Dr. Cara Maria
Antonaccio
Implementation scientist and methodologist with expertise in evidence-based interventions for children and families in resource-limited settings. PhD in Social Work, MSPH in Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, focused on advancing global child health equity.
CV
Implementation Scientist
Designs, implements, and evaluates evidence-based interventions for vulnerable child populations in resource-limited and conflict-affected settings.
Global Health Practitioner
Specializes in Sub-Saharan Africa with experience applying implementation science frameworks, human-centered design, and mHealth technologies.
Advanced
Methodologist
Skilled in mixed methods, spatial epidemiology, multilevel modeling, and Bayesian methods for complex health challenges.
Education
PhD in Social Work
Research Program on Children and Adversity
Thesis exploring human security as an implementation outcome; examining the conflict-related predictors and spatiotemporal diffusion dynamics of attacks on aid workers and humanitarian operations
Boston College School of Social Work
2018-22
Master of Science in
Public Health
Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health
Concentrating in maternal and child health epidemiology, conflict and health, and humanitarian assistance; implementation science training, practicum funded by the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2016-18
Bachelor of Science in
Health Policy
College of Health and Human Development
Clinical research on stress, neuroendocrine/immune functioning, and appetitive behaviors; experimental study on social exclusion and health with mentors in the Department of Biobehavioral Health
Pennsylvania State University
2012-16
Bachelor of Arts in
African Studies
College of Liberal Arts
Thesis examining the public health effects and demographic implications of conflict-related sexual violence in the DRC
Pennsylvania State University
2012-16
Minor in
Global Health
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Independent qualitative research study exploring unmet needs for information and support related to late effects of pediatric cancer among Tanzanian patients and caregivers
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
2015-16
International Baccalaureate
Diploma programme
Thesis exploring the ethical implications and public health impact of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster
2012
Specialized Training
Implementation Science
BRIDGE Program, Research Program on Children & Adversity, JHU Center for Global Health, Olin College of Engineering
Applied Mixed Methods
Applied mixed methods in global mental health, community-engaged partnership research, and advanced qualitative techniques
Quantitative Methods
Multilevel regression modeling, structural equation modeling, ML algorithms, psychometric theory, bio- and geostatistical methods
Global Health Practice
Coursework and applied studies in mental health nursing, midwifery, international law, and first aid for severe trauma
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Brown University Alpert Medical School
  • BRIDGE Program Implementation Science Fellow (2023-present)
  • Supporting delivery and evaluation of hybrid type 3 implementation-effectiveness study, a teacher-led mental health intervention for adolescents in Sierra Leone
  • Managing and analyzing baseline and post-intervention data to examine fidelity trajectories and compare the relative effectiveness of mobile and in-person supervision models in terms of participant outcomes
  • Submitted K99/R00 (NIMH) in Feb '25 proposing to co-design a WhatsApp-based just-in-time adaptive intervention to promote emotional regulation and stress management skills among early adolescents (10-15) in Sierra Leone
Previous Research Experience
United Nations University
Led computational research program in the International Institute for Computing and Society, developing a humanitarian early warning system to promote health and human security in
complex emergencies
Boston College
Doctoral research on the reintegration of children associated with armed forces and groups (CAAFAG) and the social context of the 2014-15 Ebolavirus (EVD) epidemic in Sierra Leone
Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health
Implementation research and technical support for a stepped mental health care model for conflict-affected pregnant women and new mothers in Eastern and Northern Uganda
Muhimbili National Hospital
Qualitative study exploring experiences with childhood cancer survivorship and unmet need for information about late effects among Tanzanian patients and caregivers
Pennsylvania State
University
Undergraduate assistant supporting clinical research on stress, emotional reactivity and coping in humans and animal models
International Consultancies
Save the Children, Johns Hopkins, WHO, Managing Exits from Armed Conflict Program (MEAC) and other international organizations
Consultancies & Internships
Save the Children
Systematic review of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Children Associated with Armed Forces and Groups, contributing to global operational guidance.
Watchlist on Children & Armed Conflict
Quantitative research for field report on widespread violence against civilians and healthcare actors in South Sudan.
Johns Hopkins Dept of Mental Health
Systematic review of Means of Verification (MoV) informing Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
HealthRight International
Implementation research supporting stepped care delivery of an interpersonal group-based therapy
(IPT-G) program for conflict-affected pregnant women and new mothers in Northern and Eastern Uganda.
Publications
Recent:
Applying user-centered design to enhance usability and acceptability of an mHealth supervision tool for CHWs
(2025) Global Mental Health

Cambridge Core

Applying user-centered design to enhance the usability and acceptability of an mHealth supervision tool for community health workers delivering an evidence-based intervention in rural Sierra Leone | C

Applying user-centered design to enhance the usability and acceptability of an mHealth supervision tool for community health workers delivering an evidence-based intervention in rural Sierra Leone

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of an Acceptance Based PrEP Intervention to Engage Young Black MSM in the South
(2025) J of Medical Internet Research
[in press]
Task-sharing to promote caregiver mental health, positive parenting practices, and violence prevention
(2024) BMC Psychiatry

PDF file

Task-sharing to promote caregiver mental health, positive parenting practices, and violence prevention

The prevalence of household violence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is high, and exposure to violence has significant adverse effects on both mental health and child development across generations.

Selected:
Fear, distress, and perceived risk shape stigma toward Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone
(2021) BMC Public Health

PDF file

Fear, distress, and perceived risk shape stigma toward Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone

During the 2014–15 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic, thousands of people in Sierra Leone were infected with the devastating virus and survived. Years after the epidemic was declared over, stigma toward EVD survivors and others affected by the virus is still a major concern, but little is known about the factors that influence stigma toward survivors. This study examines how key personal and ecological factors predicted EVD-related stigma at the height of the 2014–2015 epidemic in Sierra Leone, and the personal and ecological factors that shaped changes in stigma over time.

On trauma, resilience, and survival—Lessons from fifteen years of pediatric cancer and remission
(2021) JAMA Oncology

PDF file

On trauma, resilience, and survival—Lessons from fifteen years of pediatric cancer and remission

This essay details the the emotional toll of pediatric cancer from the author's personal experiences and uses these details to correct

Stigma and acceptance of Sierra Leone's child soldiers: A prospective longitudinal study
(2020) J of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

PDF file

Stigma and acceptance of Sierra Leone's child soldiers: A prospective longitudinal study

In 2002, we recruited former child soldiers from lists of soldiers (aged 10–17 years) served by Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration centers and from a random door-to-door sample in 5 districts of Sierra Leone. In 2004, self-reintegrated child soldiers were recruited in an additional district. At 2016/2017, 323 of the sample of 491 former child soldiers were reassessed. Subjects reported on war exposures and postconflict stigma, family support, community support, anxiety/depression, and posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Manuscripts in Preparation
Spatial Risk Modeling
Bayesian modeling approach, examining the dynamic risk of attacks on health care in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Conflict & Peace Research
Spatiotemporal diffusion dynamics of conflict-related sexual violence in Eastern DRC using a density-based spatiotemporal clustering algorithm
Adolescent IPV & Disability
Examining pathways between intimate partner violence and functional impairment in Sierra Leonean adolescents (N=1200, age 14-24)
BELIEF Framework & Toolkit
Theoretical framework and toolkit for fostering adaptive implementation capabilities and enhance learning
Selected Conference Presentations
Spatiotemporal diffusion of violent attacks on aid workers in Eastern DRC, 2018-23
Society for Impl. Research Collaboration
2024
Hacking the Sustainable Development Goals—Digital Technologies for Strategic Planning
SDG Open Innovation Camp
2023
Cybersecurity and women's activism in Southeast Asia: A six-country study
Asian Association of Social Psychology
2023
Invited Lectures & Workshops
National Cancer Survivors' Day: Mental health and childhood cancer survivorship
Hasbro Children's Hospital
2024
Data, Digital Technologies, and Human-Centered Design (HCD) for Evidence-Based Decision-making
United Nations World Data Forum
2023
Community-based systems modeling workshop for public health and epidemic preparedness in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit
2023
Innovation for the SDGs: Co-creating to promoting sustainable development in the Greater Bay Area
SDG Open Innovation Camp
2023
Progress toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): What it will take to reach our goals by 2030?
University of Macau
2022
Mixed methods for applied global mental health research: Introduction to MAXQDA
Boston College School of Social Work
2021-2022
Grants & Awards
$50,000
Dellinger Fund Scholarship
Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
$25,000
PFRH Scholarship
Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
$15,000
MCH Training Grant
Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
$5,000
Catalyst Fellowship for Social Innovation
Center for Social Innovation
Boston College
$5,000
Carolyn A. Thomas Fellowship
School of Social Work
Boston College
$3,500
Global Health Field Placement Grant
Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Cancer Survivor Scholarships
As a pediatric bone cancer and brain cancer survivor, Dr. Antonaccio received multiple scholarships from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Cancer for College and others to support her training in global health and implementation science—totaling more than $8000.

Dr. Antonaccio also served as a Beyond the Cure ambassador for the National Children's Cancer Society.
Teaching Experience
Boston College
Instructor:
Strategic Planning for Public & Non-Profit Organizations
Instructor rating: 4.33/5
Ethical Design for Social Impact
Instructor rating: 4.54/5
Innovation through Design Thinking
Teaching Assistant:
Introduction to Regression Analysis
Program Evaluation
Research Methods
Social Innovation
Pennsylvania State University
Teaching Assistant:
World Population Diversity
Implementation Science Tools
Strategic Planning
Problem analysis and environmental scanning, mHealth, contextual adaptation and tailoring
Advanced Methods
Hybrid study designs, process evaluation, assessment of implementation and health outcomes
Theories, Models,
& Frameworks
EPIS, ADAPT-ITT, ADDIE, BELIEF (novel), other determinant and process frameworks
Technical Skills
Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Proficient in R, Stata, Mplus, and Python for advanced statistical analysis and data visualization
Mixed Methods Analysis
Proficient in MaxQDA; advanced approaches to coding, analyzing, and visualizing qualitative information from interviews and focus groups and synthesizing findings with quantitative data
GIS & Geospatial Analysis
Skilled in R, ArcGIS, Mapbox, and GeoJSON for spatial epidemiology and visualization
Project Management
Experienced with Qualtrics, RedCap, and KoboCollect for secure data collection and management
Web & App Development
Proficient in designing and deploying web- and mobile-based apps compiled to JavaScript, including interactive dashboards using real-time data
Professional Skills
Grant Writing & Management
Scientific Manuscript Preparation
Cross-Cultural Collaboration
Research Ethics & IRB Experience
Mentorship
Public Speaking
Languages
English
🇺🇸, Native
Krio
🇸🇱, Working
Kiswahili
🇹🇿, Basic
German
🇩🇪, Basic
Service
Ethics Review
Member of the United Nations University Ethical Review Board, focusing on advising researchers in complex emergencies and conflict settings.
Scientific Peer Review
Ad-hoc reviewer for BMC Public Health, Global Mental Health, and others contributing to scientific rigor in the field.
Mentorship
Dedicated to mentoring early-career researchers and students interested in global child mental health, implementation science, and work in resource-limited settings.
Get in Touch
Ready to connect? Reach out anytime for questions or collaborations.
Contact
Email antonaccio@brown.edu for any inquiries.
Connect on Social Media
Twitter Updates
Follow @caraantonaccio for quick updates and thoughts.
Academic Stuff
View my publications on Google Scholar.