Akshay Sharma, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Akshay Sharma

Associate Professor
Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences
Room 2150 NURS1

University of Michigan School of Nursing
400 North Ingalls Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

Telephone: (734) 647-0151
Fax: (734) 763-0681
Akshay Sharma is accepting new PhD students.

Interests

  • HIV and STI prevention
  • Sexual and gender minority health
  • Remote health interventions
  • Health promotion and behavior change
  • Infectious disease epidemiology

Educated as a physician and an infectious disease epidemiologist, Dr. Sharma’s research interests include designing and evaluating new approaches for increasing the frequency of HIV and STI testing among sexual and gender minorities in the United States, with a focus on telehealth and home self-testing. He is also interested in comprehensive behavioral and biomedical interventions for HIV and STI prevention, barriers and facilitators to accessing healthcare, and epidemiologic study design and methodological issues. He is involved in both quantitative and qualitative research that seeks to further our understanding of novel means of delivering sexual health promotion and behavior change strategies to populations at elevated risk. Before moving to the United States, Dr. Sharma was involved in community HIV and STI risk reduction efforts such as encouraging safe sex and promoting the use of barrier contraceptives in resource-limited settings in India.

Teaching

Dr. Sharma strives for effectiveness and excellence in his pedagogical techniques. He employs an interactive approach in the classroom that emphasizes active participation using mobile and online technologies. He has taught several graduate epidemiology courses at Emory University and undergraduate anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and microbiology and infectious disease courses at the University of Michigan. The combination of Dr. Sharma’s medical and epidemiological background allows him to bring a unique perspective to these subjects. He has worked closely with students from varying academic, cultural, and demographic backgrounds, and believes that engaging them in a supportive environment facilitates better learning and enhances retention. In recognition of his notable contributions to pedagogy, Dr. Sharma was honored with the 2020 Mae Edna Doyle Teacher of the Year Award and the 2023 Inclusive Teaching Award.

Affiliations / Service

  • Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, 2010 - present
  • International AIDS Society, 2015 - present
  • European AIDS Clinical Society, 2017 - present
  • American Public Health Association, 2019 - present
  • Transgender Health Editorial Board Member, 2019 - present

Notable Awards / Honors

  • University of Michigan School of Nursing, 2023 Inclusive Teaching Award, 2023
  • International AIDS Society, 2022 International AIDS Society Mentorship Programme Mentor, 2022
  • American Public Health Association HIV/AIDS Section, 2021 Excellence in Abstract Submission among All Presenters Honorable Mention Award, 2021
  • University of Michigan School of Nursing, 2020 Mae Edna Doyle Teacher of the Year Award, 2020
  • Texas Public Health Association and Texas Department of State Health Services, 2014 Texas HIV/STD Student Research Award, 2014
  • Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, 2010 Inductee to the Emory University Phi Chapter, 2010

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Epidemiology, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Ph.D., Epidemiology, Emory University Laney Graduate School, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • M.P.H., Epidemiology, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • M.B.B.S., Medicine and Surgery, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Publication Highlights

  • Sharma, A., Gebrezgi, F., Hamilton, A., Boyd, S., & Sallabank, G. (2024). HIV-related knowledge, risk perception, and minority stressors among South Asian sexual minority men in the United States. International Journal of STD & AIDS.

  • Sharma, A., Lacombe-Duncan, A., & Sallabank, G. (2023). HIV and STI testing among South Asian gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in the United States. American Journal of Men's Health, 17(3). 

  • Sharma, A., Gandhi, M., Sallabank, G., Merrill, L., & Stephenson, R. (2023). Perceptions and experiences of returning self-collected specimens for HIV, bacterial STI and potential PrEP adherence testing among sexual minority men in the United States. AIDS and Behavior, 27(4), 1091-1105.

  • Sharma, A., Gandhi, M., Sallabank, G., Merrill, L., & Stephenson, R. (2022). Study evaluating self-collected specimen return for HIV, bacterial STI and potential pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence testing among sexual minority men in the United States. American Journal of Men's Health. 16(4).

  • Sharma, A., Paredes-Vincent, A., & Kahle, E. (2021). Awareness, utilization, and preferences for traditional and contemporary HIV prevention strategies among Facebook and Instagram-using MSM in the United States. Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, 20.

  • Sharma, A., Kahle, E., Sullivan, S., & Stephenson R. (2021). Sexual agreements and intimate partner violence among male couples in the US: An analysis of dyadic data. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50(3), 1087-1105.

  • Sharma, A., Kahle, E., Sullivan, S., & Stephenson, R. (2020). Relationship characteristics associated with perceptions of partners’ HIV testing behavior among male couples. AIDS and Behavior, 24(2), 516-531.

  • Sharma, A., Shaver, J., & Stephenson, R. (2019). Rural primary care providers’ attitudes towards sexual and gender minorities in a Midwestern state. Rural and Remote Health, 19(4) sexual minority males: Analysis of pooled Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, 2005-2013. LGBT Health, 4(2), 130-140.

  • Sharma, A., Garofalo, R., Hidalgo, M. A., Hoehnle, S., Mimiaga, M. J., Brown, E., … & Stephenson, R. (2019). Do male couples agree on their sexual agreements? An analysis of dyadic data. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48(4), 1203-1216.

  • Sharma, A., Kahle, E.M., Todd, K., Peitzmeier, S., & Stephenson, R. (2019). Variations in testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections across gender identity among transgender youth. Transgender Health, 4(1), 46-57.

  • Sharma, A., Kahle, E.M., Sullivan, S., & Stephenson, R. (2018). Birth cohort variations across functional knowledge of HIV prevention strategies, perceived risk, and HIV-associated behaviors among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in the United States. American Journal of Men’s Health, 12(6), 1824-1834.

  • Sharma, A., Chavez, P. R., MacGowan, R. J., McNaghten, A. D., Mustanski, B., Gravens, L., ... & Sullivan, P. S. (2017). Willingness to distribute free rapid home HIV test kits and to test with social or sexual network associates among men who have sex with men in the United States. AIDS Care, 29(12), 1499-1503.

  • Sharma, A., Wang, L. Y., Dunville, R., Valencia, R. K., Rosenberg, E. S., & Sullivan, P. S. (2017). HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing behavior among adolescent sexual minority males: Analysis of pooled Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, 2005-2013. LGBT Health, 4(2), 130-140.

  • Sharma, A., Johnson, B. A., & Sullivan, P. S. (2015). Evaluating interventions to promote routine preventive screenings: A comparison of analytical outcomes. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 41, 152-159.

  • Sharma, A., Stephenson, R. B., White, D., & Sullivan, P. S. (2014). Acceptability and intended usage preferences for six HIV testing options among internet-using men who have sex with men. Springerplus, 3(1).