Lisette T. Jacobson, Ph.D., MPA, M.A.

Professional Background

Dr. Lisette Jacobson is an associate professor in the Department of Population Health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. She has a secondary appointment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology-Wichita. She holds two master’s degrees (one in public administration and one in psychology) and a Ph.D. in psychology. After receiving her Ph.D., she completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Women's Health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita.

Dr. Jacobson’s research interests include translational and behavioral research in women’s health focusing on diabetes education and prevention, breastfeeding, pre- and post-natal health, and health equity using a lifecourse approach within community settings. Dr. Jacobson and her team have designed, implemented and evaluated digital public health programs targeting medically underserved pregnant women in rural locations. She is the recipient of several grants and contracts including the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), March of Dimes, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment leading to peer-reviewed publications and presentations. She is also the principal investigator on several ongoing clinical trials. Dr. Jacobson is an active member of NIH's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN). The ECHO ISPCTN's primary aim is to bring cutting-edge, innovative clinical trials to rural and underserved children and their families across 18 states in the network including the state of Kansas.

Dr. Jacobson teaches in the Master’s of Public Health (MPH) degree program. She has taught various graduate and undergraduate courses and chaired multiple student thesis projects to successful completion. She has served as chair of the University of Kansas School of Medicine’s Research Committee and MPH Admissions Committee and continues serving on the KU School of Medicine’s Faculty Council. She has also served in leadership positions with the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Wichita Area Breastfeeding Coalition, and ChildCare Aware of Kansas. Prior to her career in academia, Dr. Jacobson was a human resources and public finance manager in the public and private sectors for more than 10 years. She has travelled around the world and has lived in places such as the Netherlands and Japan.

• PhD, Psychology, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Public Health/Women's Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS

• Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, Lactation Education Resources (LER)
• Diabetes Prevention Program Certified Lifestyle Coach, Emory University

Research

Overview

Dr. Jacobson’s most significant contribution to the literature was her first-authored publication titled “Breastfeeding history and risk of stroke among parous postmenopausal women in the Women’s Health Initiative.” Study results showed that breastfeeding was associated with a lower risk of stroke among postmenopausal women after adjustment for multiple stroke risk factors and lifestyle variables; this association was strongest among non-Hispanic Black women.

Dr. Jacobson is also the principal investigator of the eMOMS^TM study (electronic Monitoring Of Mom’s Schedule). This digital intervention is based on the national Diabetes Prevention Program coupled with an evidence-based breastfeeding curriculum to determine its efficacy among pregnant and postpartum women with elevated BMI. Program objectives include a reduction in weight retention and increase in breastfeeding through 6 months postpartum. This cutting-edge research will help reproductive age women with elevated BMI reduce maternal risk for metabolic disease, impede the cycle of obesity as a familial diabetes risk factor and eliminate chronic disease disparities.

Key Publications:
Jacobson LT, Befort C, Okut H, Zackula R, Dowling J, Stern JE, Robbins DC, Wolfe MD, Kluding P, Grainger DA. Electronic Monitoring Of Mom's Schedule (eMOMS), a feasibility randomized controlled trial targeting postpartum weight retention and lactation duration among populations with overweight/obesity. Journal of Human Lactation. 2024 Nov 26. doi: 10.1177/08903344241297604. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39588730.

Jacobson LT, Bakhache N, Dowling J, Okut H, Zackula R, Robbins DC, Stern JE, Grainger DA, Befort C. Electronic Monitoring Of Mom’s Schedule (eMOMS^TM): A Qualitative Study of Experiences in a Lifestyle Change Program with Lactation Support. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2023. Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1177/08901171231189540. PMID: 37461383.

Jacobson LT, Wolfe M, Zackula R, Okut H, Hampton FE, Grainger DA, Griebel-Thompson AK, Kong KL, Befort C. Electronic Monitoring of Mom’s Schedule (eMOMS^TM): Recruitment of Pregnant Populations with Elevated BMI in a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2023. Aug;34:102254. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102254. eCollection 2023 Aug. PMID: 37292426; PMCID: PMC10244679.

Jacobson LT, Hade E, Collins TC, Margolis K, Waring ME, Van Horn LV, Silver B, Sattari M, Bird CE, Kimminau K, Wambach K, Stefanick ML. Breastfeeding History and Risk of Stroke among Parous Post-menopausal Women in the Women’s Health Initiative. Journal of American Heart Association. 2018;7(17): e008739. PMID: 30371157, PMCID: 6201437.