Sarah Woolf-king, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor

I am a licensed clinical psychologist (CA PSY28178) and my research is broadly concerned with the intersection between psychology and health. I focus on populations affected by substance use, HIV, and congenital heart defects (CHD). The primary aim of my HIV research is to better characterize the impact of alcohol use on HIV treatment and prevention in both domestic and international populations. I am currently conducting an NIH/NIAAA-funded (K01) study examining the event-level relationship between alcohol use and sexual risk behavior among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) via daily data collection methods. I am also involved with several projects in East Africa examining alcohol use among HIV-positive adults and assessing the impact of interventions to reduce this alcohol use. I have a second line of research examining the mental health needs of parents of children with critical CHDs, and I currently have a Hellman-funded project in association with the Pediatric Heart Center at UCSF to support this work. By advancing this research program, I hope to design integrated behavioral and psychological interventions that can enhance the care of patients and families coping with chronic medical conditions.

Education
T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2013 - Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco
M.P.H., 2011 - Epidemiology, University of California, Berkeley
M.S./Ph.D., 2010 - Clinical Psychology, Syracuse University
Intern, 2010 - Behavioral Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
B.S., 2002 - Psychology, Arizona State University
Honors and Awards
  • Hellman Fellow, Hellman Fellows Fund, 2015-2017
  • Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01), NIH/NIAAA, 2013-2018
  • Mentored Scientist Award in HIV/AIDS, UCSF Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), 2012-2014
  • Loan Repayment Program in Clinical Research, NIH/NIAAA, 2011-2016
  • Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31), NIH/NIAAA, 2008-2010
Publications

  1. Asiimwe SB, Kekibiina A, Woolf-King SE, Fatch R, Emenyonu N, Hahn JA. Alcohol Consumption Among Persons Living with HIV: Perceptions, Messages and Interventions-A Qualitative Study at an HIV Treatment Clinic in South Western Uganda. AIDS and behavior 2024. PMID: 38839725


  2. Sheinfil AZ, Firkey M, Bucci V, Gjoka M, Woolf-King SE. A Mixed-Methods Approach to Develop a Combined Model of U.S. College Student Alcohol-Associated Condomless Sex. Archives of sexual behavior 2024. PMID: 38429569


  3. McBride H, Jhawar N, Boucicaut L, Bearden CE, Kates WR, Woolf-King SE, Antshel KM. Mental health, coping, and protective factors in mothers of children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. American journal of medical genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric genetics : the official publication of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics 2024. PMID: 38409998


  4. Puryear SB, Mwangwa F, Opel F, Chamie G, Balzer LB, Kabami J, Ayieko J, Owaraganise A, Kakande E, Agengo G, Bukusi E, Kabageni S, Omoding D, Bacon M, Schrom J, Woolf-King S, Petersen ML, Havlir DV, Kamya M, Hahn JA. Effect of a brief alcohol counselling intervention on HIV viral suppression and alcohol use among persons with HIV and unhealthy alcohol use in Uganda and Kenya: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2023. PMID: 38054564


  5. Gichane MW, Camlin CS, Getahun M, Emenyonu N, Woolf-King S, Sanyu N, Katusiime A, Fatch R, Muyindike W, Hahn JA. Understanding Patients' Experiences with a Brief Alcohol Reduction Intervention among People Living with HIV in Uganda: A Qualitative Study. Substance use & misuse 2023. PMID: 37551890


  6. Gump BB, Hruska B, Heffernan K, Brann LS, Voss M, Labrie-Cleary C, Cheng H, MacKenzie JA, Woolf-King S, Maisto S, Bendinskas K. Race, cortisol, and subclinical cardiovascular disease in 9- to 11-year-old children. Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association 2023. PMID: 37410422


  7. Kane JC, Allen I, Fatch R, Scheffler A, Emenyonu N, Puryear SB, Chirayil P, So-Armah K, Kahler CW, Magidson JF, Conroy AA, Edelman EJ, Woolf-King S, Parry C, Kiene SM, Chamie G, Adong J, Go VF, Cook RL, Muyindike W, Morojele N, Blokhina E, Krupitsky E, Fiellin DA, Hahn JA. Efficacy of alcohol reduction interventions among people with HIV as evaluated by self-report and a phosphatidylethanol (PEth) outcome: protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ open 2023. PMID: 37280036


  8. Firkey MK, Tully LK, Bucci VM, Walsh ME, Maisto SA, Hahn JA, Bendinskas KG, Gump BB, Woolf-King SE. Feasibility of remote self-collection of dried blood spots, hair, and nails among people with HIV with hazardous alcohol use. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research 2023. PMID: 36949025


  9. Firkey MK, Tully LK, Schiros AM, Antshel KM, Woolf-King SE. Sexual Assault, Mental Health, and Alcohol Use in College Women: The Role of Resilience and Campus Belonging. Journal of interpersonal violence 2023. PMID: 36757066


  10. Hahn JA, Fatch R, Emenyonu NI, Sanyu N, Katusiime A, Levine B, John Boscardin W, Chander G, Hutton H, Camlin CS, Woolf-King SE, Muyindike WR. Effect of two counseling interventions on self-reported alcohol consumption, alcohol biomarker phosphatidylethanol (PEth), and viral suppression among persons living with HIV (PWH) with unhealthy alcohol use in Uganda: A randomized controlled trial. Drug and alcohol dependence 2023. PMID: 36706675


  11. Emenyonu N, Kekibiina A, Woolf-King S, Kyampire C, Fatch R, Dawson-Rose C, Muyindike W, Hahn J. Digital Health Screening in People With HIV in Uganda to Increase Alcohol Use Reporting: Qualitative Study on the Development and Testing of the Self-administered Digital Screener for Health. JMIR formative research 2022. PMID: 36048519


  12. Rohacek AM, Firkey MK, Woolf-King SE, Antshel KM. Moderation of Risks to Sexual Health by Substance Use in College Students With ADHD. The Journal of clinical psychiatry 2022. PMID: 35771970


  13. Sheinfil AZ, Foley JD, Moskal D, Dalton MR, Firkey M, Ramos J, Maisto SA, Woolf-King SE. Daily Associations Between Alcohol Consumption and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex With Men. AIDS and behavior 2022. PMID: 35362912


  14. Woolf-King SE, Firkey M, Foley JD, Bricker J, Hahn JA, Asiago-Reddy E, Wikier J, Moskal D, Sheinfil AZ, Ramos J, Maisto SA. Development of a Telephone-Delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for People Living with HIV who are Hazardous Drinkers. 2022. PMID: 35303190


  15. Mutumba M, Woolf-King S, Carrico AW, Emenyonu NI, Fatch R, Kekibiina A, Muyindike W, Hahn JA. Correlates and Effects of Alcohol Use Expectancies Among Persons Living with HIV in Uganda. AIDS and behavior 2021. PMID: 34599420


  16. Foley JD, Firkey M, Sheinfil A, Ramos J, Woolf-King SE, Vanable PA. Framed Messages to Increase Condom Use Frequency Among Individuals Taking Daily Antiretroviral Medication for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis. Volume 50 of Issue 4. 2021. PMID: 34105056


  17. Sood E, Lisanti AJ, Woolf-King SE, Wray J, Kasparian N, Jackson E, Gregory MR, Lopez KN, Marino BS, Neely T, Randall A, Zyblewski SC, Brosig CL. Parent mental health and family functioning following diagnosis of CHD: a research agenda and recommendations from the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative. Volume 31 of Issue 6. 2021. PMID: 34082841


  18. Hahn JA, Murnane PM, Vittinghoff E, Muyindike WR, Emenyonu NI, Fatch R, Chamie G, Haberer JE, Francis JM, Kapiga S, Jacobson K, Myers B, Couture MC, DiClemente RJ, Brown JL, So-Armah K, Sulkowski M, Marcus GM, Woolf-King S, Cook RL, Richards VL, Molina P, Ferguson T, Welsh D, Piano MR, Phillips SA, Stewart S, Afshar M, Page K, McGinnis K, Fiellin DA, Justice AC, Bryant K, Saitz R. Factors associated with phosphatidylethanol (PEth) sensitivity for detecting unhealthy alcohol use: An individual patient data meta-analysis. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research 2021. PMID: 33837975


  19. Firkey M, Sheinfil A, Ramos J, Woolf-King SE. Cannabis and Alcohol Co-Use and Condomless Anal Sex Among Men Who have Sex with Men Living with HIV: An Event-Level Analysis. Volume 25 of Issue 11. 2021. PMID: 33733310


  20. Leddy AM, Hahn JA, Getahun M, Emenyonu NI, Woolf-King SE, Sanyu N, Katusiime A, Fatch R, Chander G, Hutton HE, Muyindike WR, Camlin CS. Cultural Adaptation of an Intervention to Reduce Hazardous Alcohol Use Among People Living with HIV in Southwestern Uganda. AIDS and behavior 2021. PMID: 33590322


  21. Firkey MK, Sheinfil AZ, Woolf-King SE. Substance use, sexual behavior, and general well-being of U.S. college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A brief report. 2021. PMID: 33577419


  22. Simmons EM, Firkey MK, Sheinfil AZ, Ramos JM, Woolf-King SE. The Association Between Financial Resources Strain and Self-Reported Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men. Volume 32 of Issue 4. 2021. PMID: 34803071


  23. Woolf-King SE, Sheinfil AZ, Ramos J, Foley JD, Moskal D, Firkey M, Kellen D, Maisto SA. A conceptual model of alcohol use and adherence to antiretroviral therapy: systematic review and theoretical implications for mechanisms of action. 2020. PMID: 32757813


  24. Foley JD, Sheinfil A, Woolf-King SE, Fatch R, Emenyonu NI, Muyindike WR, Kekibiina A, Ngabirano C, Samet JH, Cheng DM, Hahn JA. Assessing the interaction between depressive symptoms and alcohol use prior to antiretroviral therapy on viral suppression among people living with HIV in Rural Uganda. AIDS care 2020. PMID: 32482097


  25. Adong J, Fatch R, Emenyonu NI, Cheng DM, Muyindike WR, Ngabirano C, Kekibiina A, Woolf-King SE, Samet JH, Hahn JA. Social desirability bias impacts self-reported alcohol use among persons with HIV in Uganda. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research 2019. PMID: 31610017


  26. Woolf-King SE, Sheinfil AZ, Babowich JD, Siedle-Khan B, Loitsch A, Maisto SA. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for HIV-infected Hazardous Drinkers: A Qualitative Study of Acceptability. Volume 37 of Issue 3. 2018. PMID: 31564766


  27. Woolf-King SE, Conroy AA, Fritz K, Johnson MO, Hosegood V, van Rooyen H, Darbes L, McGrath N. Alcohol use and relationship quality among South African couples. Substance use & misuse 2018. PMID: 30407888


  28. Babowitch JD, Sheinfil AZ, Woolf-King SE, Vanable PA, Sweeney SM. Association of Depressive Symptoms with Lapses in Antiretroviral Medication Adherence Among People Living with HIV: A Test of an Indirect Pathway. Volume 22 of Issue 10. 2018. PMID: 29572762


  29. Babowitch JD, Sheinfil AZ, Woolf-King SE, Vanable PA, Sweeney SM. Correction to: Association of Depressive Symptoms with Lapses in Antiretroviral Medication Adherence Among People Living with HIV: A Test of an Indirect Pathway. Volume 22 of Issue 10. 2018. PMID: 29855974


  30. Woolf-King SE, Arnold E, Weiss S, Teitel D. "There's no acknowledgement of what this does to people": A qualitative exploration of mental health among parents of children with critical congenital heart defects. Journal of clinical nursing 2018. PMID: 29345005


  31. Woolf-King SE, Fatch R, Cheng DM, Muyindike W, Ngabirano C, Kekibiina A, Emenyonu N, Hahn JA. Alcohol Use and Unprotected Sex Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Adults: Findings from an Event-Level Study. Archives of sexual behavior 2018. PMID: 29327090


  32. Fatch R, Emenyonu NI, Muyindike W, Kekibiina A, Woolf-King S, Hahn JA. Alcohol Interactive Toxicity Beliefs and ART Non-adherence Among HIV-Infected Current Drinkers in Mbarara, Uganda. AIDS and behavior 2017. PMID: 27198557


  33. Woolf-King SE, Muyindike W, Hobbs MM, Kusasira A, Fatch R, Emenyonu N, Johnson MO, Hahn JA. Vaginal Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Is a Useful Biomarker of Semen Exposure Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Women. AIDS and behavior 2017. PMID: 27224979


  34. Emenyonu NI, Fatch R, Muyindike WR, Kekibiina A, Woolf-King S, Hahn JA. Randomized Study of Assessment Effects on Alcohol Use by Persons With HIV in Rural Uganda. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs 2017. PMID: 28317511


  35. Woolf-King SE, Anger A, Arnold EA, Weiss SJ, Teitel D. Mental Health Among Parents of Children With Critical Congenital Heart Defects: A Systematic Review. Journal of the American Heart Association 2017. PMID: 28151402


  36. Navadeh S, Mirzazadeh A, McFarland W, Woolf-King S, Mansournia MA. Using expert opinion to quantify unmeasured confounding bias parameters. Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique 2016. PMID: 27348109


  37. Hahn JA, Emenyonu NI, Fatch R, Muyindike WR, Kekiibina A, Carrico AW, Woolf-King S, Shiboski S. Declining and rebounding unhealthy alcohol consumption during the first year of HIV care in rural Uganda, using phosphatidylethanol to augment self-report. Addiction (Abingdon, England) 2015. PMID: 26381193


  38. Sundararajan R, Wyatt MA, Woolf-King S, Pisarski EE, Emenyonu N, Muyindike WR, Hahn JA, Ware NC. Qualitative study of changes in alcohol use among HIV-infected adults entering care and treatment for HIV/AIDS in rural southwest Uganda. AIDS and behavior 2015. PMID: 25323678


  39. Woolf-King SE, Fatch R, Emenyonu N, Muyindike W, Carrico AW, Maisto SA, Hahn JA. Development and validation of the East Africa Alcohol Expectancy Scale (AFEXS). Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs 2015. PMID: 25785809


  40. Gamarel KE, Woolf-King SE, Carrico AW, Neilands TB, Johnson MO. Stimulant use patterns and HIV transmission risk among HIV-serodiscordant male couples. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2015. PMID: 25590269


  41. Woolf-King SE, Maisto SA. The effects of alcohol, relationship power, and partner type on perceived difficulty implementing condom use among African American adults: an experimental study. Volume 44 of Issue 3. 2014. PMID: 25277692


  42. Carrico AW, Woolf-King SE, Neilands TB, Dilworth SE, Johnson MO. Stimulant use and HIV disease management among men in same-sex relationships. Drug and alcohol dependence 2014. PMID: 24726318


  43. Woolf-King SE, Neilands TB, Dilworth SE, Carrico AW, Johnson MO. Alcohol use and HIV disease management: the impact of individual and partner-level alcohol use among HIV-positive men who have sex with men. AIDS care 2013. PMID: 24215238


  44. Woolf-King SE, Rice TM, Truong HM, Woods WJ, Jerome RC, Carrico AW. Substance use and HIV risk behavior among men who have sex with men: the role of sexual compulsivity. Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 2013. PMID: 23974946


  45. Woolf-King, SE, Steinmaus, CM, Reingold, AL, Hahn, JA.. An update on alcohol use and risk of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa: Meta-analysis and future research directions 2013. PMID:


  46. Maisto SA, Palfai T, Vanable PA, Heath J, Woolf-King SE. The effects of alcohol and sexual arousal on determinants of sexual risk in men who have sex with men. Volume 41 of Issue 4. 2011. PMID: 22009480


  47. Hahn JA, Woolf-King SE, Muyindike W. Adding fuel to the fire: alcohol's effect on the HIV epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. Current HIV/AIDS reports 2011. PMID: 21713433


  48. Woolf-King SE, Maisto S, Carey M, Vanable P. Selection of film clips and development of a video for the investigation of sexual decision making among men who have sex with men. Volume 47 of Issue 6. 2010. PMID: 19760530


  49. Woolf-King SE, Maisto SA. Alcohol use and high-risk sexual behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa: a narrative review. Volume 40 of Issue 1. 2009. PMID: 19705274


  50. Woolf SE, Maisto SA. Alcohol use and risk of HIV infection among men who have sex with men. Volume 13 of Issue 4. 2008. PMID: 18236149


  51. Woolf, SE, Maisto, SA. Gender differences in condom use behavior? The role of power and partner-type 2008. PMID:


  52. Woolf, SE, Maisto, SA. Book Review: Rethinking substance abuse: What the science shows, and what we should do about it, (2006), 320 pp. William R. Miller, Kathleen M. Carroll (Eds.), The Guilford Press, New York, 2007. PMID: