Yiota Kitsantas, Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Yiota Kitsantas, Ph.D. is the Chair of the Population Health and Social Medicine Department, Director of FAU Health Education Partnerships and Community Engagement, and Professor of Population Health and Social Medicine at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University. Prior to coming to FAU, Dr. Kitsantas served as Professor of Epidemiology/Biostatistics and Program Director of the Ph.D. Program in Health Services Research, at George Mason University, Department of Health Administration and Policy.

Dr. Kitsantas has extensive research experience in the fields of women and child health, especially using data analytics and large data sets collected at the state and national levels to address various public health issues pertaining to these populations. Dr. Kitsantas' research has been funded by both federal agencies and foundations. In the past, she has helped develop graduate programs in health administration, health informatics, and public health. Dr. Kitsantas currently serves on editorial boards, scientific merit review panels, and as a reviewer for various peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Kitsantas is the recipient of several teaching and research awards.

Education

• 1996: B.A. in Biology Queens College of the City University of New York
• 1999: M.S. in Health Sciences, James Madison University, Concentration: Epidemiology
• 2000: M.S. in Statistics, Florida State University
• 2003: Ph.D. in Statistics, Florida State University, Concentration: Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Work History

• 2023-Present: Professor and Chair (Tenured), Department of Population Health and Social Medicine, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
• 2023-Present: Director of Health Community Engagement, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
• 2023-Present: Director of FAU Health Education Partnerships, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
• 2023-Present: Affiliate and Graduate Faculty, College of Public Health, George Mason University
• 2016-2023: Professor (Tenured), College of Public Health, George Mason University
• 2018-2023: Program Director, Ph.D. Program in Health Services Research, College of Public Health, George Mason University
• 2010-2016: Associate Professor (Tenured), College of Public Health, George Mason University
• 2006-2010: Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), College of Public Health, George Mason University
• 2003-2006: Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Department of Mathematics, Statistics Program, East Carolina University

Scholarly Activity

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications

Refereed manuscript publications (*publications with students)4

• Kitsantas, P., Gimm, G., Aljoudi, S.M.* (2023). Treatment outcomes among pregnant women with cannabis use disorder. Addictive Behaviors, 144, 107723. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107723
• Kitsantas, P., Aljoudi, S.M., Baker*, K.M., Peppard, L., & Oh, K.M. (2023). Racial/ethnic differences in medication for addiction treatment for opioid use disorders among pregnant women in treatment facilities supported by state funds. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 148, 208960. doi:10.1016/j.josat.2023.208960
• Irvin, K.*, Kitsantas, P., Wojtusiak, J., Avramovic S., Xue, H. (2023). Assessing the impact of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Policy Guidance on Part D prescriptions among hospice patients. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, doi:10.1177/10499091231176048
• Xue, H., Lin, Y.*, Wang, L., Zhou, Y., Kitsantas, P., Wen, X. (2023). E-cigarette use during pregnancy and its association with adverse birth outcomes in the US. Preventive Medicine, 166, 107375. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107375
• Parekh, T.*, Gimm, G., & Kitsantas, P. (2023). Sexually transmitted infections in women of reproductive age by disability type. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 64(3), 393-404
• Booth, E.J.*, Kitsantas, P., Min, H., & Pollack, A. (2022). Disability and suicidal behaviors among women of reproductive age. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 25(6), 1009–1019.
• Booth, E.J*, Kitsantas, P., Min, H., & Pollack, A. (2022). Opioids and disability among women of reproductive age. Journal of Women's Health, 31(12), 1751–1762
• Kitsantas, P., Aljoudi, S.M.*, Gimm, G. (2022). Marijuana use in pregnant women with disabilities. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 26(2), 242-249.
• Gallo, S., Gahche, J., Kitsantas, P., Makwana, P., Wang, Y., Chen, X., & Rajbhandari-Thapa, J (2022). The use of vitamin D supplementation and the proportion meeting recommendations among infants participating in WIC nationally. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 54(6), 499-509.
• Betancourt, C.A.*, Kitsantas, P., Goldberg, D.G., & Hawks, B. (2021). Substance use relapse among Veterans at termination of treatment for substance use disorders. Military Medicine, usab280. Advance online publication. doi:10.1093/milmed/usab280
• Kitsantas, P., Aljoudi, S.M.*, Adams, A.R.*, & Booth, E.J.* (2021). Prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviors during pregnancy: Evidence from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 24(3): 473-481
• Goldberg, D.G., Soylu, T.G.*, Kitsantas, P., Grady, V., Elward, K., & Nichols, L. (2021). Burnout among primary care providers and staff: Evaluating the association with practice adaptive reserve and individual behaviors. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 36(5), 1222-1228.
• Wong, P.C.*, & Kitsantas, P. (2020). A review of maternal mortality and quality of care in the U.S. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 33(19), 3355-3367.
• Kitsantas, P., Gaffney, K., Nirmalrag, L.*, & Sari, M.* (2019). The influence of maternal life stressors on breastfeeding outcomes: A population-based study. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 32(11), 1869-1873.
• Gaffney, K.F., Kermer, D., Kitsantas, P., Brito, A., Pereddo, G.*, & Ramos, K.* (2019). Early life factors for overweight risk among infants of Hispanic immigrant mothers. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 33(1), 35-41.

Awards

• 2019-2021: Distinguished Mentoring Fellow at George Mason University (GMU)
• 2019: Nominated for the Career Connection Faculty Award for outstanding impact on students’ career goals, career plans, and graduate school preparation (GMU)
• 2014: Shirley S. Travis Habit of Excellence Award (GMU)
• 2014: College of Health and Human Services Master Teacher Award (GMU)
• 2014: George Mason University Teacher of Distinction Award
• 2014: Nominated for George Mason University Student Excellence Mentoring Award
• 2005: Harriot College Research Award for outstanding research and scholarly achievement, East Carolina University

Professional Memberships

• American Public Health Association, Member
• American Statistical Association, Member
• American College of Epidemiology (ACE), Member