About

Elizabeth Lowenthal, MD, MSCE, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics (General Pediatrics) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania. Her clinical expertise focuses on pediatric and adolescent HIV care, having served as the Clinic Director of the Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence in Botswana, Africa, where she provided care and treatment for over 1500 HIV-infected children and adolescents. Currently, she is a staff physician at the Special Immunology Family Care Center at CHOP, offering both general pediatric and HIV-related care. Her research concentrates on issues of importance to international child health, particularly related to children and adolescents affected by HIV. She is the Principal Investigator for two NIH R01 awards and an NIH training grant, with active collaborations in Botswana and the Dominican Republic. Her work employs mixed-methods approaches, including large cohort studies, clinical trials, and qualitative research. Dr. Lowenthal is dedicated to mentoring junior investigators, especially those working on child health in resource-limited settings. She is involved in several national and international research networks, including the Treatment Scientific Committee for the International Maternal Pediatric and Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Network and the NIH-sponsored Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Implementation Science Alliance. At the University of Pennsylvania, she serves as Research Director for Global Health and leads the Global Health Research Affinity Group, as well as directing the Developmental Core for the Penn Center for AIDS Research.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Pediatrics
• Internal medicine
• Family medicine
• Demography
• Pathology

Selected publications

• Personal variation in the palatability and side effects of liquid clindamycin among children

  Pediatric Research · 2026-05-21

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: To assess a framework for pediatric medication acceptance evaluation while measuring variability in the taste of liquid clindamycin and the occurrence of side effects. METHODS: Children receiving their first clindamycin prescription and a caregiver participated in a prospective cohort study. After practicing using the hedonic-face scale to rate water, we videotaped children rating clindamycin palatability immediately, 5-, and 10-min post-swallow. Recordings were coded for behavioral responses. Caregivers rated children's acceptance on test day and at treatment end and completed daily diaries and an exit interview on adherence, side effects, and clinical outcomes. Genome-wide genotyping probed whether genetic ancestry and selected candidate genetic variants were associated with taste ratings and side effects. RESULTS: While only 2% (1/67) disliked water, 54% (36/67) disliked the taste of clindamycin immediately post-swallow and were more likely to display facial expressions of distaste (p < 0.001). Child and caregiver ratings moderately agreed (κ = 0.51). Side effects occurred in 36% (24/67) of children. Hedonic ratings and side effects did not differ significantly by genetic ancestry or associate with TAS2R38 rs713598 or TRPA1 rs11988795 genotypes. CONCLUSION: This study highlights substantial variability in pediatric medicine palatability and side effects and introduces a validated framework for assessing individual differences. IMPACT: We developed a validated framework to document individual differences in medication palatability, side effects, and caregiver perceptions and practices in both remote and onsite settings. There was substantial variability in hedonic ratings of palatability and side effects of clindamycin used for standard of care treatment in children. Hedonic ratings and side effects did not differ significantly by genetic ancestry or associate with TAS2R38 rs713598 or TRPA1 rs11988795 genotypes. We introduce a new framework for assessing individual differences in palatability for liquid pediatric medicines.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Growth in Children Affected by HIV

  Pediatric Annals · 2026-04-01

  articleSenior author

  Children exposed to HIV in utero are at risk of adverse growth outcomes, even if they do not acquire HIV perinatally. Some growth impacts begin before birth, with children exposed to HIV being more likely to be born preterm and small for gestational age, as well as with low birthweight. Children born with HIV (CHIV) exhibit more growth differences than children exposed to HIV in utero but born uninfected (CHEU); although, early treatment with antiretroviral therapy significantly improves their growth outcomes. CHEU are also vulnerable to poor growth postnatally. The causes are multifaceted and include increased susceptibility to infection and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Pediatricians must be aware of the unique growth vulnerabilities of CHIV and CHEU, so they can carefully follow growth while assessing potential drivers of growth disparities for each child to help ensure that they achieve their full growth potential.

  PublisherDOI

• Sustained mental health impacts of COVID-19 among people living with and without HIV in the Dominican Republic

  BMC Public Health · 2026-02-26

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are clearly documented, particularly in marginalized populations, but longer-term impacts are unknown. This study explored the sustained mental health of the COVID-19 pandemic among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and people without HIV receiving care at a primary care center in La Romana, Dominican Republic from November 2021 to February 2022. Using stratified random sampling, we recruited PLHIV and people without HIV for a one-time telephone survey, employing validated tools to measure COVID-19 impact, anxiety, depression and perceived stress. We examined the association between COVID-19 impact and mental health symptoms using multivariate regression, controlling for HIV status and demographics factors. A total of 318 clients were recruited (155, 48.7% PLHIV). Higher COVID-19 impact significantly predicted increased anxiety, depression and perceived stress, where unemployed individuals and younger adults remained more vulnerable. PLHIV reported higher rates of anxiety than people without HIV (21.3% vs. 12.1%, p=0.05). People without HIV identified COVID-related factors as their biggest source of worry in the last six months (57.7%), compared to 31.6% of PLHIV (p<0.01). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to disproportionately affect Dominican PLWH even after impacts became less for people without HIV in the same setting. Nonetheless, the prevalence of mental health symptoms among PLWH was smaller in our clinical population compared to other populations, likely due to the clinic’s efforts to support the mental health of PLHIV during the pandemic. This highlights the importance of swift targeted responses to emerging epidemics.

  PublisherDOI

• Acceptability and tolerability of long-acting injectable cabotegravir–rilpivirine in adolescents with HIV-1 (IMPAACT 2017/MOCHA): 48-week results of a multicentre, open-label, non-comparative phase 1/2 trial

  The Lancet HIV · 2026-01-15

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Breastfeeding support for women with HIV: lactation consultant HIV-knowledge, attitudes, stigma, and tele-lactation experiences

  AIDS · 2026-02-23

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVES: To characterize lactation consultants' (LCs) HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, stigma, and tele-lactation experience relevant to supporting pregnant and postpartum people with HIV (PP-PWH). DESIGN: Cross-sectional mixed-methods study of lactation consultants. METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods survey of certified LCs in the United States and Canada. Quantitative measures assessed general HIV knowledge, HIV breastfeeding-specific knowledge, attitudes toward breastfeeding among PP-PWH, HIV-related stigma, and tele-lactation experience using validated instruments. Multivariable regression models examined associations between provider characteristics, knowledge, stigma, and attitudes. Qualitative free-text responses were analyzed thematically using the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework, with findings integrated to contextualize quantitative results. RESULTS: The sample included 207 internationally certified LCs, most of whom reported no or limited clinical experience supporting PP-PWH. General HIV knowledge was high, while HIV-specific breastfeeding knowledge was moderate. Higher HIV-specific knowledge was independently associated with prior experience supporting PP-PWH and awareness of updated infant-feeding recommendations, whereas years in practice and general HIV knowledge were not. HIV-related stigma levels were generally low; lower stigma was associated with greater support for patient autonomy but more cautious endorsement of breastfeeding in high-resource settings. Tele-lactation experience was common. Qualitative findings emphasized strong support for patient autonomy and nonjudgmental, informed counseling, alongside high willingness to learn and engage in additional training to better support PP-PWH. CONCLUSIONS: LCs are motivated to support PP-PWH but face HIV-specific knowledge gaps and structural challenges shaping preparedness and counseling practices. Targeted education, clear guidance, and integration of tele-lactation within HIV care systems may strengthen equitable, person-centered lactation support.

  PublisherDOI

• Women in the HIV Care Continuum: Assessing Re-linking Women to Care and Maintaining Viral Suppression Postpartum in Philadelphia from 2012 to 2023

  AIDS and Behavior · 2026-03-12

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The purpose of this study was to describe the HIV care continuum postpartum in a cohort of postpartum women with HIV (WWH) in Philadelphia, and assess the impact of the City's perinatal case management (PCM) program on engagement in the HIV care continuum. A cohort of 937 mothers who gave birth between 1/1/2012 and 12/31/2023 and who lived, gave birth, or received perinatal and pediatric care in Philadelphia, PA were enrolled. Using public health surveillance data, the impact of PCM use on engagement in care at 90 days postpartum, retention in care at 1-year postpartum, and viral suppression at 1-year postpartum was assessed using logistic regression with robust standard errors. Overall, 51.1%, 65.4%, and 42.0% of the population was engaged in care at 90 days, and retained in care and virally suppressed at 1-year, respectively. A larger percentage of PCM users than non-users were engaged in care at 90 days (56.4% versus 43.9%) and retained in care (73.2% versus 59.2%) and virally suppressed (48.2% versus 37.1%) at 1 year. After controlling for confounders, PCM use was significantly associated with increased engagement in care at 90 days (aOR = 1.403 [1.030-1.913]), retention in care at 1 year (aOR = 1.576 [1.163-2.136]), and viral suppression at 1 year (aOR = 1.412 [1.060-1.881]). Philadelphia's PCM program is effective in improving engagement in the HIV care continuum during the postpartum period. Other US cities, particularly those with high HIV prevalence, should consider adopting a similar city-funded PCM program for pregnant and postpartum WWH.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Safety, antiviral activity, and pharmacokinetics of long-acting injectable cabotegravir–rilpivirine in virologically suppressed adolescents living with HIV-1 (IMPAACT 2017/MOCHA): 48-week results of a multinational, phase 1/2, single-arm study

  The Lancet HIV · 2026-01-15 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Viral load suppression among pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV in Ghana: a prospective longitudinal study

  BMC Infectious Diseases · 2026-04-14

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The post-delivery period is a critical window for sustaining maternal viral suppression (VS) to prevent vertical transmission (VT) of HIV during breastfeeding. Despite Ghana’s national scale-up of dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy, limited data exist on viral load suppression and infant HIV outcomes in the year post-delivery. We aimed to determine the proportion of women who achieved and maintained a suppressed viral load (VL) (≤ 1000 copies/mL) and an undetectable VL (< 20 copies/mL) at 12 months post-delivery and examine associations between maternal characteristics and VL categories. We conducted a prospective longitudinal cohort study among 120 women living with HIV receiving ART across two tertiary hospitals in Ghana. Women were enrolled during late pregnancy or early post-delivery and followed up at 6 weeks and 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-delivery, during which maternal VL was monitored. Infant HIV status was documented at 6 weeks and 9 months in accordance with national guidelines. Our co-primary outcomes were VL suppression and undetectable VL at 12 months. The median maternal age was 31.0 years (28.0, 36.3), and nearly half of the participants had attained only primary-level education (58/120; 46.7%). At 12 months post-delivery, 65 participants (54.2%) had documented VS, and out of this, 41 (34.2%) had an undetectable VL. Two cases of VT of HIV were documented: one at 6 weeks (maternal VL 669 copies/mL) and another at 6 months (maternal VL 64 copies/mL), underscoring the transmission risk even with low-level viremia. VL data were missing among 49 participants (40.8%) despite follow-up efforts. Women on the tenofovir/lamivudine/dolutegravir regimen were more likely to achieve suppression than were those on the regimen without an integrase inhibitor, p = 0.04. Just over half of women achieved VS at 12 months post-delivery. VT occurred even at low levels of maternal viremia, underscoring the importance of sustained VL monitoring and optimisation of antiretroviral therapy during the post-delivery period. Not applicable.

  PublisherDOI

• Medical constituent perceptions of neurocognitive impairment among school-aged children in Botswana.

  Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology · 2025-05-12

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Brain ultrasound radiomics identify textural differences in basal ganglia and white matter between full term newborns HIV-exposed uninfected and HIV-unexposed in Botswana

  Early Human Development · 2025-08-06 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• A Computerized Neurocognitive Battery for Use in Youth Affected by HIV in Resource-limited Settings

  NIH · $1.6M · 2018–2024

• NIH Grant K23MH095669

  NIH · $874k · 2017

• Taste of medicines for children: genetic variation and medical adherence

  NIH · $4.3M · 2011–2025

Frequent coauthors

• Andrew P. Steenhoff

  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  86 shared

• Ontibile Tshume

  Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Center of Excellence

  59 shared

• Gabriel Anabwani

  Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation

  56 shared

• Robert Gross

  51 shared

• Mogomotsi Matshaba

  Baylor College of Medicine

  48 shared

• Leslie A. Enane

  40 shared

• Jennifer Chapman

  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  38 shared

• Merrian J. Brooks

  University of Pennsylvania

  32 shared

Labs

• Elizabeth Lowenthal LabPI