Leah Marlene Varga, PhD: CV
LEAH MARLENE VARGA
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899 N. Capitol Street NE 4 Floor Washington DC, 20002 ▪ 202-727-5682 ▪ leah.varga@dc.gov
EDUCATION
2006-2012
Doctor of Philosophy, Medical Sociology/Race and Ethnic Relations
University of Miami
University of Miami Fellowship Recipient
Dissertation: Structural Violence and Vulnerable Populations: Health and Health
Care Utilization among Black, Female Sex Workers in Miami, Florida
2000-2003
Master of Arts, Sociology
University of Miami
1989-1994
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
University of Miami, Summa cum Laude
EXPERIENCE
District of Columbia Department of Health
HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration
May 2016- present
HIV Services Planner/Public Health Analyst
 Conduct needs assessments to identify gaps and determine funding priorities for services
 Collects and synthesizes data needed for short and long term HIV planning
 Identifies objectives and strategies to address identified gaps in HIV services
 Incorporates programmatic and service system changes resulting from the Affordable Care Act
 Identifies populations for assessment, methods to use to obtain information, and strategies to
develop effective implementation plans
 Develops timelines and prepares written summaries of results and recommendations
 Prepares grant applications
 Collaborates across divisions to streamline services and develop a strategy that merges HIV
Care and Prevention planning
 Analyzes data to prepare assigned portions of HIV/STD/hepatitis grants, HIV epidemiological
profiles, applications, progress reports and other funding required reports and documents
 Develops and implements a plan to increase HIV services in underserved areas
 Maintains a resource inventory and strategized how to fill gaps and increase services.
 Evaluate resources and inventory available through resource mapping
Florida International University, Office of Research and Economic Development/Center for
Research on US Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA)/ FIU-Banyan Research Institute on
Dissemination, Grants, & Evaluation (FIU-BRIDGE)
September 2012- April 2016
Research Scientist
 Conceptualizing, planning, developing, writing, and preparing grant proposals and projects
 Providing competency in health care disparities research and innovative research initiatives
focusing on health care, clinical, epidemiological, and community-based human subjects research
 Analysis and interpretation of data and its translation into relevant information for scientific
manuscripts
 Developing and writing scholarly manuscripts; edit scholarly manuscripts for research faculty
 Presenting of research findings at national and international conferences
 Facilitating collaborations between research units towards grant preparation and conference
organization
University of Delaware/Nova Southeastern University, Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies
May 2009- June 2011
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Leah Marlene Varga, PhD: CV
Research Manager Case Management Alternatives for Highly Vulnerable Women and the Diversion of
Antiretroviral Medications to Street Markets
 Directing, planning, monitoring, managing, and coordinating all research activities of various NIH
funded research projects and programs examining HIV in vulnerable populations
 Overseeing human subjects survey research of a behavioral intervention providing case
management and linking vulnerable populations to necessary community resources
 Supervision of research staff
 Qualitative and quantitative data collection, management, evaluation, and analyses
 Performance monitoring and quality assurance of methodological standards
 Liaison between project and community agencies and stakeholders
 Scientific writing
 Grant writing to obtain extramural funding
 Presenting and discussing findings at national meetings and conferences
Princeton University, Department of Sociology
August 2007- 2011
Part-time Coordinator/Community Liaison Immigrants and Health Care Systems
 Conducting qualitative interviews, focus groups, and field observations of health care workers in
clinics and hospital settings
 Organizing, coordinating, and scheduling the focus groups and interviews among health care
workers from various organizations throughout Miami-Dade County
 Liaison between project and community stakeholders
University of Miami, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
September 2008- May 2009
Field Coordinator FLOR: Fuerza Latina- Orgullo y Respeto
 Directing, managing, and leading all field activities for a CDC funded grant to develop culturally
relevant HIV intervention programs for Latina women
 Directing field assessment activities and HIV testing procedures
 Supervision and training of field staff
 Liaison between university and community agencies and stakeholders
University of Miami, Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit
February 2007- May 2009
Research Coordinator Retaining HIV positive patients in medical care; ENHANCE-Enabling Haitians
Access Needed Care- A Targeted Peer Support Model Development and Evaluation for Caribbeans
Living with HIV/AIDS
 Directing, planning, evaluating, monitoring, and managing all aspects of CDC funded project
examining adherence to treatment among HIV positive Haitians
 Supervision of research staff
 Coordinating and supervising recruitment and survey data collection of all study participants
 Preparing reports for meetings; maintaining project logs, records, data, performance monitoring
and quality assurance
 Medical record abstractions and reporting
 Initiating and participating in preparation of grant applications and professional publications
 Presenting and discussing findings at national meetings and conferences.
Nova Southeastern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine AND
University of Miami Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
September 1999-February 2007
Senior Research Associate on: Social Network HIV Prevention Intervention; Identity Development of
Gay/Bisexual Questioning Male Youth; Impact of Drugs, Sex and Culture among Hispanic Men; Project
Options; Project Shield; Barriers Project
 Project planning, evaluation, monitoring, and management of multiple research programs funded
by NIH, CDC, and SAMHSA
 Supervision and hiring of research staff
 Coordinating and supervising recruitment and data collection of all study participants
 Monitoring HIV and STD testing and result dissemination activities
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Leah Marlene Varga, PhD: CV
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Survey development and construction
Monitoring progress and adherence to protocol and methodological standards, including all IRB
communications
Organizing, coordinating, and scheduling participants for intervention groups and interviews
Preparing reports for meetings; maintain project logs, records, data, and quality assurance
Training project staff in administration of data collection instruments and study protocol
Training staff in biological specimen collection and handling
Coordinating and schedule staff for certified trainings and workshops.
Liaison between the university and the Florida Department of Health, community based
organizations, stakeholders, and other health clinics.
Assisting with evaluation, analysis and interpretation of findings, writing of scholarly manuscripts.
Preparing technical reports, legal documents, grant applications, intervention manuals
Presenting and discuss findings at national and international conferences
University of Miami, Department of Sociology/ Department of Psychology
May 1992- Sep. 1999
Research Associate New Injectors Project; Coping and Recovery Project; HPV Study; Latinas Project
 Project management and day to day coordination of assessment activities
 Interviewing injection drug users on drug use, sexual and criminal activity, victimization, and
locator information using structured questionnaire
 Supervising interviewers and outreach staff
 Coding and editing questionnaires
 Conducting pre-HIV testing instruction and education with participants
 Maintaining quality control over data
 Conducting lab urinalysis of research participants
 Recruitment, interviews and follow-up activities with patients/participants in health clinics and at
private offices
 Screening patients for depression or determining need for psychological intervention
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Lopez-Quintero, C., Rojas, P., Dillon, F., Varga, L., and Mario De La Rosa. (2016) HIV testing practices
among Latina women at risk of getting infected: A five-year follow-up of a community sample in South
Florida. AIDS Care 28(2):137-46 .
Varga, Leah and Hilary Surratt. (2014) Utilization of health care services among Black, female, streetbased sex workers in Miami, Florida. Women’s Health Issues 24(3), 335-343.
Konzcal, Lisa and Leah M. Varga. (2012). Structural violence and compassionate compatriots: immigrant
health care in South Florida. Ethnic and Racial Studies 35(1).
Tolou-Shams, M., L.K. Brown, G. Gordon, M.I. Fernandez, and Project SHIELD Study Group. (2007).
Arrest history as an indicator of adolescent/young adult substance use and HIV risk. Drug and Alcohol
Dependence, 88(1), 87-90.
Fernandez, M.I., Jacob C. Warren, Leah M. Varga, Guillermo Prado, Nilda Hernandez, and G. Steven
Bowen. (2007). Cruising in Cyber Space: Comparing Internet Chat Room versus Community Venues for
Recruiting Hispanic Men Who Have Sex with Men to Participate in Prevention Studies. Journal of
Ethnicity and Substance Abuse, 6(2).
Varga, L.M., Dale D. Chitwood, and M. Isabel Fernandez. (2006). Factors associated with skin cleaning
prior to injection among drug users. Journal of Drug Issues, 36(4), 1015-1030.
Fernandez, M.I., Tatiana Perrino, Jose B. Collazo, Leah M. Varga, David Marsh, and G. Steven Bowen.
(2005) Surfing New Territory: Club drug use and risky sex among Hispanic MSM recruited on the
Internet. Journal of Urban Health, 82, i79-i88.
Fernandez, M.I., G. Steven Bowen, Leah M. Varga, Jose B. Collazo, and Tatiana Perrino. (2005) High
Rates of Club Drug Use and Risky Sexual practices Among Hispanic Men Who Have Sex with Men in
Miami, Florida. Substance Use and Misuse, 40, 1347-1362.
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Leah Marlene Varga, PhD: CV
Fernandez, M.I., Leah M. Varga, Tatiana Perrino, Jose B. Collazo, Francys Subiaul, Alfredo Rehbein,
Hector Torres, Marcelo Castro, and G. Steven Bowen. (2004) The Internet as recruitment tool for HIV
studies: Viable strategy for reaching at risk Hispanic MSM in Miami? AIDS Care, 16(8), 1-11.
Fernández, M.I., Jose B. Collazo, Nilda Hernández, G. Steven Bowen, Leah M. Varga, Christie Kibort
Vila, Kris Arheart, and Tatiana Perrino. (2004) Predictors of HIV Risk Among Hispanic Farm Workers in
South Florida: Women Are At Higher Risk Than Men. AIDS and Behavior, 8(2), 165-174.
Fernández, M.I., Jose B. Collazo, Tatiana Perrino, G. Steven Bowen, Kris Arheart, and Leah M. Varga..
(2004) Predictors of HIV testing among seasonal farmworkers in South Florida. Journal of Rural Health.
21 (1), 56-63.
Fernandez M.I., Tatiana Perrino, G. Steven Bowen, Scott Royal, and Leah M. Varga. (2003) Repeat HIV
Testing Among Hispanic Men who Have Sex With Men-A Sign of Risk, Prevention, or Reassurance?
AIDS Education and Prevention, 15, Supplement A, 105-116.
Under Review:
Varga, L.M., Belgrave, L.L., Ibañez, G.E. “You better hope you don’t get sick”: experiences of vulnerable
women seeking health care. Medical Anthropology.
Ibañez, G.E., Whitt, E., Avent, T., Martin, S.S., Varga, L.M., Cano, M.A., & O’Connell, D.J. (Under
Review). “Love and trust, you can be blinded”: HIV Risk within Relationships among Latina Women in
Miami, Florida. Ethnicity and Health.
Presentations:
Varga, Leah M. 2013 "Experience of health care among marginalized populations: Women on the edge"
141st APHA Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, November 2 - November 6.
Surratt, Hilary L., Steven P. Kurtz and Leah M. Varga. 2011. “Medication adherence and diversion among
HIV-positive substance abusers in South Florida,” 10th International AIDS Impact Conference, Santa Fe,
New Mexico, September 12-15.
Surratt, Hilary L., Steven P. Kurtz and Leah M. Varga. 2011. “The Impact of Early Sex Work Initiation on
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Victimization, Mental Health and Risk for HIV,” 10 International AIDS Impact Conference, Santa Fe, New
Mexico, September 12-15.
Surratt, Hilary L., Steven P. Kurtz and Leah M. Varga. 2011. “Strengths-Based Interventions Empower
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Underserved African American Women Sex Workers,” 119 Annual Meeting of the American
Psychological Association Washington, DC, August 4-7.
Surratt, Hilary L., Steven P. Kurtz, Theodore J. Cicero, and Leah M. Varga. 2011. “Medication Diversion
among HIV-Positive Substance Abusers in Miami,” College on Problems of Drug Dependence Seventythird Annual Meeting, Hollywood, FL, June 19-23.
Varga, Leah; Surrat, Hilary. (2010). “Health Care Needs, Utilization, and Barriers in a sample of druginvolved African American, street based sex workers in Miami, Florida. 2010 American Public Health
Association Annual Meeting, November 6-10, Denver, Colorado.
Varga, Leah; Surratt, Hilary; Inciardi, James; Rosen, Kristen. (2009). “African-American Street-Based Sex
Workers Are at Increased Risk for HIV in Miami, Florida.” 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference
August 23-26, Atlanta, Georgia.
Rodriguez, Allan, Varga, Leah. (2009) “Barriers to seeking HIV care for Haitians living with HIV in
Miami”. 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference. August 23–26, 2009 Atlanta, Georgia.
Inciardi, James; Surratt, Hilary; Varga, Leah. (2009) “Violence, Psychological Distress and Services
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Utilization among Women Sex Traders.” 117 Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association
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Leah Marlene Varga, PhD: CV
August 6-9, Toronto, Ontario.
Konzcal, Lisa, Varga, Leah. (2009) “Bureaucratic Triage; Political Context and the Shape of Medical
Practice” What is Ailing the US? Conference on Health Care and Immigration. Princeton University
Center for Migration and Development. May 14-16, 2009, Princeton, New Jersey.
Rodriguez, Allan, Varga, Leah, Saint Jean, Gilbert. (2009) “Unique challenges of hospitalized,
newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS Minorities residing in the US", 4th International Conference on HIV
Treatment Adherence. April 5-7, 2009, Miami, Florida.
Rodriguez, A., Varga, L.M., Saint-Jean, G., Kolber, M., Metsch L. (2007). Unique challenges of
hospitalized, newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS Haitians residing in the US. Poster presentation at 2007 CDC
National HIV Prevention Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.
Varga, L.M., Chitwood, D.D., & Fernandez, M.I. (2006) Factors associated with skin cleaning prior to
st
injection among drug users. Round table presentation at 101 Annual Meeting of the American
Sociological Association; Montreal, Canada.
Fernández, M. I., Warren, J. C., Varga, L. M., deFuentes, C. & Bowen, G. S. Health disparities in HIV:
(2005) Using the Internet to find connections between club drug use and risky sexual behavior in Hispanic
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MSM. Paper presented at the 133 Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association;
Philadelphia, PA. December 10-14.
Fernandez, M.I.; Collazo, J.B.; Varga, L.M.; Bowen, G.S. (2004) High rates of risky sex and use of club
drugs among Hispanic men who have sex with men in Miami, Florida, USA. XV International AIDS
Conference; Bangkok, Thailand: Abstract WePeC6079.
Fernandez, M.I.; Varga, L.M.; Bowen, G.S.; Collazo, J.B.; Castro, M.; Perrino, T. (2004) Using the
internet to recruit high risk Hispanic MSM to participate in research studies. XV International AIDS
Conference; Bangkok, Thailand: Abstract ThPeC7577.
Fernandez, M.I.; Collazo, J.B.; Perrino, T.; Varga, L.M.; Torres, H.; Plaza, C.; Jauregui, L.; Rehbein, A.;
Bowen, G.S.; Castro, M. (2003) Surfing New Territory- Working with Institutional Review Boards on
Internet Based STD/HIV Prevention Research. Paper Presented at the Centers for Disease Prevention’s
STD/HIV Prevention and the Internet Workshop, Washington, D.C.
Bowen, G. S., Royal, S., Perrino, T. M., Varga, L., & Fernández, M. I. (2002). Determinants of HIV in
Hispanic men: risk perception and physician recommendation. Poster presented at the XIV International
AIDS Conference, Barcelona, Spain.
Perrino, T. M., Fernández, M. I., Royal, S., Varga, L., Bowen, G. S., & Mattson, T. R. (2002). Evidence of
continued HIV risk behaviors among HIV positive, Hispanic men who have sex with men. Poster
presented at the XIV International AIDS Conference, Barcelona, Spain.
Royal, S., Bowen, G. S., Perrino, T. M., Varga, L., & Fernández, M. I. (2002). Repeat versus regular
testing in Hispanic men who have sex with men. Poster presented at the XIV International AIDS
Conference, Barcelona, Spain.
TRAINING
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, New Connections Research and Coaching Clinic, New Orleans,
LA, November 2014.
Developing Diverse HIV/AIDS Mental Health Investigators, NIMH/OAR Training, Rockville, MD, May
2014.
HUTEP Postdoctoral Conference Howard University, September 2008.
Urban Ethnography Workshop Yale University, April 2008.
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Leah Marlene Varga, PhD: CV
Preparing Future Faculty Summer Institute Howard University, June 2007.
SERVICE
Behavioral Science Research Institute, Board Chair, 2015-present
Miami-Dade HIV/AIDS Partnership, Member, Strategic Planning Committee, 2014- present
National Science Foundation, Student Mentor, Undergraduate Minority Students Summer Program,
Summer 2007
Faculty Search Committee, Graduate Student Representative 2007-2008
Colloquia Committee, Graduate Student Representative 2006-2007
Graduate Senator, Department of Sociology 2005-2006
Graduate Student Association
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
American Public Health Association
American Sociological Association
Society for the Study of Social Problems
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