Dirk Davis

Dr. Dirk A. Davis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Implementation Science at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Global Health at the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI). He is a behavioral scientist and mixed methodologist whose research focuses on reducing HIV, mental health, and violence disparities through community-engaged behavioral interventions.

Dr. Davis completed his MPH and PhD in Health Behavior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health. Before starting his current position, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow with the University of California Global Health Institute (D43TW009343) and in the Duke Interdisciplinary Research Training Program in AIDS (T32AI007392).

He has worked in Central America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean in collaboration with various governmental, academic, and community-based organizations since 2010, including nearly five years where he lived and worked in Guatemala with the US Peace Corps.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Global Health · 2024 - Present Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers

Recent Publications

"<i>Doblemente tachada"</i>: Exploring Intersectional Stigma and Other Social and Structural Determinants of Health for Indigenous Gay and Bisexual Men in Guatemala.

Journal Article Journal of homosexuality · February 2025 Although nearly half of Guatemalans identify as Indigenous, little is known about the unique health experiences of Indigenous sexual minority individuals. We sought to explore how intersectional stigma impacts the health of Indigenous gay and bisexual men ... Full text Cite

'She showed me a new path, a way forward': exploring how navigation influences mental health among Guatemalan gay and bisexual men living with HIV.

Journal Article Health promotion international · August 2023 Mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, are a common comorbidity among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) living with HIV. Informed by social support theory, health navigation is a strengths-based intervention that ... Full text Cite

Interpersonal violence victimisation, HIV-related behaviours and STIs among adult, urban Indigenous and non-Indigenous gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Guatemala.

Journal Article Culture, health & sexuality · November 2022 Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by HIV in Guatemala; interpersonal violence may increase behaviours that augment the risk of HIV in this group. Although 44% of Guatemalans identify as Indigenous, little inf ... Full text Cite

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Education, Training & Certifications

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 2020 Ph.D.

External Links

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