Bio

Kathryn J. Luchok, PhD, is a Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology and a Senior Instructor in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program.  Her expertise is in medical and applied anthropology and she is cross trained in Anthropology and Public Health. She specializes in women’s reproductive health, pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum, maternal and child health, and health equity. Her work is interdisciplinary and she has research experience in the US, Togo, Nigeria and Nepal. She is very engaged in the community serving as a technical advisor to Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network, a featured speaker at Save the Children Action Network events, a speaker at Rotaract Carolina and Timmy Global Health events, a member of the SC Birth Outcomes Initiative, and a member of the State Alliance for Adolescent Sexual Health in SC.

Education

• PhD, Health Education and Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC-CH)
• MA, Anthropology, UNC-CH
• BA, Sociology and Anthropology, West Virginia University, Morgantown

Courses

• ANTH-WGST 388 Cultures, Pregnancy and Birth
• WGST 113 Women’s Health
• ANTH 102 Understanding Other Cultures
• ANTH 391/WGST 430 Global Women’s Health

Research

Dr. Luchok has obtained over $5 million in research funding in her career, and she involves students in her research projects. Her work has supported numerous graduate and undergraduate students and her research mentorship led to 4 nominations for teaching awards and in 2017 was a finalist for an Undergraduate Research Mentor Award. Much of her work uses a mixed methods approach—both qualitative and quantitative data collection and center around sociocultural factors that affect health and well-being. She has led research projects on occupational stressors and emotional health during pregnancy and the postpartum, factors affecting women’s adherence to follow-up after an abnormal Pap test, and examining the weathering hypothesis in birth outcomes disparities. Most recently she has led the analysis of the USC Campus Climate Surveys, and led a project to implement and evaluate innovative workshops to increase reproductive literacy of teens in the foster care system.   

Selected publications

Luchok, KJ & Robinson, LG (2017). Using sticky ideas to promote reproductive health literacy: The Reproductive Anatomy Tool Kit©. MOJ Women’s Health 5(3): 00125.

 Torres, M, Smithwick-Leone, J, Luchok, KJ, Rodman-Rice, G. (2012). Reducing maternal and child health disparities among Latino immigrants in South Carolina through a tailored, culturally appropriate and participant driven initiative, California Journal of Health Promotion. 10 (Special Issue: Health Disparities in Latino Communities): 1-14.

Nkansah-Amankra, S*, Luchok, KJ, Hussey, JR, Watkins, K, & Liu, SX. (2010). Effects of maternal stress on low birth weight and preterm birth outcomes across neighborhoods of South Carolina, 2000-2003, Maternal and Child Health Journal, 14(2):215-26.

Nkansah-Amankra, S*, Dhawain, A, Hussey, JR, & Luchok, KJ. (2010). Maternal social support and neighborhood income inequality as predictors of low birth weight and preterm birth outcome disparities: Analysis of South Carolina Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System survey, 2000-2003, Maternal and Child Health Journal, 14(5):774-85.

 Luchok, KJ, (2010).Unmet need for family planning in Region IV, Contraception 82(2):197.

Prabhu Das, I, * Parra Medina, D, Messias, DH, Luchok, KJ, Richter DL (2009). Making it happen: Follow-up decision-making among low-income African-American women with abnormal Pap test, Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association 254-259.

 Martin, AB*, Crawford, S, Probst, JC, Smith, G, Saunders, RP, Watkins, KW, & Luchok, KJ. (2007). Medical homes for children with special needs:  A program evaluation, Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 18 (4), 916-930.

 Eggleston, KS, Coker, AL, Luchok, KJ, & Meyer, TE. (2007). Adherence to recommendations for follow-up to abnormal Pap tests. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 109, 1332-1341.

 Coker, AL, Eggleston, KS, Meyer, TE, Luchok, KJ, & Prabhu Das, I. (2007).  What predicts adherence to follow-up recommendations for abnormal; Pap tests among older women? Gynecologic Oncology, 105, 74-80.

 Eggleston, KS, Coker, AL, Prabhu Das, I, Cordray, ST, & Luchok, KJ. (2007). Understanding barriers for adherence to follow-up care for abnormal Pap tests, Journal of Women’s Health.16, (3), 311-330.

Gilmore, HC*, Luchok, KJ, Martin, AB, McKeown, R & Evans, A. (2006). Short birth intervals and the risk of school unreadiness among a Medicaid population in South Carolina, Child: Care, Health & Development, 32(4), 423-430.

Morrison, KE*, Luchok, KJ, Richter, DL, Parra-Medina, D, & Williams, L. (2006). African- American survivor’s insights on help-seeking from informal networks, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(11), 1493-1511.

 Coker, A, Bond, S, Madeleine, M, Luchok, KJ, & Pirisi, L. (2003). Psychosocial stress, HPV, and cervical neoplasia, Psychosomatic Medicine 65:644-651.

*indicates student

Honors

• Finalist for Undergraduate Research Faculty Mentor Award, 2017.
• Crescent Award, SC Coalition for Healthy Families, May 2016.
• Nominated for Heroes in the Field of Maternal and Child Health Award, Palmetto Health, 2013.
• Reproductive Rights Award, SC Coalition for Healthy Families, October 2009
• Nominated for USC Michael J. Mungo Graduate Teaching Award, March, 2005 and March 2006.
• Nominated for USC Arnold School of Public Health James A. Keith Excellence in
• Teaching Award, April 2005 and April 2006.
• Kentucky Colonel, highest honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky for my work with migrant and seasonal farmworkers, July, 2000