Sharla Smith

Dr. Sharla A. Smith is an Associate Professor of Population Health at the University of Kansas. She holds a PhD in Health Systems and Services Research from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Her primary research focuses on maternal and infant health disparities, women’s cancer disparities, and community engagement. She co-founded Kansas Sisters and Brothers for Healthy Infants and the Kansas Birth Equity Network, advocating for systemic change in healthcare access.

Education: BS in Biology (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), MPH in Health Policy and Management (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences), and PhD in Health Systems and Services Research (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences).

Research Interests: Dr. Smith’s work emphasizes addressing health inequities through community-driven strategies. Her research explores barriers faced by justice-involved women, racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality, and culturally tailored interventions. She employs mixed-methods approaches, including social network analysis and longitudinal data studies.

Recent Articles Trends: Her publications address topics like hypertension management in pregnancy, jail-based health interventions, and Indigenous perspectives on healthcare. These studies highlight systemic gaps and advocate for policy changes to improve birth equity and health access for marginalized groups.

Grants & Leadership: Dr. Smith leads the Kansas Health Foundation Professorship and the Susan G. Komen-funded Project BRA. She is a member of the Academy Health Public Health Systems Group (Chair Elect) and Cradle KC. Her work integrates clinical research with public health systems analysis.

Labs/Teams: She collaborates with the Kansas Birth Equity Network and Kansas Sisters and Brothers for Healthy Infants, fostering community-academic partnerships to drive health equity initiatives.