MedStAR Publications
Contact uwmedstar@uw.edu to request a pdf of a MedStAR publication

Hsu, R, Tong, ST. Disparities in Smoking Cessation Treatment Among Immigrants and Potential Barriers to Care. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02443-4

Le MH, Laschober TC, Tross S, Paschen-Wolff M, Ertl MM, Wright L, Hatch MA. Attitudes toward and experience with naloxone among people who use drugs in the Southeastern United States. Int J Drug Policy. 2025 Mar 11;139:104769. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104769. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40073718.

Tolstrup D, Roberts ST, Deya R, Wanje G, Shafi J, James JR, Chander G, McClelland RS, Graham SM. Intimate partner sexual violence is associated with unhealthy alcohol use among Kenyan women engaged in sex work. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2024 Dec 25;14:100315. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2024.100315. PMID: 39867466; PMCID: PMC11763861.

Buck T, Herrera Perales LE, Berzkalns A, Barash E, Golden MR, Dombrowski JC. The Role of Jail Testing in the Public Health Response to Syphilis in King County, Washington. Sex Transm Dis. 2025 Mar 1;52(3):135-140. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002110. Epub 2024 Nov 27. PMID: 39601415; PMCID: PMC11794023.

Nguyen AT, Slaughter F, Smith S, Katz DA, Prabhu S, Wang L, Simoni JM, Tsui JI, Graham SM. COVID-19 Stress is Associated with Increased Smoking among People with HIV in Western Washington: A Cross-Sectional Survey. COVID. 2024 Oct;4(10):1617-1630. doi: 10.3390/covid4100112. Epub 2024 Sep 30. PMID: 39877471; PMCID: PMC11774511.

Wang L, Slaughter F, Nguyen AT, Smith S, Prabhu S, Beima-Sofie K, Wallace S, Crane HM, Simoni JM, Graham SM. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and viral suppression among persons living with HIV in western Washington. AIDS Care. 2024 Jul;36(7):885-898. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2024.2341220. Epub 2024 Apr 16. PMID: 38623592; PMCID: PMC11636654.

Smith S, Beima-Sofie K, Naveed A, Bhatia N, Micheni M, Nguyen AT, Slaughter F, Wang L, Prabhu S, Wallace S, Simoni J, Graham SM. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Persons Living with HIV in Western Washington: Examining Lived Experiences of Social Distancing Stress, Personal Buffers, and Mental Health. AIDS Behav. 2024 Jun;28(6):1822-1833. doi: 10.1007/s10461-024-04273-7. Epub 2024 Mar 16. PMID: 38493281; PMCID: PMC11161538.

Geist ML, Radick AC, Tsui JI, Blalock KL, Adwell A, Tamru E, Connolly NC, James JR. Timing of hepatitis C treatment initiation and retention in office-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine: a retrospective cohort study. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2023 May 25;18(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s13722-023-00389-8. PMID: 37231486; PMCID: PMC10210339.

Mostofi N, Collins SE. Impact of Harm Reduction Treatment with or without Pharmacotherapy on Polysubstance Use among People Experiencing Homelessness and Alcohol Use Disorder. J Addict Med. 2023 Sep-Oct 01;17(5):574-579. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001182. Epub 2023 May 30. PMID: 37788612; PMCID: PMC10593979.

Altwies EE, Zinsli KA, Chwastiak L, Tsui JI, Bhatraju EP, Ramchandani MS, Golden MR, Dombrowski JC. Substance Use and Mental Health Comorbidities and Receipt of Specialty Care Among Patients Enrolled in a Low-Barrier HIV Clinic. AIDS Behav. 2023 Dec;27(12):3952-3960. doi: 10.1007/s10461-023-04110-3. Epub 2023 Jun 23. PMID: 37351687.

Salow K, Jack HE, Tinsley J, Banta-Green CJ, Kingston S, Iles-Shih M, Tsui JI, Glick S. Racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveys. Harm Reduct J. 2023 Sep 14;20(1):133. doi: 10.1186/s12954-023-00868-w. PMID: 37704989; PMCID: PMC10500904.

Kratina-Hathaway Z, Radick AC, Leroux BG, Blalock K, Kim TW, Darnton J, Saxon AJ, Samet JH, Tsui JI. Methamphetamine use and illicit opioid use during buprenorphine treatment. J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2023 Aug;151:208934. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2022.208934. Epub 2023 Jan 6. PMID: 37811395; PMCID: PMC10554569.

Tsui JI, Stephens D, Collins B, Denisiuk E, Hallgren KA, Blalock KL, Klein JW, Jack HE, Merrill JO. Co-use of Methamphetamine Is Associated With Lower Rates of Linkage to Outpatient Treatment for Hospitalized Patients Who Initiate Buprenorphine. J Addict Med. 2023 Jul-Aug 01;17(4):491-492. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001129. Epub 2023 Jan 17. PMID: 37579119; PMCID: PMC10350466..

Jack HE, Denisiuk ED, Collins BA, Stephens D, Blalock KL, Klein JW, Bhatraju EP, Merrill JO, Hallgren KA, Tsui JI. Peer providers and linkage with buprenorphine care after hospitalization: A retrospective cohort study. Subst Abus. 2022 Dec;43(1):1308-1316. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2022.2095078. PMID: 35896006; PMCID: PMC9586121.

Einberger C, Graupensperger S, Lee CM. Young adults’ physical distancing behaviors during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic: Adherence to guidelines and associations with alcohol use behavior. Emerg Adulthood. 2021 Oct;9(5):541-549. doi: 10.1177/21676968211004679. Epub 2021 Apr 5. PMID: 34900404; PMCID: PMC8664064.

Graupensperger S, Cadigan JM, Einberger C, Lee CM. Multifaceted COVID-19-Related Stressors and Associations with Indices of Mental Health, Well-being, and Substance Use Among Young Adults. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2023;21(1):418-431. doi: 10.1007/s11469-021-00604-0. Epub 2021 Aug 4. PMID: 34377106; PMCID: PMC8336528.

National Conference Presentations

Eli Engledow, Claire Simon, Jason Deen, Kevin Hallgren. Traditional Language and Lifetime Commercial Tobacco use in American Indians in 4 US States Using the Strong Heart Study. College of Problems on Drug Dependence 87th Annual Meeting, June 2025.

Lauren Gillott, Jeremy Beckford, Rebecca Ramos, Judith Tsui, David Mendez, Sara Glick. Lower Use of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Among American Indian / Alaska Native People Who Use Drugs: Is This Explained by Negative Healthcare Experiences? College of Problems on Drug Dependence 87th Annual Meeting, June 2025.

Maranda Newton, Olivia Gregorich, Geetanjali Chander, Judith Tsui, Jared Klein, Elenore Bhatraju. “It Might Be the Answer to My Problems Right Now. I’m Hoping”: Patient and Provider Perspectives on Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. College of Problems on Drug Dependence 87th Annual Meeting, June 2025.

Daniel Tolstrup, Sarah T. Roberts, Ruth Deya, George H. Wanje, Juma Shafi, Vrasha Chohan, Jocelyn R. James, Cheryl L. Day, Geetanjali Chander, R. Scott McClelland, and Susan M. Graham. Unhealthy Alcolol use is associated with past experiences of intimate partner sexual violence and current immune activation among Kenyan women engaged in sex work.

Abigail R. Melton, Olivia V. Fletcher, Jessie Melina Garcia Gutiérrez, Amy J. Kennedy, Claire Simon, Jessica A. Chen, Geetanjali Chander, and Emily C. Williams.  Racialized Differences in the Prevalence of Drug Use Disorder Among Transgender Veterans.  

Amelia M. Mohabir, Jocelyn James, Claire Simon, Allison Cole, and Judith I. Tsui. Hepatitis C Care Delivery Practices Among Primary Care Who Do and Do Not Prescribe Buprenorphine.  

Jenni Ebersberger, Judith I. Tsui, Maria A. Corcorran, and  Sara Glick.  Hepatitis C Care Continuum Among People Who Inject Drugs in King County, WA.

Nathaniel Lohman and Susan Graham. Association of Alcohol Use with Sex, Trauma & Abuse – Anza Mapema, Kisumu, Kenya.

Skye Holm,Tanja C. Laschober, Susan Tross, and Mary Hatch. Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on Substance Use Among People Who Use Opioids (PWUO) in the Southeastern Unite States. 

Brian Lusby, Mirriam Mkhize, Tolulope Abidogun, Morgan Soraya Anvari, Yvonne Akinyi Ochieng, Jamie Darnton, Alexandra Leah Rose, Mary Buckley Kleinman, Nonceba Ciya, Bronwyn Myers-Franchi, Jessica Magidson, Helen Jack.  Peer-led Behavioral Activation: A Feasibility Analysis in Low-Resource Settings.  Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addication (AMERSA) conference in Washington DC, November 2023.

 

Megan Yerton, Connor J. McCabe, Matt Iles-Shih, Judith I. Tsui, Kevin A. Hallgren. Potential Receipt of Behavioral and Pharmacologic Treatments by Patients with Methamphetamine Use Disorder in Rural-Serving Primary Care Clinics in the Pacific Northwest. The Addiction Health Services Research (AHSR) conference, October 2023. 

Dane Patey, Katharine Bradley, Malia Oliver, Theresa E Matson, Helen E. Jack, Douglas Berger, Tessa Steel, Amy Lee and Kevin Hallgren. The prevalence of identified unhealthy alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (AUD) when alcohol screening is conducted online versus on paper. International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs 2023 (INEBRIA).  

Dane Patey presenting at INEBRIA

Ariana S. Gross, Olivia J. Fletcher M.Sc., Amy J. Kennedy MD MS, Emily C. Williams PhD MPH.  PrEP Awareness, Use, Willingness and Physician Engagement Across Sexually and Gender Diverse Veterans Who Use Drugs. College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) June 2023 Poster presentation.

Mylinh H. Le, Tanja C. Laschober, Susan Tross, Margaret Paschen-Wolff. Attitudes Toward Naloxone Uptake for Opioid Overdose Prevention Among People Who Use Opioids in the Southeastern US. College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) June 2023 Poster presentation.

Sophie C. Morse, Canada Parrish, Callan E. Fockele, Chris Craft, Sarah Leyde, Arvin R. Akhavan, Ellie Sveum, Timothy Fredrickson, Lauren Whiteside. Program Evaluation of UW Medicine’s response to Washington State Bill 5195 of Naloxone Distribution. College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) June 2023 Poster presentation.

 

Ché Ross, Judith I. Tsui, MD, Andrea Radick, Jason Deen, Dedra Buchwald, Astrid Suchy-Dicey. Prescribed Opioids and Neurocognitive Status Among American Indian Elders: Data From The Strong Heart Study.  College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) June 2023 Poster presentation.

Katheryn Salow and Sara Glick, PhD.  Disparities in Use of Syringe Services Programs in King County, WA.  College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) June 2023 Poster presentation.

Mary Geist, Andrea Radick, Judith Tsui, Kendra L. Blalock, Addy Adwell, Elsabeth Tamru, Nancy C. Connolly, Jocelyn R. James. Timing of hepatitis C treatment initiation and retention in office-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine: a retrospective cohort study. Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance abuse Conference (AMERSA)  November 2022.Oral poster presentation

 

Chey S, Smith S, Naveed A, Bhatia N, Nguyen A, Slaughter F, Wallace S, Simoni JM, Beima-Sofie K, Graham SM. Experiences Accessing Healthcare Services among Persons Living with HIV during COVID-19 Social Distancing in Western Washington. 17th International Conference on HIV Treatment and Prevention Adherence (IAPAC), November 2022. Co-author on poster.

Anita M. Samuel, Christine M. Lee, Melissa A. Lewis, and Anne M. Fairlie. Putting Safer Drinking Into Context: Associations Between Drinking Contexts and the Use of Alcohol-Related Protective Behavioral Strategies Among College Students.  Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA), June 2022.  Dr. Fairlie presented Anita’s poster.

Nguyen AT, Slaughter F, Smith S, Katz D, Prabhu S, Tsui JI, Simoni JM, Graham SM. COVID-19 stress and increased substance use among persons living with HIV in Western Washington. 43rd Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM), April 2022. Poster presentation.

Slaughter F, Nguyen A, Micheni M, Smith S, Katz D, Prabhu S, Khosroour C, Crane H, Simoni JM, Wallace S, Graham SM. The impact of COVID-19 stress on decreased ART adherence and unsuppressed viral load among HIV clinic patients in Western Washington. 16th International Conference on HIV Treatment and Prevention Adherence (IAPAC), November 2021.  Co-author on poster.

Smith S, Naveed A, Bhatia N, Micheni M, Nguyen A, Slaughter F, Wallace S, Simoni JM, Beima-Sofie K, Graham SM. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons living with HIV in western Washington: Examining lived experiences of social distancing stress, personal buffers, and mental health. 16^th International Conference on HIV Treatment and Prevention Adherence (IAPAC), November 2021.  Co-author on poster.

Dan Stephens, Methamphetamine Use and Linkage to Outpatient Treatment for Hospitalized Patients who Initiate Buprenorphine. Addiction Health Services Research Conference (AHSR), October 2021.  Poster presentation.

Lauren Nguyen, Karl Jablonowski, Kevin Hallgren, Dawn Taniguchi, Lauren K. Whiteside.  Transition of Care From the Emergency Department for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder Who Receive Buprenorphine.  College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD), June 2021.  Poster presentation.

Zoë Kratina-Hathaway, Andrea C. Radick, Zachery A. Schramm, Kendra L. Blalock, Brian G. Leroux, Theresa W. Kim, Judith I. Tsui. Baseline methamphetamine and/or amphetamine use and illicit opioid use during buprenorphine treatment. College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) June 2021 Poster presentation.

Lauren Nguyen, Karl Jablonowski, Kevin Hallgren, Dawn Taniguchi, Lauren K. Whiteside.  Transition of Care From the Emergency Department for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder Who Receive Buprenorphine. Society For Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), May 2021.  Poster presentation.

Einberger C, Young Adults’ Physical Distancing Behaviors During the Initial Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Adherence to Guidelines and Associations with Alcohol Use Behavior. Research Society on Alcohol (RSA), April 2021 Poster presentation.

Arianna P. Lee, Kevin A. Hallgren, Kendra L. Blalock, Joseph O. Merrill, Addy Adwell, Geoffrey S. Baird, Junyan Shi, Judith I. Tsui MD, Jared W. Klein.  Less Intensive Urine Drug Screening in Buprenorphine Treatment.  American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), April 2021.  Poster presentation.

Accolades

Congratulations to 2021 MedStAR student Brian Lusby, MSc, who is  the 2024 recipient of the Margaret O’Donnell Prize in Psychiatry. This prize is rewarded to a senior medical student who has done outstanding academic work in psychiatry.

2021 MedStAR Student Katie Salow‘s paper “Racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveys” published in Harm Reduction Journal was recently cited in USA today by former U.S. surgeon general Dr. Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, FASA.

Two MedStAR mentors received the III Outstanding Research Mentor Award; Helen Jack, MD and Sebastian Tong, MD, MPH.

Zoe Kratina-Hathaway receives Margaret O’Donnell Prize in Psychiatry.  This prize is awarded to a senior medical student who has been highly involved in behavioral health issues and outstanding academic work in psychiatry. As a medical student she was the co-leader and coordinator for the Mental Health Clinic in Boseman, MT. This student-run volunteer clinic provides psychiatric care for patients unable to afford mental health services. She also was a co-lead for the Psychiatric Interest Group and has extensive involvement in substance use disorder research including a four-year long NIH funded Medical Student Addictions Research program.