Danielle C Ompad

Vice Dean for Academic Affairs

Professor of Epidemiology

Professional overview

Dr. Danielle Ompad is an epidemiologist whose work is focused in the areas of urban health, HIV, illicit drug use, and adult access to vaccines. With respect to illicit drug use, her work has spanned the entire natural history of addiction – from initiation to cessation, with particular attention paid to risk for infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, and STIs.  She has primarily worked with people who use heroin, crack, cocaine, and/or club drugs.  

In New York City, she has been examining heroin cessation among current, former, and relapsed heroin users. Working with Alliance for Public Health and the Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy, she analyzes harm reduction service utilization among people who inject drugs, in order to optimize service delivery in Ukraine.  Since 2013, she has served as faculty for the Fogarty-funded New York State International Training and Research Program with the goal of building research capacity in Ukraine.

Dr. Ompad’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-funded study aims to determine if herpes simplex 1 and 2 infections explain racial disparities in HIV incidence among a cohort of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM).  In addition, Dr. Ompad and colleagues are assessing HPV infection prevalence, persistence, and clearance among this same cohort.

Education

BS, Biology, Bowie State University, Bowie, MD

MHS, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

PhD, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Honors and awards

Excellence in Public Health Teaching Award, New York University (2014)

Excellence in Public Health Teaching Award, New York University (2013)

National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse Scientific Development Travel Fellowship (2010)

Delta Omega Honorary Society, Alpha Chapter (2002)

Areas of research and study

Epidemiology

HIV/AIDS

Infectious Diseases

Social Determinants of Health

STIs

Substance Abuse

Vaccines

Publications

Publications

Distribution of influenza vaccine to high-risk groups

Gender differences in sexual behaviors, sexual partnerships, and HIV among drug users in New York City

Heroin and cocaine dependence and the risk of accidental non-fatal drug overdose

Period and birth-cohort effects on age of first phencyclidine (PCP) use among drug users in New York City, 1960 to 2000

Predictors of early initiation of vaginal and oral sex among urban young adults in Baltimore, Maryland

Sexual and drug risk behaviors among women who have sex with women

A comparison of HIV seropositive and seronegative young adult heroin- and cocaine-using men who have sex with men in New York City, 2000-2003

Association of sex, hygiene and drug equipment sharing with hepatitis C virus infection among non-injecting drug users in New York City

Childhood sexual abuse and age at initiation of injection drug use

Circumstances of witnessed drug overdose in New York City: Implications for intervention

Correlates of initiation of injection drug use among young drug users in baltimore, Maryland: The need for early intervention

Drug use and the urban environment

Ecstasy use among hispanic and black substance users in New York City

Ecstasy use and its association with sexual behaviors among drug users in New York City

Effects of race, neighborhood, and social network on age at initiation of injection drug use

Prevalence and correlates of crack-cocaine injection among young injection drug users in the United States, 1997-1999

Prospective evaluation of community-acquired acute-phase hepatitis C virus infection

Suicidal ideation among African-American non-injection drug users

Vaccine disparities can be overcome

Acceptance and completion of hepatitis B vaccination among drug users in New York City.

Club drug use among minority substance users in New York City

Explaining the relationship between race/ethnicity and pharmacy purchased syringes among injection drug users in New York City

Hepatitis C Incidence - A Comparison between Injection and Noninjection Drug Users in New York City

Updating the Infection Risk Reduction Hierarchy: Preventing Transition into Injection

For the patient. Does discrimination affect the mental health of substance abusers?