Vickie Mays, Ph.D., M.S.P.H.

HIV/AIDS Research, Minority Sexual Behavior and Preferences, Sexual Health Policies.
HSAB Affiliation: Professional Advisor.

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Vickie M. Mays, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., was originally trained as a clinical psychologist. She also received additional training in health policy and health services research. Dr. Mays has a long track record in conducting scientific research on topics related to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases in women, African American gay men, and ethnic/racial minority men who have sex with men. Her current research interests include understanding individuals' attitudes about human sexuality, determining how cultural, racial, and societal factors shape preferences surrounding sexual behaviors, and developing policies that encourage sexual health.

In some of her recent published work, she has examined the "down low" phenomenon in African American men who have sex with men, the use of partner history questioning in HIV/STD prevention, and sexual health and mental health of women. She is committed to ensuring that research findings reach the very people for whom they were intended and therefore participates in public lecture venues that range from scientific meetings to church pulpits. She has appeared on a number of radio and television shows and served as a weekly expert on health matters on the KCBS Health News segment.