Merrian J. Brooks, DO, MS
Areas of expertise: Social determinants of health, Mental health from a primary care and adolescent focused perspective
Locations: Main Building
About Merrian J. Brooks, DO, MS
Merrian J. Brooks, DO, MS is an adolescent medicine specialist and pediatric global health expert.
Currently, she is an attending physician and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at CHOP. Dr. Brooks also holds a joint affiliations with both the CHOP Global Health Center and the Penn Center for Global Health. She is the Director of Pediatrics and Research for the Botswana-UPenn Partnership. Her research time is spent primarily in Botswana, where she focuses on improving health services and access to evidence-based behavioral interventions for youth in low- and middle-income countries. Primarily she tests peer and near-peer based solutions for mental health needs for adolescents and young adults. She is passionate about mental health, resilience, positive youth development and well-being.
Titles
Attending Pediatrician/Adolescent Medicine Specialist
Lead Pediatrician/ Research Director, Botswana UPenn Partnership
Co-Director, CFAR International Core, University of Pennsylvania
Assistant Program Director, CHOP David N. Pincus Pediatric Global Health Fellowship
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Certifications
Adolescent Medicine – American Board of Pediatrics
Pediatrics – American Board of Pediatrics
Leadership and Memberships
2019-present, Botswana Paediatric Association
2014-present, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
2015-present, National Medical Association
2009-present, American Academy of Pediatrics
Research Interests
Safe Haven: Centering Youth as Mental Healthcare Navigators in Botswana
The Safe Haven program integrates mental health screening, problem-solving therapy (PST), and referral services into Botswana’s Youth Friendly Services (YFS) clinics. However, significant mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide, are prevalent among Botswana’s adolescents, with unmet needs exacerbated by stigma, low mental health literacy, and healthcare provider shortages. Safe Haven employs trained youth lay counselors to address these gaps.
Education & training
Graduate Degree
Master in Clinical Science - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Medical Degree
DO - Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency
Pediatric Residency - Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ
Fellowship
Adolescent Medicine Fellowship - Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Pediatric Global Health Fellowship - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Gaborone, Botswana, Philadelphia, PA
Publications
Publications
2024
Ahmed, C.V., Van Pelt, A.E., Buttenheim, A.M., Poku,O., Rice, B, Lowenthal, E, Brooks, MJ.. Implementation Determinants of Problem-Solving Therapy Delivered by Near-Peer Lay Counselors for Youth Living with HIV in Botswana: Lay Counsellor Perspectives. Glob Implement Res Appl (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43477-024-00126-6
2023
Ahmed CV, Doyle R, Gallagher D, Imoohi O, Ofoegbu U, Wright R, Yore MA, Brooks MJ, Flores DD,Lowenthal ED, Rice BM, Buttenheim AM. A Systematic Review of Peer Support Interventions for Adolescents Living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2023 Nov;37(11):535-559. doi: 10.1089/apc.2023.0094. PMID: 37956242
Olashore AA, Paruk S, Brooks M, Chiliza B. Psychoactive Substance Use Disorder in HIV-Infected Adolescents in Botswana: A Comparison Between the Congenitally Infected and Behaviorally Infected Adolescents. Subst Abuse. 2023 Feb 27;17:11782218231152818. doi: 10.1177/11782218231152818. eCollection 2023. PMID: 36875743
Garriott, A., Gulubane, G., Poku, O. B., Archibald, N., Entaile, P., Tshume, O., Phoi, O., Matshaba, M., Ahmed, C. V., Lowenthal, E. D., & Brooks, M. (2023). Youth perspectives of working with near peer youth lay counsellors: The Safe Haven Pilot. Journal of Community Psychology, 51, 3029- 3043. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23080
Brooks, M., Burmen, B., Olashore, A., Gezmu, A. M., Molebatsi, K., Tshume, O., Phoi, O., Morales, K., Matshaba, M., Lowenthal, E., Benton, T. (2023). Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide/self-injury in adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Botswana. African Journal of AIDS Research, March 2023. DOI 10.2989/16085906.2023.2186252.
2022
Ahmed, C.V., Brooks, M.J., DeLong, S.M. et al. Impact of COVID-19 on Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Services in the AHISA Network. AIDS Behav (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-022-03959-0
Boshe, J., Brtek, V., Beima-Sofie, K., Braitstein, P., Brooks, M., Denison, J., Donenberg, G., Kemigisha, E., Memiah, P., Njuguna, I., Poku, O., Roberts, S.T., Shayo, A., Dow, D. Integrating Adolescent Mental Health into HIV prevention and treatment programs: Can Implementation Science Pave the Path Forward. Accepted AIDS and Behavior. Accepted September 2022
Yang, L.H.,* Eschliman, E.L.,* Mehta, H., Misra, S., Poku, O.B., Entaile, P., Becker, T.D., Melese, T., Brooks, M.J., Eisenberg, M., Stockton, M.A., Choe, K., Tal, D., Li, T., Go, V., Link, B.G., Rampa, S., Jackson, V., Manyeagae, G.D., Goodman, M., Arscott-Mills, T., Opondo, P., Ho-Foster, A., & Blank,
M.B. A pilot pragmatic trial of a “What Matters Most”-based intervention targeting intersectional stigma related to being pregnant and living with HIV in Botswana. AIDS Research and Therapy. Accepted June 2022
Brooks MJ, Nicola Willis, Rhulani Beji-Chauke, Ontibile Tshume, Onkemetse Phoi, ElizabethLowenthal, Dixon Chibanda, Rashida A Ferrand. Principles for delivery of youth lay counselor programs: Lessons from field experiences. [Perspective] Journal of Global Health, March 2022
2021
Brooks MJ, Phetogo BK, Schwennesen H, Phoi O, Tshume O, Matshaba M, Lowenthal E. Building a Community Based Mental Health Program for Adolescents in Botswana: Stakeholder Feedback. Community Ment Health J. 2021 Nov 26:10.1007/s10597-021-00915-5. doi: 10.1007/s10597-
021-00915-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34826035; PMCID: PMC9172915.
Brooks, M., Phetogo, B., Monyane-Pheko, M., Phoi, O., Tshume, O., Tembwe, T., et al. (2021): Feasibility of integrating mental health screening into youth HIV Care in a Low-Middle IncomeCountry Setting. Advance. [Preprint]. https://doi.org/10.31124/advance.16602212.v1