Available to mentor
I am a perinatal epidemiologist interested in ways to prevent adverse health outcomes among women/birthing individuals and their children. My research focuses on identifying novel risk factors for adverse birth outcomes and their mechanisms, including the human microbiome and markers of inflammation, particularly biological mechanisms of psychosocial stress in pregnancy. I have experience analyzing large datasets, survey-based measures, health services research, and biological specimens in reproductive and child health. I previously adapted the first prospectively collected measure of cumulative physiologic dysfunction in pregnancy in relation to birth outcomes, and I have led studies from multiple NIH Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program cohorts examining risk factors and their impact on birth outcomes, including the maternal microbiome in pregnancy, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on birth outcomes, and the bio-social effects of structural racism on preterm birth.
• Translational maternal and child health research, including biological mechanisms of adverse birth outcomes.
• The vaginal microbiome in pregnancy and its reproductive and child health correlates.
• Biosocial effects and mechanisms of reproductive health disparities and structural racism
• Epidemiologic trends in perinatal health.
• Women's health across the life course
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Nel NH, Marafie A, Bassis CM, Sugino KY, Nzerem A, Knickmeyer RR, McKee KS, Comstock SS. J Affect Disord, 2024 Oct 30; 371: 22 - 35.Journal ArticleEdinburgh postpartum depression scores are associated with vaginal and gut microbiota in pregnancy.
DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2024.10.086 PMID: 39481687 -
James TG, McKee KS, Moore Simas TA, Smith LD, McKee MM, Mitra M. Disabil Health J, 2024 Oct; 17 (4): 101639Journal ArticleCesarean birth and adverse birth outcomes among sub-populations of deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
DOI:10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101639 PMID: 38811248 -
McKee K, Bassis CM, Golob J, Palazzolo B, Sen A, Comstock SS, Rosas-Salazar C, Stanford JB, O'Connor T, Gern JE, Paneth N, Dunlop AL, ECHO Cohort Consortium . Sci Rep, 2024 May 23; 14 (1): 11798Journal ArticleHost factors are associated with vaginal microbiome structure in pregnancy in the ECHO Cohort Consortium.
DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-62537-7 PMID: 38782975 -
Mitra M, Akobirshoev I, Valentine A, McKee K, McKee MM. Prev Med, 2024 Mar; 180: 107883Journal ArticleSevere maternal morbidity in deaf or hard of hearing women in the United States.
DOI:10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.107883 PMID: 38307211 -
Tan NS, James TG, McKee KS, Moore Simas TA, Smith LD, McKee MM, Mitra M. Arch Womens Ment Health, 2024 Sep 11;Journal ArticleAntenatal depression and drug use among deaf and hard-of-hearing birthing parents: results from a U.S. National Survey.
DOI:10.1007/s00737-024-01512-7 PMID: 39259355 -
Blackwell CK, Sherlock P, Jackson KL, Hofheimer JA, Cella D, Algermissen MA, Alshawabkeh AN, Avalos LA, Bastain T, Blair C, Bosquet Enlow M, Brennan PA, Breton C, Bush NR, Chandran A, Collazo S, Conradt E, Crowell SE, Deoni S, Elliott AJ, Frazier JA, Ganiban JM, Gold DR, Herbstman JB, Joseph C, Karagas MR, Lester B, Lasky-Su JA, Leve LD, LeWinn KZ, Mason WA, McGowan EC, McKee KS, Miller RL, Neiderhiser JM, O'Connor TG, Oken E, O'Shea TM, Pagliaccio D, Schmidt RJ, Singh AM, Stanford JB, Trasande L, Wright RJ, Duarte CS, Margolis AE. Psychol Assess, 2023 Nov; 35 (11): 1054 - 1067.Journal ArticleDevelopment and psychometric validation of the Pandemic-Related Traumatic Stress Scale for children and adults.
DOI:10.1037/pas0001211 PMID: 37902671 -
McKee KS, Tang X, Tung I, Wu G, Alshawabkeh AN, Arizaga JA, Bastain TM, Brennan PA, Breton CV, Camargo CA, Cioffi CC, Cordero JF, Dabelea D, Deutsch AR, Duarte CS, Dunlop AL, Elliott AJ, Ferrara A, Karagas MR, Lester B, McEvoy CT, Meeker J, Neiderhiser JM, Herbstman J, Trasande L, O'Connor TG, Hipwell AE, Comstock SS, program collaborators for Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes . Am J Perinatol, 2024 May; 41 (S 01): e1404 - e1420.Journal ArticlePerinatal Outcomes during versus Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Role of Maternal Depression and Perceived Stress: A Report from the ECHO Program.
DOI:10.1055/a-2033-5610 PMID: 36781160 -
McKee KS, Akobirshoev I, McKee M, Li FS, Mitra M. J Womens Health (Larchmt), 2023 Jan; 32 (1): 109 - 117.Journal ArticlePostpartum Hospital Readmissions Among Massachusetts Women Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
DOI:10.1089/jwh.2022.0068 PMID: 36040351
