PhD Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD

Certificate in Maternal and Child Health, Department of Population & Family Sciences, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD

MPH Community Health- Epidemiology, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, Saint Louis, MO

BS Biology, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA

Biography

Kesha Baptiste-Roberts, PhD, MPH is an Associate Professor/Interim Chair for Behavioral Health in the Public Health Program at Morgan State University, School of Community Health and Policy. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Juniata College, a Masters in Public Health degree from Saint Louis University and she completed a Maternal and Child Health Certificate in addition to PhD and postdoctoral training in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Baptiste-Roberts is an accomplished researcher having authored or co-authored over 25 scientific publications including journal articles and book chapters. She is the co-editor of a book titled “Obesity in Pregnancy”. Dr. Baptiste-Roberts has published research in the areas of maternal and child health, women’s health, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and racial/ethnic health disparities. Her early work was primarily focused on pregnancy-related factors and their influence on cardiometabolic outcomes for both mother and offspring along the life-course. Her current research efforts are focused on health among sexual minority women and substance abuse. She is the 2021 recipient of the Abraham Lilienfeld Award from the Epidemiology Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) which recognizes excellence in teaching of epidemiology over the course of a career. This award is given in memory of Dr. Abraham Lilienfeld, an outstanding teacher, scholar, and former chair of the epidemiology department at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She has held leadership roles in several national organizations including the American Public Health Association (APHA), where she served as a governing councilor and is currently serving a second term as a section councilor and co-chair of the program committee for the Epidemiology section. She is a past president of the Society of the Analysis of African American Public Health Issues (SAAPHI). She has also served as an executive committee member on the Sankofa Collaborative, a collaborative of public health leaders focused on providing a forum to promote the health of minority women affected by HIV through research, policy, advocacy, and social justice.

Selected Publications

Baptiste-Roberts, K., Werts, N., Coleman, K.M., Hossain, M. (2021). Religious beliefs, treatment seeking and treatment completion among persons with substance abuse problems. Addiction and Health, 13(1), 9-17 doi: org/10.22122/ahj.v13i1.293

Dorsey-Elson, L., Chavis, C., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Bista, K., Tannouri, A., Oni, A., Rockward, M., Allen-Milton, S., Kinyua, A., Pratt-Harris, N., Brunson, D.J., Efe, S. (2021). Teaching and learning as CANVAS Ambassadors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Faculty experiences at one Historically Black College and University. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 10 (1), 1-15

Baptiste-Roberts, K., & Leviton, A. (2020). Caffeine exposure during pregnancy: Is it safe?. Seminars in fetal & neonatal medicine, 25(6), 101174.

Baptiste-Roberts, K., Hossain, M. (2018). Socioeconomic disparities and self-reported substance abuse problems. Addiction and Health,10(2), 112-122

Baptiste-Roberts, K., Oranuba, E., Werts, N., & Edwards, L. V. (2017). Addressing Health Care Disparities Among Sexual Minorities. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am, 44(1), 71-80. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2016.11.003

Baptiste-Roberts K., Bronner, Y., Nicholson, W.K. (2015). Adoption of a healthy lifestyle following gestational diabetes mellitus. Current Nutrition Reports, 4(3),259-264

Bicking Kinsey, C., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Zhu, J., & Kjerulff, K. H. (2015a). Effect of multiple previous miscarriages on health behaviors and health care utilization during subsequent pregnancy. Womens Health Issues, 25(2), 155-161. doi:10.1016/j.whi.2014.11.008

Bicking Kinsey, C., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Zhu, J., & Kjerulff, K. H. (2015b). Effect of previous miscarriage on depressive symptoms during subsequent pregnancy and postpartum in the first baby study. Matern Child Health J, 19(2), 391-400. doi:10.1007/s10995-014-1521-0

Bicking Kinsey, C., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Zhu, J., & Kjerulff, K. H. (2014). Effect of miscarriage history on maternal-infant bonding during the first year postpartum in the first baby study: a longitudinal cohort study. BMC Womens Health, 14, 83. doi:10.1186/1472-6874-14-83

Kinsey, C. B., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Zhu, J., & Kjerulff, K. H. (2014). Birth-related, psychosocial, and emotional correlates of positive maternal-infant bonding in a cohort of first-time mothers. Midwifery, 30(5), e188-194. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2014.02.006

Kraschnewski, J. L., Chuang, C. H., Downs, D. S., Weisman, C. S., McCamant, E. L., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Kjerulff, K. H. (2013). Association of prenatal physical activity and gestational weight gain: results from the first baby study. Womens Health Issues, 23(4), e233-238. doi:10.1016/j.whi.2013.04.004

Bicking Kinsey, C., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Zhu, J., & Kjerulff, K. H. (2013). Effect of previous miscarriage on the maternal birth experience in the First Baby Study. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 42(4), 442-450. doi:10.1111/1552-6909.12216

Nicholson, W., Wang, N. Y., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Chang, Y. T., & Powe, N. R. (2013). Association between adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels at eight to fourteen weeks gestation and maternal glucose tolerance: the Parity, Inflammation, and Diabetes Study. J Womens Health (Larchmt), 22(3), 259-266. doi:10.1089/jwh.2012.3765

Baptiste-Roberts, K., Nicholson, W. K., Wang, N. Y., & Brancati, F. L. (2012). Gestational diabetes and subsequent growth patterns of offspring: the National Collaborative Perinatal Project. Matern Child Health J, 16(1), 125-132. doi:10.1007/s10995-011-0756-2

Baptiste-Roberts, K., Ghosh, P., & Nicholson, W. K. (2011). Pregravid physical activity, dietary intake, and glucose intolerance during pregnancy. J Womens Health (Larchmt), 20(12), 1847-1851. doi:10.1089/jwh.2010.2377

Gary-Webb, T. L., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Pham, L., Wesche-Thobaben, J., Patricio, J., Pi-Sunyer, F. X., Look AHEAD Research Group. (2011). Neighborhood socioeconomic status, depression, and health status in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study. BMC Public Health, 11, 349. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-349

Nicholson, W., & Baptiste-Roberts, K. (2011). Oral hypoglycaemic agents during pregnancy: The evidence for effectiveness and safety. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol, 25(1), 51-63. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2010.10.018

Gary-Webb, T. L., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Pham, L., Wesche-Thobaben, J., Patricio, J., Pi-Sunyer, F. X., Brown, A.F., Jones, L., Brancati, F.L., Look AHEAD Research Group. (2010). Neighborhood and weight-related health behaviors in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study. BMC Public Health, 10, 312. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-312

Golden, S. H., Bennett, W. L., Baptist-Roberts, K., Wilson, L. M., Barone, B., Gary, T. L., . . . Nicholson, W. K. (2009). Antepartum glucose tolerance test results as predictors of type 2 diabetes mellitus in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Gend Med, 6 Suppl 1, 109-122. doi:10.1016/j.genm.2008.12.002

Baptiste-Roberts, K., Barone, B. B., Gary, T. L., Golden, S. H., Wilson, L. M., Bass, E. B., & Nicholson, W. K. (2009). Risk factors for type 2 diabetes among women with gestational diabetes: a systematic review. Am J Med, 122(3), 207-214 e204. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.09.034

Atta, M. G., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Brancati, F. L., & Gary, T. L. (2009). The natural course of microalbuminuria among African Americans with type 2 diabetes: a 3-year study. Am J Med, 122(1), 62-72. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.07.023

Baptiste-Roberts, K., Salafia, C. M., Nicholson, W. K., Duggan, A., Wang, N. Y., & Brancati, F. L. (2009). Gross placental measures and childhood growth. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med, 22(1), 13-23. doi:10.1080/14767050802415728

Baptiste-Roberts, K., Salafia, C. M., Nicholson, W. K., Duggan, A., Wang, N. Y., & Brancati, F. L. (2008). Maternal risk factors for abnormal placental growth: the national collaborative perinatal project. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 8, 44. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-8-44

Nicholson, W. K., Wilson, L. M., Witkop, C. T., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Bennett, W. L., Bolen, S., Barone, B.B., Golden, S.H., Gary, T.L., Neale, D.M., Bass, E. B. (2008). Therapeutic management, delivery, and postpartum risk assessment and screening in gestational diabetes. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep)(162), 1-96.

Baptiste-Roberts, K., Gary, T. L., Beckles, G. L., Gregg, E. W., Owens, M., Porterfield, D., & Engelgau, M. M. (2007). Family history of diabetes, awareness of risk factors, and health behaviors among African Americans. Am J Public Health, 97(5), 907-912. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.077032

Asao, K., Kao, W. H., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Bandeen-Roche, K., Erlinger, T. P., & Brancati, F. L. (2006). Short stature and the risk of adiposity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes in middle age: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 1988-1994. Diabetes Care, 29(7), 1632-1637. doi:10.2337/dc05-1997

Baptiste-Roberts, K., Gary, T. L., Bone, L. R., Hill, M. N., & Brancati, F. L. (2006). Perceived body image among African Americans with type 2 diabetes. Patient Educ Couns, 60(2), 194-200. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2005.01.004

Gary, T. L., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Crum, R. M., Cooper, L. A., Ford, D. E., & Brancati, F. L. (2005). Changes in depressive symptoms and metabolic control over 3 years among African Americans with type 2 diabetes. Int J Psychiatry Med, 35(4), 377-382. doi:10.2190/BQ22-4HU0-P6EK-L7YX

Bacak, S. J., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Amon, E., Ireland, B., & Leet, T. (2005). Risk factors for neonatal mortality among extremely-low-birth-weight infants. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 192(3), 862-867. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2004.07.029

Hill-Briggs, F., Gary, T. L., Baptiste-Roberts, K., & Brancati, F. L. (2005). Thirty-six-item short-form outcomes following a randomized controlled trial in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 28(2), 443-444.

Gary, T. L., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Gregg, E. W., Williams, D. E., Beckles, G. L., Miller, E. J., 3rd, & Engelgau, M. M. (2004). Fruit, vegetable and fat intake in a population-based sample of African Americans. J Natl Med Assoc, 96(12), 1599-1605.

Published Reports

Nicholson WK, Wilson LM, Witkop CT, Baptiste-Roberts K, Bennett WL, Bolen S, Barone BB, Golden SH, Gary TL, Neale DM, Bass EB. Therapeutic Management, Delivery, and Postpartum Risk Assessment and Screening in Gestational Diabetes.  Evidence Report/ Technology Assessment No. 162 (Prepared by Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-02-0018) AHRQ Publication No. 08-E004. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. March 2008

Opinions/ Letters to the Editor

Baptiste-Roberts K. We need more public health workers to prepare for the next pandemic. Patriot News Penn Live. Posted June 10, 2020