Sharon M. Homan, Ph.D.
Vice President for Public Health
- Contact Sharon
- Call: 785-233-5443
Sharon M. Homan, Ph.D., Vice President for Public Health, oversees KHI's analysis of public and population health issues and guides KHI's effort to improve the capacity of the public health system in Kansas. Homan comes to KHI following a distinguished career at Saint Louis University (SLU) where she served as an associate professor, professor, and administrator. Her administrative posts included interim associate academic provost, director of the Division of Biostatistics and associate dean of the SLU School of Public Health. The subject areas that are of special interest to her include statistical methods and evaluation, maternal and child health and mental health. Her mental health research has been focused on substance abuse, family violence and homelessness.
Homan earned a Ph.D. in biostatistics and a master's degree in preventive medicine and environmental health from the University of Iowa. She earned her bachelor's degree from Quincy College, where she earned a double major in biology and chemistry, with minors in theology and mathematics. She is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Public Health Association. She received a special leadership award from the YWCA in 1994 and was nominated by the Archdiocesan Catholic Women for the Dorothy Day Justice Seeker Award in 1999. In 1996, she was named Saint Louis University Woman of the Year.
Recent Work
Testimony - Statewide Smoking Bans: A Research Perspective (2010 HB 2642)
In testimony to the House Health and Human Services Committee, KHI summarizes the research about the impact of smoke-free policies.
Testimony - Use of the Kansas Birth Record Data for Monitoring the Health of Mothers and Infants (2010 SB 448)
In testimony to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, KHI discusses how birth record data can be used to monitor the health of mothers and infants in the state.
Evaluation of the Maximizing Office Based Immunizations in Kansas Program
Maximizing Office Based Immunizations in Kansas (MOBI-KS) is an educational program designed to improve immunization rates at physician offices. KHI evaluated the program to assess its effectiveness and to identify processes that can be improved.
Evaluation of the MOBI-KS Program
KHI evaluated the Maximizing Office Based Immunizations in Kansas program, or MOBI-KS, to assess its effectiveness and to identify processes that can be improved.
Testimony - Economic Impact of Lawrence Smoke-free Ordinance
In testimony to the House Health and Human Services Committee, KHI discussed the results of a study that found Lawrence’s smoke-free ordinance had no impact on overall sales in the restaurant and bar industry.
Understanding the Health of Kansas Children
There are many serious risks to a child’s health. Health risks are influenced by individual, family, neighborhood, school and community factors, as well as the physical environment. Effective economic, educational and health policies are also important to reduce children’s risk for illness and injury.
Testimony - Economic Impact of Lawrence Smoke-Free Ordinance
In testimony to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, KHI found no evidence that the adoption of a smoke-free ordinance in Lawrence had a negative impact on overall restaurant and bar sales. KHI also found no studies in scientific, peer-reviewed journals that document a long-term, negative, community-wide impact on restaurants and bars following implementation of a smoking ban.
Economic Impact of Lawrence Smoke-Free Ordinance
There has been much debate about the impact of Lawrence's comprehensive smoke-free ordinance on the restaurant and bar industry. This KHI study indicates that the ordinance did not negatively affect the industry as a whole.