Flint Area Medical EducationGrand Rapids Medical Education & Research CenterKalamazoo Center for Medical StudiesSparrow Health SystemSYNERGY Medical Education AllianceUpper Peninsula Health Education Corporation

Karen Patricia Williams, PhD

Karen WilliamsKaren Williams, PhD
Assistant Professor

Phone: 517-432-4790
Email: willi168@msu.edu

 

Dr. Williams is an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics Gynecology & Reproductive Biology in the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University. Her formal training is in the area of applied sociology and health services research. Her area of expertise is in community-based participatory research and women’s health policy. Dr. Williams has designed a breast and cervical cancer prevention intervention -- Kin KeeperSM It is a female familial model that incorporates a cancer literacy assessment and most recently has been translated into Spanish and Arabic. In addition, she and a colleague authored the Kin KeeperSM Cancer Prevention Intervention Curriculum Guide and Workbook©. This was funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health to cross train the community health workers who in turn implement the model with their public health clients. Dr. Williams and team were funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to implement the Kin KeeperSM model in Grand Rapids, Detroit and Dearborn.

Recently, she designed an undergraduate seminar, Conducting Community Based Research for Underserved Women, to teach students how to conduct community participatory research.

Dr. Williams has been the recipient of State and National peer-reviewed funding. She has authored peer-reviewed papers, reports and a book chapter that empirically illustrates the intersection of family and community as strong influences on a woman’s preventive health decisions. She serves on the Michigan Cancer Consortium Breast Cancer Committee and was a former co-chair of the Minority Women’s Health Panel of Experts with the United States Public Health Service’s Office on Women’s Health. She is a graduate of Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) and Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI).

FUNDED RESEARCH

  1. **Michigan State University Cancer Center
    Source: Federal Government
    Title: Healthy African American Women’s Perspective on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Cancer Treatment and Prevention: A Pilot Study
    Position: Principal Investigator
    September1999-December1999
  2. *American Association of Medical Colleges (Health Services Research Fellowship)
    Source: Federal Government
    Title: Complementary and Alternative Medical Usage Patterns Among Middle-Aged Black and White Women with Female Cancers and Cardiovascular Disease (proposed concept)
    Position: Fellow
    August 1999-March 2001
  3. **W.K. Kellogg Foundation
    Source: National Foundation
    Title: Michigan Forum of Scholar of Color: The Development of Community and Faculty Partnerships to Improve the Health of Communities
    Position: Principal Investigator
    June 2000–December 2001
  4. *Michigan Applied Public Policy Funds
    Source: State Government
    Title: Women’s Health Policy in Michigan 1997-2000
    Position: Principal Investigator
    May 2001-December 2001
  5. **National Cancer Institute
    Source: Federal Government
    Title: Minority Supplement to the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Bowel Project
    Position: Minority Investigator
    February 2002- January 2006
  6. *African American Health Initiative
    Source: Michigan State University
    Title: African American Women’s Knowledge, Beliefs and Willingness to participate in a Preventive Breast Cancer Clinical Trial
    Position: Principal Investigator
    January 2003-December 2003
  7. *African American Family Initiative
    Source: Michigan State University
    Title:  Kin Keeper: A Conceptual Model for Cancer Prevention and Screening Intervention in African American Women
    Position: Principal Investigator
    June 2003-August 2003
  8. *Susan G. Komen for the Cure Lansing Affiliate
    Source: Local Foundation
    Title: The Kin Keeper Project Linking with African American Women for Breast Health and Wellness
    Position: Principal Investigator
    June 2003-May 2004
  9. **Michigan Department of Community Health
    Source: Federal Government
    Title: Kin Keeper Cancer Prevention Intervention
    Position: Principal Investigator
    October 2005- September 2006
  10. *Susan G. Komen For the Cure
    Source: National Foundation
    Title: Testing a Family Breast Cancer Prevention Intervention
    Position: Principal Investigator
    May 2006 – April 2008
  11. *Susan G. Komen for the Cure Lansing Affiliate
    Source: Local Foundation
    Title: Expanding Cancer Prevention through Translation and Training
    Position: Principal Investigator
    June 2006 – May 2007
  12. **Michigan Dept. of Community Health
    Source: Federal Government
    Title: Kin KeeperSM Cancer Prevention Intervention
    Position: Principal Investigator
    October 2006 - 2008
  13. *Michigan State University Honors College
    Source: Federal Government
    Title: Conducting Community Based Research for Medically Underserved Women
    Position: Principal Investigator
    September 2007-April 2008
  14. *Susan G. Komen for the Cure
    Source: National Foundation
    Title: Examining Trust and Cancer Literacy on Breast Cancer Screening
    Position: Principal Investigator
    May 2007 – April 2009

Under Review

  1. National Institutes of Health
    Source: Office of the Director
    Title: Using the Telephone to Engage Arab Women in Research
    Position: Principal Investigator
  2. National Institutes of Health
    Source: National Institute of Nursing Research
    Title: Health Disparities: Survey Validation for Black, Latina and Arab Women
    Position: Principal Investigator

* Peer Review
** Non-Competitive

 

PUBLICATIONS

Peer Reviewed Manuscripts

  1. Pratt C., Hurst R., Williams K.  Evaluating Community- Based Cardiovascular Prevention Programs in African American Communities, Public Health Management & Practice, 5: 81-90, 1999.
  2. Williams, Karen Patricia, Community Development’s Role in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Projects for African Americans. Sociological Practice, 2: 205-219, 2000.
  3. Williams, K. P., Sheppard V., Hurst R. Capacity Building: A Strategy to Help Narrow the Health Disparity for African American Women. Center for Research on African American Women Journal, 3: 49-52, 2002.
  4. Sims-Boykin, S., Zambrana, R.E, Williams, K.P., Salas-Lopez, D., Sheppard, V., Headley, A. Lessons Learned from A Mentoring Experience of Underrepresented Minority Female Medical School Faculty: Momentum to Increase Retention and Promotion. Journal of Association Academic Minority Physicians, 14: 15-18, 2003
  5. Williams, K.P. Hines, R.D., Livingston J.N. Recruiting African American Women into Chemoprevention Trials: Gail Model as an Educational Tool. International Journal of Cancer Prevention.  1: 63-68, 2004.
  6. Williams, K. P.  Sheppard, V.B., Hines, R.D., Livingston J.N. Issues of Trust in the Recruitment  of African American Women into Breast Cancer Chemoprevention Trials. International Journal of Cancer Prevention. 1:137-143, 2004.
  7. Sheppard, V., Williams, K.P., Richardson, J.T. Women’s Priorities for Lay Health Home Visitors: Implications for Eliminating Health Disparities among Underserved Women. Journal of Health and Social Policy, 18: 19-35, 2005.
  8. Williams, Karen Patricia, African American Women’s Knowledge of Breast Chemoprevention Trials and Their Basis for Participation. Southwest Michigan Medical Journal 2:16-21, 2005.
  9. Williams, Karen Patricia, Kin Keeper: A Family-Focused Prevention Model for African-American Women. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment 15:291-305, 2007.
  10. Williams K.P,  Mullan P.B. Fletcher F. E. Working with African American Women to Develop cancer Literacy Assessment Tools. Journal of Cancer Education 22:241-244, 2007.
  11. Williams, K.P., Reckase, M. Rivera-Vazquez, Toward the Development of Cancer Literacy Assessment Tools. Journal of Michigan Pubic Health. 2:21-31 2008.
  12. Williams, K.P., Sheppard, V.B., Todem, D., Mabiso, A. Wulu, J.T., Hines, R.D. Family Matters in Mammography Screening Among African American Women 40 and Older. Journal of the National Medical Association. 100: 508-115, 2008.
  13. Williams, K. P., Mullan, P.B., Todem, D. Moving from Theory to Practice: Implementing the Kin KeeperSM Model, Health Education Research. In Press.
  14. Williams, K.P., Mabiso, A., Jackson, T, Lawshe, D., Maurer, J. Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program Inform Kin KeeperSM Curriculum. Journal of Cancer Education In Press.

Book Chapters (Peer Reviewed)

  1. Williams, Karen Patricia, Kin Keepers: Breast Cancer Prevention for African American Women Black Families 4th Edition. McAdoo, H.P. Sage Publications, CA 2007.
  2. Williams, KP, Hines, RD, Livingston, JN Recruiting African American Women into Chemoprevention Trials: Gail Model as an Education Tool Female African Americans and Health Research  Nova Science Publishing, NY 2008

Curriculum

  1. Williams, Karen Patricia, Lawshe, Dorothy C.. The Kin KeeperSM  Cancer Prevention Intervention Curriculum Guide and Workbook, Copyright 2006.

Reports

  1. Williams, Karen Patricia, Sauer, Harold, Cornell, Waseya, Hill, Teresa. July 2003. Women’s Health Policy in Michigan.  Michigan State University, East Lansing.
  2. Williams, Karen Patricia. June 2004. The Kin KeeperSM Project: Linking with African American Women for Breast Health and Wellness Final Report. Michigan State University. East Lansing.
  3. Williams, Karen Patricia. October 2006. Kin KeeperSM Cancer Prevention Final Report, Michigan State University, East Lansing.
  4. Williams, Karen Patricia. June 2007. Expanding Cancer Prevention Through Translation and Training Final Report. Michigan State University, East Lansing.

Book Reviews

The Interorganizational Community by Robert C. Anderson. The Edward Mellen Press, May 1999.
Black Women Scientist in the United States by Wini Warren Journal of the History of Science, September 2000.

Editor

  1. Journal of Cancer Education, Editorial Board
  2. Minority Premedical Newsletter, Center of Excellence in Minority Medical Education & Health
    Urban Environmental Curriculum Publication, Resource Development, Undergraduate Senior Project (unpublished).
  3. Instructors Manual, Jackson Community College (unpublished)
  4. The Central Region Newsletter for the National Association of Minority Medical Educators

 

PRESENTATIONS

Invited Speaker

  1. Williams, Karen Patricia, Medical Mistrust and Implications for Breast Health for Medically Underserved Women.  American Medical Student Association Annual Meeting. Houston TX. March 13, 2008.
  2. Williams, Karen Patricia, Using a Family Model to Teach Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention to
    Underserved WomenSynergy Medical Alliance Saginaw MI January 11, 2008.
  3. Williams, Karen Patricia, Kin KeeperSM Cancer Prevention Intervention: Clinical Implications. College of Human & Osteopathic Reproductive Elective. November 28, 2006.
  4. Williams, Karen Patricia,  Translating Research Into Practice for Medically Underserved Women. University of Michigan School of Public Health Global Health Seminar, November 8, 2006.
  5. Williams, Karen Patricia,  Conducting Research to Advance Knowledge and Transform Lives. Michigan State University of Natural Sciences Charles Drew Seminar, October 31, 2006.
  6. Williams, Karen Patricia, Kin KeeperSM: A Model to Teach Black Women and their Family Members About Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention  American Association for Cancer Research, Scientific Symposium Interventions to Address Cancer Disparities. 97th Annual Meeting Washington, D.C. April 1-5, 2006.
  7. Williams, Karen Patricia. Using Grants to Service your Clients, Graduate Social Work Course. February 2006
  8. Williams, K. P. The Inclusion of Women and Minorities in Research. Challenging Issues for Today’s Institution Review Boards Michigan State University East Lansing November 7, 2003.
  9. Williams, K.P. Recruiting and Retaining African Americans in Research, College of Nursing Doctoral Students, Michigan State University, East Lansing, June 18, 2003.
  10. Williams, K.P., Opportunities for Minority Students at Michigan State University, Minority Student Recruitment in Resource Development, East Lansing, MI, June 22, 1999.
  11. Williams, K.P., Trends in Women’s Health, Michigan Women’s Foundation, Women’s Health Initiative Board, Livonia, MI, June 3, 1999.
  12. Williams, K.P., Cultural Competency in Medicine and Health, Race in 21st Century, A National Conference, East Lansing, MI, April 9,1999.
  13. Williams, K.P., Women as Kin Keepers, National Convention of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, August 8- 13, 1998.

Peer-Reviewed Presentations

  1. Williams, K.P., Hammad, A., Mabiso, A. Measuring Medical Mistrust: Possible Implications for Breast Cancer Screening, International Arab Health Conference. Submitted.
  2. Williams, K.P., Hammad, A., Mabiso, A. Kin KeeperSM Cancer Prevention Intervention: Improving Arab American Women’s Breast Cancer Literacy. International Arab Health Conference. Submitted.
  3. Williams, K.P., Mabiso, A., Lawshe D.C. Breast Cancer Cervical Cancer Control Program Enrollees Inform Kin KeeperSM Curriculum American Association for Cancer Research International Conference in Cancer Prevention Research. December 6, 2007, Philadelphia PA
  4. Mullan, P.B., Williams, K. P., Lawshe, D, Rivera-Vazquez, O. Kin KeeperSM   Participations’ Evaluation of a Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Training Program. American Association for Cancer Education, October 13, 2006, San Diego CA
  5. Williams, K.P., Reckase, M., Rivera-Vazquez, O. Filling a Gap: Developing Cancer Literacy Assessment tools. National Cancer Institute Career Development Workshop, September 7, 2006, Palm Desert CA.
  6. Rivera-Vazquez, O., Hines, R.D., Williams, K.P., Impact of Family History of Cancer Mammography Screening Practices among Latinas. Society of Prevention Research 14th Annual Conference, San Antonio Texas, May 30-June 2-2006.
  7. Williams, K.P., Wulu, J.T., Hines R.D. Effects of Family History on Mammography Screening Among African American Women American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention 4th Annual Meeting Baltimore, MD October 30 – November 2, 2005.
  8. Williams, K.P. , Hines, R.D. Using the National Health Interview Survey to Examine the Relationship of Family History of Cancer in Mammography Screening Practices for Asymptomatic African American Women  American Association for Cancer Education 39th Annual Meeting Cincinnati, OH September 15-17, 2005
  9. Williams, K.P., Mullan P.B., Fletcher F.E  Working with Lay Health Leaders to Develop Cancer Literacy Assessments for African American Women  American Cancer Society Exploring Models to Eliminate Cancer Disparities Among African American and Latino Populations Conference Atlanta GA April 21-22, 2005.
  10. Williams, K.P.  African American Women Linking For Breast Health and Wellness, The Kin Keeper Cancer Prevention Intervention Model   American Association for Cancer Education 38th Annual Meeting Baltimore, MD October 14-October 17, 2004.
  11. Williams, K.P. Communicating Breast Health and Wellness to African American Across the Life Span Cancer Culture and Literacy Clearwater Beach, Fl. May20-May 22, 2004.
  12. Williams, K. P., Sikorskii, A. Family Matters in Individual Cancer Prevention Practices Among African American Women: Using the National Health Interview Survey  American Society of Preventive Oncology Washington D.C. March 14-16, 2004.
  13. Rostant, O. Williams, K.P., Sheppard V. Impact of a breast cancer diagnosis   on the emotional health of African American women  131st American Public Health Association Annual Meeting San Francisco. November 15-19, 2003.
  14. Williams, K.P. African American Women’s Knowledge, Beliefs and Willingness to Participate   in a Preventive Breast Cancer Clinical Trial , American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer in Cancer Prevention Research Annual Meeting  October 27, 2003.
  15. Williams, K.P. African American Women’s Knowledge, Beliefs and Willingness to Participate   in a Preventive Breast Cancer Clinical Trial, Michigan Cancer Consortium Annual Meeting Detroit. October 17, 2003.
  16. Williams, K.P., Sheppard, V. African American Women’s Perspective on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Cancer Prevention and Treatment: A Pilot Study, American Society of Preventive Oncology, Philadelphia, March 10, 2003.
  17. Williams, K.P., Healthy African American Women’s Perspective on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Cancer Treatment and Prevention: A Pilot Study, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, October 24, 2001.
  18. Williams, K.P., Training of Underrepresented Minority Medical Students to be Culturally Competent, Stakeholders National Meeting for National Minority Health Month, Washington, D.C. October 16, 2000.
  19. Williams, K.P., Capacity Building: A Strategy to Help Narrow the Health Disparity for African American Women, Sociological Practice Association, Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., August 11, 2000.
  20. Williams, K.P., Hurst, R., African American Women and Cardiovascular Disease Practical Solutions, CHUMS National Conclave, East Lansing, MI, October 15, 1999.
  21. Williams, K.P., Organizing Community Based Coalitions: Engaging the Community to Access Information & Services, State Minority Health & State Women’s Health Partnership Summit. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C., July 13, 1999.
  22. Williams, K.P., Wulu, J, An Analysis of Community Development Approaches to Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Projects for African Americans, 126th Annual Meeting of American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C., November 15-18, 1998.
  23. Williams, K., Williams, Amos, Hurst, R., McPhail, J, Using Focus Groups to Assess the Impact of Community-Based Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Programs in Minority Populations in Michigan, Cardiovascular Health: Coming Together for the 21st Century, San Francisco, CA, February 19, 1998.
  24. Pratt, C., Hurst, R., Williams, K.P., Evaluating the Effectiveness of Community-Based Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Programs In Michigan, 12th International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension in Blacks, London England, July 20-24, 1997.
  25. Williams, K. P., An Analysis of Community Development Approaches to Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Projects for African Americans, Michigan State University, Department of Resource Development, Faculty Seminar, East Lansing, MI, July 14, 1997.