systems
• Indian systems of medicine
• Culturally-based concepts of health and illness

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Research Activities

Dr. Schensul is the principal investigator of a five-year (2007-2012) NIMH grant addressing the prevention of HIV/STI transmission within marriage in India. The project deals with culturally-based concepts of women’s health that show a significant association with a difficult life situation and HIV/STI risk.

This project follows a six-year (2001-2007) NIMH funded project focused on married men in Mumbai. As a part of this project, non-allopathic providers (ayurvedic, unani and homeopaths) were trained in HIV/STI counseling and education and syndromic management to address men’s culturally defined symptoms related to sexual health that showed a significant association with sexual risk behavior. Prior research on cultural concepts of sexual risk and health have been conducted in Mauritius (1991-1994) and in Sri Lanka (1995-1999).

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Educational Activities

• An elective for first year medical students on community health research methods
• An elective on data analysis for second year medical students
• An M.P.H./Ph.D. course on Qualitative Research Methods
• Major advisor, preceptor for medical, M.P.H. and Ph.D. students
  

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