Stephen Moses, MD, MPH

Research summary

Dr. Moses’ research focuses on biological and behavioural risk factors for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. His work includes syndromic approaches and risk assessment in STI management, as well as targeted interventions to reduce STI and HIV transmission. He also specializes in health worker training for STI management in resource-poor settings and integrated approaches to STI/HIV prevention, including voluntary medical male circumcision. Additionally, Dr. Moses develops innovative programs to reduce maternal, infant, and child mortality and morbidity, while improving reproductive health in resource-poor environments.

Research themes and interests

• Global health and STI/HIV
• Biological and behavioural risk factors for STI/HIV transmission
• Prevention, care, and syndromic management of STIs
• Targeted interventions and integrated approaches to reduce STI/HIV transmission
• Reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health
• Strategies to reduce mortality and morbidity in resource-poor settings
• Health worker training in STI/sexually transmitted disease (STD) management in resource-poor settings

Dr. Stephen Moses is a physician and scientist with more than 35 years of experience in global health research, focusing on sexually transmitted infections (STI) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). He has made significant contributions to understanding the biological and behavioural risk factors for STI/HIV transmission and applying these findings to practical interventions.

Dr. Moses has been a leader in several major HIV prevention innovations, including improving the management and control of "conventional" STIs, implementing peer-mediated educational interventions for high-risk populations, and advocating for male circumcision as a method to reduce HIV susceptibility among men. His research has had a global impact, particularly as co-principal investigator on the landmark randomized controlled trial of male circumcision for HIV prevention in Kenya, which led to the scale-up of male circumcision programs in 14 countries across eastern and southern Africa.

He spent 10 years in Kenya and six years in India, where from 2006 to 2012, he served as country director of the University of Manitoba’s HIV/AIDS and reproductive health programs and led the India AIDS Initiative (Avahan) in Karnataka for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He continues to be involved in research and development programs in both India and Kenya.

Dr. Moses received his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1976 and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1982. He has been a full professor at the University of Manitoba since 2002 and served as head of the Department of Community Health Sciences from 2012 to 2019.

With over 260 peer-reviewed publications, several monographs, and book chapters, Dr. Moses has presented extensively at national and international conferences. He has received multiple awards, including the Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award, the Doctors Manitoba Scholastic Award, and the Mark Wainberg Lecture Award from the Canadian Association for HIV Research. In 2011, he was inducted as a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Education

Master of Public Health (MPH), The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA (May 1982)

Doctor of Medicine (MD), University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (May 1976)

Awards

2016

• Mark Wainberg Lecture Award, Canadian Association for HIV Research (CAHR). Delivered at the Twenty-fifth Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

2011

• Inducted as a Fellow, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
• The Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award, in recognition of outstanding research accomplishments by senior University of Manitoba faculty.
• Doctors Manitoba Scholastic Award, for scholarly activity in the health professions. Awarded at the Doctors Manitoba Annual General Meeting.

2009

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canadian Medical Association Journal Award for one of the “Top Canadian Achievements in Health Research” over the past five years. The award was for “Male Circumcision: A New Approach to Reducing HIV Transmission.”

2001-2006

• Investigator Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).