SPOTLIGHT on Dima Dandachi
The Midwest D-CFAR community is full of brilliant and inspiring people, and we want to introduce them to the world! For our November 2024 spotlight, we are featuring Dima Dandachi, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine at University of Missouri, medical director of Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, and co-director of our Scientific Working Group. Many thanks to Dr. Dandachi for taking the time to speak with us!
Dr. Dima Dandachi, MD, MPH, FIDSA
Could you briefly describe your career journey and research interests?
Dr. Dandachi: I’ve always been drawn to Infectious Diseases because of the profound public health impact. After completing my medical degree, I pursued a Masters in Public Health, which led me to my role as Medical Director at Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services. My interests lie especially in HIV, both from clinical and research perspectives. I was fortunate to have remarkable mentors like Dr. Giordano and Dr. Geng, who deepened my commitment to HIV research, especially in implementation science. I believe strongly that community partnerships are essential in implementation research if we’re to end the HIV epidemic. We’re living in an exciting time, with new HIV prevention medications continually being developed, and I’m optimistic that, through collaborative research, we can make real strides in HIV prevention and treatment.
What projects do you currently have ongoing?
I am currently leading two exciting research studies. The first is the ACCELERATE Study, a multisite implementation science project aimed at simplifying and accelerating ART re-initiation for people living with HIV who have been out of care. This study spans three sites—University of Missouri-Columbia, KC CARE in Kansas City, and Novus Health in St. Louis—with the goal of re-engaging patients across Missouri who haven't seen an HIV provider in over six months or taken medication for at least a month.
The second project, Project SPEED (Streamlined Protocol for Early Engagement and Delivery of HIV Prevention) is an innovative study that addresses the current barriers to HIV PrEP uptake in real-world settings. It is a pragmatic, mixed-methods, cluster randomized clinical trial to explore the implementation of a nurse-driven protocol for rapid delivery of HIV prevention (PrEP) at the level of local public health departments in Missouri.
Wassim Jamaleddine, Hilal Abdessamad, and Dima Dandachi. (Photo courtesy of Dima Dandachi).
Could you talk briefly about the Midwest D-CFAR’s Scientific Working Group (SWG) and specifically the community collaborative? How do you think the work these groups are doing will impact rural communities in Missouri?
The SWG and its community collaborative are focused on building meaningful partnerships between healthcare providers, public health departments, and local organizations. A core belief behind this work is that researchers alone don’t have all the answers or solutions. To truly make an impact, we must collaborate with individuals who have lived experience. People in communities are remarkably creative, often finding solutions that are culturally sensitive, practical, and sustainable. For rural Missouri, this approach is especially critical. Rural communities have been overlooked for far too long, and working here has shown me firsthand the unique barriers these communities face—challenges that are vastly different from those in urban areas.
Researchers and members of the public who want to participate in our community collaborative can start the process by filling out a brief form.
You certainly have a lot going on with your work! What do you do in your free time?
I’m originally from Lebanon, so dancing comes as second nature and my biggest hobby, and stress reliever.
What are you passionate about?
Just as we strive to end the HIV epidemic, I carry a broader hope for a world without conflict and war. This vision of peace and health equity drives my commitment to healthcare, especially for vulnerable communities.
Edited by April Houston.