Ryan Assaf, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor

I am a postdoctoral fellow with the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative under the Center for Vulnerable Populations. I am formally trained in epidemiology with research interests in social and behavioral epidemiology, HIV/STIs, substance use, and sexual and gender minority health. My current research focuses on homelessness and housing, the intersection with infectious diseases and substance use, and how policy, environmental, and community factors affect housing.

Education
PhD, 06/2022 - Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles
MPH, 03/2019 - Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles
BS, 12/2016 - Public Health Science, University of California, Irvine
Postdoctoral research fellowship, - , University of California, San Francisco
Publications

  1. Assaf RR, Assaf RD, Padlipsky PS, Young KDA. A family-centered approach to social needs awareness in the pediatric emergency department. Volume 4. PEC Innovation 2024. PMID: 38689830


  2. Assaf RD, Hamad R, Javanbakht M, Arah OA, Shoptaw SJ, Cooper ZD, Gorbach PM. Associations of U.S. state-level COVID-19 policies intensity with cannabis sharing behaviors in 2020. Volume 21 of Issue 1. Harm reduction journal 2024. PMID: 38622670


  3. Assaf RR, Assaf RD, Doucet HB, Graff D. Social Care Education and Training Among US Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship Programs. Volume 40 of Issue 8. Pediatric emergency care 2024. PMID: 38563810


  4. Jauregui JC, Hong C, Assaf RD, Cunningham NJ, Krueger EA, Flynn R, Holloway IW. Examining Factors Associated with Cannabis Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority and Cisgender Heterosexual Emerging Adults in California. Volume 11 of Issue 5. LGBT health 2024. PMID: 38301143


  5. Reid SC, Wang V, Assaf RD, Kaloper S, Murray AT, Shoptaw S, Gorbach P, Cassels S. Novel Location-Based Survey Using Cognitive Interviews to Assess Geographic Networks and Hotspots of Sex and Drug Use: Implementation and Validation Study. Volume 7. JMIR formative research 2023. PMID: 37347520


  6. Assaf RD, Javanbakht M, Gorbach PM, Cooper ZD. Cannabis Use and Sharing Practices Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Individuals During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Volume 10 of Issue 7. LGBT health 2023. PMID: 37252794


  7. Assaf RD, Javanbakht M, Gorbach PM, Arah OA, Shoptaw SJ, Cooper ZD. Puff, Puff, Don't Pass: harm reduction for cannabis use during a viral respiratory pandemic. Volume 20 of Issue 1. Harm reduction journal 2023. PMID: 36829150


  8. Assaf RR, Assaf RD, Barber Doucet H, Graff D. Pediatric emergency department organization and social care practices among U.S. fellowship programs. Volume 6 of Issue 4. AEM education and training 2022. PMID: 35982713


  9. Jann JT, Cunningham NJ, Assaf RD, Krysiak RC, Herman D. Evolving Primary Care Utilization of Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming People at a Community Sexual Health Clinic. Volume 7 of Issue 4. Transgender Health 2022. PMID: 36033210


  10. Lake S, Assaf RD, Gorbach PM, Cooper ZD. Changes in secondary substance use after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among people who use cannabis: Findings from a web-based sample of adults in the United States. Volume 31 of Issue 2. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology 2022. PMID: 35467920


  11. Assaf RR, Barber Doucet H, Assaf RD, Graff D. Social care practices and perspectives among U.S. pediatric emergency medicine fellowship programs. Volume 6 of Issue 2. AEM education and training 2022. PMID: 35493290


  12. Assaf RD, Cunningham NJ, Adamson PC, Jann JT, Bolan RK. High proportions of rectal and pharyngeal chlamydia and gonorrhoea cases among cisgender men are missed using current CDC screening recommendations. Volume 98 of Issue 8. Sexually transmitted infections 2022. PMID: 35217590


  13. Assaf RD, Gorbach PM, Cooper ZD. Changes in medical and non-medical cannabis use among United States adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Volume 48 of Issue 3. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse 2022. PMID: 35130464


  14. Lake S, Assaf RD, Gorbach PM, Cooper ZD. Selective Changes in Medical Cannabis Use Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Web-Based Sample of Adults in the United States. Volume 8 of Issue 1. Cannabis and cannabinoid research 2022. PMID: 35073161


  15. Assaf RD, Konda KA, Torres TS, Vega-Ramirez EH, Elorreaga OA, Diaz-Sosa D, Diaz SD, Pimenta C, Robles R, Medina-Mora ME, Grinsztejn B, Caceres C, Veloso VG. Are men who have sex with men at higher risk for HIV in Latin America more aware of PrEP? Volume 16 of Issue 8. PloS one 2021. PMID: 34388155


  16. Jann JT, Cunningham NJ, Assaf RD, Bolan RK. Evidence supporting the standardisation of extragenital gonorrhoea and chlamydia screenings for women. Volume 97 of Issue 8. Sexually transmitted infections 2020. PMID: 33361465


  17. Assaf RD, Javanbakht M, Meites E, Gratzer B, Steinau M, Crosby RA, Markowitz LE, Unger ER, Gorbach PM. Sexual Mixing Patterns and Anal Human Papillomavirus Among Young Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in 2 Cities in the United States, 2012-2014. Volume 47 of Issue 7. Sexually transmitted diseases 2020. PMID: 32541306


  18. Daniels J, Lane T, Maleke K, Mogos W, Assaf R, Struthers H, McIntyre J, Coates T. Exploring dual disclosures for men who have sex with men in Mpumalanga, South Africa: a report from the field. Volume 17 of Issue 1. African journal of AIDS research : AJAR 2018. PMID: 29471726


  19. Chon AH, Korst LM, Assaf RD, Llanes A, Ouzounian JG, Chmait RH. Midtrimester isolated oligohydramnios in monochorionic diamniotic multiple gestations. Volume 32 of Issue 4. The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 2017. PMID: 28965437


  20. Chon AH, de Oliveira GH, Lemley KV, Korst LM, Assaf RD, Chmait RH. Fetal Serum β2-Microglobulin and Postnatal Renal Function in Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction Treated with Vesicoamniotic Shunt. Volume 42 of Issue 1. Fetal diagnosis and therapy 2016. PMID: 27603215