Curriculum Vitae

Joshua P. Levens, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
Kongwa Trachoma Project
P. O. Box 124
Kongwa, Dodoma, Tanzania
Phone: (+255) 788-468-867
Josh@joshualevens.com

WORK EXPERIENCE

2009
RESEARCH PROJECT MANAGER
PROGRAM FOR THE RAPID ELIMINATION OF TRACHOMA (PRET)
DEPARTMENT OF OPTHALMOLOGY
JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

2006-2008
BIOLOGY AND HEALTH EDUCATOR
TANZANIAN MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS

2006
ADJUNCT FACULTY
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

2003
ADJUNCT FACULTY
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

1998-2003
TEACHING ASSISTANT
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

EDUCATION

2005
PH.D., HISTORY OF SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND TECHNOLOGY
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERISTY

1997
B.A., HISTORY
UNIVERISTY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

GRANTS/AWARDS

2002-2003
SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL, SEXUALITY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
DISSERTATION FELLOW

2001
DEAN’S TEACHING FELLOWSHIP
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

DESCRIPTION OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN TANZANIA

Ancillary Benefits of Mass Treatment with Azithromycin for Trachoma

1,000 adults and 1,000 children in 8 villages throughout the Kongwa district (Dodoma region) were observed twice weekly over a 6-month period for evidence of malaria, acute respiratory infections (ARIs), diarrheal disease, skin infections, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and were treated accordingly. 4 villages received mass treatment with azithromycin for trachoma in accordance with WHO guidelines. 4 similar villages (with levels of trachoma at less than 10% at baseline and therefore not eligible for mass treatment) were used as control populations in this study.

As Project Manager, I lived and worked full-time at a PRET field station in rural central Tanzania that employed over 100 research and support staff. In addition to my surveillance team of 80+ health workers, I worked with the Tanzanian head of the research station in managing other aspects of data collection, data entry and logistics. For my team, I trained and supervised 64 village health workers (8 per village) and 16 treatment and surveillance supervisors (who traveled out to the villages 5-6 days per week). The village health workers were trained to take body temperature, measure breathing rate, to instruct fellow villagers in the collection of fecal samples, making a basic oral rehydration solution, and in general health/hygiene. The supervisors were trained to take blood samples on filter papers and slides, to perform a rapid diagnostic test for malaria, and to administer appropriate medication for malaria, ARIs, diarrhea, and certain skin infections. Two additional health workers were trained to administer medication for STIs. Team members were also trained to fill out monthly morbidity books, child surveillance forms and referred for treatment slips. All training and supervision was performed in Kiswahili. I visited treatment sites in the village at least once a week and attended to any problems with the research subjects, staff and village government. I reviewed every surveillance form on the date of collection as a part of monitoring progress and sent monthly reports on all activities to the research team in Baltimore.

In addition to surveillance management, I served as translator and cultural advisor for visiting senior researchers and managed junior researchers. In particular, I worked with the epidemiologist PI, an infectious disease physician, a respiratory infectious specialist, a biostatician and a computer programmer. I also coordinated and supervised the field research of two doctoral candidates from the Epidemiology and International Health Departments at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. While assisting Americans with Tanzanian language and culture, I also spent a great deal of time with villagers and members of the various village governments, explaining the goals and methods of scientific research and adapting policies and procedures to meet local needs and expectations. Throughout this time, I served as the primary liason between American and Tanzanian staff, comunicating and supervising procedural changes, resolving data discrepencies, and coordinating drug and supply inventories.

Medical Compliance Survey of Mass Treatment with Azithromycin for Trachoma

825 guardians of children ages 9 and under and living across 22 villages that received mass treatment with azithromycin for trachoma were administered medical compliance questionnaires relating to demographics, ethnicity, culture, health and their own experience with mass treatment. The survey was designed to identify predictive factors for compliance with mass treatment.

As Project Manager, I coordinated and supervised a public health MD/PH.D. student who is using this survey as the basis for her dissertation in epidemiology. I selected and trained the team of 6 interviewers in project procedures, IRB policies and medical ethics. I organized a focus group, a pilot test and contributed to the survey instrument itself. After the student’s 6 weeks in Tanzania, I took over all local supervision of the project, including data collection, data entry and data cleaning. I also served as translator, cultural facilitator and ambassador of the project with all village government officials.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN TANZANIA

With the U.S. Peace Corps, I completed 137.5 hours of Kiswahili language training; 140 of technical educational training; 38 hours of health and safety instruction; 31 hours of formal cross-cultural training; 28 hours of administrative/policy training; and 35 hours of PEPFAR training with Dr. David Delem, M.D. on HIV prevention, care, and treatment.