Recent Awards & Publications
Our faculty are always engaging in new and exciting research and projects that impact West Virginia, the region and public health in general. Below is highlight list of some of our most recent awards and publications. For a more comprehensive look at our research expertise and work, visit our Research Experts Database. See our research news feed for the latest stories and featured projects.
Publications
Greenfield J, Allen J, Rudisill TM. Determining How Individuals Cope with Driving Anxiety. PLOS Mental Health. 2025, 2(4): e0000163.
Coyne M, Hendricks B, Umer A, Rudisill T, John C, Lefeber C, Lilly C. Mapping Access to Prenatal Care: Geographic Disparities in West Virginia’s Rural Communities. Annals of Epidemiology. 2025, 11, 88-93.
Rudisill T, Gandy ME, Kidd K. The association between sexual orientation, driving frequency, and motor vehicle collisions among United States' college students. J Am Coll Health. 2025 Aug 6;1-9. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2025.2525943. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 40768620.
Haggerty T, Rudisill TM, Dekeseredy P, Cowher A, Sedney CL. Exploring cannabis as a treatment for chronic pain in a rural Appalachian population. Am J Addict. 2025 Sep;34(5):562-566. doi: 10.1111/ajad.70033. Epub 2025 Apr 19. PubMed PMID: 40251950.
Stansbury R, Stout N, Rudisill T, Feinberg J, Dino G, Sharma S, Strollo PJ. Development of a Novel Shared Care Intervention to Address Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Rural West Virginia. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2025 Jul;22(7):1062-1070. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202410-1074OC. PubMed PMID: 40126170.
Rudisill TM, Beyon J, Bonasso PC, Bardes JM. An Analysis of ATV and UTV-Related Injuries Pre- and Post-Enactment of West Virginia Senate Bill 690. AJPM Focus. 2025 Jun;4(3):100335. doi: 10.1016/j.focus.2025.100335. eCollection 2025 Jun. PubMed PMID: 40290864.
Cowan KN, Werder EJ, Lawrence KG, Kwok RK, Stewart PA, Stenzel MR, Groth CP, Huynh TB, Banerjee S, Ramachandran G, Jackson II WB, LaPorte F, Sandler DP, Engel LS. (2025). Associations between airborne crude oil chemicals and neurological symptoms among workers in the Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study. Science of the Total Environment. 998 (10 October 2025), Article 180159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180159. PMID: 40812234.
Smith B, Groth CP, Gannon M, Davidov D, Kristjansson A. (2025). Parenting through the eyes of mothers with substance use disorder. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 274 (1 September 2025), Article 112782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112782. PMID: 40675008.
Norris CL, Sandler DP, Pratt GC, Stenzel MR, Stewart PA, Jackson II B, Werder EJ, Groth CP, Banerjee S, Lawrence KG, Engel LS. (2025). Fine particulate matter from burning oil and gas and associated neurological symptoms among Deepwater Horizon oil spill workers. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 2025 Feb 19; 27(2), 423-436. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4em00469h. PMID:39815820
Caswell E, Dyer AM, Hartley SD, Groth CP, Christensen M, Tulabandu SK, Weaver BK, Bhandari R* (2025). Investigating suicide risk factors among Appalachian West Virginian adults. Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 41-66. https://doi.org/10.13023/jah.0604.05. PMID:39906710.
Coyne M, Hendricks B, Umer A, Rudisill T, Lefeber C, John C, Lilly C. (2025). Mapping access to prenatal care: Geographic disparities in West Virginia's rural communities. Ann Epidemiol. 111, 88-93. PMID: 41022260.
Bartholomay E, Lilly C, Cox S, Tabone L, Szoka N, Abunnaja S, Aylward L. (2024). Psychometric properties of the brief coping orientation to problems experienced inventory among patients pursuing bariatric surgery. Evaluation & the Health Professions. 47, 41-51. PMID: 37770037.
Gardner M*, Umer A, Rudisill T, Hendricks B, Lefeber C, John C, Lilly C. (2024). Maternal age and inadequate prenatal care in West Virginia: A Project WATCH study. Journal of Appalachian Health. 6(1), 20-36. PMID: 39640246. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13023/jah.0601.03.
Lilly C, Kristjansson A, Smith M, Þórisdóttir I, Havlicak A, Mann M. (2024). Beyond school climate: Validating the School as a Protective Factor-Brief survey. Journal of School Health. 94, 1079-1094. PMID: 38937967.
Phillips S*, Druskin L, Lilly C, Chavez F, Morgan S, Wallace N, Cibralic S, Kimonis E, Hawes D, Eapen V, McNeil C, Kohlhoff J. (2024). The Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory: Developing an adaptation for toddler-aged children. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. 46, 434-449. DOI: 10.1007/s10862-023-10078-0.
Wiener RC, Puette E, Bhandari R. Consideration of chronic pulmonary disease and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the dental hygiene care plan. Accepted for publication in the Journal of Dental Hygiene.
Bhandari R, Maris NL, Mohamed R. (2025). Bilateral valvular involvement in infective endocarditis: A clinically distinct entity? A multicenter retrospective study. PLOS ONE 20(11): e0336847. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0336847.
Earl MH, Bhandari R*. Assessing the association between Cannabis use frequency and heart disease in adults aged under 50: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2021-2023. Preventive Medicine, 108437. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108437.
Abdulhay N, Wiener RC, Wen S, Gibbs B, Bhandari R*. Mental health outcomes associated with electronic cigarette use, combustible tobacco use, and dual use among U.S. adolescents: Insights from the National Youth Tobacco Survey. PLOS Mental Health 2(7): e0000370. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000370.
Wiener RC, Gaydos MS, Bhandari R. Nicotine pouch use and adolescents’ and children’s grades in school, National Youth Tobacco Survey 2022–23. Substance Use & Misuse. 2025, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2025.2481323.
Wilhite KM, Gallagher J, Crisp A, Kim J, Kozai AC, Haggerty T, Whitaker KM, Barone Gibbs B. Rurality, Socioeconomic Status, and Psychosocial Health Outcomes during Pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. In press (accepted November 2025).
Marshall EM, Modlin S, Cather C, Coppes EM, Chmelik K, Thrower AN, Wilhite K, Umer A, Whaitaker KM, Lill C, Barone Gibbs B. Associations of breastfeeding with American Heart Association defined maternal cardiovascular health behaviors: A scoping review. Breastfeeding Medicine. In press (accepted October 2025).
Wilhite KL, Thrower AN, Modlin SE, Zheng M, Williamson C, Marshall E, Desouky V, Abildso CG, Perry CK, Meyer MRU, Barone Gibbs B. Scoping review comparing individual and multi-level physical activity interventions in rural women in the United States. BMC Public Health. In press.
Holmes AJ, Wilhite KW, Kline CE, Daivs KK, Gordon BDH, Stoner L, Quinn TD, Barone Gibbs B. Barriers and Facilitators of Achieving Healthy 24-hour Movement Behaviors in Work-from-Home Desk Workers: Findings from the Work from Home 24 (WFH24) Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000003561.
Alansare AB, Alshuwaier GO, Khojah N, Alghamdi SA, Alsalman A, Sowadi OK, Saad H, Gibbs BB. Isotemporal Associations of Patterns and Domains of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity with Sleep Quality in Pregnant Women in Saudi Arabia. InHealthcare 2025 Sep 23 (Vol. 13, No. 19, p. 2397). MDPI.
Wilhite KL, Marshall E, Rogers CW, Whitaker KM, Morris-Neuberger L, Gibbs BB. Using healthcare-affiliated apps to recruit typically underrepresented populations in a pregnancy cohort study in West Virginia. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. 2025 Aug 7:101535.
Barone Gibbs B, Perera S, Conroy MB, Jakicic JM, Muldoon MF. Response by Barone Gibbs et al to Letters Regarding Article, "Effects of Sedentary Behavior Reduction on Blood Pressure in Desk Workers: Results From the RESET-BP Randomized Clinical Trial". Circulation. 2025 Jul 8;152(1):e5-e6. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.074584. Epub 2025 Jul 7. PMID: 40623070; PMCID: PMC12236460.
Holmes AJ, Kline CE, Davis KK, Gordon BDH, Stoner L, Quinn TD, Paley JL, Barone Gibbs B. Comparison of 24-hour Movement Behaviors in Desk Workers Across Office and Work from Home Locations. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 67(7):p e469-e477, July 2025.
Kozai AC, Wilhite KL, Kline CE, Davis KK, Hauspurg A, Catov JM, Barone Gibbs B. Influence of a sedentary behavior intervention on mood, sleep, and quality of life outcomes during pregnancy: the SPRING Study. Women’s Health Reports. 2025 Mar 25; 6(1): 305-314.
Kariuki J, Burke LE, Erickson KI, Sereika S, Paul S, Cheng J, Biza H, Abdirahman A, Wilbraham K, Milton H, Brown C, Sells M, Baah FO, Wells J, Chandler B, Gibbs B. Acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a novel web-based physical activity for the heart (PATH) intervention designed to promote physical activity in adults with obesity: Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial. JMIR. 2025 Mar 18:14: e67972.
Quinn TD, Perera S, Conroy MB, Jakicic JM, Muldoon MF, Barone Gibbs B. Impact of Sedentary Behavior Reduction on Desk-worker Workplace Satisfaction, Productivity, Mood, and Health-related Quality of Life: A Randomized Trial. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2025 Feb 26.
Whitaker KM, Barone Gibbs B, Hivert MF, Makarem N, Moxley E, Vaught J, Evenson KR, American Heart Association Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health, Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing, and Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia. Sedentary Behavior and Light-Intensity Physical Activity During Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Health: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2025. 2025 May 13;151(19):e990-e999. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001316
Martin SS, Aday AW, Allen NB, Almarzooq ZI, Anderson CAM, Arora P, Avery CL, Baker-Smith CM, Bansal N, Beaton AZ, Commodore-Mensah Y, Currie ME, Elkind MSV, Fan W, Generoso G, Gibbs BB, Heard DG, Hiremath S, Johansen MC, Kazi DS, Ko D, Leppert MH, Magnani JW, Michos ED, Mussolino ME, Parikh NI, Perman SM, Rezk-Hanna M, Roth GA, Shah NS, Springer MV, St-Onge MP, Thacker EL, Urbut SM, Van Spall HGC, Voeks JH, Whelton SP, Wong ND, Wong SS, Yaffe K, Palaniappan LP; American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Committee. 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2025 Jan 27. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001303. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39866113.
Gibbs BB, Modlin S, Merz NB, Haas DM, Khan SS, Lane A, McNeil RB, Varagic J, Huber K, Vasquez-Huot L, Catov JM. Leisure Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Cardiovascular Health 2-7 Years after Pregnancy in the nuMoM2b HHS Cohort. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2025 Feb 3;. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003660.
Kozai AC, Jones MA, Borrowman JD, Hauspurg A, Catov JM, Kilne EC, Whitaker KM, Barone Gibbs B. Patterns of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep across pregnancy before and during two COVID pandemic years. Midwifery. 2025 Feb 1;141:104268.
*Last updated on December 3, 2025.