Alexandra Hernandez, PhD, MPH

Biography

Dr. Alexandra Hernandez is an assistant professor in the Global Health Track of the Public Health Program at Touro University California. Her research focuses on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-associated diseases, cervical cancer screening, HIV and aging, and global health . Dr. Hernandez is a lead investigator on a number of projects including studies of prevalent and incident HPV infection among men living with HIV in India, a study of aging, HPV, and cancer pre-cursers in San Francisco, and a study of cervical cancer screening in Ethiopia. She also worked on a variety of projects with topics including determining risk factors for HIV/AIDS acquisition, prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infection, osteoarthritis, diabetes, urinary incontinence, and women’s health. Dr. Hernandez holds a BA in Integrative Biology and Physical Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), an MPH from UCB with an emphasis in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and a doctorate in Epidemiology, also from UCB. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family which includes two very lively children. She also loves cooking, yoga, a reading a good book.

Education

• BA - Integrative Biology and Anthropology - University of California, Berkeley
• MPH - Epidemiology and Biostatistics - University of California, Berkeley
• PHD - Epidemiology - University of California, Berkeley

Research

Human papillomavirus HPV), HPV-associated cancers, cervical cancer screening, aging and HIV, aging and HPV-associated cancers

Recent Publications

Wei F, Gaisa MM, D'Souza G, Xia N, Giuliano AR, Hawes SE, Gao L, Cheng SH, Donà MG, Goldstone SE, Schim van der Loeff MF, Neukam K, Meites E, Poynten IM, Dai J, Combes JD, Wieland U, Burgos J, Wilkin TJ, Hernandez AL, et al.. Epidemiology of anal human papillomavirus infection and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in 29 900 men according to HIV status, sexuality, and age: a collaborative pooled analysis of 64 studies.     Lancet HIV. (2021) Jul 30:S2352-3018(21)00108-9.. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34339628.

Hernandez AL, Karthik R, Sivasubramanian M, Raghavendran A, Lensing S, Lee JY, Abraham P, Mathai D, Palefsky JM. Prevalence of oral human papillomavirus infection among Indian HIV-positive men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis. (2021) Jul 12;21(1):675. PMID: 34247583; PMCID: PMC8274002.

Sadetsky N, Hernandez A, Wallick CJ, McKenna EF, Surinach A, Colburn DE. Survival outcomes in an older US population with advanced melanoma and central nervous system metastases: SEER-Medicare analysis. Cancer Med. (2020) Jul 15 ;9(17):6216–24. PMID: 32667719; PMCID: PMC7476818.

Hernandez AL, Green M, Kelly N, Strouse C, Mackie T, Cummings G, Lingas EO. Developing a Health Equity and Criminal Justice Concentration for a Master of Public Health (MPH) Program: Results From a Needs Assessment Among Community Partners and Potential Employers. Front Public Health. (2019) Jul 25;7:200. PMID: 31403038; PMCID: PMC6669884

Raghavendran A, Hernandez AL,  Lensing S, Abraham P, Gnanamony, M , Karthik R, Sivasubramanian M, Kannangai K, Abraham P, Mathai D, Palefsky JM. Genital human papillomavirus infection in Indian HIV-seropositive men who have sex with men. Submitted to J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr December (2015).

Hernandez AL, Karthik R, Sivasubramanian M, Raghavendran A, Gnanamony M, Lensing S, Lee J, Kannagai R, Abraham P,  Mathai D, Palefsky J. Prevalence of anal HPV infection among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in India. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. (2015) Sep 14. 

Hernandez AL, Efird JT, Holly EA, Berry JM, Jay N, Palefsky JM. Incidence of and Risk Factors for Type-Specific Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection among HIV-positive Men who have Sex with Men. AIDS. June 1; 28(9):1341-9 (2014)

Hernandez AL, Efird JT, Holly EA, Berry JM, Jay N, Palefsky JM. Risk factors for anal human papillomavirus infection type 16 among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in San Francisco. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. Aug 1;63(4):532-9 (2013) 

Markland AD, Richter HE, Burgio KL, Myers DL, Hernandez AL, Subak LL. Weight loss improves fecal incontinence severity in overweight and obese women with urinary incontinence. Int Urogynecol J. Sep;22(9):1151-7 (2011)

Huang AJ, Subak LL, Wing R, West DS, Hernandez AL, Macer J, Grady D; Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise Investigators. An intensive behavioral weight loss intervention and hot flushes in women. Arch Intern Med. 2010 Jul 12;170(13):1161-7. (2010)

Huang AJ, Stewart AL, Hernandez AL, Shen H, Subak LL; Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise.  Sexual function among overweight and obese women with urinary incontinence in a randomized controlled trial of an intensive behavioral weight loss intervention. Journal of Urology. May;181(5):2235-42 (2009)

Sung VW, West DS, Hernandez AL, Wheeler TL 2nd, Myers DL, Subak LL; Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise. Associations between urinary incontinence and depressive symptoms in overweight and obese women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. May;200(5):557.e1-5. (2009)

Markland AD, Richter HE, Burgio KL, Bragg C, Hernandez AL, Subak LL.  Fecal incontinence in obese women with urinary incontinence: prevalence and role of dietary fiber intake.  Am J Obstet Gynecol May;200(5):566.e1-6. (2009)

Viskovic K, Richman I, Klasnic K, Hernandez A, Krolo I, Rutherford GW, Romih V, Begovac J.
Assessment of ultrasound for use in detecting lipoatrophy in HIV-infected patients taking combination antiretroviral therapy. AIDS Patient Care STDS. Feb;23(2):79-84. (2009)

Mojtahedzadeh V, Razani N, Malekinejad M, Vazirian M, Shoaee S, Saberi Zafarghandi MB, Hernandez AL, Mandel JS.  Injection drug use in rural Iran: Integrating HIV prevention into Iran’s rural primary health care system. AIDS and Behavior 12:S7-S12 (2008)
Hernandez AL, Lindan CP, Mathur M, Ekstrand M, Madhivanan P, Stein ES, et al. Sexual behavior among men who have sex with women, men, and Hijras in Mumbai, India--multiple sexual risks. AIDS and Behavior;10(4 Suppl):S5-16 (2006)

Madhivanan P, Hernandez A, Gogate A, Stein E, Gregorich S, Setia M, et al. Alcohol use by men is a risk factor for the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus from female sex workers in Mumbai, India. Sexually Transmitted Diseases;32(11):685-90 (2005)

Von Behren J, Kreutzer R, Hernandez A. Self-reported asthma prevalence in adults in California. Journal of Asthma.39.5 (2002)

Chung JS, Kalman DA, Moore LE, Kosnett MJ, Arroyo AP, Beeris M, Mazumder DN Hernandez AL, Smith AH. Family correlations of arsenic methylation patterns in children and parents exposed to high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water. Environmental Health Perspectives.110.7 (2002)

Smith AH, Arroyo AP, Mazumder DG, Kosnett M, Hernandez AL, Beeres M, Moore L. Centuries of exposure and good nutrition do not protect Atacameños in northern Chile from arsenic in drinking water. Environmental Health Perspectives.108.7 (2000).

Teaching Responsibilities

Epidemiology Emerging Health Threats