Reuben N. Robbins is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology (in Psychiatry) at Columbia University and a former postdoctoral fellow at theHIV Center. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Fordham University and completed his internship at the University of Florida. Dr. Robbins brings his expertise in individual, couples and group psychotherapy, as well as adult and child neuropsychological assessment to the HIV Center.

Drawing on his clinical work, Dr. Robbins is interested in developing and testing technologically-based interventions that can promote positive health outcomes among those living with HIV. He is a Co-Investigator on the “Masivukeni: A Multimedia ART Adherence Intervention for Resource-Limited Settings” study, which is an intervention delivered via computer using multimedia and interactive activities to engage patients and counselors. Masivukeni aims to empower HIV patients to be active participants in their HIV treatment and consistently take their HIV medications, and enable counselors to deliver consistent health messages and effectively engage patients in learning about HIV and antiretroviral therapy.

Dr. Robbins is also the Principal Investigator on the study “Using Smartphones to Improve HIV Outcomes: An App to Detect Neurocognitive Impairment.” This project is testing out a novel, smartphone app that simplifies and automates components of the screening process for HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. Dr. Robbins hopes this app can empower all levels of HIV care providers to conduct neurocognitive screenings and make routine screening for neurocognitive impairment easier and more accessible to HIV clinics in resource-limited settings.

Dr. Robbins is also actively involved in the NY & NJ AIDS Training and Education Center and the Columbia University HIV Mental Health Training Project. Dr. Robbins provides training to HIV care providers throughout New York State on the psychosocial and neuropsychiatric aspects of HIV.