Jennifer Makelarski, PhD

Assistant Professor

Education & Affiliations

PhD, Epidemiology, University of Iowa

Biography

I’m a social epidemiologist with more than 15 years of experience in public health. I have been teaching, mostly online for accredited MPH programs, for more than 5 years. I began my career as a research scientist. My research interests have focused on reducing health disparities through understanding and addressing social risks and needs (e.g., food insecurity). I have extensive applied experience in quantitative and qualitative study design, protocol development and implementation, and analysis.

Publications

Lindau ST, Jagai JS, Abramsohn EM, Fuller CM, Wroblewski KE, Pinkerton EA, Makelarski JA. Unwanted Sexual Activity among U.S. Women early in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022. Online Ahead of Print. 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.09.048

Boyd K, Winslow V, Borson S, Lindau ST, Makelarski JA. Caregiving in a pandemic: health-related socioeconomic vulnerabilities among female caregivers early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Annals of Family Medicine. 2022;20(5); 406-413. DOI: 10.1370/afm.2845

Frazier CRM, Pinkerton EA, Grana M, Davis M, Asay S, Makelarski JA, Lindau ST.  Feed1st, No Questions Asked: How a Hospital-Based Food Pantry Program Grew Its Impact During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Public Health. 2022 Oct;112(10):1394-1398. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2022.306984.

Lin A, Granata IFA, Trippel AK, Tello L, Stump TK, Wong M, Carnethon MR, Kershaw K, Makelarski J, Weller D. Food handling Concerns and Practices at-Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Food Security Status. 2021;85(3);518-526. DOI: 10.4315/JFP-21-216

Vu M, Makelarski JA, Winslow VA, Christmas MM, Haider S, Lee NK, Pinkerton EA, Wroblewski K, Lindau ST. Racial and ethnic disparities in health-related social risks during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic among U.S. women. Journal of Women’s Health. 2021; 30(10):1375-1385. DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2021.0230

Lindau ST, Makelarski JA, Boyd K, Doyle KE, Haider S, Kumar S, Lee NK, Pinkerton E, Tobin M, Vu M, Wroblewski KE, Lengyel E. Change in Health-Related Socioenconomic Risk Factors and Mental Health During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey of U.S. Women. Journal of Women’s Health. 2021; 30(4):502-513. DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8879

 

Lindau ST, Makelarski JA, Kaligotla C, Abramsohn EM, Beiser DG, Chou C, Collier N, Huang ES, Macal CM, Ozik J, Tung EL. Building and experimenting with an agent-based model to study the population-level impact of CommunityRx, a clinic-based community resource referral intervention. PLoS Comput Biol. 2021 Oct 25;17(10):e1009471. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009471

Guillaume JD, Jagai JS, Makelarski JA, Abramsohn EA, Lindau ST, Verma V, Ciaccio CE. COVID-19-related Food Insecurity among Households with Dietary Restrictions: A National Survey. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2021; 9(9): 3323-3330. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.06.015

Lindau ST, Makelarski JA, Abramsohn EM, Beiser DG, Boyd K, Huang ES, Paradise K, Tung EL. Sharing information about health-related resources: Observations from a community resource referral intervention trial in a predominantly African American/Black community. Journal of the Association for information Science and Technology, 2021. https://asistdl.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/asi.24560

Kaligotla C, Ozik J, Collier N, Boyd K, Makelarski JA, Lindau ST. Model Exploration of an Information-Based Healthcare Intervention Using Parallelization and Active Learning. Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation. Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation. 2020. http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/23/4/1.html

Griffin SM, Karia FP, Zimmerman A, Minnig MCC, Swahn M, Makelarski J, Mmbaga B, Vissoci JRN, Staton C  A Mixed Methods Study: Sex Differences in Experiences of Stigma Associated with Alcoholism and Alcohol Use Disorders Among Injury Patients in Tanzania. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2020. DOI: 10.1111/acer.14402

Louden AR, Suhl J, Kancherla V, Caspers Conway KM, Makelarski J, Howley MM, Hoyt AT, Olney RS, Olshan AF, Romitti PA; National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Association between maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption and neural tube defects: Findings from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011. Birth Defects Res. 2020 Mar;112(5):427-439. DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1656

Persell SD, Liss DT, Walunas TL, Ciolino JD, Ahmad FS, Brown T, French DD, Hountz R, Iversen K, Lindau ST, Lipiszko D, Makelarski JA, Mazurek K, Murakami L, Peprah Y, Potempa J, Rasmussen LV, Wang A, Wang J, Yeh C, Kho AN. Effects of 2 Forms of Practice Facilitation on Cardiovascular Prevention in Primary Care: A Practice-randomized, Comparative Effectiveness Trial. Med Care. 2020 Apr;58(4):344-351. DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001260

Tung EL, Abramsohn EM, Boyd K, Makelarski JA, Beiser DG, Chou C, Huang ES, Ozik J, Kaligotla C, Lindau ST. Impact of a Low-Intensity Resource Referral Intervention on Patients' Knowledge, Beliefs, and Use of Community Resources: Results from the CommunityRx Trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2020 Mar;35(3):815-823. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-019-05530-5

Makelarski, J, DePumpo, M, Boyd, K, Brown, T, Kho, A, Navalkha, C, Lindau, ST. Implementation of Systematic Community Resource Referrals at Small Primary Care Practices to Promote Cardiovascular Disease Self-Management. Journal for Healthcare Quality. 2020;42(5);278-286. DOI: 10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000234

Lindau ST, Makelarski JA, Abramsohn EM, Beiser DG, Boyd K, Chou C, Giurcanu M, Huang ES, Liao C, Schumm LP, Tung EL. CommunityRx: A Real-World Controlled Clinical Trial of a Scalable, Low-Intensity Community Resource Referral Intervention. Am J Public Health. 2019 Apr;109(4):600-606. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2018.304905

Lindau ST, Dale W, Feldmeth G, Gavrilova N, Langa KM, Makelarski JA, Wroblewski K.

Sexuality and Cognitive Status: A U.S. Nationally Representative Study of Home-Dwelling Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Oct;66(10):1902-1910. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.15511

Tung EL, Wroblewski KE, Boyd K, Makelarski JA, Peek ME, Lindau ST. Police-recorded crime and disparities in obesity and blood pressure status in Chicago. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018 Mar 24;7(7). DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.117.008030

Makelarski JA, Abramsohn E, Benjamin JH, Du S, Lindau ST. Diagnostic Accuracy of two food insecurity screeners recommended for use in health care settings. Am J Public Health. 2017 Nov;107(11):1812-1817. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304033

Qato DM, Wilder J, Zenk S, Davis A, Makelarski JA, Lindau ST. Pharmacy Accessibility and Cost-Related Underuse of Prescription Medications in Low-Income Black and Hispanic Urban Communities. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. 2017; 57(2):162-169. DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2016.12.065

Pettigrew SM, Bell EM, Van Zutphen AR, Rocheleau CM, Shaw GM, Romitti PA, Olshan A, Lupo PJ, Soim A, Makelarski JA, Michalski AM, Sanderson W; and the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Paternal and join parental occupational pesticide exposure and spina bifida in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997 to 2002. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2016 Nov;106(11):963-971. DOI: 10.1002/bdra.23551

Lindau ST, Makelarski JA, Abramsohn E, Beiser D, Escamilla V, Jerome J, Johnson D, Kho A, Lee K, Long T, Miller D. CommunityRx: A Population Health Improvement Innovation that Connects Clinics to Communities. Health Affairs. 2016; 35(11):2020-2029. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0694

Lindau ST, Vickery KD, Choi H, Makelarski JA, Matthews A, Davis M. Intersectoral Urban Health System Planning: A Community-Powered Survey to Identify Economic Sectors and Assets that could be Mobilized as Partners in Chicago. American Journal of Public Health. 2016, Oct;106(10):1872-1878. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303302

Tung EL, Peek ME, Makelarski JA, Escamilla V, Lindau ST. Adult Body Mass Index and Access to Built Environment Resources in a High-Poverty Urban Geography. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2016, Nov;51(5):e119-e127. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.04.019

Gopalan A, Makelarski JA, Garibay LB, Escamilla V, Merchant RM, Wolfe MB, Holbrook R, Lindau ST. Health-specific information and communication technology use and its relationship to obesity in high poverty, urban communities: Analysis of a population-based biosocial survey. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2016; 18(6):e182. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.5741

Makelarski JM, Thorngren D, Lindau ST. Feed first, ask questions later: Alleviating and understanding caregiver food insecurity in an urban children's hospital. American Journal of Public Health. 2015; 105(8):e98-e104. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302719

Kennedy V, Abramsohn E, Makelarski J, Barber R, Tenney M, Lee NK, Yamada D, Lindau ST. Can you ask?  We just did!  Assessing Sexual Function and Concerns in Patients Presenting for Initial Gynecologic Oncology Consultation. Gynecologic Oncology. 2015; 137(1):119-124. DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.01.451

Dabit JY, Romitti PA, Makelarski JA, Tyler MC, Damiano PC, Druschel CM, Robbins JM, Caspers KM, Burnett WB. Examination of mental health status and aggravation level among mothers of children with isolated oral clefts. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal. 2014; 51(4):e80-7. DOI: 10.1597/12-298

Makelarski JA, Romitti PA, Rocheleau CM, Burns TL, Stewart PA, Waters MA, Lawson CC, Bell EM, Lin S, Shaw GM, Olney RS. National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Maternal periconceptional occupational pesticide exposure and neural tube defects. Birth Defects Research A: Clinincal and Molecular Teratology. 2014; 100(11):877-86.  DOI: 10.1002/bdra.23293

Makelarski JA, Romitti PA, Sun L, Burns TL, Druschel CM, Suarez L, Olshan AF, Siega-Riz Am, Olney RS. Periconceptional maternal alcohol consumption and neural tube defects. National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Birth Defects Research A: Clinincal and Molecular Teratology. 2013; 97(3):152-160. DOI: 10.1002/bdra.23122

Makelarski JA, Lindau ST, Fabbre VD, Grogan CM, Sadhu EM, Silverstein JC, Tran TT, Van Haitsma M, Whitaker E, & Johnson D. Are Your Asset Data as Good as You Think? Conducting a Comprehensive Census of Built Assets to Improve Urban Population Health. Journal of Urban Health. August 2013; 90(4):586-601.  DOI: 10.1007/s11524-012-9764-9

Goldfarb SB, Abramsohn E, Andersen BL, Baron SR, Carter J, Dickler M, Florendo J, Freeman L, Githens K, Kushner D, Makelarski JA, Yamada SD, Lindau ST. A National Network to Advance the Field of Cancer and Female Sexuality. Journal of Sexual Medicine. February 2013; 10(2):319–325. DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12061

Lindau ST, James R, Makelarski JA, Sanders E, Johnson D. Letter to the Editor. Comments from the South Side of Chicago on New Haven's Inspiring 3000 Miles Asset Mapping Project. American Journal of Public Health. 2012; 102(7):e3-e4. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300684

Makelarski JA, Romitti PA, Caspers KM, Puzhankara S, McDowell BD, Piper KN. Use of active surveillance methodologies to examine over-reporting of stillbirths on fetal death certificates Birth Defects Research A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology. 2011; 91(12): 1004-10. DOI: 10.1002/bdra.22856

Lindau ST, Abramsohn EM, Baron S, Florendo J, Githens K, Makelarski J, Yamada SD. A Comprehensive Clinical Registry to Prospectively Evaluate Sexual Problems in Female Cancer Patients. Supplement to the Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 2011; 15(5):S27-S28.

Lindau ST, Abramsohn EM, Makelarski JM, Yamada SD. Perceived Versus Actual Vaginal Capacity in Women with Sexual Function Concerns. Supplement to the Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 2011; 15(5):S27

Lindau ST, Makelarski JA, Chin MH, Desautels S, Johnson D, Johnson WE, Miller D, Peters S, Robinson C, Schneider J, Thicklin F, Watson NP, Wolfe M, Whitaker E. Building Community-Engaged Health Research and Discovery Infrastructure on the South Side of Chicago: Science in Service to Community Priorities. Preventive Medicine. March-April 2011; 52(3-4):200-207. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.01.001

Schneider J, Makelarski JA, Van Haitsma M, Lipton RB, Abramsohn EM, Lauderdale DS, Lindau ST. Differential Access to Digital Communication Technology: Association with Health Survey Recruitment and Retention within an African-American, Underserved Urban Population. Journal of Urban Health. 2011; 88(3):479-492. DOI: 10.1007/s11524-010-9533-6

Hill EK, Sandbo S, Abramsohn EM, Makelarski J, Wroblewski K, Wenrich ER, McCoy S, Temkin SM, Yamada SD, Lindau ST. Assessing Gynecologic and Breast Cancer Survivors’ Sexual Health Care Needs. Cancer. 2011; 117(12):2643-2651. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.25832