Nikki Keene Woods PhD, MPH, Certified in Public Health

Dr. Nikki Keene Woods is a Professor with tenure at Wichita State University in the Department of Public Health Sciences. She has earned master degrees in Behavioral Science and Public Health in addition to a PhD in Behavioral Psychology from the University of Kansas. She is a maternal, infant, and child health researcher and educator with an emphasis on addressing health disparities.

• Health Across the Lifespan, Health Literacy
• Maternal, Infant and Child Health
• Collaborative Community Health
• Obesity and Diabetes Prevention
• Social Determinants of Health
• Environmental Health
• Women's Health
• Health Services and Administration

• Health Education and Behavior
• Maternal, Infant and Child Health
• Health Services and Administration
• Health Across the Lifespan
• Community-based Health
• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Population Health Data Analytics

Selected list of publications:

• Ali U, Cure L, Lewis RK, Rattani A, Hill T, Keene Woods N. Examining rurality and social determinants of health among women with GDM: a 15-year comprehensive population analysis. BMC Womens Health. 2024 Aug 24;24(1):467. doi: 10.1186/s12905-024-03306-6. PMID: 39182118; PMCID: PMC11344292.
• Keene Woods N, Ali U, Medina M, Reyes J, Chesser AK. Health Literacy, Health Outcomes and Equity: A Trend Analysis Based on a Population Survey. J Prim Care Community Health. 2023 Jan-Dec;14:21501319231156132. doi: 10.1177/21501319231156132. PubMed PMID: 36852725; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10071098.
• Keene Woods N, Burkhart K, Peterson E, Hansford H, Medina M, Reyes J, Chesser AK. Validation of Electronically Administered Three-Question Health Literacy Screener and STOFHLA in Identifying Limited Health Literacy. Kansas Nurse. 2023 September; 1(3):20-23.
• Chesser A, Drassen Ham A, Keene Woods N. Assessment of COVID-19 Knowledge Among University Students: Implications for Future Risk Communication Strategies. Health Educ Behav. 2020 Aug;47(4):540-543. doi: 10.1177/1090198120931420. Epub 2020 May 27. PubMed PMID: 32460566.

• Infant Mortality and Race in Kansas: Associations with Women, Infants, and Children Services.
• “Same Room, Safe Place:” The Need for Professional Safe Sleep Unity Grows at the Expense of Families.
• Interpregnancy Intervals, Birth Outcomes, and Educational Needs.
• Health Literacy and Older Adults: A Systematic Review
• Assessment of COVID-19 Knowledge Among University Students: Implications for Future Risk Communication Strategies

Education                                                                                                      
2011, University of Kansas
Doctor of Philosophy in Behavioral Psychology

Dissertation: Examining the Effects of a Training and Technical Assistance Intervention on the Functioning of Eight Community Coalitions to Prevent Substance Abuse

2010, University of Kansas Medical Center
Master of Public Health

Thesis: Evaluating the Sustainability of Reported Health Behaviors Changes in Healthy Congregations II

2009, University of Kansas
Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science

Thesis: Examining the Effects of a Community Change Intervention in Two Midwestern Communities

2007, Wichita State University
Bachelor of Science

Major: Health Services Management and Community Development 

Academic Experience

1. Wichita State University, Professor with tenure, Public Health Sciences
2022- Present

1. Wichita State University, Associate Professor with tenure, Public Health Sciences
2017- 2022

2. Wichita State University, Assistant Professor (tenure-track)
2012- 2017

3. University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, Adjunct Faculty
2013- 2015

4. University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, Research staff (non-tenure track)
2010- 2012

 

 

Current grants:

a. Examining the Feasibility of a Wearable Device for Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring funded by the National Institutes of Health, $436,017, 2022- 2025 (Principal Investigator).

b. Improving Healthcare Language Access for Spanish Speakers in Kansas funded by Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health/Office of Minority Health, $375,000, 2022-2025 (Co-Investigator).

Completed grants:

a. COVID-19 Vaccine Equity for Guatemalan Indigenous Communities in Kansas funded by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, $250,000, 2022-2023 (Co-Investigator).

b. Women Involved Network (WIN for Kansas): Community Collaboration to Create Health Equity 

c. Engaging Language Professionals for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research with Latino Communities

National

• Grant Reviewer, National Institutes of Health (2024 – present)
• American Public Health Association Women’s Caucus, Membership Committee, Co-Chair (2018-2019)
• Association of Teachers of Maternal Child Health, Membership and Engagement Committee, Member (2017-2021)

State

• Member, Chairs Community, Association of University Programs in Health Administration (2024 – present)
• Kansas Public Health Association, Annual Conference Awards Chair (2018-2022)

Local

• Chair, Department of Public Health Sciences, Wichita State University (2024 – present)
• Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, Wichita State University (2022 – present)
• Member, College of Health Professions Executive Committee (2024 – present)
• Sedgwick County Community Health Assessment Advisory Council, Member.
• Women's Health Network of Kansas, Advisory Board Member. 
• Junior League of Wichita, Board Member.

Current and Recent Research Projects

R15 HD107526-01

Keene Woods (PI)

08/01/2022-07/31/2026

Examining the feasibility of a wearable device for fetal heart rate monitoring through interdisciplinary research

 

Office of Minority Health Grant

Showstack (PI), Role: co-principal investigator

08/01/2023-05/31/2024

Improving Healthcare Language Access for Spanish Speakers in Kansas

 

Research Grant, Wichita State University                           

Hill (PI), Role: co-investigator

10/01/2020-09/30/2023                                                        

To Reduce Obesity Among Vulnerable Populations and Improve Health Literacy as a Mechanism among Health Care Providers for Behavior Change

 

Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute                

Chesser (PI), Role: co-investigator                                                                                                 

12/01/2018-11/30/2020

Women Involved Network (WIN for Kansas): Community Collaboration to Create Health Equity