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Elizabeth A. Ablah, Ph.D., MPH

Elizabeth Ablah portrait
Professor, Wichita - Population Health
eablah@kumc.edu

Professional Background

Dr. Elizabeth Ablah is a professor in the Department of Population Health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. Dr. Ablah received her Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and her PhD in Community Psychology from Wichita State University.

She has served as the director of Health of the Public, a required course for medical students, Clinical and Population-Based Research, an elective for medical students, and the Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) program. She teaches for the MPH and MSCR programs and conducts workshops in the community, nationally, and internationally.

Education and Training
  • BA, Women's Studies, St. Olaf Col.
  • MA, Community Psychology, Wichita State Univ.
  • MPH, Public Health, Univ. of Kansas
  • PhD, Community Psychology, Wichita State Univ.
Professional Affiliations
  • Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network, Steering Committee, Member, 2020 - Present
  • Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network, Worksite Work Group, Co-Chair, 2020 - Present
  • International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Policy and Environment Special Interest Group, Chair, 2019 - Present
  • University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Clinical and Population-Based Research elective - 1st year medical students, Clerkship Director, 2018 - Present
  • Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Transportation Advisory Committee, Public Health Representative, 2018 - Present
  • City of Wichita, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Member, 2017 - Present
  • NIOSH Healthier Workforce Center, External Advisory Committee, Member, 2017 - Present

Research

Overview

Dr. Ablah is an established community-based researcher with a focus on improving the health of populations. She has extensive experience in using community-based methods to engage hard-to-reach and marginalized populations, with the intent of improving equity. Her research interest is designing evidence-based interventions that emphasize policy, systems, and environmental strategies that improve health behaviors and outcomes in communities.

She has been awarded numerous grants and contracts related to improving health through prevention strategies and policy, systems, and environmental changes. These grants and contracts address worksite health (i.e. physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, food and beverage, tobacco, well-being/stress, worksite wellness foundation), environmental health, and dozens of other projects through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the Kansas Health Foundation, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, the Kansas Health Institute, among other funders.

Current Research and Grants
  • WorkWell KS: Phase III, Kansas Health Foundation, PI
Publications
  • Ablah, Elizabeth, Wilcox, Elizabeth., A., Honn, Allison. 2019. The Cons of Traditional Worksite Wellness Interventions and a Proposed Model. PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTS, 134 (4), 319-323
  • Ablah, Elizabeth, Lemon, Stephenie., C., Pronk, Nicolaas., P., Wojcik, Janet., R., Mukhtar, Qaiser, Grossmeier, Jessica, Pollack, Keshia., M., Whitsel, Laurie., P.. 2019. Opportunities for Employers to Support Physical Activity Through Policy. PREVENTING CHRONIC DISEASE, 16 (E84)
  • Ablah, Elizabeth, Marrow, Mary., Winston, Brown, Jack, Green, Sarah, Konda, Kurt, Gallagher, Lisa, Lee, Carla., A., Neuberger, John, Aschengrau, Ann. 2019. Private Well Water Practices Among Environmental Health Professionals in Kansas. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, 82 (3), 34-38
  • Ablah, Elizabeth, Umansky, Emily, Wilcox, Elizabeth., A., Usher, Jeff, Church, Jennifer, Barnes, Virginia. 2019. Innovative recruitment strategies for a comprehensive worksite wellness initiative. HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH, 34 (6), 569-577
  • Ablah, Elizabeth, Umansky, Emily, Wilcox, Elizabeth., A., Usher, Jeff, Church, Jennifer, Barnes, Virginia. 2019. Innovative recruitment strategies for a comprehensive worksite wellness initiative. HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH, 34 (6), 569-577
  • Ablah, Elizabeth, Lemon, Stephenie., C., Pronk, Nicolaas., P., Wojcik, Janet., R., Walker, Amanda, Grossmeier, Jessica, Pollack, Keshia., M., Whitsel, Laurie., P.. 2019. Worksite Policies for Promoting Physical Activity. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH PROMOTION, 33 (2), 314-315
  • Ablah, Elizabeth, Marrow, Mary., Winston, Brown, Jack, Honn, Allison. 2020. Analysis of Kansas Water Well Policies and Proposal of Nonpublic Household Water Well Recommendations. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES, 128 (2), 025001-1-8
  • Ablah, E, Magaña, L, Weist, EM, Biberman, D, Bentley, ME, Finnegan, JR, Petersen, D, Forde, M, Ocampo, M, Curran, J, Salgado de Snyder, VN. 2020. Development of an Evidence-based Global Health Concentration Competency Model for the Master of Public Health Degree. Public Health Reports