Fall 2025 Journal Club Series 1/3: The impact of comorbidities, depression, and substance use problems on quality of life among older adults living with HIV
Date: November 7, 2025
Time: 1:00 to 2:00 PM EST
Lead Discussant: Sitaji Gurung, MD, MPH, PhD (Check out Health Sciences Department Faculty Profile)
Description:
The first session of the Fall 2025 Journal Club Series will focus on how comorbidities, depression, and substance use serve as key health indicators and how they are linked with quality of life among older adults living with HIV.
Learn how to:
- Read and analyze health research.
- Understand the prevalence of comorbid conditions, depression, and substance use among older adults living with HIV.
- Identify key predictors associated with lower quality of life in a target population.
- Recognize how comorbidities, depression, and substance use independently and collectively affect health outcomes.
- Discuss how integrated care using a biopsychosocial approach can improve quality of life for older adults living with HIV.
Who Will Benefit:
Students from all majors are welcome to attend. Students will need to read the selected article below in advance of our session. The Journal Club seeks to engage with a wide range of students including nonscience majors as well as those having science backgrounds.
Fall 2025 Journal Club Series 2/3: Prevalence of military sexual trauma and sexual orientation discrimination among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender military personnel: A descriptive study
Date: November 14, 2025
Time: 1:00 to 2:00 PM EST
Lead Discussant: Sitaji Gurung, MD, MPH, PhD (Check out Health Sciences Department Faculty Profile)
Description:
The second session of the Fall 2025 Journal Club Series will examine a policy focused on the prevalence and gender differences in military sexual trauma and sexual orientation discrimination experienced by LGBT service members in the U. S.
Learn how to:
- Read and analyze policy related research.
- Understand the prevalence of military sexual trauma and discrimination among LGBT service members.
- Identify gender differences in experiences of harassment and assault within the military.
- Recognize how policies such as the repeal of “Don’t’ Ask, Don’t Tell” related to ongoing stigma and discrimination.
- Discuss the implications of sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination for health and well-being in military populations.
Who Will Benefit:
Students from all majors are welcome to attend. Students will need to read the selected article below in advance of our session. The Journal Club seeks to engage with a wide range of students including nonscience majors as well as those having science backgrounds.
Fall 2025 Journal Club Series 3/3: Mapping intervention development to support public health: OnPOINT as an mHealth example to support HIV prevention
Date: November 21, 2025
Time: 1:00 to 2:00 PM EST
Lead Discussant: Steven A. John, PhD, MPH
Facilitator: Sitaji Gurung, MD, MPH, PhD (Check out Health Sciences Department Faculty Profile)
Description:
The third session of the Fall 2025 Journal Club Series will explore how the OnPOINT mHealth intervention was developed and mapped to support HIV prevention, highlighting its role in advancing public health strategies.
Learn how to:
- Read and analyze intervention-based research.
- Understand the role of mHealth tools in HIV prevention.
- Explore the design and implementation of the OnPOINT intervention.
- Identify key steps in linking theory to practice in intervention research.
- Discuss challenges and opportunities in using digital health for public health impact.
Who Will Benefit:
Students from all majors are welcome to attend. Students will need to read the selected article below in advance of our session. The Journal Club seeks to engage with a wide range of students including nonscience majors as well as those having science backgrounds.
Dr. Steven John (he/him) is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health, Director of Research of the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health (ISGH), and Interim Co-Director of ISGH at the University of Minnesota Medical School. His program of research centers on developing behavioral interventions and implementation strategies to support biomedical care engagement, particularly within HIV/STI treatment and prevention. His notable contributions to the field include publishing >50 peer-reviewed papers, consistent service on study sections for the National Institutes of Health, and appointment and service as Associate Editor or Editorial Board member on four prominent journals (i.e., AIDS and Behavior, Annals of Epidemiology, Archives of Sexual Behavior, & Sexuality Research and Social Policy). Evidence of the impact of his contributions to the fields of HIV prevention and LGBTQ+ health is exemplified by his selection as the 2023 recipient of the “HIV and Sexual Health Early Career Award” from the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
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