Elly L. Leavens, Ph.D.

Professional Background

Dr. Leavens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Leavens received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University and completed her clinical internship at the Charleston Consortium at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Leavens completed a TL1 post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Broadly, her research focuses on tobacco regulatory science and investigates mechanisms that contribute to tobacco use and tobacco-related health inequities.

• BA, Psychology, Saint Louis University
• MS, Clinical Psychology, Oklahoma State University
• PhD, Clinical Psychology, Oklahoma State University
• Internship, Clinical Psychology, Charleston Consortium/Medical Univsersity of South Carolina
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Population Health, University of Kansas Medical Center

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board

• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Treatment Research Network Education Subcommittee, Chair, 2025 - Present
• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Treatment Research Network Harm Reduction Workgroup, Chair, 2025 - Present
• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Treatment Research Network Education Subcommittee, Member, 2023 - 2025
• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Expert Reviewer, 2022 - 2022
• Kansas Youth Vaping Task Force, Discipline and cessation subgroup, Chair, 2020 - Present
• Kansas Youth Vaping Task Force, Vaping ECHO for Education, Member, 2020 - Present
• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Abstract reviewer, 2019 - Present

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Research

Overview

Dr. Leavens is an Assistant Professor within the University of Kansas School of Medicine Department of Population Health. Her research focuses broadly on the assessment of tobacco regulatory policies and the impact on tobacco-related health inequities. Specifically, her research investigates tobacco control policies with the goal of maximizing public health and reducing tobacco-related health disparities. In addition, Dr. Leavens serves on the hub team for the Kansas Vaping ECHO for Education, a state-wide initiative to equip middle and high schools across the state with evidence-based strategies for addressing youth tobacco and nicotine use.

• Impact of e-cigarette nicotine concentration on compensation, cigarette use, and biomarkers of exposure and harm in African American and White smokers, NIH/NIDA, PI
• The Impact of Menthol Flavoring on Switching in Adult Menthol Smokers, NIH/NIDA

• Leavens, Eleanor ., LS, Wagener, Theodore., L. 2024. E-Cigarettes and FDA Nicotine Cap. JAMA, 331 (4), 358-359. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.24521
• Leavens, Eleanor., LS, Mayo, Matthew ., S, Brown, Alexandra., R, Cox, Lisa., Sanderson, Ellerbeck, Edward., F, Ahluwalia, Jasjit., S, Nollen, Nicole., L. 2023. Early Treatment Response in Black Smokers Undergoing Pharmacotherapy for Smoking Cessation: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 6 (9). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2809729
• Leavens, Eleanor., LS, Lambart, Leah, Diaz, Francisco., J, Wagener, Theodore., L, Ahluwalia, Jasjit., S, Benowitz, Neal, Nollen, Nicole., L. 2023. Nicotine Delivery and Changes in Withdrawal and Craving During Acute Electronic Cigarette, Heated Tobacco Product, and Cigarette Use Among a Sample of Black and White People Who Smoke. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntad247
• Funk, Olivia., L, Nollen, Nicole., L, Wagener, Theodore., L, Ahluwalia, Jasjit., S, Mayo, Matthew., S, Mahmud, Kazi., Farhad, Lambart, Leah, Leavens, Eleanor., LS. 2023. Concurrent Choice Assessment of Preference and Substitutability of E-cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products for Combustible Cigarettes Among African American and White Smokers. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 25 (8), 1505-15-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntad052
• Leavens, Eleanor L. S., Nollen, Nicole., L., Ahluwalia, Jasjit., S., Mayo, Matthew., S., Rice, Myra, Brett, Emma, I, Pulvers, Kim. 2022. Changes in dependence, withdrawal, and craving among adult smokers who switch to nicotine salt pod-based e-cigarettes. ADDICTION, 117 (1), 207-215. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15597
• Wagener, T., L, Avery, J, Leavens ELS, Simmons, K. 2020. Associated Changes in E-cigarette Puff Duration and Cigarettes Smoked Per Day.. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
• Leavens, Eleanor, Roberts, Jordan, Faseru, Babalola, Thompson, Mark, Denes-Collar, Karin, Shah, Hina. 2022. Development and implementation of the ECHO model in a school setting to address youth electronic cigarette use in Kansas: A protocol. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1057600
• Wagener, T., L, Leavens ELS, Mehta, T, Hale, J, Shihadeh, A, Eissenberg, T, Halquist, M, Brinkman, M., C, Johnson, A., L, Floyd, E., L, Ding, K, El Hage, R, Salman, R. 2020. Impact of flavors and humectants on waterpipe tobacco smoking topography, subjective effects, toxicant exposure and intentions for continued use.. Tobacco control. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055509
• Leavens ELS, Nollen, N., L, Ahluwalia, J., S, Mayo, M., S, Rice, M, Brett, E., I, Pulvers, K. 2021. Changes in dependence, withdrawal, and craving among adult smokers who switch to nicotine salt pod-based e-cigarettes.. Addiction (Abingdon, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15597
• Leavens ELS, Morgan, T., L, Brett, E., I, Patzkowsky, K, Son, J, Molina, N, Eissenberg, T, Shihadeh, A, Leffingwell, T., R, Wagener, T., L. 2020. Concurrent Alcohol Use and Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: Smoking Topography, Toxicant Exposure, and Abuse Liability.. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 22 (2), 280-287. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntz032