Kartika Palar, PhD

Associate Professor

My research focuses on addressing the drivers and consequences of health inequity in HIV and chronic disease. One stream of research investigates the impact of food insecurity and other unmet subsistence needs on health. A new stream of research examines the intersection of HIV, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and social determinants of health. Within these areas, I have a special interest in developing equitable community partnerships to design and evaluate program and policy solutions. I am interested in both safety-net interventions that address immediate needs, as well as policies that address upstream root causes of health inequity.

Current studies fall within one or more of the above research streams. I am PI of the 5-year NIH-funded Women, HIV/AIDS and Diabetes Study, or WAND Study, based within the US national Women’s Interagency HIV Study. WAND is using both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand the impact of social and economic barriers on HIV and diabetes health among women living with both conditions, with the goal of developing an intervention to improve HIV/diabetes co-management among women experiencing multiple vulnerabilities. I am also co-PI of the Changing Health through Food Support (CHEFS) Study, an RCT of comprehensive, medically appropriate food support to low-income, people with HIV in the San Francisco Bay Area in collaboration with Project Open Hand. I am co-leading the development of a community-based collaboration to evaluate urban gardens as a strategy to improve health among low-income people with diabetes in the Bay Area, and am involved with an urban garden intervention for people with HIV in the Dominican Republic. I am a co-investigator or collaborator on several other projects addressing food insecurity and health, and/or HIV/NCD co-morbidity, domestically and abroad.

My international work is largely based in Latin America, in collaboration with the World Food Programme and others. Finally, I have a strong commitment and passion for mentoring students and others with interest in issues of health equity, particularly those with backgrounds underrepresented in scientific research.
Education
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Social/Behavioral HIV Research, 2015 - Division of HIV, ID and Global Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Health Services Research, 2014 - UCLA School of Public Health, Dept of Health Policy and Mgmt, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
PhD - Policy Analysis, 2012 - Pardee RAND Graduate School, RAND Corporation
MA - International Affairs, 2006 - Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University
BA - Development Studies & Ethnic Studies, 2001 - , Brown University
Honors and Awards
  • Early Career Award of Excellence in Behavioral Research, UCSF-Gladstone Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), 2017
Publications

  1. Celeste-Villalvir A, Then-Paulino A, Jimenez-Paulino G, Sheira LA, Acevedo R, Armenta G, Becker N, Han B, Derose KP, Palar K. Exploratory analysis of the effect of a food security intervention on alcohol use among people with HIV in the Dominican Republic. 2026. PMID: 41764908


  2. Armenta G, Han B, Palar K, Then-Paulino A, Wagner GJ, Derose KP. Factors Associated With Stigma and Depression Among People Living With HIV and Food Insecurity in the Dominican Republic. 2025. PMID: 40854578


  4. Palar K, Sheira LA, Frongillo EA, O'Donnell AA, Nápoles TM, Ryle M, Pitchford S, Madsen K, Phillips B, Riley ED, Weiser SD. Food is Medicine for HIV: Improved health and hospitalizations in the Changing Health through Food Support (CHEFS-HIV) pragmatic randomized trial. 2024. PMID: 38696724


  5. Luk C, Palar K, Ludovic J, Cramer R, Gift TL, Horowitz R, Leichliter JS. Staffing and Budget Levels at Local Sexually Transmitted Disease Programs by County-Level Sociodemographic Characteristics During COVID-19. 2025. PMID: 40047500


  6. Derose KP, Palar K, Then-Paulino A, Han B, Armenta G, Celeste-Villalvir A, Sheira LA, Jimenez-Paulino G, Acevedo R, Donastorg Y, Farías H, Wagner GJ. Changes in HIV Internalized and Experienced Stigmas and Social Support After an Urban Gardens and Peer Nutritional Counseling Intervention Among People With HIV and Food Insecurity in the Dominican Republic. 2024. PMID: 39116332


  7. Celeste-Villalvir A, Palar K, Then-Paulino A, Wallace DD, Jimenez-Paulino G, Fulcar MA, Acevedo R, Derose KP. Perceived Impacts of Urban Gardens and Peer Nutritional Counseling for People Living With HIV in the Dominican Republic. 2024. PMID: 38613552


  8. Palar K, Sheira LA, Frongillo EA, Kushel M, Wilson TE, Conroy AA, Adedimeji A, Merenstein D, Cohen MH, Wentz EL, Adimora AA, Ofotokun I, Metsch LR, Turan JM, Tien PC, Weiser SD. Longitudinal Relationship Between Food Insecurity, Engagement in Care, and ART Adherence Among US Women Living with HIV. 2023. PMID: 37067613


  10. Derose KP, Han B, Armenta G, Palar K, Then-Paulino A, Jimenez-Paulino G, Sheira LA, Acevedo R, Lugo C, Veloz I, Donastorg Y, Wagner G. Exploring antiretroviral therapy adherence, competing needs, and viral suppression among people living with HIV and food insecurity in the Dominican Republic. 2021. PMID: 34581230


  11. Sheira LA, Frongillo EA, Hahn J, Palar K, Riley ED, Wilson TE, Adedimeji A, Merenstein D, Cohen M, Wentz EL, Adimora AA, Ofotokun I, Metsch L, Turan JM, Tien PC, Weiser SD. Relationship between food insecurity and smoking status among women living with and at risk for HIV in the USA: a cohort study. 2021. PMID: 34489299


  13. Chandran A, Edmonds A, Benning L, Wentz E, Adedimeji A, Wilson TE, Blair-Spence A, Palar K, Cohen M, Adimora A. Longitudinal Associations Between Neighborhood Factors and HIV Care Outcomes in the WIHS. 2020. PMID: 32170507


  14. Weiser SD, Sheira LA, Palar K, Kushel M, Wilson TE, Adedimeji A, Merenstein D, Cohen M, Turan JM, Metsch L, Adimora AA, Ofotokun I, Wentz E, Tien PC, Frongillo EA. Mechanisms from Food Insecurity to Worse HIV Treatment Outcomes in US Women Living with HIV. 2020. PMID: 32941054


  15. Nagata JM, Palar K, Gooding HC, Garber AK, Tabler JL, Whittle HJ, Bibbins-Domingo K, Weiser SD. Food Insecurity, Sexual Risk, and Substance Use in Young Adults. 2020. PMID: 32682597


  16. Whittle HJ, Wolfe WR, Sheira LA, Frongillo EA, Palar K, Merenstein D, Wilson TE, Adedimeji A, Cohen MH, Wentz EL, Tien PC, Weiser SD. Associations between food insecurity and psychotropic medication use among women living with HIV in the United States. 2020. PMID: 32248873


  17. Flórez KR, Payán DD, Palar K, Williams MV, Katic B, Derose KP. Church-based interventions to address obesity among African Americans and Latinos in the United States: a systematic review. 2020. PMID: 31539069


  18. Mendel P, Green HD, Palar K, Kanouse DE, Bluthenthal RN, Mata MA, Oden CW, Derose KP. Congregational involvement in HIV: A qualitative comparative analysis of factors influencing HIV activity among diverse urban congregations. 2019. PMID: 31931449


  19. Nagata JM, Palar K, Gooding HC, Garber AK, Whittle HJ, Bibbins-Domingo K, Weiser SD. Food Insecurity Is Associated With Poorer Mental Health and Sleep Outcomes in Young Adults. 2019. PMID: 31587956


  20. Nagata JM, Palar K, Gooding HC, Garber AK, Bibbins-Domingo K, Weiser SD. Food Insecurity and Chronic Disease in US Young Adults: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. 2019. PMID: 31576509


  21. Palar K, Lemus Hufstedler E, Hernandez K, Chang A, Ferguson L, Lozano R, Weiser SD. Nutrition and Health Improvements After Participation in an Urban Home Garden Program. 2019. PMID: 31601420


  22. Nagata JM, Weiser SD, Gooding HC, Garber AK, Bibbins-Domingo K, Palar K. Association Between Food Insecurity and Migraine Among US Young Adults. 2019. PMID: 31233123


  23. Whittle HJ, Sheira LA, Wolfe WR, Frongillo EA, Palar K, Merenstein D, Wilson TE, Adedimeji A, Weber KM, Adimora AA, Ofotokun I, Metsch L, Turan JM, Wentz EL, Tien PC, Weiser SD. Food insecurity is associated with anxiety, stress, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in a cohort of women with or at risk of HIV in the United States. 2019. PMID: 31127819


  25. Tuthill EL, Sheira LA, Palar K, Frongillo EA, Wilson TE, Adedimeji A, Merenstein D, Cohen MH, Wentz EL, Adimora AA, Ofotokun I, Metsch L, Kushel M, Turan JM, Konkle-Parker D, Tien PC, Weiser SD. Persistent Food Insecurity Is Associated with Adverse Mental Health among Women Living with or at Risk of HIV in the United States. 2019. PMID: 30753638


  27. Palar K, Frongillo EA, Escobar J, Sheira LA, Wilson TE, Adedimeji A, Merenstein D, Cohen MH, Wentz EL, Adimora AA, Ofotokun I, Metsch L, Tien PC, Turan JM, Weiser SD. Food Insecurity, Internalized Stigma, and Depressive Symptoms Among Women Living with HIV in the United States. 2018. PMID: 29948333


  28. Galaviz KI, Schneider MF, Tien PC, Mehta CC, Ofotokun I, Colasanti J, Marconi VC, Palar K, Wingood G, Adimora AA, Alcaide M, Cohen MH, Gustafson D, Karim R, Konkle-Parker D, Merenstein D, Sharma A, Ali MK. Predicting diabetes risk among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women. 2018. PMID: 30289812


  30. Whittle HJ, Sheira LA, Frongillo EA, Palar K, Cohen J, Merenstein D, Wilson TE, Adedimeji A, Cohen MH, Adimora AA, Ofotokun I, Metsch L, Turan JM, Wentz EL, Tien PC, Weiser SD. Longitudinal associations between food insecurity and substance use in a cohort of women with or at risk for HIV in the United States. 2018. PMID: 30109752


  31. Colasanti J, Galaviz KI, Christina Mehta C, Palar K, Schneider MF, Tien P, Adimora AA, Alcaide M, Cohen MH, Gustafson D, Karim R, Merenstein D, Sharma A, Wingood G, Marconi VC, Ofotokun I, Ali MK. Room for Improvement: The HIV-Diabetes Care Continuum Over 15 Years in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. 2018. PMID: 29942823


  33. Spinelli MA, Frongillo EA, Sheira LA, Palar K, Tien PC, Wilson T, Merenstein D, Cohen M, Adedimeji A, Wentz E, Adimora AA, Metsch LR, Turan JM, Kushel MB, Weiser SD. Food Insecurity is Associated with Poor HIV Outcomes Among Women in the United States. Volume 21 of Issue 12. 2017. PMID: 29119474


  35. Derose KP, Payán DD, Fulcar MA, Terrero S, Acevedo R, Farías H, Palar K. Factors contributing to food insecurity among women living with HIV in the Dominican Republic: A qualitative study. 2017. PMID: 28742870


  36. Derose KP, Ríos-Castillo I, Fulcar MA, Payán DD, Palar K, Escala L, Farías H, Martínez H. Severe food insecurity is associated with overweight and increased body fat among people living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. 2017. PMID: 28681631


  37. Palar K, Napoles T, Hufstedler LL, Seligman H, Hecht FM, Madsen K, Ryle M, Pitchford S, Frongillo EA, Weiser SD. Comprehensive and Medically Appropriate Food Support Is Associated with Improved HIV and Diabetes Health. Volume 94 of Issue 1. 2017. PMID: 28097614


  38. Whittle HJ, Palar K, Seligman HK, Napoles T, Frongillo EA, Weiser SD. How food insecurity contributes to poor HIV health outcomes: Qualitative evidence from the San Francisco Bay Area. Volume 170. 2016. PMID: 27771206


  39. Palar K, Laraia B, Tsai AC, Johnson MO, Weiser SD. Food insecurity is associated with HIV, sexually transmitted infections and drug use among men in the United States. Volume 30 of Issue 9. 2016. PMID: 26990632


  40. Whittle HJ, Palar K, Napoles T, Hufstedler LL, Ching I, Hecht FM, Frongillo EA, Weiser SD. Experiences with food insecurity and risky sex among low-income people living with HIV/AIDS in a resource-rich setting. Volume 18. 2015. PMID: 26546789


  42. Whittle HJ, Palar K, Hufstedler LL, Seligman HK, Frongillo EA, Weiser SD. Food insecurity, chronic illness, and gentrification in the San Francisco Bay Area: An example of structural violence in United States public policy. Volume 143. 2015. PMID: 26356827


  43. Palar K, Kushel M, Frongillo EA, Riley ED, Grede N, Bangsberg D, Weiser SD. Food Insecurity is Longitudinally Associated with Depressive Symptoms Among Homeless and Marginally-Housed Individuals Living with HIV. Volume 19 of Issue 8. 2015. PMID: 25351185


  44. Palar K, Derose KP, Linnemayr S, Smith A, Farías H, Wagner G, Martinez H. Impact of food support on food security and body weight among HIV antiretroviral therapy recipients in Honduras: a pilot intervention trial. 2014. PMID: 25429691


  46. Martinez H, Palar K, Linnemayr S, Smith A, Derose KP, Ramírez B, Farías H, Wagner G. Tailored nutrition education and food assistance improve adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy: evidence from Honduras. 2014. PMID: 24788781


  47. Weiser SD, Palar K, Frongillo EA, Tsai AC, Kumbakumba E, Depee S, Hunt PW, Ragland K, Martin J, Bangsberg DR. Longitudinal assessment of associations between food insecurity, antiretroviral adherence and HIV treatment outcomes in rural Uganda. Volume 28 of Issue 1. 2014. PMID: 23939234


  50. Linnemayr S, Ryan GW, Liu J, Palar K. Value for Money in Donor HIV Funding. 2012. PMID: 28083209


  51. Palar K, Wagner G, Ghosh-Dastidar B, Mugyenyi P. Role of antiretroviral therapy in improving food security among patients initiating HIV treatment and care. 2012. PMID: 22948270


  52. Linnemayr S, Ryan GW, Karir V, Liu J, Palar K. Negotiation Strategies for Antiretroviral Drug Purchasers in the United States. 2012. PMID: 28083266


  53. Bluthenthal RN, Palar K, Mendel P, Kanouse DE, Corbin DE, Derose KP. Attitudes and beliefs related to HIV/AIDS in urban religious congregations: barriers and opportunities for HIV-related interventions. 2012. PMID: 22445157


  54. Derose KP, Mendel PJ, Palar K, Kanouse DE, Bluthenthal RN, Castaneda LW, Corbin DE, Domínguez BX, Hawes-Dawson J, Mata MA, Oden CW. Religious congregations' involvement in HIV: a case study approach. 2011. PMID: 20953903


  58. Bentley TG, Effros RM, Palar K, Keeler EB. Waste in the U.S. Health care system: a conceptual framework. 2008. PMID: 19120983