Petros Vilakati

Assistant Professor Public Health
Education Ph.D., Health and Behavioral Sciences The University of Colorado Denver, 2024 Master of Health Science (MHS), Global Health Clark University, 2019 B.A. Biology Clark University, 2013
Petros Vilakati

Dr. Petros Vilakati is an Assistant Professor of Public Health. He joins St. Lawrence University from The University of Colorado Denver, where he received his PhD in Health and Behavioral Sciences. His research is broadly on health seeking behaviors for men, focusing specifically on men’s engagement in HIV care management in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent research projects include a study of the association between gender attitudes and HIV testing for men, and another study that looks at masculinities and overall engagement in HIV care, including HIV testing, ART initiation, and ART retention. He is very passionate about HIV issues in Southern Africa which is where he was first introduced to the topic as a young volunteer HIV/AIDS youth peer-educator. He maintains ongoing collaboration with community and international organizations involved in men’s health and HIV/AIDS in the United States, Eswatini, and across sub-Saharan Africa. His previous experience in HIV also includes conducting basic science research on HIV RNA transport at the RNA Therapeutics Institute at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He enjoys teaching and getting students excited about public and global health. 

Fall 2024 Courses:
•    PH 216 – Introduction to Public Health
•    PH 3017 – The Global HIV Epidemic

Publications

Vilakati, B. P., Chamberlin, S., & Yeatman, S. (2023). Men’s Endorsement of Intimate Partner Violence and HIV Testing Behavior Across Sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS and Behavior, 27(2), 454–461. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-022-03780-9.

Vilakati, B. P., & Yeatman, S. (2024). Men’s perceptions of HIV self-testing in Eswatini: A qualitative study. AIDS Care, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2024.2354222. 
 

Contact Information

Office Hours

Mondays 11:00am-12:00pm and 
Thursdays 1:00pm-2:00pm, 
in person or via zoom.