The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS) proudly welcomes Dr. David Stupplebeen to its distinguished faculty. 

With a PhD in Public Health from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and an MPH in Community Health Education from San Francisco State University, Dr. Stupplebeen brings a wealth of experience and expertise to OPHS. His research covers a broad spectrum of public health issues, including racial/ethnic identity development and mental health for multiracial people living in Hawaiʻi; the relationship between racial grouping, housing and food insecurity, and chronic disease among adults living in Hawaiʻi; and the relationship between sexual minority status, sex, body mass index, and chronic disease outcomes among Californians. His recent work focuses on the relationship between tobacco product use, intersectional identities (racial/ethnic and sexual/gender minority status), and discrimination.

As a proud multiracial Native Hawaiian and graduate of UH Mānoa’s Office of Public Health Studies, Dr. Stupplebeen is committed to advancing the university’s goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian place of learning by fostering Native Hawaiian student success and community engagement, both inside and outside the classroom.

“I am truly thrilled and excited to be returning to UH Mānoa where I can continue to work with the different communities I belong to, and to make a difference for the people of Hawaiʻi and the LGBTQ+ community,” Dr. Stupplebeen expressed. 

During his tenure, Dr. Stupplebeen hopes to build a research program focusing on sexual and gender minorities in Hawaiʻi, an area that currently needs more attention. He envisions this program to provide research opportunities for students who are interested in working with the LGBTQ+ community in Hawaiʻi. Additionally, he hopes to continue to give back to the LGBTQ+ community through research support through his membership with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health’s Sexual and Gender Minority Workgroup. 

“We look forward to welcoming Dr. Stupplebeen back to Hawaiʻi and UH Mānoa,” notes Eric Hurwitz, Chair of the Office of Public Health Studies. “His community-based research will complement our already strong focus in this area. He’s a wonderful addition to our faculty!”