Dr. Klassen has an accomplished career in public health research and practice, with a wealth of experience in securing federal research grants, and a reputation as being a strong collaborator and mentor. Klassen's public health research has focused on the social determinants of chronic disease disparities, and the implementation and evaluation of individual and contextual interventions to reduce patterns of excess burden. Her methodologic expertise includes GIS-based and spatial analysis, as well as qualitative and mixed methods for social science research.
In addition to her role as Associate Director for Research, Klassen will also serve as a Professor of Community Health and Prevention. Previously, she was an Associate Professor of behavioral health sciences at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with a joint appointment in Oncology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Klassen has held funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Defense’s Congressionally Mandated Medical Research Program, American Cancer Society and many other sources. She also directed graduate training programs funded by the National Cancer Institute and the Susan G Komen for the Cure.
Klassen is the author of more than 70 scientific articles and chapters, and currently is co-leading an expert group on mixed methods research for the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research at the NIH. Other scientific service activities include NIH study section memberships, advising Breakthrough Britain on cancer research funding, and serving on the international steering committee for the 2007 Global Breast Cancer Conference in Seoul, Korea.
Klassen was also appointed to Maryland’s HPV Vaccine Policy Taskforce and Prostate Cancer Medical Advisory Committee, and chairs the Cervical Cancer Chapter of Maryland’s CDC-funded Comprehensive Cancer Plan.
Klassen received her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College in history and German, and her PhD in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education from Johns Hopkins University.
Research Interests: Social determinants of chronic disease disparities, implementation and evaluation of individual and contextual interventions to reduce patterns of excess burden.
Spatially-Informed Investigations of Race-Specific 6/1/07-5/31/11 Social Gradients in Breast Cancer Disparities $728,978 US Army Breast Cancer Program PI: Ann C. Klassen, PhD Goals: To examine the extent to which social class, health behaviors, and access to health care, measured at the community level, can help to explain geographic variation in breast cancer burden among African American and white women in the State of Maryland. Role: PI (45%)
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Training Program in 8/6/09-8/5/12 Breast Cancer Disparities Research $405,000 Susan G Komen for the Cure PI: Ann Klassen, PhD Objectives: This funding will establish a training program for masters and doctoral students in breast cancer health disparities in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society. Role: PI (10%)
Embodying an Inequitable Food System: Neighborhood Food Environment 1/1/11-6/30/13 and Metabolic Health in Hispanic youth in the Los Angeles Area. $20,000 Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future Carl Taylor Grant PI: Steph Hsieh,ScM Objectives: To combine geographic and social data with biological and survey data on overweight Latino/Latina adolescents, and follow pre-diabetic changes over time. Role: Thesis Advisor (3%)
Klassen AC, Smith KC. The Enduring and Evolving Relationship between Social Class and Breast Cancer: A Review of the Literature. Cancer Epidemiology 2011;35(3):217-234.
Cohen SA, Ahmed S, Agree EM, Louis TA, Klassen AC, Naumova EN. Childhood Hib vaccination and pneumonia and influenza burden in US seniors. Vaccine 2010;28(28):4462-9
Smith KC, Kromm EK, Klassen AC. Print news coverage of cancer: What prevention messages are conveyed when screening is newsworthy? Cancer Epidemiology 2010;34(4):434-41..
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