Susan Meffert, MD, MPH

Title(s)Professor, Psychiatry
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address675 18th Street, #5233
San Francisco CA 94107
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0002-5882-7102 Additional info
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    Other Positions
    Title(s)UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences


    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Education and Training
    National Institutes of HealthImplementation Science2015Training Institute on Dissemination & Implementation Research in Health (TIDIRH)
    University of California, San FranciscoFellowship: Global Mental Health Research2008Psychiatry
    University of California, San FranciscoFellowship: Forensic Psychiatry2009Psychiatry
    Harvard UniversityMPH: International Health2003School of Public Health: International Health
    University of California, San FranciscoResidency 2007Psychiatry
    University of IowaMedical Degree2003College of Medicine
    Stanford UniversityBS1997Biology
    Stanford UniversityBA1997Religious Studies
    Stanford UniversityMA1997Religious Studies
    Collapse Awards and Honors
    U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)2023  - 2023USAID International Mental Health Program: Invited Research Presentation
    New York University Langone Department of Psychiatry2023  - 2023Departmental Grand Rounds
    USAID-HEARD2022  - 2022Accelerating Evidence to Use in Mental Health Policy and Programming
    International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (ISIPT) Conference2021  - 2021Keynote Speaker
    AIDS2020 Virtual Workshop and NIMH2020  - 2020HIV and Mental Health in Africa-Collaborative Scale-Up (Lead)
    NIMH2017  - 2017Global Mental Health- Achieving Public Health Impact, Promise of Implementation Science (moderator)
    NIMH2016  - 2016Optimizing Mental Health Service Delivery: The Science of Implementation (panelist)
    World Health Organization, World Bank2016  - 2016Mental health implementation strategy in Kenya selected for innovation fair (~20, globally)
    Consortium of Universities for Global Health2016  - 2016Global Mental Health Plenary (moderator)
    UCSF RAP2015  - 2016LAMP: Law, Advocacy and Mental Health Project
    NIMH2014  - 2018K23 supplement
    NIMH2014  - 2018K23
    UCSF2013  - 2014Hellman Award for UC Investigators
    UCSF/UCLA2012  - 2013Women's Health and Empowerment Grant: Assessing Mental Health Care Needs among HIV+ women in Kenya
    UCSF2011  - 2014KL2 BIRCWH Award
    UCSF Global Health Sciences2009  - 2013UCSF Global Health Sciences Burke Faculty Scholar
    UCSF-RAP2009  - 2012RCT of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Sichuan Earthquake Survivors
    UCSF-RAP2008  - 2009RCT of Interpersonal Therapy for Sudanese Refugees in Cairo

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    Susan M. Meffert M.D., M.P.H. is a Professor in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and UCSF Global Health Sciences Faculty Affiliate.

    Dr. Meffert and her team are international leaders in the field of mental health implementation science with particular expertise for designing integrated, evidence-based mental health services for diverse medical populations. Dr. Meffert has been invited to present her team's work at the World Health Organization (WHO, an agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health), the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH, the largest funder of research on mental disorders), the World Bank and United States Agency for International Development (USAID, one of the largest aid agencies in the world).

    In Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), Dr. Meffert and her team created the Global Partnership to Enhance Mental Health Care (GEM), a UCSF program in East Africa that researches strategies to deliver evidence-based mental health care with locally available workers. Through GEM, Dr. Meffert has received over $10 million in research funding from the United States Institutes of Health (NIH) and other entities, published more than 30 articles, given numerous International and Grand Round presentations and received honors and other recognition for her team’s advancement of the field.
    Collapse Global Health Equity

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse Research Activities and Funding
    Effectiveness Research for Common Mental Disorders in Low and Middle Income Countries: A sequential, multiple assignment randomized trial for non-specialist treatment strategies in Kenya
    NIH R01MH113722Jun 1, 2019 - Mar 31, 2024
    Role: Principal Investigator
    The SMART-DAPPER Study: Implementation Research on Tele-Mental Health Care in the COVID19 Era
    NIMH R01MH11372202S1Jun 1, 2019 - Mar 31, 2024
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Depression And Primary-care Partnership for Effectiveness-implementation Research (DAPPER)
    NIH R01MH115512Aug 6, 2018 - Jun 30, 2023
    Role: Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI)
    Gender Based Violence and HIV Outcomes: Tracking and Treating Mental Illness
    NIH K23MH098767Jun 9, 2014 - May 31, 2019
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse ORNG Applications 
    Collapse Collaboration Interests

    Collapse Featured Content 
    Collapse Featured Videos

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse Publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. "The peace that I wanted, I got": Qualitative insights from patient experiences of SMART DAPPER interventions for major depression and traumatic stress disorders in Kenya. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024; 4(9):e0002685. Getahun M, Mathai MA, Rota G, Allen A, Burger RL, Opiyo E, Oluoch D, Wangia J, Wambura R, Mbwayo A, Muchembre P, Obura RR, Neylan TC, Aarons GA, Ongeri L, Meffert SM. PMID: 39236052; PMCID: PMC11376547.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    2. Defining a screening tool for post-traumatic stress disorder in East Africa: a penalized regression approach. Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1383171. Meffert SM, Mathai MA, Ongeri L, Neylan TC, Mwai D, Onyango D, Akena D, Rota G, Otieno A, Obura RR, Wangia J, Opiyo E, Muchembre P, Oluoch D, Wambura R, Mbwayo A, Kahn JG, Cohen CR, Bukusi DE, Aarons GA, Burger RL, Jin C, McCulloch CE, Njuguna Kahonge S. PMID: 38947359; PMCID: PMC11211862.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    3. Scaling up public mental health care in Sub-Saharan Africa: insights from infectious disease. Glob Ment Health (Camb). 2021; 8:e41. Meffert SM, Lawhorn C, Ongeri L, Bukusi E, Campbell HR, Goosby E, Bertozzi SM, Kahonge SN. PMID: 34868611; PMCID: PMC8607303.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2  
    4. Lessons from Research Innovations in Depression and HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. . 2021 Nov 3; 169-190. Jopling JR, Yang YJ, Meffert MS, Müller MM, Nyamayaro NP, Abas AM. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    5. Global Mental Health Research: Time to Integrate Basic Science. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2023; 21(2):841-845. Meffert SM. PMID: 34539281; PMCID: PMC8437329.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    6. Interpersonal psychotherapy delivered by nonspecialists for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among Kenyan HIV-positive women affected by gender-based violence: Randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med. 2021 01; 18(1):e1003468. Meffert SM, Neylan TC, McCulloch CE, Blum K, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Verdeli H, Markowitz JC, Kahn JG, Bukusi D, Thirumurthy H, Rota G, Rota R, Oketch G, Opiyo E, Ongeri L. PMID: 33428625; PMCID: PMC7799784.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    7. Lessons from Research Innovations in Depression and HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. . 2020 Jan 1; 1-22. Jopling JR, Yang YJ, Meffert MS, Müller MM, Nyamayaro NP, Abas AM. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    8. Implementation research for public sector mental health care scale-up (SMART-DAPPER): a sequential multiple, assignment randomized trial (SMART) of non-specialist-delivered psychotherapy and/or medication for major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (DAPPER) integrated with outpatient care clinics at a county hospital in Kenya. BMC Psychiatry. 2019 12 28; 19(1):424. Levy R, Mathai M, Chatterjee P, Ongeri L, Njuguna S, Onyango D, Akena D, Rota G, Otieno A, Neylan TC, Lukwata H, Kahn JG, Cohen CR, Bukusi D, Aarons GA, Burger R, Blum K, Nahum-Shani I, McCulloch CE, Meffert SM. PMID: 31883526; PMCID: PMC6935499.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    9. A cross-sectional mixed methods protocol to describe correlates and explanations for a long duration of untreated psychosis among patients with first episode psychosis in Uganda. BMJ Open. 2019 07 16; 9(7):e028029. Mwesiga EK, Nakasujja N, Ongeri L, Semeere A, Loewy R, Meffert S. PMID: 31315866; PMCID: PMC6661643.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. East African HIV care: depression and HIV outcomes. Glob Ment Health (Camb). 2019; 6:e9. Meffert SM, Neylan TC, McCulloch CE, Maganga L, Adamu Y, Kiweewa F, Maswai J, Owuoth J, Polyak CS, Ake JA, Valcour VG. PMID: 31258923; PMCID: PMC6582461.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 24  
    11. Lessons from Research Innovations in Depression and HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. . 2019 Apr 25; 1-22. Jopling JR, Yang YJ, Meffert MS, Müller MM, Nyamayaro NP, Abas AM. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    12. Chronic lung disease in adult recurrent tuberculosis survivors in Zimbabwe: a cohort study. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2019 02 01; 23(2):203-211. Chin AT, Rylance J, Makumbirofa S, Meffert S, Vu T, Clayton J, Mason P, Woodruff P, Metcalfe J. PMID: 30808453; PMCID: PMC6860915.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    13. Lessons from Research Innovations in Depression and HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Innovations in Global Mental Health. 2019. Jopling, Rebecca & Yang, Joyce & Meffert, Susan & Muller, Monika & Nyamayaro, Primrose & Abas, Melanie.
    14. Suicidality and associated risk factors in outpatients attending a general medical facility in rural Kenya. J Affect Disord. 2018 01 01; 225:413-421. Ongeri L, McCulloch CE, Neylan TC, Bukusi E, Macfarlane SB, Othieno C, Ngugi AK, Meffert SM. PMID: 28850856; PMCID: PMC5663198.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    15. Brief Report: Sexual Violence Against HIV-Positive Women in the Nyanza Region of Kenya: Is Condom Negotiation an Instigator? J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2017 Jan 01; 74(1):52-55. Onu CC, Dworkin SL, Ongeri LG, Oyaro P, Neylan TC, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Rota G, Meffert SM. PMID: 27509254; PMCID: PMC5140674.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. Collaborative Interpersonal Psychotherapy for HIV-Positive Women in Kenya: A Case Study From the Mental Health, HIV and Domestic Violence (MIND) Study. J Clin Psychol. 2016 08; 72(8):779-83. Opiyo E, Ongeri L, Rota G, Verdeli H, Neylan T, Meffert S. PMID: 27463639; PMCID: PMC6788292.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. Health impact of human rights testimony: harming the most vulnerable? BMJ Glob Health. 2016; 1(1):e000001. Meffert SM, Shome S, Neylan TC, Musalo K, Fineberg HV, Cooke MM, Volberding PA, Goosby EP. PMID: 28588904; PMCID: PMC5321303.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    18. Novel implementation research designs for scaling up global mental health care: overcoming translational challenges to address the world's leading cause of disability. Int J Ment Health Syst. 2016; 10:19. Meffert SM, Neylan TC, Chambers DA, Verdeli H. PMID: 26958075; PMCID: PMC4782517.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17  
    19. Interpersonal psychotherapy for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among HIV-positive women in Kisumu, Kenya: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2016 Feb 03; 17:64. Onu C, Ongeri L, Bukusi E, Cohen CR, Neylan TC, Oyaro P, Rota G, Otewa F, Delucchi KL, Meffert SM. PMID: 26841875; PMCID: PMC4738764.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Increase of perceived frequency of neighborhood domestic violence is associated with increase of women's depression symptoms in a nationally representative longitudinal study in South Africa. Soc Sci Med. 2015 Apr; 131:89-97. Meffert SM, McCulloch CE, Neylan TC, Gandhi M, Lund C. PMID: 25769107; PMCID: PMC4382311.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. HIV, violence and women: unmet mental health care needs. J Affect Disord. 2015 Mar 15; 174:619-26. Zunner B, Dworkin SL, Neylan TC, Bukusi EA, Oyaro P, Cohen CR, Abwok M, Meffert SM. PMID: 25574781; PMCID: PMC4340747.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 23     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    22. Interpersonal psychotherapy versus treatment as usual for PTSD and depression among Sichuan earthquake survivors: a randomized clinical trial. Confl Health. 2014; 8:14. Jiang RF, Tong HQ, Delucchi KL, Neylan TC, Shi Q, Meffert SM. PMID: 25254070; PMCID: PMC4172897.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17  
    23. Prospective study of police officer spouse/partners: a new pathway to secondary trauma and relationship violence? PLoS One. 2014; 9(7):e100663. Meffert SM, Henn-Haase C, Metzler TJ, Qian M, Best S, Hirschfeld A, McCaslin S, Inslicht S, Neylan TC, Marmar CR. PMID: 24987848; PMCID: PMC4079247.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    24. A pilot randomized controlled trial of interpersonal psychotherapy for Sudanese refugees in Cairo, Egypt. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy. 2014 Jan 1; 6(3):240. Meffert MS, Abdo AA, Alla AO, Elmakki EY, Omer OA, Yousif YS, Metzler MT, Marmar MC. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    25. Global mental health intervention research and mass trauma. Open Access Journal of Clinical Trials. 2013 Mar 1; Volume 5:61-69. Meffert MS, Ekblad E. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    26. Feelings of betrayal by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and emotionally distressed Sudanese refugees in Cairo. Med Confl Surviv. 2010 Apr-Jun; 26(2):160-72. Meffert SM, Musalo K, Abdo AO, Alla OA, Elmakki YO, Omer AA, Yousif S, Metzler TJ, Marmar CR. PMID: 20718287; PMCID: PMC6777846.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. The role of mental health professionals in political asylum processing. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2010; 38(4):479-89. Meffert SM, Musalo K, McNiel DE, Binder RL. PMID: 21156906.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    28. Expansion of Liberty Interests Under Parole Conditions: Beyond Antipsychotics. Journal of Psychiatry and the Law. 2009; 2(37):264-266. Meffert, SM & Chamberlain, J.
    29. Darfur refugees in Cairo: mental health and interpersonal conflict in the aftermath of genocide. J Interpers Violence. 2009 Nov; 24(11):1835-48. Meffert SM, Marmar CR. PMID: 18945917; PMCID: PMC6777844.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    30. A prospective study of trait anger and PTSD symptoms in police. J Trauma Stress. 2008 Aug; 21(4):410-6. Meffert SM, Metzler TJ, Henn-Haase C, McCaslin S, Inslicht S, Chemtob C, Neylan T, Marmar CR. PMID: 18720397; PMCID: PMC3974928.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 16     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    31. Revenge Fantasies. Encyclopedia of Stress. 2007 Jan 1; (Journal of Traumatic Stress162003):391-394. Horowitz HM, Meffert MS. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
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