Joseph W. LeMaster, MD, MPH

Professional Background

Joseph W LeMaster, MD, MPH is a full Professor and Director of the Research Division 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 and completed residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center. 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 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 to 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 is the Chair of the North American Primary Care Research Group Committee (NAPCRG) on Advancing the Science of Family Medicine, a member of the NAPCRG Board and (from October 2021) the Director of the American Academy of Family Physician’s National Research Network. He is a practicing family physician in the University of Kansas Health system, with an emphasis on the care of refugees, and since 2014 has been the Medical Director/Local Health Officer for the Johnson County, Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

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

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

• Academy of Medical Educators, Member, 2018 - Present
• Department of Family Medicine Quality Improvement Committee, Member, 2017 - Present
• NIH Study Section ZRG1 NRCS V08, Ad-Hoc Member, 2017 - Present
• American Academy of Family Physicians, Co-Chair, 2015 - Present
• Arnold Gold Society, Member, 2015 - Present
• Committee for Advancing the Science of Family Medicine, Co-Chair, 2015 - Present
• Participatory Health Research Working Group, Co-Chair, 2015 - Present

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Research

Overview

Since 2002, Dr. LeMaster has conducted interventions, collaborating with community-based participatory partnerships that have focused on improving healthcare and disease prevention for adults investigating the effects of healthcare disparities among 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 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 used community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods, and 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. I use both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the success of our participatory processes and study outcomes.

• 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