Kesha Baptiste-Roberts

Dr. Kesha Baptiste-Roberts serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Public and Allied Health at Morgan State University's School of Community Health and Policy. She holds a PhD in Epidemiology from The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, along with a Certificate in Maternal and Child Health from the same institution. Her academic journey also includes an MPH in Community Health-Epidemiology from Saint Louis University and a BS in Biology from Juniata College.

Dr. Baptiste-Roberts' research spans multiple critical public health domains, with a strong emphasis on Maternal and Child Health. Her early work focused on pregnancy-related factors and their influence on cardiometabolic outcomes for both mother and offspring throughout the life course. More recently, she has directed her expertise toward improving maternal health for underserved communities through innovative approaches like telehealth and the doula model of care. Her scholarly contributions include over 30 publications and co-editing the book "Obesity in Pregnancy," demonstrating her commitment to addressing health disparities, particularly in women's health, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and racial/ethnic health inequities.

• 2021 Abraham Lilienfeld Award from the Epidemiology Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA)
• Principal Investigator of the Center for Maternal and Family Health funded by HRSA Health Research Network
• Leadership roles in the American Public Health Association (APHA)
• Leadership roles in the Society of the Analysis of African American Public Health Issues (SAAPHI)

As an educator and researcher, Dr. Baptiste-Roberts has made significant contributions to understanding how socioeconomic factors, cultural beliefs, and healthcare access influence health outcomes. Her recent publications reflect a strategic shift toward addressing pandemic-related health challenges while maintaining her focus on maternal and child health disparities. Her work bridges epidemiological research with practical community health applications, particularly for underserved populations.