Melissa Ann Stockton
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Associate Scholar, Center for Global Health (CGH), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Department: Psychiatry
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
3535 Market St
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Publications
Education
BA (International Affairs, Global Public Health)
The George Washington University, 2013.
MSPH (Epidemiology)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2018.
Ph.D. (Epidemiology)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020.
BA (International Affairs, Global Public Health)
The George Washington University, 2013.
MSPH (Epidemiology)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2018.
Ph.D. (Epidemiology)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020.
Post-Graduate Training
Inter-CFAR Fellowship Program in Implementation science, Johns Hopkins University, 2020-2021.
T32 Post-doctoral Fellow in Global Mental Health Implementation Science, Columbia University Medical Center/New York State Psychiatric Institute, 2020-2023.
Postdoctoral Research, PI: Andrew Medina-Marino, Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, Cape Town, South Africa, 2020-2023.
Post-doctoral Data Analyst, UNC Carolina Population Center, 2021-2022.
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, NIH Summer Institute for Randomized Trials of Behavioral Interventions , 2024-2025.
Permanent linkInter-CFAR Fellowship Program in Implementation science, Johns Hopkins University, 2020-2021.
T32 Post-doctoral Fellow in Global Mental Health Implementation Science, Columbia University Medical Center/New York State Psychiatric Institute, 2020-2023.
Postdoctoral Research, PI: Andrew Medina-Marino, Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, Cape Town, South Africa, 2020-2023.
Post-doctoral Data Analyst, UNC Carolina Population Center, 2021-2022.
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, NIH Summer Institute for Randomized Trials of Behavioral Interventions , 2024-2025.
Description of Research Expertise
Dr. Stockton is a social epidemiologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. She received a career developmental award (K01) to integrate an intervention addressing intersectional HIV-mental illness stigma into depression care and conduct a hybrid effectiveness-implementation pilot among depressed adults living with HIV in Malawi. My work focuses on implementing and evaluating evidence-based interventions that both address intersectional stigma and deliver high-quality psychological care to vulnerable populations. She has expertise in stigma, HIV, mental health, and implementation science.Selected Publications
Stockton, A, Bandukwala, A, Mphonda, S, Masulani, C, January, J, Brown, G, Udedi, M, Pence, B, Bhushan, N, Gaynes, B, Kulisewa, K : Comorbid symptoms of common mental disorders and unhealthy substance use among adolescents living with HIV reporting suicidal ideation and behaviors in Lilongwe, Malawi. AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil July 2026.Stockton MA, Waddell K, Bhushan NL, Mphonda S, Constantine V, Masulani-Mwale C, January J, Brown G, Udedi M, Nyirenda J, Mahuka E, Pence B, Gaynes B, Owusu MTK, Verhey R, Kulisewa K.: Integrating safety planning, problem-solving therapy and peer support for suicide prevention among adolescents living with HIV in Malawi: An application of the ADAPT-ITT adaptation framework. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 13: e118, May 2026.
Khatri A, Watt MH, Bakshi NK, Suneja G, Hanson OR, Bula A, Tsidya M, Mangadu A, Stockton MA, Kimani SM.: Social Support Across the Cancer Care Continuum in Malawi: Narratives from Cancer Survivors. SSM Qual Res Health Apr 2026.
Bhushan NL, Devadas J, Kramer J, Mphonda S, Sansbury GM, Hedrick HS, Phanga T, Ruegsegger L, Mortensen H, Kulisewa K, Udedi M, Pence BW, Stockton MA, Gaynes BN.: Mental health counseling preferences amongst adolescents living with HIV, caregivers, and healthcare providers in Lilongwe, Malawi. J Health Psychol Apr 2026.
Faidas MF, Gaynes BN, Maganga L, Mphonda SM, Matewere M, Nyirenda J, Kramer J, Kulisewa K, Bhushan NL, Pence BW, Stockton MA.: Barriers to Belonging: How Stigma Disrupts Social Roles for Malawian Adolescents Living with HIV and Opportunities for Change. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care Jan 2026.
Morrison AM, Zimba CC, Stockton M, Malava JK, Mbota M, Matewere M, Akello H, Akiba CF, Landrum KR, Go V, Hosseinipour MC, Gaynes BN, Udedi M, Pence BW.: Ingredients for success: Factors associated with successful integration of depression care into non-communicable disease clinics in Malawi: A mixed-methods analysis. PLOS Ment Health 3: e0000532, Jan 2026.
Zumazuma A, Morrison AM, Nyirongo P, Mtonga I, Chienda J, Tikhiwa HA, Mortensen H, Gaynes BN, Stockton MA, Kramer J, Chiliza B, Pence BW, Kulisewa K.: Stakeholders' perceptions of recovery from psychosis in Blantyre, Malawi: Definitions, goals, and interventions. PLOS Ment Health 3: e0000451, Jan 2026.
Faidas MF, Gaynes BN, Mphonda SM, Nyirenda J, Matewere M, Kramer JS, Maganga L, Kulisewa K, Pence BW, Bhushan NL, Stockton MA.: 'You feel like it's better to just die': Death-centric stereotypes and stigma contribute to suicide risk for adolescents living with HIV in Malawi. PLOS Glob Public Health 5: e0005655, Dec 2025.
Kimani SM, Suneja G, Bula A, Wu C, Khatri A, Bakshi N, Hanson OR, Mangadu A, Tsidya M, Stockton MA, Knettel BA, Watt MH.: Development and psychometric properties of a general cancer stigma scale. Int J Cancer Dec 2025.
West JS, MA Stockton, HW Francis, RD Stelmach, E Troutman Adams, JD Kraemer, K Saalim, MI Wallhagen, M Nyarko, N Boafo, NAV Owusu, E Gyamera, SL Smith, & L Nyblade. : Lancet Commission on Hearing Loss: d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Stigma Measurement Tools. Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting Nov 12-15. Boston, MA. Nov 2025.