Amanda Emerson

Amanda Emerson, Ph.D., RN is an Assistant Professor (tenure track) in the School of Nursing at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She recently completed her KL2 Scholar program through the Frontiers Clinical and Translational Science Institute in June 2024 and has been awarded the prestigious Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators at UC Davis. Dr. Emerson's research focuses on health equity for populations affected by the criminal legal system, particularly older women aging in the community after incarceration.

Dr. Emerson holds two doctoral degrees:

• Ph.D. in English (2004) from the University of South Dakota
• Ph.D. in Nursing (2017) from the University of Kansas Medical Center

Dr. Emerson's research centers on the intersection of criminal legal system involvement, aging, and women's health. She investigates barriers to health equity, particularly focusing on older women navigating healthcare systems after incarceration. Her work examines multimorbidity, polypharmacy, mental health, and access to preventive services like cervical cancer screening. She employs community-engaged research methods, prioritizing the voices and experiences of justice-involved women to develop strengths-based interventions that address structural vulnerabilities.

Analysis of Dr. Emerson's recent publications reveals a strong focus on women's health across the criminal justice continuum, with particular emphasis on aging-related health challenges, cervical cancer prevention, and health literacy. Her work consistently addresses health disparities affecting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, examining how structural vulnerabilities impact healthcare access and outcomes. She has increasingly focused on the unique needs of older women in the criminal legal system, an understudied population facing complex health challenges.

Dr. Emerson has received several notable awards:

• Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators at UC Davis (2024)
• Honorable Mention for the AETNA Award at the APHA Annual Meeting
• NIA Loan Repayment Program Award (2023)

Dr. Emerson has secured significant funding for her research, including her KL2 award through the Frontiers Clinical and Translational Science Institute (2022-2024). She has made substantial progress on major grant applications, including an R01 and a PCORI grant. During her KL2 program, she completed advanced training in grant writing and biostatistics, and participated in workshops on community-led research. She has presented her research on CHARMS (Characterizing Aging-Related Health in Women who have Criminal-Legal System Involvement) at multiple conferences.

Dr. Emerson collaborates with a team of mentors and researchers, including Megha Ramaswamy, Ph.D., MPH, Kristine Williams (KU Medical Center), and Patricia Kelly (University of Missouri-Kansas City). Her work with the (S)HE: Sexual Health Education project demonstrates her commitment to community-engaged research with incarcerated women. She continues to develop creative, strengths-based programs addressing women's aging-related health services needs through partnerships with women, families, and healthcare providers.