Nadia Lauren Dowshen

Nadia Lauren Dowshen · University of Pennsylvania · PhdFit

About

Nadia Lauren Dowshen, MD, MSHP, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Adolescent Medicine) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She serves as the Director of Adolescent HIV Services and Medical Director of the Adolescent HIV Clinic within the Craig-Dalsimer Division of Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Dowshen is also a faculty member at PolicyLab at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and is a Co-Founder and Medical Director of the Gender and Sexuality Development Program at the same institution. She holds the Distinguished Endowed Chair in the Department of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and is the Associate Director for Student Affairs and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Master of Science in Health Policy Research Program at the University of Pennsylvania. Her academic background includes a BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, an MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and an MSHP in Health Policy Research from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on adolescent health, HIV prevention, gender-affirming care, and the impact of legislation on adolescent medicine and gender-affirming care.

Research topics

Political Science
Sociology
Law
Medicine
Internal medicine
Family medicine
Demography
Psychiatry
Gender studies
Social psychology
Pediatrics
Psychology

Selected publications

Supporting Youth from Pediatric- to Adult-Oriented HIV Care Across Two Metro Sites in the United States: Results from the <i>iTransition</i> Pilot Trial
AIDS Patient Care and STDs · 2026-01-14
article
In the United States, youth are disproportionately affected by HIV and have poorer health outcomes than adults. Health care transition (HCT) from pediatric/adolescent- to adult-oriented HIV care is associated with disruptions to youths’ care retention, medication adherence, and viral suppression. However, no evidence-based interventions exist to improve HIV-related HCT outcomes. Accordingly, our team designed and implemented the iTransition intervention to support youth and providers in navigating HIV-related HCT. We conducted a pilot trial of iTransition in two cities in the United States with four participant groups: (1) historical control group ( n = 21), (2) youth intervention group ( n = 33), (3) provider intervention group ( n = 17), and (4) Transition Champions (i.e., staff members from each participating pediatric/adolescent and adult clinic designated to support iTransition implementation; n = 7). Analyses examined acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy. Youth, providers, and Transition Champions, who completed the assessments, generally assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the iTransition app and provider console favorably. Linkage to adult HIV care (defined as one adult HIV care appointment) was significantly higher in the youth intervention group, where 81.8% were linked compared with 47.6% in the historical control group (χ 2 = 6.96, p = 0.008). Rates of care linkage were not significantly different between app users and non-users (χ 2 = 1.09, p = 0.30). Notably, overall use of the app and the provider console was low. This study suggests that iTransition could serve as an important tool to support HCT for youth living with HIV in the United States; however, further work is needed to optimize implementation and improve uptake.

Recent grants

NIH Grant K23MH102128
NIH · $875k · 2020

Frequent coauthors

Sarah Wood
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
90 shared
Stephen Bonett
University of Pennsylvania
41 shared
Susan Lee
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
38 shared
Natalia Roszkowska
Cornell University
38 shared
Robin Stevens

Education

MD
University of Pennsylvania
MSHP
University of Pennsylvania

Awards & honors

American Academy of Pediatrics, member
Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, Member
PAX- Real Solutions to Gun Violence, Board of Trustees

P-322. Providers Prepared and Eager to Integrate Biomedical HIV Prevention into Gender Affirming Care

Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2026-01-01

articleOpen access

Abstract Background Despite national progress in reducing HIV incidence, trans people in the United States remain disproportionately affected by HIV. Interdisciplinary research shows that receiving gender-affirming healthcare (GAHC) is linked to improved health outcomes. GAHC settings represent vital access points for addressing broader health needs, including biomedical HIV prevention. This study explores provider perspectives on co-locating biomedical HIV prevention and GAHC services. Methods We recruited 20 geographically diverse, self-identified GAHC providers from a large, national GAHC telehealth company and a national GAHC provider listserv to complete semi-structured interviews about their comfort and experiences with offering both biomedical HIV prevention (Post Exposure Prohylaxis (PEP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)) and GAHC, as well as perceived barriers and facilitators to co-locating these services. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using grounded theory. Results Providers expressed strong interest in and experience with offering both GAHC and biomedical HIV prevention. Oral PrEP was more commonly prescribed than injectable PrEP, due to insurance issues and provider hesitancy. Use of oral PrEP (versus injectable PrEP) was highlighted by both providers who saw clients in person and those who primarily practiced via telehealth. While less familiar with managing PEP, providers saw it as a useful complement to PrEP (e.g., “PEP to PrEP” and “PEP in Pocket” prescriptions). Facilitators of co-located, integrated care included PrEP navigators, on-site or mail-order pharmacies, and trusting patient-provider relationships. Barriers included insurance logistics, outdated prescribing guidelines that fail to reflect trans people’s experiences (equating transgender women's indications for PrEP with those for men who have sex with men), and the challenge of coordinating additional or asynchronous bloodwork. Conclusion Providers showed interest in and capacity for delivering biomedical HIV prevention within GAHC. Addressing logistical and systemic barriers to oral and injectable PrEP and PEP access, and co-locating and integrating these services into GAHC, may be a promising strategy to reduce HIV incidence among trans individuals. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Publisher OA PDF DOI

Find professors who actually fit you