Karen McDonnell, PhD

Karen A. McDonnell is an Associate Professor.

• Phone: (202) 467-2282
• Fax: (202) 416-0433
• Email: kmcdonne@gwu.edu

Professor McDonnell is a public health psychologist whose interest lies in applying innovative and responsive quantitative and qualitative methods to studies of the health and well-being of women, children and families. "To be truly happy in what you do, you need to believe in yourself, the work you are doing and the people you are helping," says Dr. McDonnell, whose areas of expertise include health education, health promotion, children's development, women's health, program planning and evaluation, mental health, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and public health policy

As director of SPHHS's Maternal and Child Health Program, Dr. McDonnell guides Master's degree students pursuing a multi-disciplinary approach to the health and well-being of women, children and families. In addition to her appointments at the School, she is an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she has also served as a consultant to its Women and Children's Health Policy Center, its Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence and its Center for Injury Research and Policy.

Education

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology/Biology), Hamilton College, 1991
Doctor of Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1998

Teaching

PubH 370-Maternal and Child Health I, Department of Prevention and Community Health
PubH 371-Maternal and Child Health II, Department of Prevention and Community Health
PubH 368-Women's Health, Department of Prevention and Community Health
PubH 372-Reproductive Health, Department of Prevention and Community Health
PubH 381-Child Development and Public Health, Department of Prevention and Community Health

Research

Dr. McDonnell currently conducts research on children's injury prevention, and the multiple factors affecting quality of life among women with HIV, women with chronic pelvic pain and survivors of domestic violence. She is also interested in measurement and analytic issues, and in integrating qualitative and quantitative research methods. Among recent activities, she is principal investigator for the CDC-funded study, Concept Mapping: An innovative method to measure child supervision, which uses novel analytic techniques with the broad goal of preventing injuries to children, and for a U.S. Department of Justice-funded study on the provision of services to human trafficking victims in metropolitan Washington, DC, and as a consultant on a CDC-funded study to develop innovative interventions to assist women involved in intimate partner violence. Please click here for a list of selected recent publications.

Community Service

Professor McDonnell works with several not-for-profit agencies and community health clinics that focus on the health and well-being of women, children and families in the metropolitan Washington, DC area and in Baltimore. She is a member of numerous professional organizations and a peer reviewer for several academic journals.

Departments

• Prevention and Community Health

Institutes & Centers

• Prevention Research Center

Research Activities

• Concept Mapping

Community Activities

• Concept Mapping
• Victims of Exploitation and Trafficking Assistance -DC Partnership Program

Publications

• Work climate and the age-hostile workplace
  Agnew J, Gee GC, Laflamme DJ, McDonnell KA, Curbow BA. Work climate and the age-hostile workplace. Kumashiro M, editor. Aging and Work. New York: Taylor & Francis; 2002:163-170.
• A review of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening interventions in older women
  Bowie, JV, Curbow, BA, Garza, MA, Dreyling, EK, Benz Scott, LA, McDonnell, KA. A review of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening interventions in older women. Cancer Control: Cancer, Culture and Literacy. 2005;12(Suppl.):58-69.
• Ending intimate partner violence: an application of the transtheoretical model
  Burke JG, Denison J, Gielen AC, McDonnell K, O'Campo P. Ending intimate partner violence: an application of the transtheoretical model. Am J Health Behav. 2004;28(2):122-133.
• The process of ending abuse in intimate relationships: a qualitative exploration of the transtheoretical model.
  Burke JG, Gielen AC, McDonnell KA, O'Campo P; Maman S. The process of ending abuse in intimate relationships: a qualitative exploration of the transtheoretical model. Violence Against Women. 2001;7(10):1144-1163.
• An introduction to concept mapping as a participatory public health research methodology
  Burke JG, O'Campo P, Peak G, Gielen A, McDonnell KA, Trochim W. An introduction to concept mapping as a participatory public health research methodology. Qual Health Research. 2005;15(10):1392-1410.
• Intimate partner violence, substance abuse, and HIV among low-income women
  Burke JG, Thieman LK, Gielen AC, O'Campo P, McDonnell KA. Intimate partner violence, substance abuse, and HIV among low-income women. Violence Against Women. 2005;11(9):1140-1161.
• Adolescent girls' perceptions of smoking risk and protective factors: Implications for message design.
  Curbow B, Bowie J, Binko J, Smith S, Dreyling E, McDonnell K. Adolescent girls' perceptions of smoking risk and protective factors: Implications for message design. J Child Adoles Subst. Under revision.
• Community-based cancer screening programs in older populations: making progress, but can we do better?
  Curbow B, Bowie J, Garza M, McDonnell KA, Scott LA, Coyne CA, Chiappelli T. Community-based cancer screening programs in older populations: making progress, but can we do better? Prev Med. 2004;38(6):676-693.
• Can a brief video intervention improve breast cancer clinical trial knowledge and beliefs?
  Curbow B, Fogarty L, McDonnell K, Chill J, Scott L. Can a brief video intervention improve breast cancer clinical trial knowledge and beliefs? Soc Sci Med. 2004;58(1):193-205.
• The role of physician characteristics in clinical trial acceptance: testing pathways of influence.
  Curbow B, Fogarty LA, McDonnell KA, Chill J, Scott LB. The role of physician characteristics in clinical trial acceptance: testing pathways of influence. J Health Commun. 2006;11(2):199-218.
• Assessing cardiovascular reactivity in working women with the social competence interview.
  Curbow B, McDonnell KA, Dreyling E, Hall AF, Fitzgerald S, Ewart CK. Assessing cardiovascular reactivity in working women with the social competence interview. Womens Health. 2005;41(1):51-68.
• Development of the Work-Family Interface Scale
  Curbow BA, McDonnell K, Spratt K, Griffin J, Agnew J. Development of the Work-Family Interface Scale. Early Child Res Q. 2003;18(3):310-330.
• Development of the Child Care Worker Job Stress Inventory
  Curbow BA, Spratt K, Ungaretti T, McDonnell K, Breckler S. Development of the Child Care Worker Job Stress Inventory. Early Child Res Q. 2000;15(4):515-536.
• Can 40 seconds of compassion reduce patient anxiety?
  Fogarty L, Curbow B, Wingard J, McDonnell K, Somerfield M. Can 40 seconds of compassion reduce patient anxiety? J Clinical Oncol. 1999;17(1):371-379.
• Are you positive? The relationship of minority composition to workplace drug and alcohol testing.
  Gee GC, Curbow BA, Ensminger ME, Griffin J, Laflamme DJ, McDonnell KA, LeGrande D, Agnew J. Are you positive? The relationship of minority composition to workplace drug and alcohol testing. J Drug Issues. 2005;35(4):755-778.
• Women's lives after an HIV positive diagnosis: disclosure and violence
  Gielen AC, McDonnell KA, Burke JG, O'Campo P. Women's lives after an HIV positive diagnosis: disclosure and violence. Matern Child Health J. 2000;4(2):111-120.
• Intimate partner violence, HIV status, and sexual risk reduction
  Gielen AC, McDonnell KA, O’Campo P. Intimate partner violence, HIV status, and sexual risk reduction. AIDS Behav. 2002;6(2):107-116.
• Suicide risk and mental health indicators: do they differ by abuse and HIV status?
  Gielen AC, McDonnell KA, O’Campo PJ, Burke JG. Suicide risk and mental health indicators: do they differ by abuse and HIV status? Womens Health Issues. 2005;15(2):89-95.
• Quality of life among women living with HIV: the importance of violence, social support, and self care behaviors.
  Gielen AC, McDonnell KA, Wu A, O'Campo P, Faden R. Quality of life among women living with HIV: the importance of violence, social support, and self care behaviors. Soc Sci Med. 2001;52:315-322.
• Improving employment outcomes for persons with severe mental illnesses.
  Lehman A, Goldberg R, Dixon L, McNary S, Postrado L, Hackman A, McDonnell KA. Improving employment outcomes for persons with severe mental illnesses. Arch Gen Psychiat. 2002;59(2):165-172.
• Project AWARE: Asian women advocating respect and empowerment
  McDonnell KA, Abdulla S. Project AWARE: Asian women advocating respect and empowerment. Washington: Asian Pacific Islander/Domestic Violence Resource Project (API/DVRP); 2001.
• Injury and Violence Prevention: Behavioral Science Theories, Methods, and Applications
  McDonnell KA, Burke JG, Gielen AC, O'Campo PJ. Intimate Partner Violence. Gielen AC, Sleet D, DiClemente RJ, editors. Injury and Violence Prevention: Behavioral Science Theories, Methods, and Applications. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 2006:323-345.
• An evaluation of cervical cancer screening programs for older women
  McDonnell KA, Curbow BA. An evaluation of cervical cancer screening programs for older women. Bowie J, Burke J, Coyne C, Curbow B, Garza M, Gielen A, et al., editors. Healthy Behaviors Project. Washington: Health Care Financing Administration; 2001.
• Does HIV status make a difference in the experience of lifetime abuse? Descriptions of lifetime abuse and its context among low-income urban women
  McDonnell KA, Gielen AC, O’Campo P. Does HIV status make a difference in the experience of lifetime abuse? Descriptions of lifetime abuse and its context among low-income urban women. J Urban Health. 2003;80(3):494-509.
• Abuse, HIV status and health related quality of life among low income women
  McDonnell KA, Gielen AC, O’Campo PR, Burke JG. Abuse, HIV status and health related quality of life among low income women. Qual Life Res. 2005;14:945-957.
• Measuring health related quality of life among women living with HIV
  McDonnell KA, Gielen AC, Wu A, Faden R, O’Campo P. Measuring health related quality of life among women living with HIV. Qual Life Res. 2001;9(8):931-940.
• Comparison of FIMR programs with other perinatal systems initiatives
  McDonnell KA, Strobino DM, Baldwin KM, Grason H, Misra DP. Comparison of FIMR programs with other perinatal systems initiatives. Matern Child Health J. 2004;8(4):231-238.
• The nationwide evaluation of Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) programs: Development and implementation of recommendations and conduct of essential maternal and child health services by FIMR programs
  Misra DP, Grason H, Liao M, Strobino DM, McDonnell KA, Allston AA. The nationwide evaluation of Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) programs: Development and implementation of recommendations and conduct of essential maternal and child health services by FIMR programs. Matern Child Health J. 2004;8(4):217-229.
• Uncovering neighborhood influences on intimate partner violence using concept mapping
  O’Campo P, Burke JG, Peak JL, McDonnell KA, Gielen AC. Uncovering neighborhood influences on intimate partner violence using concept mapping. J Epidemiol Commun H. 2005;59:603-608.
• Surviving physical and sexual abuse: what helps low-income women?
  O’Campo P, McDonnell KA, Gielen AC, Burke J. Surviving physical and sexual abuse: what helps low-income women? Patient Educ Couns. 2002;46(3):207-214.
• Power and Attitudes in Relationships (PAIR) among a sample of low-income sample of urban women: implications for HIV/AIDS prevention
  Sherman SG, Gielen AC, McDonnell KA. Power and Attitudes in Relationships (PAIR) among a sample of low-income sample of urban women: implications for HIV/AIDS prevention. Sex Roles. 2000;42(3/4):283 294.
• The relation of FIMR programs and other perinatal systems initiatives with maternal and child health activities in the community
  Strobino D, Baldwin KM, Grason H, Misra D, McDonnell KA, Liao M, Allston A. The relation of FIMR programs and other perinatal systems initiatives with maternal and child health activities in the community. Matern Child Health J. 2004;8(4):239-249.
• Final report of the national evaluation of the fetal and infant mortality reviews
  Strobino D, Grason H, Misra D, McDonnell K, Allston A, Baldwin K, Liao M. Final report of the national evaluation of the fetal and infant mortality reviews. Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology; 2002.