Claire E. Sterk, PhD

Research Program

Cancer Prevention and Control
Email Address

ces@emory.edu

Biography

Claire E. Sterk, PhD, is an internationally renowned public health scholar, recognized for spurring paradigm shifts in public health, with a focus on women's health, mental health, and substance abuse. As the Charles Howard Candler Professor in Public Health, she is actively engaged with the doctoral program in the Department of Behavioral, Social and Health Education Sciences at the Rollins School of Public Health. Dr. Sterk is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute.

Dr. Sterk served as Emory University's 20th President (2016-2020) and 6th Provost (2012-2016). Additionally, she served as Senior Vice Provost (2005-2012). She has been on the faculty of the Rollins School of Public Health since 1995, where she also served as inaugural associate dean for research (2004-2005) and chair of the Department of Behavioral Science and Health (2000-2005). She has served on 37 dissertation committees and chaired more than 50 master’s theses, while serving as a committee member on an additional 25+ thesis committees.

Education

Dr. Sterk earned her PhD from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She earned a graduate degree from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands and an undergraduate degree from the Free University in Amsterdam.

Titles & Roles

President Emerita

Emory University
Charles Howard Candler Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences

Rollins School of Public Health

Professional Memberships

Among her professional recognitions are the election to the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow). She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Affairs.

Research

Publications

Title/Journal	Authors	Publication Date
Improving Access to HIV Prevention Services in Community Pharmacies in the US Southeast: Protocol for a Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation Study. JMIR research protocols	DI Alohan, A Hudson, C Hamilton, C Chandra, S Zissette, R Rothman, SA Hussen, A Quamina, RH Lyles, JM Sales, CE Sterk, HN Young, ND Crawford	12/03/2025
"There are only so many fires you can put out": nonprofit structural constraints on service delivery for pregnant and postpartum women who use drugs in Appalachian North Georgia. Harm reduction journal	AL Mullany, HLF Cooper, R Bonilla, M Fadanelli, K Freeman, J Hill-Rucker, S Rushing, C Sterk	11/18/2025
Charting a path forward toward integrating macrolevel phenomena, marginalization, and health equity principles in into dissemination and implementation science Social Science & Medicine	HL Cooper, K Hall, C Escoffery, MD Livingston, J Sales, A Mullaney, W Rice, U Ibragimov, M Kegler, C Sterk, C Ford, L Bowleg	07/01/2025
Adverse Childhood Experiences increase the lifetime experience of violence poly-victimization among female sex worker in Hai Phong, Vietnam Journal of Health Sciences	HT Giang, PM Khue, CE Sterk, DP Evans, SS Miedema, KM Yount	04/22/2025
Prevalence of violence victimisation and poly-victimisation among female sex workers in Haiphong, Viet Nam: A cross-sectional study Global Public Health	TG Hoang, MK Pham, CE Sterk, DP Evans, SS Miedema, KM Yount	01/31/2024
Living with Symptoms: A Qualitative Study of Black Adults with Advanced Cancer Living in Poverty Pain Management Nursing	KA Yeager, TE Quest, C Vena, CE Sterk	12/14/2017
The Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Alcohol-Related Problems in a Community Sample of African American Women Journal of Addiction	H Klein, CE Sterk, KW Elifson	01/01/2016
Sex Partner Type, Drug Use and Condom Use Self-Efficacy Among African Americans from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods: Are Associations with Consistent Condom Use Moderated by Gender? The Journal of Sex Research	EJ Nehl, K Elifson, L DePadilla, C Sterk	11/18/2015
A dyadic model of living with epilepsy based on the perspectives of adults with epilepsy and their support persons Epilepsy & Behavior	ER Walker, C Barmon, RE McGee, G Engelhard, CE Sterk, C DiIorio, NJ Thompson	10/25/2015
Exploring gender norms, agency and intimate partner violence among displaced Colombian women: A qualitative assessment Global Public Health	ME Hynes, CE Sterk, M Hennink, S Patel, L DePadilla, KM Yount	08/13/2015
Prediction of HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Disadvantaged African American Adults Using a Syndemic Conceptual Framework AIDS and Behavior	EJ Nehl, H Klein, CE Sterk, KW Elifson	07/18/2015
Managing One’s Symptoms Cancer Nursing	KA Yeager, CE Sterk, TE Quest, C DiIorio, C Vena, S Bauer-Wu	06/20/2015
Who Do Smokers Feel Ought to Be Responsible for Informing People about the Dangers Associated with Smoking and Regulating Smoking Behaviors? PubMed	CE Sterk, H Klein, KW Elifson	01/01/2015
Perspectives of Adults With Epilepsy and Their Support Persons on Self-Management Support Qualitative Health Research	ER Walker, C Barmon, RE McGee, G Engelhard, CE Sterk, C DiIorio, NJ Thompson	09/05/2014
Risk factors for unplanned and unwanted teenage pregnancies occurring over two years of follow-up among a cohort of young South African women Global Health Action	NJ Christofides, RK Jewkes, KL Dunkle, F McCarty, N Jama Shai, M Nduna, C Sterk	08/21/2014
Will HIV Vaccination Reshape HIV Risk Behavior Networks? A Social Network Analysis of Drug Users' Anticipated Risk Compensation PLoS ONE	AM Young, DS Halgin, RJ DiClemente, CE Sterk, JR Havens	07/03/2014
Smoke and mirrors: the perceived benefits of continued tobacco use among current smokers Health psychology research	H Klein, CE Sterk, KW Elifson	04/26/2014
A mixed methods analysis of support for self-management behaviors: Perspectives of people with epilepsy and their support providers Epilepsy & Behavior	ER Walker, G Engelhard, C Barmon, RE McGee, CE Sterk, C Diiorio, NJ Thompson	01/08/2014
Early adolescent pregnancy increases risk of incident HIV infection in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: a longitudinal study Journal of the International AIDS Society	NJ Christofides, RK Jewkes, KL Dunkle, M Nduna, NJ Shai, C Sterk	01/01/2014
Neighbourhood structural characteristics and crack cocaine use: Exploring the impact of perceived neighbourhood disorder on use among African Americans International Journal of Drug Policy	CE Sterk, KW Elifson, L DePadilla	12/17/2013
Initial Smoking Experiences and Current Smoking Behaviors and Perceptions among Current Smokers Journal of Addiction	H Klein, CE Sterk, KW Elifson	01/01/2013
Excessive Drinking Among African American Men: Individual and Contextual Correlates Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse	F McCarty, L DePadilla, K Elifson, C Sterk	04/01/2012
Adult Criminal Involvement: A Cross-Sectional Inquiry Into Correlates and Mechanisms Over the Life Course Criminal Justice Review	L Depadilla, MM Perkins, KW Elifson, CE Sterk	01/05/2012
Beyond Sexual Partnerships: The Lack of Condom Use during Vaginal Sex with Steady Partners. PubMed	L Depadilla, KW Elifson, CE Sterk	01/01/2012
A Qualitative Study Examining the Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Medical Healthcare Services among Women with a Serious Mental Illness Women s Health Issues	CP Borba, L DePadilla, FA McCarty, SA von Esenwein, BG Druss, CE Sterk	12/15/2011
The Relationship between Sexual Coping and the Frequency of Sexual Risk among 'At Risk' African American Women. PubMed	CE Sterk, H Klein, KW Elifson	12/01/2011
A Day in the Life of Women With a Serious Mental Illness: A Qualitative Investigation Women s Health Issues	CP Borba, L Depadilla, BG Druss, FA McCarty, SA von Esenwein, CE Sterk	02/19/2011
Self-Esteent and HIV Risk Practices Among Young Adult Ecstasy Users Journal of Psychoactive Drugs	H Klein, KW Elifson, CE Sterk	12/01/2010
Predictors of Unsafe Sex among At-Risk Heterosexual Women. PubMed	KW Elifson, H Klein, CE Sterk	12/01/2010
Factors associated with condom use among young adult ecstasy users International Journal of Public Health	KW Elifson, H Klein, CE Sterk	06/01/2010
Development and Evaluation of a Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Survey in African-Americans with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine	A Owen-Smith, C Sterk, F McCarty, D Hankerson-Dyson, R Diclemente	05/01/2010
DRUG RISK: A CROSS-SECTIONAL EXPLORATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF FAMILY-OF-ORIGIN AND CURRENT SITUATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. Journal of drug issues	M Perkins, KW Elifson, CE Sterk	04/01/2010
Young Adult Ecstasy Users Who Forego Necessary Medical Care: A Fairly Common Occurrence with Important Health Implications Journal of Psychoactive Drugs	KW Elifson, H Klein, CE Sterk	03/01/2010
The challenges of managing vestibular disorders: a qualitative study of clinicians’ experiences associated with low referral rates for vestibular rehabilitation International Journal of Clinical Practice	SH Polensek, RJ Tusa, CE Sterk	10/09/2009
Young Adult Ecstasy Users' Enhancement of the Effects of Their Ecstasy Use Journal of Psychoactive Drugs	H Klein, KW Elifson, CE Sterk	06/01/2009
The Cultural and Community-Level Acceptance of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Among Traditional Healers in Eastern Cape, South Africa Journal of Community Health	JM Shuster, CE Sterk, PM Frew, C del Rio	10/15/2008
Depression and HIV Risk Behavior Practices Among “At Risk” Women Women & Health	H Klein, KW Elifson, CE Sterk	10/10/2008
Reconceptualizing Early and Late Onset: A Life Course Analysis of Older Heroin Users The Gerontologist	MW Boeri, CE Sterk, KW Elifson	10/01/2008
Young Adult Ecstasy Users and Multiple Sexual Partners: Understanding the Factors Underlying this HIV Risk Practice Journal of Psychoactive Drugs	CE Sterk, H Klein, KW Elifson	09/01/2008
Screening for vestibular disorders: a study of clinicians' compliance with recommended practices. PubMed	SH Polensek, CE Sterk, RJ Tusa	05/01/2008
Understanding recreational ecstasy use in the United States: A qualitative inquiry International Journal of Drug Policy	M Bahora, CE Sterk, KW Elifson	02/22/2008
Individual Action and Community Context American Journal of Preventive Medicine	CE Sterk, KW Elifson, KP Theall	06/01/2007
Getting Into Ecstasy: Comparing Moderate and Heavy Young Adult Users Journal of Psychoactive Drugs	CE Sterk, KP Theall, KW Elifson	06/01/2007
The Impact of Emotional Distress on HIV Risk Reduction Among Women Substance Use & Misuse	CE Sterk, KP Theall, KW Elifson	01/01/2006
African American Female Drug Users and HIV Risk Reduction Challenges with Criminal Involvement Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved	CE Sterk, K Theall, KW Elifson	11/01/2005
Self-Esteem and “At Risk” Women: Determinants and Relevance to Sexual and HIV-Related Risk Behaviors Women & Health	CE Sterk, H Klein, KW Elifson	04/19/2005
Predictors of condom-related attitudes among at-risk women. Journal of women's health (2002)	CE Sterk, H Klein, KW Elifson	01/01/2004
Who’s getting the message? intervention response rates among women who inject drugs and/or smoke crack cocaine Preventive Medicine	CE Sterk, KP Theall, KW Elifson	06/02/2003
Perceived Condom Use Self-Efficacy Among At-Risk Women AIDS and Behavior	CE Sterk, H Klein, KW Elifson	06/01/2003
HIV Risk Reduction Among African-American Women Who Inject Drugs: A Randomized Controlled Trial AIDS and Behavior	CE Sterk, KP Theall, KW Elifson, D Kidder	03/01/2003
Effectiveness of a Risk Reduction Intervention Among African American Women Who Use Crack Cocaine AIDS Education and Prevention	CE Sterk, KP Theall, KW Elifson	02/01/2003
Health Care Utilization Among Drug-Using and Non-Drug-Using Women Journal of Heredity	CE Sterk, KP Theall, KW Elifson	12/01/2002
The Health Intervention Project: HIV risk reduction among African American women drug users. PubMed	CE Sterk	01/01/2002