Michael Leonardo Foster, MPH, EdD
Associate Specialist
My research interests focus broadly on the psycho-social and cultural barriers and facilitators to HIV prevention for marginalized communities, particularly for Blacks and Black men who have sex with men (MSM). As such, my research tends to involve Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) methods, and tends to draw from both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
A primary line of work involves understanding the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in HIV/AIDS prevention work and developing interventions that will be both feasible and acceptable to faith communities, most notably Black churches. As such, I am involved in a University-wide AIDS Research Program (UARP)-funded study (Kegeles, PI) to examine the attitudes of leaders in faith communities, primarily Black churches, about their potential role of HIV/AIDS prevention aimed at Black MSM. The goal of this project is to ascertain the feasibility and level of acceptance of church leaders (primarily pastors and leaders of HIV/AIDS ministries) to spirituality-based prevention interventions that target Black MSM. In this study, I work with a team of researchers to interview pastors and other leaders of HIV/AIDS ministries and inquire about their theological beliefs in relation to homosexuality, as well as about their beliefs regarding the potential role of Black churches in the battle against HIV/AIDS within communities of Black MSM. Ultimately, these data will be used to develop an HIV/AIDS prevention intervention for Black MSM that will be effective within that community and that will engage the involvement of Black churches and faith communities.
Another line of research focuses on how to adapt the MPowerment Project (MP) to the cultural nuances of young Black MSM. The MP is a community-level HIV prevention intervention for young gay men that has been identified as an effective behavioral intervention by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, to date the MP has been shown to be primarily effective with mainstream, primarily white young gay men. There is no evidence that the MP works as well or works at all with young MSM from other racial and ethnic communities. Therefore, through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the goal of this project (Kegeles, PI) is to determine how to most effectively adapt the MP to the culturally specific needs of young Black MSM.
Research interests
HIV/AIDS Research, Evaluation, HIV Risk Behavior, Behavioral Research, Qualitative Research, African American, Communities of Color, Disenfranchised Communities
Current research
- A Community Level HIV Prevention Intervention for Young Black MSM
- Faith-based HIV prevention for Young African American MSM
Education
- 2006-2007, MPH, University of California, Berkeley, CA
- 1995-2002, EdD, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- 1994-1995, Med, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- 1993-1994, EdM, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
- 1989-1992, BA, (Liberal Studies), Magna Cum Laude, SFSU, San Francisco, CA
Contact
University of California , San Francisco
50 Beale Street, Suite 1300
San Francisco, California 94105
Voice: (415) 597-8123
Fax: (415) 597-9194
Email: Michael.foster@ucsf.edu