Biography

Biography & Research: 

BIOGRAPHY & RESEARCH:

Makella Coudray, PhD, MPH, CPH, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida (UCF). She is also the Director and Principal Investigator of the Sexual Health, Equity, and Empowerment Research (SHEER) Lab. Dr. Coudray is an epidemiologist and implementation scientist who leads dynamic research on improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes in communities that have historically experienced barriers to care.

Her research emphasizes the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with a focus on expanding access to testing and treatment through evidence-based strategies. Grounded in a community-engaged approach, her work addresses both clinical outcomes and the broader contextual factors that influence sexual and reproductive health. One project, Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Risk and Prevention (STRiP), aims to address the high rate of STIs by exploring new screening options and providing greater access to testing.

She has taught Health System Science 2: Understanding the System, a discussion-based course where students build skills to find solutions to real-world issues. Through the SHEER Lab, she mentors graduate and undergraduate students who conduct research on STI prevention, greater access to STI testing, and understanding people’s perceptions of their sexual health.

Dr. Coudray was born and raised in the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Drawing from her multicultural background, Dr. Coudray brings a deep awareness of how social and structural factors influence health outcomes. She is committed to expanding access to timely, evidence-based sexual and reproductive health care, particularly for communities that have historically experienced barriers to healthcare. At a time when infection rates for treatable conditions like syphilis are rising in the U.S., and maternal mortality rates are high, her work supports the development of evidence-based biobehavioral interventions to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

Previously, she was a fellow at the HIV, Infectious Disease and Global Health Implementation Research Institute (HIGH IRI) at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She serves on the Membership Committee for the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association. Dr. Makella Coudray has a PhD in Public Health (Epidemiology) from Florida International University. She has a CPH (Certified in Public Health) credential from the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). She got her Masters in Public Health (MPH) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology from St. George’s University in Grenada

View her media kit

Recent Publications: 

Read Dr. Makella Coudray’s publications on her website.

Find her upcoming and past speaking engagements.

Coudray MS, Hansel S, Alesci S, Meyer WA, Christenson R, Landry LG, Edwards C, Puckrein G, Akinboboye O. Vitamin D Levels and SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Medically Underserved Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study. Viruses. 2024; 16(639).

Coudray MS, Hansel S, Mata-McMurry LV, Ilyasova D, Lee L, Chalasani N, Edwards C, Puckrein G, Meyer WA, Landry LG, Wiltz G, Sampson M, Brandt Dee T, Gregerson P, Barron C, Jeffrey Marable J, Akinboboye O. The Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study: Design and Baseline Characteristics of a Minority Cohort. Population Health Management. 2023; 26(6).

Matas JL, Landry LG, Lee L, Hansel S, Coudray MS, Mata LV, Chalasani N, Xu L, Stair T, Edwards C, Puckrein G, Meyer WA, Wilts G, Sampson M, Gregerson P, Barron C, Marable J, Akinboboye O, Ilyasova D. Demographic Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Underserved Communities. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2023; 9:e34163. doi: 10.2196/34163.

Cyrus E, Lama J, Sanchez J, Leon S, Villaran M, Vagenas P, Sullivan D, Vu D, Coudray MS, Altice F. Substance Use and other Correlates of HIV infection among transwomen and men who have sex with men in Perú: Implications for Targeted HIV Prevention Strategies for Transwomen. PLOS Global Public Health. 2023; 3(1): e0001464.

Cyrus E, Sanchez J, Madhivanan P, Lama JR, Bazo AC, Valencia J, Leon SR, Villaran M, Panagiotis V, Sciaudone M, Vu D, Coudray MS, Altice FL. Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use Disorders and Depression among Incarcerated Women in Lima, Peru. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18,11134.

EDUCATION & SPECIALTIES:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology, Florida International University
• Masters in Public Health (MPH), St. George’s University, Grenada
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology, St. George’s University, Grenada
• Certified in Public Health (CPH), National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE)

Specialties:

Dr. Coudray specializes in research that focuses on improving access to sexual and reproductive health services. Her work applies implementation science methods, a community-engaged research model, and a mixed-methods approach. She’s the Director and Principal Investigator of the Sexual Health, Equity, and Empowerment Research (SHEER) Lab.

Research Interests:

• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Sexual and Reproductive Health
• Contextual Drivers of Health
• Research Ethics

Explore Dr. Coudray’s research.

NEWS & MEDIA:

View her media kit

Florida syphilis cases spike, especially in Orange County by Caroline Catherman for Orlando Sentinel on February 26, 2024

Los casos de sífilis aumentan en Florida, especialmente en el condado de Orange for Club de Venezolanos on February 21, 2024

The Inaugural LGBTQ+ Cancer Summit Promotes Equity by Richard Westlund for the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine on January 29, 2024

COVID is not over: Public Health Emergency on For Your Health News from the National Minority Quality Forum on June 27, 2023

UCF Postdoctoral Scholar Draws on Her Island Roots to Champion for Marginalized Populations by Mila Chial for UCF Today on February 1, 2023

Daytona Bike Week Could Be Cause of Florida’s Spike in COVID-19 Cases by Chase Hadden for Web Bike World on April 6, 2021

Florida COVID-19 Cases Spike Following 2021 Daytona Bike Week by Dustin Wheelen for Ride Apart on April 5, 2021

UK COVID-19 variant cases have quadrupled in Florida in less than a month by Marlei Martinez for WESH 2 on February 17, 2021