Joseph W. LeMaster, MD, MPH

Professional Background

Joseph W LeMaster, MD, MPH is a full Professor of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in Kansas City, Kansas. He grew up in Nampa, Idaho and received his undergraduate education at Northwest Nazarene University (Psychology) and Boise State University (Health Sciences). He attended medical school at the University of Kansas Medical Center, completing his clinical years at the Wichita campus in 1985. After completing a Family Medicine residency at John Peter Smith Hospital, from 1990-2000, he served as a physician and health system leader in hospitals and community health projects under the auspices of the United Mission to Nepal, based first in Okhaldhunga District, then in the capital city, Kathmandu. He received his MPH from the University of Washington in 2002, with a focus on epidemiology. Since returning to the University of Kansas 2011, he has worked with non-profit organizations and patient groups to engage primary care practices and implement practice-improvement interventions in the routine delivery of primary care, with a special emphasis on the needs of those with limited English proficiency. He was the Johnson County,KS Health Department Medical Director and Local Health Officer from 2014-2024. He is a practicing family physician in the University of Kansas Health System.

• BA, Psychology, Northwest Nazarene College
• BS, Health Sciences , Boise State University
• MD, Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas
• MPH, Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• Residency, Family Medicine , John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas

• Medical Doctor, Kansas Board of Healing Arts
• Medical Physician & Surgeon, Missouri Board of the Healing Arts

• Appointments, Promotion and Tenure Committee, Member, 2023-present, Member, 2023 - Present
• Arnold Gold Society, Member, 2015 - Present
• Accreditation Council for International Healthcare Education, President, 2012 - Present
• North American Primary Care Research Group, Chair, 2012 - 2015
• North American Primary Care Research Group, Member, 2002 - Present
• Alpha Omega Alpha, Chair, 1984 - Present

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Research

Overview

Since 2002, Dr. LeMaster has conducted interventions, collaborating in community-based participatory partnerships that have focused on improving healthcare and preventing disease. His research has investigated the effects of healthcare disparities among children and adults from under-represented minority backgrounds, especially those with limited English proficiency. He has conducted complex intervention studies across multiple clinical sites. He has served as principal investigator for intervention studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Missouri Foundation for Health, REACH Healthcare Foundation, the Healthcare Foundation of Greater KC, and Wyandotte Health Foundation. These studies have focused on improving cross-cultural communication skills among healthcare providers serving patients with limited English proficiency; promoting uptake of preventive care such as colon cancer screening in primary care clinics; and increasing physical activity, especially among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. He uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the success of our participatory processes and study outcomes.

• PB-iCRC: Multi-site Practice-Based Implementation of a ColoRectal Cancer screening intervention, National Cancer Institute, PI

• LeMaster, Joseph., W., Broadbridge, Carissa., L., Lumley, Mark., A., Arnetz, Judith., E., Arfken, Cynthia, Fetters, Michael., D., Jamil, Hikmet, Pole, Nnamdi, Arnetz, Bengt., B.. 2018. Acculturation and Post-Migration Psychological Symptoms Among Iraqi Refugees: A Path Analysis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, 88 (1), 38-47
• Kimminau, K., S, Jernigan, C, LeMaster, J, Aaronson, L., S, Christopher, M, Ahmed, S, Boivin, A, DeFino, M, Greenlee, R, Salvalaggio, G, Hendricks, D, Herbert, C, Mabachi, N., M, Macaulay, A, Westfall, J., M, Waitman, L., R. 2018. Patient vs. Community Engagement: Emerging Issues.. Medical care, 56 Suppl 10 Suppl 1, S53-S57
• MacFarlane, A, Galvin, R, O'Sullivan, M, McInerney, C, Meagher, E, Burke, D, LeMaster, J., W. 2017. Participatory methods for research prioritization in primary care: an analysis of the World Café approach in Ireland and the USA.. Family practice, 34 (3), 278-284
• Allen, Michele., L., Salsberg, Jon, Knot, Michaela, LeMaster, Joseph., W., Felzien, Maret, Westfall, John., M., Herbert, Carol., P., Vickery, Katherine, Culhane-Pera, Kathleen., A., Ramsden, Vivian., R., Zittleman, Linda, Martin, Ruth., Elwood, Macaulay, Ann., C.. 2017. Engaging with communities, engaging with patients: amendment to the NAPCRG 1998 Policy Statement on Responsible Research With Communities. FAMILY PRACTICE, 34 (3), 313-321
• Matisziw, Timothy., C., Nilon, Charles., H., Stanis, Sonja A. Wilhelm, LeMaster, Joseph., W., McElroy, Jane., A., Sayers, Stephen., P.. 2016. The right space at the right time: The relationship between children's physical activity and land use/land cover. LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING, 151, 21-32
• Kluding, Patricia., M., Pasnoor, Mamatha, Singh, Rupali, D'Silva, Linda., J., Yoo, Min, Billinger, Sandra., A., LeMaster, Joseph., W., Dimachkie, Mazen., M., Herbelin, Laura, Wright, Douglas., E.. 2015. Safety of Aerobic Exercise in People With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Single-Group Clinical Trial. PHYSICAL THERAPY, 95 (2), 223-234
• Lemaster, Joseph., W., Mueller, Michael., J., Reiber, Gayle., E., Mehr, David., R., Conn, Vicki, Madsen, Richard., W.. 2008. Promoting weight-bearing physical activity in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. DIABETES, 57, A48-A48
• LeMaster, J., W, Chanetsa, F, Kapp, J., M, Waterman, B., M. 2006. Racial disparities in diabetes-related preventive care: results from the Missouri Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.. Preventing chronic disease, 3 (3), A86
• LeMaster, JW, Reiber, GE, Smith, DG, Heagerty, PJ, Wallace, C. 2003. Daily weight-bearing activity does not increase the risk of diabetic foot ulcers. MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE, 35 (7), 1093-1099