Elly L. Leavens, Ph.D.

Professional Background

Dr. Leavens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Leavens received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University and completed her clinical internship at the Charleston Consortium at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Leavens completed a TL1 post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Broadly, her research focuses on tobacco regulatory science and investigates mechanisms that contribute to tobacco use and tobacco-related health inequities.

• BA, Psychology, Saint Louis University
• MS, Clinical Psychology, Oklahoma State University
• PhD, Clinical Psychology, Oklahoma State University
• Internship, Clinical Psychology, Charleston Consortium/Medical Univsersity of South Carolina
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Population Health, University of Kansas Medical Center

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board

• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Conference Program Planning Committee, Member, 2026 - Present
• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Treatment Research Network Education Subcommittee, Chair, 2025 - Present
• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Treatment Research Network Harm Reduction Workgroup, Chair, 2025 - Present
• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Treatment Research Network Education Subcommittee, Member, 2023 - 2025
• Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Expert Reviewer, 2022 - 2022
• Kansas Youth Vaping Task Force, Discipline and cessation subgroup, Chair, 2020 - Present
• Kansas Youth Vaping Task Force, Vaping ECHO for Education, Member, 2020 - Present

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Research

Overview

Dr. Leavens is an Assistant Professor within the University of Kansas School of Medicine Department of Population Health. Her research focuses broadly on the assessment of tobacco regulatory policies and the impact on tobacco-related health inequities. Specifically, her research investigates tobacco control policies with the goal of maximizing public health and reducing tobacco-related health disparities. In addition, Dr. Leavens serves on the hub team for the Kansas Vaping ECHO for Education, a state-wide initiative to equip middle and high schools across the state with evidence-based strategies for addressing youth tobacco and nicotine use.

• Impact of e-cigarette nicotine concentration on compensation, cigarette use, and biomarkers of exposure and harm in African American and White smokers, NIH/NIDA, PI
• The Impact of Menthol Flavoring on Switching in Adult Menthol Smokers, NIH/NIDA

• Leavens Eleanor LS, Wagener Theodore L. 2024. E-Cigarettes and FDA Nicotine Cap. JAMA, 331 (4), 358-359. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.24521
• Leavens Eleanor LS, Mayo Matthew S, Brown Alexandra R, Cox Lisa Sanderson, Ellerbeck Edward F, Ahluwalia Jasjit S, Nollen Nicole L. 2023. Early Treatment Response in Black Smokers Undergoing Pharmacotherapy for Smoking Cessation: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 6 (9). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2809729
• Leavens Eleanor LS, Lambart Leah, Diaz Francisco J, Wagener Theodore L, Ahluwalia Jasjit S, Benowitz Neal, Nollen Nicole L. 2023. Nicotine Delivery and Changes in Withdrawal and Craving During Acute Electronic Cigarette, Heated Tobacco Product, and Cigarette Use Among a Sample of Black and White People Who Smoke. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntad247
• Funk Olivia L, Nollen Nicole L, Wagener Theodore L, Ahluwalia Jasjit S, Mayo Matthew S, Mahmud Kazi Farhad, Lambart Leah, Leavens Eleanor LS. 2023. Concurrent Choice Assessment of Preference and Substitutability of E-cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products for Combustible Cigarettes Among African American and White Smokers. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 25 (8), 1505-15-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntad052
• Leavens, Eleanor L. S., Nollen Nicole L, Ahluwalia Jasjit S, Mayo Matthew S, Rice Myra, Brett, Emma, I, Pulvers Kim. 2022. Changes in dependence, withdrawal, and craving among adult smokers who switch to nicotine salt pod-based e-cigarettes. ADDICTION, 117 (1), 207-215. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15597
• Wagener TL, Avery J, Leavens ELS, Simmons K. 2020. Associated Changes in E-cigarette Puff Duration and Cigarettes Smoked Per Day.. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
• Leavens Eleanor, Roberts Jordan, Faseru Babalola, Thompson Mark, Denes-Collar Karin, Shah Hina. 2022. Development and implementation of the ECHO model in a school setting to address youth electronic cigarette use in Kansas: A protocol. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1057600
• Wagener TL, Leavens ELS, Mehta T, Hale J, Shihadeh A, Eissenberg T, Halquist M, Brinkman MC, Johnson AL, Floyd EL, Ding K, El Hage R, Salman R. 2020. Impact of flavors and humectants on waterpipe tobacco smoking topography, subjective effects, toxicant exposure and intentions for continued use.. Tobacco control. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055509
• Leavens ELS, Nollen NL, Ahluwalia JS, Mayo MS, Rice M, Brett EI, Pulvers K. 2021. Changes in dependence, withdrawal, and craving among adult smokers who switch to nicotine salt pod-based e-cigarettes.. Addiction (Abingdon, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15597
• Leavens ELS, Morgan TL, Brett EI, Patzkowsky K, Son J, Molina N, Eissenberg T, Shihadeh A, Leffingwell TR, Wagener TL. 2020. Concurrent Alcohol Use and Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: Smoking Topography, Toxicant Exposure, and Abuse Liability.. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 22 (2), 280-287. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntz032