CPHAR Fellows Biographical Information

Kathryn R. Martin, PhD

Dr. Kathryn R. Martin was a CPHAR pre-doctoral fellow from 2005 to 2007.

In 2000, Dr. Martin graduated from the College of the Holy Cross, where she studied Sociology and pre-medical studies.  She also holds a certificate in Gerontology studies from the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, Worcester, MA.  In 2003, she received a MPH in Chronic Disease Epidemiology from Yale University and completed her PhD in 2009 from the department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH).  From 2009 to 2010, Dr. Martin was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at UNC-CH.

Dr. Martin’s research interests are focused on how factors of age, geography, socioeconomic status, race, and health behaviors are related to patterns of health and health disparities, particularly among individuals with arthritis.  Her dissertation research, entitled “The Influence of Community Socioeconomic Status on North Carolinians’ Health Related Quality of Life” investigated the influence of community socioeconomic status on health related quality of life in 1217 participants who represented 32 North Carolina communities.  This project was achieved through a secondary data analysis of cross sectional design with data from both individual and community levels, using a mixed-methodology approach and multilevel modeling techniques.  Dr. Martin’s CPHAR faculty advisory committee for the training program included Victor Marshall, PhD, Leigh F. Callahan, PhD, and dissertation committee members included Drs. Robert F. DeVellis (chair), Brenda DeVellis, Michael Yonas, Leigh F. Callahan (data) and Malcolm Cutchin. 

In addition, Dr. Martin’s previous research has explored: the relationship between individual and community socioeconomic factors, health behaviours and physical and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., health related quality of life, disability, depressive symptoms); the role of pain in the relationship between arthritis status and health status outcomes; perceived neighbourhood environment and health status outcomes among North Carolinians with arthritis; identification of community resources used by North Carolinians to manage their osteoarthritis; how coping with prescription medication costs and medication underuse influences physical and mental health of individuals with arthritis.  She has presented much of this research at local, regional and national scientific conferences.

Dr. Martin received numerous awards supporting and honoring her research during her doctoral program, including a UNC-CH Graduate School Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship, a Doctoral Dissertation Award for Arthritis Health Professionals from the Arthritis Foundation, an Abbott Health Professional Graduate Student Research Preceptorship Award from the American College of Rheumatology Research Education Foundation (ACR/REF), the 2008 UNC-CH Highway Safety Research Center Scholarship, a 2008 ACR REF/Abbott Medical and Graduate Student Achievement Award, and a 2010 Impact Award from the UNC-CH Graduate Education Advancement Board.

Dr. Kathryn R. Martin is currently a postdoctoral fellow in Life Course Epidemiology at the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, which is jointly sponsored by The Medical Research Council Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing (MRC LHA).  She is on post as a visiting fellow at the MRC LHA in London, UK during 2011.

Selected Publications

Martin KR, Schoster B, Woodard J, Callahan LF. What community resources do older community-dwelling adults use to manage their osteoarthritis? A formative examination. Journal of Applied Gerontology. In Press.

Callahan, LF, Martin KR, Shreffler J, Kumar, D, Schoster, B, Kaufman, J, Schwartz, T. Independent and Combined Influence of Homeownership, Occupation, Education, Income and Community Poverty on Physical Health in Persons with Arthritis. Arthritis Care and Research. Jan 10. [Epub ahead of print]

Martin KR and Ko L. Thoughts on being productive during a graduate program: The process and benefits of a peer working-group. Health Promotion Practice. 2011; 12(1): 12-17.

Martin KR,  Schoster B, Shreffler J, and  Callahan LF. Associations of Perceived Neighborhood Environment on Health Status Outcomes in Persons with Arthritis. Arthritis Care and Research. 2010; 62(11): 1602-1611.

Boyington JEA, Schoster B, Martin KR, Shreffler J, Callahan LF.  Perceptions of Individual and Community Environmental Influences on Fruits and Vegetables Intake in North Carolina. Prev Chronic Disease. 2009;6(1). http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2009/jan/07_168.htm.

Cutchin M, Martin KR, Owen S, Goodwin J. Concern about Petrochemical Health Risk before and after a Refinery Explosion. Risk Analysis. 2008; 28(3): 589-601.

Martin KR, Schoster B, Meier A, Callahan LF. (2007) Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity Among North Carolinians with Arthritis: Findings from a Mixed-Methodology Approach. North Carolina Medical Journal. 2007; 68(6): 404-412.