Center for
Global Health

Associate Scholar

Languages: English, Spanish(proficient)

BIO STATEMENT

Dr. Sarah MacLean is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania and an attending pediatric hospitalist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). After receiving her BA in Global Studies from UNC Chapel Hill, she worked for UNC Project in Lilongwe, Malawi, conducting public health research on HIV transmission. While in medical school at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, she conducted research on the mental health of children seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border, the results of which received national media attention. She completed her pediatrics residency at CHOP in the Global Health track and completed clinical rotations in Botswana, the Dominican Republic, and Ghana. She continues to be involved in research efforts at these three CHOP partner sites. She has a particular interest in capacity building in global medical education and mentoring in-country trainees in academic research and publishing. Her primary research focuses on quality improvement measures to address neonatal mortality in Botswana.

Recent Global Health Projects

1. I am currently conducting a retrospective chart review of all neonatal records from Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in Francistown, the second-largest city in Botswana, in order to elucidate causes of neonatal mortality

2. I recently completed a project analyzing child anemia rates in a pediatric clinic in Consuelo, Dominican Republic, which highlighted improvements in anemia prevalence and treatment after recent quality improvement measures

Select Publications

1.Brooks MJ, MacLean SA, Eschliman EL, Poku O, Molebatsi K, Ahmed C, Morakanyane P, Entaile P, Monyane-Pheko M, Morapedi K, Phoi O, Tshume O, Matshaba M, Lowenthal E. Piloting a Near-Peer Lay Counselor Based Problem solving therapy for adolescent and young adults with and without HIV in Botswana. J Adolesc Health. Feb 2026:S1054-139X(25)00830-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.12.260. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41653177/

2. Chavez W, Fernandez A, Tafese A, Oktapodas Feiler M, Vasquez F, MacLean SA, Steenhoff AP. Incidence and Outcomes of Adolescent Pregnancy in Consuelo, Dominican Republic between 2017-2022. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 2025 Nov 12;37(6):397-400. doi: 10.1515/ijamh-2025-0049. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41217049/

3. Kinasha AA, Pernica JM, Banda FM, Goldfarb DM, Welch HD, Steenhoff AP, MacLean SA. Electrolyte Abnormalities and Clinical Outcomes in Children Aged One Month to 13 Years Hospitalized with Acute Gastroenteritis in Two Large Referral Hospitals in Botswana. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025 May 8;5(5):e0004588. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004588. URL: https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0004588

4. Kampalath V, MacLean SA, Alabdulhadi A, Congdon M. The Delivery of Essential Newborn Care in Conflict Settings: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 10:937741. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.937751. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36389389/

5. MacLean SA, Agyeman PO, Singer EK, Baranowski KA, Katz CL. Perspectives on Working with Immigrants Held in Detention Using Photovoice. Psychiatric Quarterly. 2020 Oct 19;1-10. doi: 10.1007/s11126-020-09853-z. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33074361/

6. MacLean SA, Agyeman PO, Walther J, Singer EK, Baranowski KA, Katz CL. Characterization of the mental health of immigrant children separated from their mothers at the U.S.-Mexico border. Psychiatry Research. 2019;286:112555. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112555. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31522891/

7. MacLean SA, Agyeman PO, Walther J, Singer EK, Baranowski KA, Katz CL. Mental health of children held at a United States immigration detention center. Social Science and Medicine. 2019 Jun;230:303-308. doi 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.04.013. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31047760/

8. Lancaster KE, MacLean SA, Lungu T, Mmodzi P, Hosseinipour MC, Hershow RB, Powers KA, Pence BW, Hoffman IF, Miller WC, Go VF. Socioecological factors of hazardous alcohol use among female sex workers in Lilongwe, Malawi: a mixed methods study. Substance Use and Misuse. 2018 Apr 16;53(5):782-791. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2017.1365088. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29020505/

9. MacLean SA, Lancaster KE, Lungu T, Mmodzi P, Hosseinipour MC, Pence BW, Gaynes B, Hoffman IF, Miller WC. Prevalence and correlates of probable depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among female sex workers in Lilongwe, Malawi. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. 2018 Feb;16(1):150-163. doi: 10.1007/s11469-017-9829-9. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29556159/

Last Updated: 14 May 2026