Christopher Ferraris, LMSW

Christopher “Chris” Ferraris is a Doctor of Clinical Social Work (DSW) student at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. He earned his MSW in 2009 from Tulane University, where he began his career serving people living with HIV (PLWH), and has continued working in HIV care and research ever since. His dissertation explores how mental health, substance use, and social factors shape HIV medication adherence in a sample of PLWH in Cape Town, South Africa.

Currently, Chris is a Research Program Director at the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University. In this role, he oversees a portfolio of HIV care and treatment studies across both domestic and international contexts. He brings over a decade of experience in clinical research in academic and healthcare settings, and his interests broadly center on HIV, substance use, LGBTQ+ mental health, and global mental health. Chris is also an adjunct lecturer at Columbia School of Social Work and NYU Silver School of Social Work.

When not in the office or studying, Chris is an avid runner, traveler, and unofficial NYC dessert expert. He lives in Manhattan’s Lower East Side with his husband and their golden retriever/border collie mix.