J. Michael Wilkerson, PhD

Associate Professor
[email protected]

VIEW CV

Department

Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences

Research Interests

Health Education/Behavioral Sciences
Health Equity
Sexual Health
Social Determinants of Health
Substance Use
Program Evaluation
Cancer

Biography

Dr. Wilkerson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health. As part of his academic appointment at the School of Public Health, he serves as a faculty co-coordinator for the health disparities certificate program. His academic training includes a doctoral degree in adult, professional, and community education, a master’s degree in health education, and a master’s degree in epidemiology. His research focuses on the identification of individual and structural determinants that contribute to health disparities among marginalized populations and the development and evaluation of health promotion programs. He is particularly concerned about disparities in substance use recovery and HIV/STI prevention. He has been working as a practitioner and researcher in community health education for over twenty years. Currently, he is funded to evaluate recovery residences for persons participating in medication-assisted recovery and a certification program for peer recovery support specialists. Dr. Wilkerson teaches graduate courses in health promotion theory and methods, health disparities, and adult and community education. He has received funding from NIH, CDC, health departments, and foundations.

Contact

Email: [email protected] 
Phone: +1 (713) 500-9974
Fax: +1 (713) 500-9602

Current Projects

Houston Men’s Project

In-depth interviews with polysubstance-using men who have sex with men in the Houston area.

YMAP: Young Men’s Affiliation Project of HIV Risk and Prevention Venue

This project conducts a multisite longitudinal network study to investigate the HIV/STD risk and protective behaviors associated with social networks created by venue affiliations among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) ages 16-29 years.

HRSA Opioid Workforce Expansion Program (OWEP) - Recovery Support Peer Specialists

This project will establish a network of workforce development hubs across Texas in order to enhance community-based experiential training for students preparing to become Recovery Support Peer Specialists (RSPS) in high need and high demand communities along the Texas-Mexico Border.

parTy

Needs assessment of methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men in the US.

Housing for Opioid MAT Expanded Services (Project HOMES)

Through Project HOMES, UTHealth collaborates with multiple community partners to open and evaluate 13 recovery residences throughout Texas for persons using medication assisted treatment (MAT) as part of their recovery plan.

Oropharyngeal Cancer Early Detection Study (ORCA)

ORCA is a mixed methods study to examine barriers and opportunities for the early detection of oropharyngeal cancer among gay and bisexual men.

Enhanced Integrated Treatment Program with Sexual Health in Recovery (EITP-SHIR)

Program evaluation of an evidence-based program, the Enhanced Integrated Treatment Program with Sexual Health in Recovery (EITP-SHIR) for gay/bi and transgender women who who use club drugs during risky sex and are at high risk for contracting or transmitting HIV

Texas Implementation Science Hub to end HIV

The Texas Implementation Science Hub to end HIV (Texas IS Hub) is a component of the Texas D-CFAR, which focuses its research on the theme “Ending HIV and optimizing HIV health in Texas.”

Me & You-Tech: A Socio-Ecological Solution to Teen Dating Violence for the Digital Age

The goal of this 3 year Fast-Track STTR is to develop and evaluate a multi-level (youth, parent, school) Internet-based teen dating violence (DV) prevention program, ‘Me & You-Tech’ (MYTech), for predominantly racial/ethnic-minority 6th--grade middle school students.