Don  Operario

Don Operario is a behavioral-social scientist committed to public health equity. His research program addresses two interrelated areas. The first research area concerns the lived experiences associated with social inequality, with an emphasis on understanding the perspectives of minoritized group members and identifying strategies to promote resilience and mobilization. The second general area involves developing and evaluating theory-based, multi-level interventions to address the synergistic epidemics (“syndemics”) of HIV, mental health, and structural violence in historically marginalized communities (e.g., intersectional BIPOC and racial/ethnic minoritized groups). He has published over 300 research papers/chapters and served as Principal Investigator or co-Investigator on over 35 scientific research grants. His research incorporates multiple methodologies (qualitative inquiry, observational designs, experimental trials, meta-analysis) and prioritizes community engagement and cultural humility. He conducts research in collaboration with community and academic partners in the United States, Kenya, China, Philippines, South Korea, and South Africa. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology at UCLA and graduate training in social psychology at University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Prior to joining Emory, he was a faculty member and researcher at Brown University, Oxford University, and UCSF.