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. 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. AIDS and behavior 2023. PMID: 37067613


  2. Yu L, Madura A, Gil C, Hepfer P, Palar K. Assessing the Health Outcomes of the Food Access Pilot Project: An Evaluation of a Medically Supportive Food Support Program for People Living with HIV in Rural California Counties. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2022. PMID: 35122577


  3. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2021. PMID: 34581230


  4. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2021. PMID: 34489299


  5. Leddy AM, Weiser SD, Palar K, Seligman H. A conceptual model for understanding the rapid COVID-19-related increase in food insecurity and its impact on health and healthcare. The American journal of clinical nutrition 2020. PMID: 32766740


  6. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2020. PMID: 32170507


  7. 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. AIDS patient care and STDs 2020. PMID: 32941054


  8. 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. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2020. PMID: 32682597


  9. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2020. PMID: 32248873


  10. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2020. PMID: 31539069


  11. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2019. PMID: 31931449


  12. 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. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2019. PMID: 31587956


  13. 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. Journal of general internal medicine 2019. PMID: 31576509


  14. 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. Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2019. PMID: 31601420


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


  16. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2019. PMID: 31127819


  17. Reeder C, Neilands TB, Palar K, Saberi P. Food Insecurity and Unmet Needs Among Youth and Young Adults Living With HIV in the San Francisco Bay Area. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2019. PMID: 31196781


  18. 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. The Journal of nutrition 2019. PMID: 30753638


  19. Payán DD, Derose KP, Fulcar MA, Farías H, Palar K. "It Was as Though My Spirit Left, Like They Killed Me": The Disruptive Impact of an HIV-Positive Diagnosis among Women in the Dominican Republic. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2019. PMID: 31109213


  20. 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. Volume 22 of Issue 12. AIDS and behavior 2018. PMID: 29948333


  21. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2018. PMID: 30289812


  22. Derose KP, Palar K, Farías H, Adams J, Martínez H. Developing Pilot Interventions to Address Food Insecurity and Nutritional Needs of People Living With HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Interinstitutional Approach Using Formative Research. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2018. PMID: 30453759


  23. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2018. PMID: 30109752


  24. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2018. PMID: 29942823


  25. Palar K, Wong MD, Cunningham WE. Competing subsistence needs are associated with retention in care and detectable viral load among people living with HIV. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2018. PMID: 30505245


  26. 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. AIDS and behavior 2017. PMID: 29119474


  27. Whittle HJ, Palar K, Ranadive NA, Turan JM, Kushel M, Weiser SD. "The land of the sick and the land of the healthy": Disability, bureaucracy, and stigma among people living with poverty and chronic illness in the United States. Volume 190. Social science & medicine (1982) 2017. PMID: 28865254


  28. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2017. PMID: 28742870


  29. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2017. PMID: 28681631


  30. 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. Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 2017. PMID: 28097614


  31. 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. Social science & medicine (1982) 2016. PMID: 27771206


  32. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2016. PMID: 26990632


  33. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2015. PMID: 26546789


  34. Derose KP, Felician M, Han B, Palar K, Ramírez B, Farías H, Martínez H. A pre-post pilot study of peer nutritional counseling and food insecurity and nutritional outcomes among antiretroviral therapy patients in Honduras. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2015. PMID: 26702362


  35. 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. Social science & medicine (1982) 2015. PMID: 26356827


  36. 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. AIDS and behavior 2015. PMID: 25351185


  37. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2014. PMID: 25429691


  38. Mendel P, Derose KP, Werber L, Palar K, Kanouse DE, Mata M. Facilitators and barriers to HIV activities in religious congregations: perspectives of clergy and lay leaders from a diverse urban sample. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2014. PMID: 23990037


  39. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2014. PMID: 24788781


  40. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2014. PMID: 23939234


  41. Palar K, Mendel P, Derose KP. The organization of HIV and other health activities within urban religious congregations. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2013. PMID: 23269603


  42. Palar K, Martin A, Oropeza Camacho ML, Derose KP. Livelihood experiences and adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy among participants in a food assistance pilot in Bolivia: a qualitative study. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2013. PMID: 23613976


  43. Linnemayr S, Ryan GW, Liu J, Palar K. Value for Money in Donor HIV Funding. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2012. PMID: 28083209


  44. Palar K, Wagner G, Ghosh-Dastidar B, Mugyenyi P. Role of antiretroviral therapy in improving food security among patients initiating HIV treatment and care. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2012. PMID: 22948270


  45. Linnemayr S, Ryan GW, Karir V, Liu J, Palar K. Negotiation Strategies for Antiretroviral Drug Purchasers in the United States. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2012. PMID: 28083266


  46. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2012. PMID: 22445157


  47. 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. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2011. PMID: 20953903


  48. Williams MV, Palar K, Derose KP. Congregation-based programs to address HIV/AIDS: elements of successful implementation. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2011. PMID: 21331749


  49. Martin A, Palar K, Derose KP, Adams J.. Food insecurity and nutritional barriers to antiretroviral therapy: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services 2011. PMID:


  50. Palar K, Sturm R. Potential societal savings from reduced sodium consumption in the U.S. adult population. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2009. PMID: 19750962


  51. Bentley TG, Effros RM, Palar K, Keeler EB. Waste in the U.S. Health care system: a conceptual framework. "It's not the doctor - it's me." How self-blame obscures language and other structural barriers to diabetes care mong low-income Latinos with limited English Proficiency. 2008. PMID: 19120983