Beth S. Linas, PHD, MHS
Epidemiology, Infectious Disease, Substance Use Disorder, Digital Health, Science Communication
About
I am an infectious disease epidemiologist whose research interests include the use of evidence based methods for reducing rates of fatal overdose as well as improving the development, and use of digital health technologies to understand social determinants of health. I am deeply passionate about the use of data to inform public health policy, and am an active science communicator working to help scientists communicate their science. You can follow me on twitter: @bethlinas
I completed my post doctoral training and graduate degrees (Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD), Masters of Health Science (MHS)) in Infectious Disease Epidemiology at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health . As an undergraduate at Brandeis University (BS, BA) I studied Science Policy and Biochemistry.
Currently, I serve as a Research Epidemiologist at RTI International, where I help lead applied public health research that aims to improve health outcomes and quality of life among marginalized, underserved, or understudied communities impacted by substance use disorder. Previously, I was a Lead Public Health Specialist with MITRE, and served as the Manager of Research and Science at the health technology company selected by the National Institutes of Health to lead the Participant Technology Systems Center for the All of Us Research Program. From 2015-2017, I served as a Science and Technology Policy fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), where I supported computer science and engineering researchers to improve health with the Smart and Connected Health Program at the National Science Foundation.
While a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, I developed a passion for science communication and created, produced, and oversaw all production of the Sci on the Fly Podcast whose goal is the promotion of a public dialogue around science and science policy for the public by scientists.
Science Communication
#Scicomm
Research
My research and policy expertise include the use of real-time data to address social determinants of health and improve health outcomes among marginalized, underserved, and understudied communities impacted by substance use disorder and infectious diseases. I have examined risk factors relating to drug use among chronic drug users and sexual risk taking behaviors among men who have sex with men. In addition to my own research, I consult on studies interested in using digital health methods for data collection and analysis in a variety of populations. As an Epidemiologist, I am experienced in the development, design, implementation, and analytic methods of social behavioral research and have worked with feasibility, behavioral, and surveillance data, as well as with large cohort studies.
For a full list of publications: Google Scholar
Select Peer Review Publications
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Haber, N. A., Clarke-Deelder, E., Feller, A., Smith, E. R., Salomon, J. A., MacCormack-Gelles, B., Stone, E. M., Bolster-Foucault, C., Daw, J. R., Hatfield, L. A., Fry, C. E., Boyer, C. B., Ben-Michael, E., Joyce, C. M., Linas, B. S., ... Stuart, E. A. (2022). Problems with evidence assessment in COVID-19 health policy impact evaluation: A systematic review of study design and evidence strength. BMJ Open, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053820.
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Linas BS, Genz A, Westergaard RP, et al. Ecological Momentary Assessment of Illicit Drug Use Compared to Biological and Self-Reported Methods. Journal for Medical Internet Research mHealth and uHealth. 2016; 4(1):e27, doi:10.2196/mhealth.4470
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Linas BS, Latkin C, Westergaard RP, et al. Capturing illicit drug use where and when it happens: an ecological momentary assessment of the social, physical and activity environment of using versus craving illicit drugs. Addiction. 2015; 110: 315–325. doi: 10.1111/add.12768.
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Linas BS, Latkin C, Genz A, et al. Utilizing mHealth Methods to Identify Patterns of High Risk Illicit Drug Use. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2015; 151, 250-7, doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.03.031
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Yang C, Linas BS, Kirk GD, et al. Feasibility and acceptability of ecological momentary assessment of alcohol use among African American men who have sex with men in Baltimore. The Journal for Medical Internet Research mHealth and uHealth. 2015; 3(2), e67. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.4344
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Genz A, Kirk GD, Piggott D, Mehta S, Linas BS, Westergaard, RP. Uptake and Acceptability of Information and Communication Technology in a Community-Based Cohort of People Who Inject Drugs: Implications for Mobile Health interventions. The Journal for Medical Internet Research mHealth and uHealth 2015; 3(2): e70. doi: 10.2196/mHealth3437
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Kirk GD, Linas BS, Westergaard RP, et al. The Exposure Assessment in Current Time (EXACT) Study: Implementation, Feasibility and Acceptability of Real-Time Data Collection in a Community Cohort of Illicit Drug Users. AIDS Research and Treatment, 2013 Article ID 594671, 10 pages. doi: 10.1155/2013/594671
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Davey-Rothwell M, Linas BS, Latkin C. Sources of personal income and HIV risk among sexually active women. AIDS Education and Prevention, 2012 24(5): 422–430. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2012.24.5.422
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Linas BS, Minkoff H, Cohen MH, et al. Relative time to pregnancy among HIV-infected and uninfected women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study, 2002-2009. AIDS. 2011;25(5):707-711. doi:10.1097/QAD.0b013e3283445811