Journal of Women's Health Care
Open Access

Sarah Finocchario Kessler

Biography

Adjunct Assistant Professor Department of Family Medicine Ph.D, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2009 Postdoctoral, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2010-2011 Postdoctoral, University of Kansas Medical Center, 2011-2012 Her current research combines interests in reproductive health and HIV by exploring childbearing intentions among people living with HIV, HIV-provider communication about reproductive options, and options for safer conception among serodiscordant couples. She is exploring these issues among HIV-infected women and men in the U.S.(Baltimore), Brazil and Uganda where in collaboration with colleagues, she has documented a similar unmet need for comprehensive reproductive counseling to reduce transmission risks to partners and infants while helping individuals more safely realize their childbearing goals. Dr. Finocchario Kessler plans to work with KUMC fertility specialists to explore similar outcomes among couples receiving preconception counseling in the context of infertility, cancer or other chronic illnesses. Dr. Finocchario Kessler also works in Kenya and Malawi to pilot an intervention designed to improve Early Infant Diagnosis services for HIV-exposed newborns. The primary outcomes of this research include increased retention in care and early initiation of treatment among infants diagnoses HIV-positive.

Research Interest

Reproductive Health
Regenerative Medicine
Woman Disorders
Women's Health
Female adolescents
HIV

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