Education
- Ph.D.: Epidemiology, (2007), University at Albany - Albany, NY
Dissertation/Thesis Title: Venue-Based Samples of Men Who have Sex with Men: Enrolling High Risk Groups of Men Who have Sex with Men and Explaining Variations in HIV Risk Behavior - Other: Epidemiology, (2001), University of South Carolina - Columbia, SC
Dissertation/Thesis Title: Association Between Arthritis and Other Joint Disorders and Measles, Mumps and Rubella and Hepatitis B Vaccinations in Children - B.A.: International Corporate Communications, (1999), American University of Paris - Paris, France
Dissertation/Thesis Title: A Comparative Study of Infant Formula Marketing Strategies in the United States and India
Biosketch
Karyn Heavner’s research interests are HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, harm reduction, sexual behavior, substance use disorder, and epidemiology methods. She helped start a syringe services program in Nashua, NH and works closely with the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition. She earned her MSPH in epidemiology from the University of South Carolina and her Ph.D. in infectious disease epidemiology from the University at Albany. She completed postdoctoral fellowships in harm reduction and epidemiology methods at the University of Alberta and in autism spectrum disease research and epidemiology methods at Drexel University. She has extensive experience with analysis of large administrative databases (such as the National Health Interview Survey and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), and with epidemiological simulations, survey design and program evaluation.
Selected Awards and Honors
- Sin Ming Shaw Award for Research (1999), Scholarship/Research - American University of Paris
Selected Publications
- Heavner, K., Burstyn, I. (2015). A Simulation Study of Categorizing Continuous Exposure Variables Measured with Error in Autism Research: Small Changes with Large Effects. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(8) 10198-10234.
- Heavner, K., Newschaffer, C., Hertz-Picciotto, I., Bennett, D., Burstyn, I. (2015). Pooling Bio-Specimens in the Presence of Measurement Error and Non-Linearity in Dose-Response: Simulation Study in the Context of a Birth Cohort Investigating Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(11) 14780-14799.
- Heavner, K., Gross-Davis, C.A., Frank, A.L., Newschaffer, C., Klotz, J., Burstyn, I. (2015). Working environment and myeloproliferative neoplasm: A population-based case-control study following a cluster investigation. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 58(6) 595-604.
- Gross-Davis, C., Heavner, K., Frank, A., Newschaffer, C., Klotz, J., Santella, R., Burstyn, I. (2015). The Role of Genotypes That Modify the Toxicity of Chemical Mutagens in the Risk for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(3) 2465-2485.
- Heavner, K., Newschaffer, C., Hertz-Picciotto, I., Bennett, D., Burstyn, I. (2014). Quantifying the potential impact of measurement error in an investigation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 68(5) 438-445.
- Heavner, K., Frank, A., Gross-Davis, C., Burstyn, I., Klotz, J. (2013). Investigation of a Polycythemia Vera, Essential Thrombocythemia and Primary Myelofibrosis Cluster in Northeast Pennsylvania: A Case-Control Study. Final Report to Agency for Toxics Disease Registry. Drexel University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
- Leavey, A., Zwaigenbaum, L., Heavner, K., Burstyn, I. (2013). Gestational Age at Birth and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Alberta, Canada. The Journal of Pediatrics, 162(2) 361-368.
- Phillips, C., , K., Bergen, P. (2011). Tobacco – the greatest untapped potential for harm reduction (2nd). The Guilford Press
- Mundt, K.A., Birk, T., Parsons, W., Borsch-Galetke, E., Siegmund, K., Heavner, K., Guldner, K. (2011). Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposure–Response Evaluation of Silicosis Morbidity and Lung Cancer Mortality in the German Porcelain Industry Cohort. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 53(3) 282-289.
- Heavner, K., Phillips, C.V., Burstyn, I., Hare, W. (2010). Dichotomization: 2 × 2 (×2 × 2 × 2...) categories: infinite possibilities. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 10(1).
- Heavner, K., Rosenberg, Z., Tenorio, F., Phillips, C.V. (2010). Retailers' knowledge of tobacco harm reduction following the introduction of a new brand of smokeless tobacco. Harm Reduction Journal, 7(1) 18.
- Rodu, B., Heavner, K., Phillips, C. (2009). . Epidemiology, 20(3) 468-9.
- Heavner, K., Rosenberg, Z., Phillips, C.V. (2009). Survey of smokers' reasons for not switching to safer sources of nicotine and their willingness to do so in the future. Harm Reduction Journal, 6(1) 14.
- Rodu, B., Heavner, K. (2009). Errors and omissions in the study of snuff use and hypertension. Journal of Internal Medicine, 265(4) 507-508.
- Cheung, J., Goodman, K., Munday, R., Heavner, K., Huntington, J., Morse, J., Veldhuyzen van Zanten, S., Fedorak, R.N., Corriveau, A., Bailey, R.J. (2008). Helicobacter pylori infection in Canada’s arctic: Searching for the solutions. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology, 22(11).
- Klein, S.J., Tesoriero, J.M., Leung, S.J., Heavner, K., Birkhead, G.S. (2008). Screening Persons Newly Diagnosed With HIV/AIDS for Risk of Intimate Partner Violence. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 14(5) 420-428.
- Tesoriero, J.M., Battles, H.B., Heavner, K., Leung, S.J., Nemeth, C., Pulver, W., Birkhead, G.S. (2008). The Effect of Name-Based Reporting and Partner Notification on HIV Testing in New York State. American Journal of Public Health, 98(4) 728-735.
- Phillips, C.V., Heavner, K. (2008). Letter to the Editor in Response to “An Epidemic that Deserves More Attention: Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment of Smokeless Tobacco”. Southern Medical Journal, 101(2) 211.
- Heavner, K. (2005). Reporting and Partner Notification Impact Study General Finding Report. New York State Department of Health, AIDS Institute
- Heavner, K. (2004). HIV Counseling and Testing Resource Directory, 2004 edition. New York State Department of Health, AIDS Institute
Selected Presentations
- Association between state level voting behavior and prevalence of neonatal abstinence syndrome in New Hampshire from 2000-2011: An ecological study - New Hampshire Public Health Association annual meeting, April 2017 - Concord, NH
- Occupational and genetic risk factors for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN): A casecontrol study - 23th EPICOH International Conference on Epidemiology in Occupational Health, June 2013 - Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Quantifying the potential impact of measurement error in the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) - Society for Epidemiologic Research annual meeting, June 2013 - Boston, MA
- In Utero Exposure to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) - Society for Epidemiologic Research annual meeting, June 2012 - Minneapolis, MN
- Gestational age at birth and risk of autism spectrum disorders in Alberta, Canada - Pennsylvania Public Health Association 2011 Annual Conference, September 2011
- E-cigarettes as potential tobacco harm reduction products: Results of an online survey of e-cigarette users - 20th International Harm Reduction Association Conference, April 2010 - Liverpool, England
- "Conflict of interest" disclosure in health science: inadequate information and a tool for enforcing orthodoxy - International Symposium on Peer Reviewing, at the 3rd International Conference on Knowledge Generation, Communication and Management, July 2009
- Peer review in epidemiology cannot accomplish its ostensible goals due to incomplete reporting and unverifiable analyses - International Symposium on Peer Reviewing, at the 3rd International Conference on Knowledge Generation, Communication and Management, July 2009
- Pre-submission and post-publication reviews: open web-based tools to provide partial solutions to the fundamental inadequacy of public health science peer review - International Symposium on Peer Reviewing, at the 3rd International Conference on Knowledge Generation, Communication and Management, July 2009
- Dichotomization: Why present one 2x2 table when n 2x2 tables are possible (and none are “the right” answer) - 42nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research, June 2009 - Anaheim, California
- Inconsistent methods used to analyze data from the Swedish construction workers’ cohort study - 42nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research, June 2009 - Anaheim, California
- Tobacco harm reduction in Sweden: population-level proof of effectiveness - 19th International Harm Reduction Association Conference, April 2009 - Bangkok, Thailand
- Tobacco harm reduction: the best hope for averting deaths from smoking in the developing world - Global Health and Innovation Summit, April 2009 - New Haven, Connecticut
- Predictors of self-reported previous testing for Helicobacter pylori infection in a remote Arctic community in Canada - American Public Health Association Conference, October 2008 - San Diego, CA
- Tobacco harm reduction: Myths, misinformation and mudslinging in the Canadian press - American Public Health Association Conference, October 2008 - San Diego, CA
- Smokeless Tobacco: Epidemiology of Harm - Aerosol Dynamics and Health Conference: Strategies to Reduce Exposure and Harm Conference, June 2008 - Cardiff, Wales, UK
- Bias Due to Uncontrolled Confounding: Demonstrating the Value of External Adjustment - Annual Society for Epidemiologic Research Meeting, June 2008 - Chicago, IL
- Categorization of Continuous Variables: Recognizing and Reducing the Bias Caused by the Choice of Cutpoints - Annual Society for Epidemiologic Research Meeting, June 2008 - Chicago, IL
- Categorization of Continuous Variables: Recognizing and Reducing the Bias Caused by the Choice of Cutpoints - Annual Society for Epidemiologic Research Meeting, June 2008 - Chicago, IL
- Methodologic and Ethical Failures in Epidemiologic Research, as Illustrated by Research Relating to Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) - Annual Society for Epidemiologic Research Meeting, June 2008 - Chicago, IL
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the Rationale for a Multi- Pronged Harm Reduction Approach - 18th International Harm Reduction Association Conference, May 2008 - Barcelona, Spain
- Smokeless tobacco availability and promotion in Edmonton: Exploring the barriers to and the opportunities for tobacco harm reduction - 18th International Harm Reduction Association Conference, May 2008 - Barcelona, Spain
- Survey of University Student Smokers’ Perceptions of Risks from Tobacco Products and Barriers to Harm Reduction - 18th International Harm Reduction Association Conference, May 2008 - Barcelona, Spain
- Survey of Smokers’ Interest in and Barriers to Tobacco Harm Reduction - 8th International Harm Reduction Association Conference, May 2008 - Barcelona, Spain
- Attitudes, testing and treatment rates of hepatitis C and HIV among injection drug users - American Public Health Association Conference, November 2007 - Washington, D.C.
- HIV prevention fatigue: Men who have sex with men are tuning out HIV prevention messages - American Public Health Association Conference, November 2007 - Washington, D.C.
- Potential for selection and misclassification bias when sampling men who have sex with men in gay bars - American Public Health Association Conference, November 2007 - Washington, D.C.
- Multivariable regression analysis of venue-based samples of men who have sex with men - Society for Epidemiologic Research Annual Meeting, June 2007 - Boston, MA
- Systematic review of the variation in estimates of prevalence of unprotected anal intercourse in venue-based samples of men who have sex with men - American Public Health Association Conference, November 2006 - Boston, MA
- Evaluation of a Public- Private Partnership for Syringe Access and Safe Disposal - XVI International AIDS Conference, August 2006 - Toronto, Canada
- Non-Medical Staff Knowledge, Beliefs and Practices about HIV and Hepatitis for Injection Drug Users - XVI International AIDS Conference, August 2006 - Toronto, ON
- Assessment of New York's Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program: Results from Statewide Baseline and Follow-up Surveys of Pharmacies - American Public Health Association Conference, November 2005 - Philadelphia, PA
- Non- Injection Drug Use (NIDU) Predicts Sexual Risk for HIV - American Public Health Association Conference, November 2005 - Philadelphia, PA
- “Outness” About Men’s Sexual Behavior with Men: How Does it Affect HIV Testing Behavior? - American Public Health Association Conference, November 2005 - Philadelphia, PA
- Intimate Partner Violence and HIV Testing History Among High-risk Individuals - 2005 National HIV Prevention Conference, June 2005 - Atlanta, GA
- Men’s “Outness” About Having Sex With Men: Relationship to HIV Testing and Risk Behavior - 2005 National HIV Prevention Conference, June 2005 - Atlanta, GA
- “Club drug” Use Among High-Risk Men Who Have Sex With Men in Multiple Venues - 2005 National HIV Prevention Conference, June 2005 - Atlanta, GA
- An Exploration of the High Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms among Puerto Rican Women Compared to Non-Puerto Rican Latinas - American Public Health Association Conference, November 2004 - Washington, D.C.
- Lifetime Experience of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among Individuals at High Risk for HIV Infection - National STD Prevention Conference, March 2004 - Philadelphia, PA
- Physicians’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices around New York State’s (NYS) HIV Reporting and Partner Notification Law (HIVRPN) - National STD Prevention Conference, March 2004 - Philadelphia, PA
- What do Physicians Know and Want to Learn About STD/HIV Partner Notification? - National STD Prevention Conference, March 2004 - Philadelphia, PA
- Demographic and Risk Behavior Differences Among Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) Frequenting Upstate New York (NY) Bars Based on the Time and the Day of Interview - American Public Health Association Conference, November 2003 - San Francisco, CA
- Assessing the Impact of New York State's HIV Reporting and Partner Notification Law on the HIV Testing Attitudes and Behaviors of High-Risk Individuals - National HIV Prevention Conference, July 2003 - Atlanta, GA
Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research
- Research Fellowship (1999), Fellowship - Department of Epidemiology, University of South Carolina
Heavner, K.