Epidemiologist & Global Public Health Consultant
leah@schrubbeconsulting.com · linkedin.com/in/leah-schrubbe
Core Competencies
Data analysis | Evidence synthesis | Qualitative research methods | Epidemiologic research | Quantitative research methods | Mixed-methods research | Team leadership | Study design | Technical writing | Program implementation | Project management | Global health program evaluation
Key Achievements
- Led WHO-commissioned systematic review and meta-analysis covering 180 studies, informing global health policy across 102 countries
- Built and led research teams of up to 37 people across 6 countries while ensuring successful implementation for multimillion-dollar research studies
- Analyzed 132 complex population-based datasets across 68 countries and 120 in-depth interviews across 4 countries to generate evidence informing global health policy and practice
Professional Experience
LEAH SCHRUBBE CONSULTING, LLC – Global (Remote)
- Lead quantitative and qualitative data analysis of global health datasets and perform targeted literature reviews and evidence synthesis supporting epidemiological research
- Generate deliverables for international clients, including reference libraries, large databases, and manuscripts, while ensuring rigorous methods, high-quality results, and timely completion
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) – Geneva, Switzerland (Remote)
Consultant
- Produce WHO-commissioned systematic review and meta-analysis covering 180 studies to generate global IPV prevalence estimates, informing international health policy across 102 countries
- Expand WHO database on intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence to include 15 pregnancy-related violence indicators, advancing global research with a centralized data source
THE LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE & TROPICAL MEDICINE – Kisumu and Migori, Kenya (Remote)
- Led study design, implementation and data collection, data analysis, and dissemination for a qualitative study examining intimate partner violence and vertical HIV transmission in rural Kenya
- Built and managed a team of local researchers to collect and code data while supporting capacity building and collaborating with 4 international university and local partners
- Delivered 2 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 2 international conference presentations (AIDS 2024, SVRI 2026)
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL – Chapel Hill, NC
Research Assistant
- Led development of coding framework and data analysis for 20 in-depth interviews from a qualitative study addressing intimate partner violence, mental health, and HIV in antenatal care in South Africa
- Disseminated findings through accepted abstract at academic conference (NNVAWI 2022), resulting in a conference award
RTI INTERNATIONAL – Research Triangle Park, NC
- Supported systematic literature reviews and evidence synthesis for women’s health projects, contributing client deliverables and peer-reviewed manuscripts
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL (UNC) – Chapel Hill, NC
Project Manager
- Led clinical and epidemiological HIV research through management of the UNC CFAR Clinical Core and clinical cohort datasets with data for over 6,000 patients and 90,000 person-years of observation
- Conducted quality control and abstraction of clinical HIV-related data from electronic health records for epidemiological research datasets, and coordinated data submissions to collaborating researchers
- Built and led a 10-person research team, overseeing recruitment, training, and performance
- Managed grant budgets, including faculty/staff effort allocation across multiple awards, to ensure alignment between personnel effort, budget, and project needs
- Supported annual reporting and NIH competitive renewal, resulting in continued CFAR grant funding
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL – Chapel Hill, NC
Research Project Manager
- Led implementation of 3 research projects in Zambia, Malawi, and South Africa totaling $8.4 million, focused on HIV prevention during pregnancy, HIV testing for infants, and women’s reproductive health
- Managed a multi-country qualitative study and conducted qualitative data analysis of 47 in-depth interviews, resulting in a co-authored published peer-reviewed manuscript
- Oversaw in-country field activities and clinical trial operations including data collection, data management, study timelines, inventory management, and budget monitoring across 6 clinic sites
- Supported grant proposal development for competitive funding applications
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO (UCSF) – Katima Mulilo, Namibia
Study Coordinator
- Directed operations and field implementation of a 5,000-participant cross-sectional household-based survey to evaluate regional malaria prevalence and performance of a new rapid diagnostic test
- Built, trained, and led a 37-person local research team to conduct an intervention evaluation across 56 enumeration areas that informed WHO global malaria policy guidance
- Developed extensive training materials, SOPs, and protocols to support capacity-building for local staff and strengthen field implementation
- Collaborated with 8 global university, NGO, and government partners, including the Ministry of Health, to support achievement of study aims and co-author multiple published manuscripts
- Provided cross-cultural operational leadership to ensure protocol adherence and data quality across 10 field teams, laboratory staff, data managers, and assistant coordinators
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL – Chapel Hill, NC
Research Project Manager
- Led implementation of 2 multi-site clinical trials examining patient-centered behavioral interventions
- Oversaw recruitment, training, and supervision of research staff conducting clinic-based data collection with 600 participants, ensuring achievement of study timelines
- Authored peer-reviewed manuscripts, managed communication with stakeholders, and produced study reports to disseminate research findings
- Managed study budgets totaling over $3.5 million, supported grant development, and established protocols to produce high-quality data
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL – Chapel Hill, NC
Clinical Research Coordinator
- Oversaw implementation of 6 NIH-funded randomized controlled trials examining interventions for women’s reproductive and mental health among over 600 participants
- Led operations and implementation across concurrent clinical trials, managing participant recruitment, complex longitudinal data collection, dispensing of study drugs, and regulatory compliance
- Developed study materials and quality assurance protocols to ensure high-quality data collection
- Led recruitment, training, and supervision of a 15-person research team supporting laboratory-based and clinical research activities
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL – Chapel Hill, NC
Clinical Research Assistant
- Conducted interview-based data collection with study participants for an NIH-funded epidemiological longitudinal study on the natural history of ADHD in a population-based sample
Education
PhD, Epidemiology and Population Health
Dissertation: “Prevention of vertical transmission of HIV among pregnant and breastfeeding women in sub-Saharan Africa: the impact of violence against women” supervised by Heidi Stöckl, PhD, Clara Calvert, PhD, and Abigail Hatcher, PhD
MSc, Reproductive & Sexual Health Research
Thesis: “Burden of and risk factors for poor health during the postpartum period in a cohort of HIV-infected women in Malawi: a cross-sectional analysis” supervised by Clara Calvert, PhD and Megan Landes, MD
BA, Psychology, with Highest Distinction
GPA 3.85, Dean’s List: All eligible semesters
Publications
- Schrubbe L, Kimbo L, Makokha C, Odhiambo G, Helova A, Kwena Z, Darbes L, Okombo M, Owengah E, Calvert C, Stöckl H, Bukusi EA, Turan JM, Hatcher AM. Perinatal women’s experiences of reproductive violence: qualitative findings from southwestern Kenya. PLOS Glob Public Health. In submission.
- Schrubbe, L, Makokha, C, Kimbo, L, Helova, A, Kwena, Z, Darbes, L, Okombo, M, Owengah, E, Calvert, C, Stöckl, H, Bukusi, E, Turan, J, Hatcher, A. Pathways between intimate partner violence and HIV care and treatment during pregnancy and postpartum: a qualitative study in southwestern Kenya. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025;5(9):e0004163. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0004163.
- Schrubbe, L, Woollett, N, van Eck, L, Stöckl, H, Calvert, C, Hatcher, A. Perinatal HIV treatment in the context of financial and psychological intimate partner violence in urban South Africa. Psychology of Violence. 2025 Mar 20. Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/vio0000592.
- Schrubbe, L, García-Moreno, C, Sardinha, L, Stöckl, H. Intimate partner violence against women during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol for producing global and regional estimates. Syst Rev. 2023 Jun 30;12:107. doi:10.1186/s13643-023-02232-2.
- Schrubbe, L, Stöckl, H, Hatcher, A, Calvert, C. Sexual violence and antiretroviral adherence among women of reproductive age in African population-based surveys: the moderating role of the perinatal phase. J Int AIDS Soc. 2023 Jun 12;26(6):e26129. doi:10.1002/jia2.26129.
- Schrubbe, L, Stöckl, H, Hatcher, A, Marston, M, Kuchukhidze, S, Calvert, C. Prevalence and risk factors of unsuppressed viral load among pregnant and breastfeeding women in sub-Saharan Africa: analysis from population-based surveys. AIDS. 2023 Mar 15;37(4):659-669. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000003459.
- Kuchukhidze, S, Panagiotoglou, D, Boily, MC, Diabaté, S, Eaton, JW, Mbofana, F, Sardinha, L, Schrubbe, L, Stöckl, H, Wanyenze, RK, Maheu-Giroux, M. The effects of intimate partner violence on women’s risk of HIV acquisition and engagement in the HIV treatment and care cascade: a pooled analysis of nationally representative surveys in sub-Saharan Africa. Lancet HIV. 2023;10(2):e107-e117. doi:10.1016/S2352-3018(22)00305-8.
- 24th Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International (NNVAWI) Conference Proceedings June 21 – 23, 2022. J Adv Nurs. 2022 Jun;78 Suppl 1:9-72. doi:10.1111/jan.15313.
- Ntuku, H, Smith-Gueye, C, Scott, V, Njau, J, Whittemore, B, Zelman, B, Tambo, M, Prach LM, Wu, L, Schrubbe, L, Dufour, MSK, Mwilima, A, Uusiku, P, Sturrock, H, Bennett, A, Smith, J, Kleinschmidt, I, Mumbengegwi, D, Gosling, R, Hsiang, M. Cost and cost effectiveness of reactive case detection (RACD), reactive focal mass drug administration (rfMDA) and reactive focal vector control (RAVC) to reduce malaria in the low endemic setting of Namibia: an analysis alongside a 2×2 factorial design cluster randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e049050. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2021-049050.
- Wu, L, Hsiang, MS, Prach, LM, Schrubbe, L, Ntuku, H, Dufour, MSK, Whittemore, B, Scott, V, Yala, J, Roberts, KW, Patterson, C, Biggs, J, Hall, T, Tetteh, KKA, Smith-Gueye, C, Greenhouse, B, Bennett, A, Smith, JL, Katokele, S, Uusiku, P, Mumbengegwi, D, Gosling, R, Drakeley, C, Kleinschmidt, I. Serological evaluation of the effectiveness of reactive focal mass drug administration and reactive vector control to reduce malaria transmission in Zambezi Region, Namibia: Results from a secondary analysis of a cluster randomized trial. eClinicalMedicine. 2022 Feb;44: 101272. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101272.
- Hsiang, MS, Ntuku, H, Roberts, KW, Dufour, MSK, Whittemore, B, Tambo, M, McCreesh, P, Medzihradsky, OF, Prach, LM, Siloka, G, Siame, N, Smith-Gueye, C, Schrubbe, L, Wu, L, Scott, V, Tessema, S, Greenhouse, B, Erlank, E, Koekemoer, LL, Sturrock, H, Mwilima, A, Katokele, S, Uusiku, P, Bennett, A, Smith, J, Kleinschmidt, I, Mumbengegwi, D, Gosling, R. Effectiveness of reactive focal mass drug administration and reactive focal vector control to reduce malaria transmission in the low malaria-endemic setting of Namibia: a cluster-randomised controlled, open-label, two-by-two factorial design trial. Lancet. 2020;395(10233):1361-1373. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30470-0.
- Zimba, C, Maman, S, Rosenberg, N, Mutale, W, Mweemba, O, Dunda, W, Phanga, T, Chibwe, K, Matenga, T, Freeborn, K, Schrubbe, L, Vwalika, B, Chi, B. The Landscape for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Malawi and Zambia: A Qualitative Study. PLoS One. 2019 Oct 4;14(10). e0223487. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0223487.
- Schrubbe, L, Ravyts, S, Benas, B, et al. Pain Coping Skills Training for African Americans with Osteoarthritis (STAART): Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016 Aug 23;17(359). doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1217-2.
- Gordon, J, Eisenlohr-Moul, T, Rubinow, D, Schrubbe, L, Girdler, S. Naturally Occurring Changes in Estradiol Concentrations in the Menopause Transition Predict Morning Cortisol and Negative Mood in Perimenopausal Depression. Clin Psychol Sci. 2016 Sep 25;4(5):919-935. doi:10.1177/2167702616647924.
Presentations
- Schrubbe, L, Kimbo, L, Makokha, C, Odhiambo, G, Helova, A, Kwena, Z, Darbes, L, Okombo, M, Owengah, E, Calvert, C, Stöckl, H, Bukusi, EA, Turan, JM, Hatcher, AM. Perinatal women’s experiences of reproductive violence: qualitative findings from southwestern Kenya. Four-minute presentation at 2026 SVRI Forum. Bangkok, Thailand.
- Schrubbe, L. Prevention of vertical transmission of HIV among pregnant and breastfeeding women in sub-Saharan Africa: the impact of violence against women. Keynote speaker at Global Research Meeting, Gender Violence Research and Collaboration Network (GVR-CN). 2024.
- Schrubbe, L, Makokha, C, Kimbo, L, Helova, A, Kwena, Z, Darbes, L, Okombo, M, Owengah, E, Calvert, C, Stöckl, H, Bukusi, EA, Turan, JM, Hatcher, AM. Intimate partner violence and vertical transmission of HIV during pregnancy and postpartum: a qualitative study in southwestern Kenya. Poster presentation at 2024 International AIDS Conference. Munich, Germany.
- Schrubbe, L, Stöckl, H, Hatcher, AM, Calvert, C. Sexual violence, antiretroviral adherence, and viral suppression among reproductive age women in African population-based surveys. Poster presentation at 2024 International AIDS Conference. Munich, Germany.
- Kuchukhidze, S, Panagiotoglou, D, Boily, MC, Diabaté, S, Eaton, J, Mbofana, F, Sardinha, L, Schrubbe, L, Stoeckl, H, Wanyenze, R, Maheu-Giroux, M. Impact of intimate partner violence on women’s risk of HIV acquisition and engagement in HIV care cascade in sub-Saharan Africa: a meta-analysis of population-based surveys. Oral abstract presentation at 2022 International AIDS Conference. Montreal, Canada.
- Schrubbe, L, Woollett, N, van Eck, L, Hatcher, AM. HIV treatment in the context of intimate partner violence: Perinatal women navigating partner control depression, and financial dependency in South Africa. Podium presentation at 2022 Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International (NNVAWI) Conference. Durham, North Carolina.
- Schrubbe, L. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among pregnant and postpartum women in sub-Saharan Africa: the impact of violence against women. Presented PhD work at 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: PhD and MSc project showcase, Gender Violence & Health Centre, LSHTM. 2021.
- Whittemore, B, Prach, LM, Schrubbe, L, Tambo, M, Tessema, S, Das, S, Wu, L, Dufour, MSK, Ntuku, H, Smith-Gueye, C, Golden, A, Jang, IK, Usiku, P, Katokele, S, Domingo, G, Gosling, R, Greenhouse, B, Mumbengegwi, D, Hsiang, MS. Performance evaluation of an ultra-sensitive rapid diagnostic test for Plasmodium falciparum malaria active case detection in the low transmission setting of Zambezi region, Namibia. Poster presentation at 2018 American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Conference. New Orleans, Louisiana.
Awards
AIDS Conference Scholarship, International AIDS Society | 2024
Competitive international scholarship supporting participation in the world’s leading HIV conference
Epidemiology and Population Health Travelling Scholarship, LSHTM | 2022
Awarded competitive scholarship supporting research fieldwork
Dr. Doris Campbell Memorial Student Travel Award, Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International (NNVAWI) Conference | 2022
Competitive conference award recognizing high-quality accepted abstract
International Student Leader of the Year Award, Golden Key International Honour Society | 2008
Honored as the premier student leader in the world’s largest collegiate honor society
Regional Student Leader of the Year Award, Golden Key International Honour Society | 2008
Selected as the top student leader in the southeast US for outstanding leadership and service
Skills
Analytical & Research Methods: Quantitative data analysis; qualitative data analysis; systematic review and meta-analysis; evidence synthesis; epidemiologic study design; mixed-methods research; population-based survey analysis
Software & Data Tools: R; Stata; Dedoose; NVivo; QGIS; REDCap; Qualtrics; ODK Collect; ODK Aggregate; EndNote; Mendeley; Rayyan; Microsoft Office Suite; Microsoft Visio; Jira (Atlassian)
Field & Clinical Research Methods: Electronic data collection (CATI, CAPI, ACASI); phlebotomy; psychiatric interviewing (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM); rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) for infectious diseases
Research Certifications & Training: HIPAA; research ethics and ICH good clinical practice; laboratory safety; NIH Regional Seminar on Program Funding and Grants Administration; Duke CFAR Quantitative Methods for HIV Researchers workshop series