Mariajosé Paton, PhD

Mariajosé J. Paton, Ph.D. (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Implementation Science / Intervention Research in the Department of Community and Global Health at Lehigh University’s College of Health. Her research seeks to advance sexual and behavioral health equity among marginalized youth and communities. Using theories, models, and frameworks from implementation science, community-engaged research, youth participatory action research, human-centered design, and digital health, Dr. Paton collaborates with youth, healthcare organizations, and community partners to develop and evaluate equitable health interventions.

Dr. Paton’s work centers particularly on racial and ethnic minority (REM) and sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth, with an emphasis on addressing social and structural determinants of health (SSDoH). She has led and contributed to projects examining determinants to HIV prevention and care, digital health interventions, gender minority stress, and uncovering strategies for addressing SSDoH and engaging youth in sexual and behavioral health interventions. Her current work also explores methods for measuring and implementing meaningful community engagement in interventions addressing the HIV and behavioral health synergistic epidemics ("HIV/BH syndemic").

Before joining Lehigh, Dr. Paton completed an NIH-funded postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Impact Institute. Dr. Paton is committed to mentorship, interdisciplinary partnerships, and translating research into practical strategies that improve health equity and community wellbeing.

Education

Ph.D., Clinical-Community Psychology, University of South Carolina
Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology, HIV & LGBTQ Health Disparities Track, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
M.A., Clinical-Community Psychology, University of South Carolina
B.S., Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Areas of Research and Publications

Implementation science
Community-engaged and participatory research
HIV prevention and sexual health
LGBTQ+ health
Adolescent and young adult health
Digital health interventions
Social and structural determinants of health
Youth participatory action research (YPAR)
Behavioral health interventions

Awards and Honors

HIV Implementation Science and Social Determinants of Health Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University Center for AIDS Research, 2025–2026
Southern Regional Education Board Dissertation Fellowship, 2023–2024
Russell J. and Dorothy S. Bilinski Educational Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, 2022–2023
American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program Psychology Summer Institute Fellow, 2022
South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality Junior Scholar, 2022–2024
The Voice of Public Health Award, South Carolina Public Health Association, 2020

Courses