Golam Sarwar

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Services Research and Policy

I am a Ph.D. student in Health Services Research and Policy at the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia, where I also serve as a Graduate Research Assistant. At UGA, my research centers on HIV prevention, substance use, and mental health, with a particular emphasis on developing equity-driven, evidence-based interventions for marginalized populations. I am actively engaged in several NIH-funded projects that use telehealth and community-informed approaches to improve access to prevention and care, especially for underserved communities in the U.S. South. Through my work at UGA, I contribute to generating practical, policy-relevant evidence to reduce health disparities and strengthen public health systems.

Before joining UGA, I developed an extensive background in medicine, epidemiology, and public health research. I earned my Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the State University of Bangladesh in 2018, a Diploma in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights from Lund University in Sweden, and MBBS from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
I spent more than a decade at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), where I held a range of clinical, research, and program leadership positions. In those roles, I led and contributed to several large-scale scientific research and intervention projects focused on HIV, tuberculosis, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and health system.

I have authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals and presented my work at major global conferences. My long-term goal is to bridge rigorous research, public health practice, and policy in order to develop scalable interventions that advance health equity and improve population health outcomes in the United States and globally.

Education

Master of Public Health (MPH), State University of Bangladesh, May, 2018, Epidemiology
Diploma, Lund University, Sweden, November, 2018, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
MBBS, Dhaka Medical College, University of Dhaka in Bangladesh, May 2005, Medicine

Areas of Expertise

HIV Prevention & Care
Substance Use & Harm Reduction
Mental Health
Health Disparities & Health Equity
Epidemiology
Health Services Research
Community-Based & Implementation Research

Honors, Awards, and Achievements

2017 Scholarship for “International Training Programme on SRHR in Sweden” by Swedish Sida.
2018 Research grant of USD 71,368 by The Global Fund.
2020 Full scholarship for poster presentation in the Sixth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research.
2022 Research grant of $42,593 by Global Affairs Canada.
2024 Full scholarship for oral presentation at the 25th International AIDS Conference
2025 Summer Research Grant ($1,500) from the University of Georgia
2025 2025 Stuart and Renee Feldman Health Disparities Award ($4,000) from the University of Georgia
2026 The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) award for “Unlocking Insights: Analyzing All of Us Data for Drug Addiction Research” Challenge (as a team member)

Affiliations

2021 – 2022 Steering committee member of the Global Academy of SRHR
2024 – 2025 Member of the International AIDS Society (IAS)
2025 – 2026 Member of the American Public Health Association (APHA)

Research Interests

HIV prevention and care; substance use and harm reduction; mental health; health disparities; epidemiology; health services research; and community-based public health interventions.

Selected Publications

Publications
1. Sarwar, G., Irfan, S. D., …… & Khan, S. I. (2023). Understanding the dynamics of chemsex among men who have sex with men, male sex workers and transgender women in Dhaka, Bangladesh: a multiphase sequential mixed-method research protocol. BMJ open, 13(11), e073976.
2. Sarwar, G., ……& Khan, S. I. (2023). Can oral sex be performed safely among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women in Bangladesh? Challenges, complexities and the way forward. Heliyon, 9(4).
3. Sarwar G, Muberra Khan S, Irfan SD, Morshed Khan, Reza, M. M, M. N., Rana, A. K. M., Sisir Banu R., Ahmed S., Banu S., Khan SI (2023). Community-based peer‑led TB screening intervention: an innovative approach to increase TB knowledge, presumptive case identification, and referral among sexual minority people in urban Bangladesh. BMC Health Services Research. 2023 23:810.
4. Sarwar G, Reza M, ……. & Khan SI. Developing and testing community-based tuberculosis (TB) screening intervention to increase TB referral, case detection and knowledge among sexual minority people in urban Bangladesh: a mixed-method study protocol. BMJ open. 2020;10(9):e037371.
5. Alam, M., Deb, A. S., Islam, Z., Sarwar, G., Reza, M. M., Sarker, M. S., … & Rahman, M. (2026). Whole genome sequencing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae among key populations in two cities of Bangladesh reveals genomic diversity and stable antimicrobial resistance. BMC Infectious Diseases, 26(1), 22.
6. Reza, M. M., Shanto, H. H., Irfan, S. D., Rana, A. M., Khan, M. N. M., Sarwar, G., … & Khan, S. I. (2026). Prevalence and determinants of unintended pregnancy among female sex workers (FSW) in Jashore, Bangladesh. PLoS One, 21(2), e0342766.
7. Clinton, S., Shomuyiwa, D., Sarwar, G., Wang, L., Callands, T. A., Hansen, N. B., & Haider, M. R. (2026). Gender Differences in Adverse Childhood Experiences, Psychological Distress, and Substance Use Disorder Among Persons who Inject Drugs in Northeast Georgia, USA: A Moderated Mediation Analysis. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 1-9.
8. Haider, M. R., Sarwar, G., Rahman, M. H., & Rahman, A. E. (2026). Global and public health implications for quantum computing. In Quantum Computing in Medicine (pp. 435-458). Academic Press.
9. Jabeen, Sabrina, et al. “Improving the provision for gynaecological health care in Bangladesh using Essential Gynaecological Skills implementation package: a stakeholder-driven approach in public health facilities.” Journal of Global Health 15 (2025): 04132.
10. Rahman, Sezanur, Md Safiullah Sarker, Md Mobarok Hossain, Md Abir Hossain, Mohammad Fakhruddin, Rubel Howlader, Golam Sarwar, Sharful Islam Khan, and Mustafizur Rahman. “Drug resistance mutations among people living with HIV and ART failure in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.” The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia 40 (2025): 100629.
11. Rahaman, M. A., Sarwar, G., Faruk, M. O., & Khan, S. I. (2025). Validation of the Bangla WHO-5 well-being index among gender and sexually diverse people in Bangladesh. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 2973.
12. Haider, M. R., Sarwar, G., Wang, L., Khan, M. S. I., Brown, M. J., Hansen, N., & Gibbs, J. J. (2025). Gay Community Connectedness, Internalized Homonegativity, and HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Attitudes and Use Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Georgia: A Mediation Analysis. AIDS and Behavior, 1-10.
13. Hemel, M. M. M., Reza, M. M., Pritom, G. S. M., Sarwar, G., Khan, M. N. M., Khan, S., … & Khan, S. I. (2024). Full title-acceptability and feasibility of HIV self-testing (HIVST) among MSM and transgender women (hijra) in Bangladesh: A mixed-method study. Heliyon, 10(10).
14. SHAFIQ, T. K. I., Rahman, M. F., Shaikh, K., Sarwar, G., Hemel, M. M. M., Khan, T. H., … & Khan, S. I. (2023). A service provider’s experience providing telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic in a community-based opioid substitution clinic in Bangladesh.
15. Gourab, G., Sarwar, G., Khan, M. N. M., … & Khan, S. I. (2023). Are we ready for a sustainable approach? A qualitative study of the readiness of the public health system to provide STI services to the key populations at risk of HIV in Bangladesh. BMC health services research, 23(1), 979.
16. Irfan SD, Sarwar G, Emran J, Khan SI (2023). An uncharted territory of sexualized drug use: Exploring the dynamics of chemsex among young and adolescent MSM including self-identified gay men in urban Bangladesh. Frontiers in Psychology.;14:1124971.
17. Reza, M. M, Sarwar G, …. & M, Khan SI (2023). Establishing a surveillance system on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of key populations (KPs) at risk of compromised outcome of SRHR- A protocol for a mixed-method study. Plos one. 2023 Jul 27;18(7):e0289010.
18. Rahman, S., Sarker, M. S., Aralaguppe, S. G., Sarwar, G., Khan, S. I., & Rahman, M. (2022). Drug resistance pattern among ART‐naive clients attending an HIV testing and counseling center in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Journal of Medical Virology, 94(2), 787-790.
19. Khan, M. N. M., Sarwar, G., …… & Khan, S. I. (2022). Understanding the Barriers of HIV Testing Services for Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study. Community Health Equity Research & Policy, 42(3), 309-323.
20. Gourab, G., M. N. M. Khan, A. R. Hasan, G. Sarwar, …… & S. I. Khan (2019). The willingness to receive sexually transmitted infection services from public healthcare facilities among key populations at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection in Bangladesh: A qualitative study. PloS One 14(9): e0221637.

Other publications (National guidelines, SOPs, training module and policy documents)
1. Standard Operating Procedure for DIC management for KP’s
2. National HIV Testing Services (HTS) Guideline, 2019
3. National Guidelines for Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections
4. National Guideline on PMTCT, 2021
5. STI management (syndromic) flow chart for key populations
6. Training module on Basics of HIV/AIDS
7. Training module on the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Roles and Responsibilities

As a Graduate Research Assistant at the College of Public Health, I contribute to interdisciplinary research focused on HIV prevention, substance use, and mental health among underserved populations. I am actively involved in multiple NIH-funded projects, supporting the design, implementation, and evaluation of equity-driven, evidence-based public health interventions.

My responsibilities include conducting literature reviews, managing and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, and contributing to the development of different intervention strategies. I collaborate with faculty and research teams to prepare manuscripts, reports, and conference presentations, and supports the translation of research findings into policy-relevant insights.

Through my work, I help advance research that aims to improve access to care, reduce health disparities, and inform public health practice in the U.S. South and beyond.

Research Project Involvement

1. Dynamics of chemsex among MSM and TGW in Bangladesh: Mixed method research (Global Affairs Canada)- PI
2. A study to develop and test a community-based TB screening intervention among sexual minority people (The Global Fund)- PI
3. Exploring HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis awareness and uptake among MSM, MSW, and TGW in Dhaka, Bangladesh: Challenges, Barriers, and Preferences for Mobile Phone-based Intervention (Sarah Moss Fellowship)- Co-I
4. Exploring PrEP awareness and uptake, and mental health status among Key population at risk of HIV and ART uptake and adherence among People Living with HIV in Bangladesh: Challenges, Barriers and Preferences for Mobile Phone-based Intervention- Co-I
5. Assessing the stigma and mental health problems, and their association with disparities in Antiretroviral Therapy adherence among people living with HIV in Bangladesh Using Ecological Momentary Assessment- Co-I
6. Establishing a surveillance system on SRHR of KPs at risk of compromised outcome of SRHR (Global Affairs Canada)- Co-I
7. Evaluation of ICT-based intervention to promote essential SRHR services (Global Affairs Canada)- Co-I
8. Mapping the provision of SRHR services and KP’ accessibility and affordability of SRHR services (Global Affairs Canada)- Co-I
9. Developing and evaluating an integrated mental health intervention for FSW in Bangladesh (Global Affairs Canada)- Co-I
10. Feasibility and acceptability of HIV self-testing among sexual minority people and their sexual partners (The Global Fund)- Co-I
11. Concurrent use of psychoactive substance among the MMT clients of Dhaka, Bangladesh (The Global Fund)- Co-I
12. Readiness of public health systems to provide HIV prevention services to KPs (The Global Fund)- Co-I
13. Characterizing chemsex patterns and adoption of harm reduction measures among men in the South (NIH/NIDA)- Graduate Research Assistant
14. Trauma-informed, resilience-based telehealth intervention for improving HIV prevention and HCV care for persons who inject drugs in the Deep South (NIH/NIDA)- Graduate Research Assistant
15. Optimizing PrEP uptake for African American women in the South by empowering women to make informed HIV prevention and sexual health choices (NIH/NIMH)- Graduate Research Assistant