Sarah F. Kessler, PhD, MPH

Professional Background

Dr. Sarah Finocchario Kessler is Director of the Research Division in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and leads the Community Engagement and Outreach Core for the Kansas Center for Implementation Science at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She earned her doctorate in International Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

• BA, Psychology, Loyola Univ. in New Orleans
• MPH, Reproductive Health, Univ. of California-Los Angele
• PhD, International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas

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Research

Overview

Dr. Kessler's research focuses on designing, evaluating, and implementing evidence-based interventions to improve health outcomes and advance health outcomes in underserved communities locally and globally. Her work spans implementation science, HIV, maternal and child health, rural health, and community-engaged research. She has led the development and evaluation of digital health interventions to improve HIV prevention and treatment, cancer screening, and care coordination in resource-constrained settings.
In Kansas, Dr. Kessler partners with rural primary care practices, health systems, public health agencies, and community organizations to improve access to care and strengthen community health infrastructure. Her research includes the integration of evidence-based interventions into primary care settings, development of community health worker programs, and leadership of federally funded initiatives to improve health outcomes in rural and underserved communities.
Through both her domestic and global research, Dr. Kessler is committed to building sustainable partnerships and developing scalable solutions that improve healthcare delivery and advance health.

• Kansas Center for Implementation Science, NIH

• Finocchario-Kessler S, Goggin K, Wexler C, Maloba M, Gautney B, Khamadi S, Lwembe R, Babu S, Babu M. 2023. Cost-effectiveness of incorporating the HIV Infant Tracking System (HITSystem) into standard of care early infant diagnosis of HIV services in Kenya
• Mokua S, Maloba M, Wexler C, Goggin K, Staggs V, Mabachi N, Maosa N, Babu S, Hurley E, Finocchario-Kessler S. 2022. Evaluating the efficacy of the HITSystem 2.1 to improve PMTCT retention and maternal viral suppression in Kenya: Study protocol of a cluster-randomized trial.. PloS one, 17 (7), e0263988
• Finocchario-Kessler S, Maloba M, Brown M, Gautney B, Goggin K, Wexler C, Mabachi N, Odeny B, Lagat S, Koech S, Dariotis JK, Odeny TA. 2019. Adapting the HIV Infant Tracking System to Support Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Kenya: Protocol for an Intervention Development Pilot Study in Two Hospitals.. JMIR research protocols, 8 (6), e13268
• Wexler C, Kamau Y, Halder R, Brown M, Maloba M, Mabachi N, Sandbulte M, Gautney B, Goggin K, Odeny T, Finocchario-Kessler S. 2019. "Closing the Gap": Provider Recommendations for Implementing Birth Point of Care HIV Testing.. AIDS and behavior, 23 (4), 1073-1083
• Goggin K, Mindry D, Beyeza-Kashesya J, Finocchario-Kessler S, Wanyenze R, Nabiryo C, Wagner G. 2014. "Our hands are tied up": current state of safer conception services suggests the need for an integrated care model.. Health care for women international, 35 (7-9), 990-1009
• Brown Melinda, Maloba May, Wexler Catherine, Mabachi Natabhona, Koech Sharon, Lagat Silas, Kamau Yvonne, Goggin Kathy, Gautney Brad, Finocchario-Kessler Sarah. 2021. Utility and acceptability of text messages for PMTCT: a qualitative assessment of user experiences
• Finocchario-Kessler S, Wanyenze R, Mindry D, Beyeza-Kashesya J, Goggin K, Nabiryo C, Wagner G. 2014. "I may not say we really have a method, it is gambling work": knowledge and acceptability of safer conception methods among providers and HIV clients in Uganda.. Health care for women international, 35 (7-9), 896-917