I am primarily an injury researcher who uses epidemiology to study traumatic injuries related to occupation, obesity, physical activity, and the built environment. I am most concerned with how these issues disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. I am also interested in the role of research in the development of prevention policies.

Currently, I am conducting research on the following topics: risk of obesity and chronic disease on injury and injury outcomes; burden of workplace injuries among Hispanic workers; risk factors for motor vehicle crashes in the US Army; use of employee assistance programs and policies to prevent intentional injury; evaluation of a street outreach program on young people; and the association between injury hazards in the built environment and opportunities for physical activity.

Prior to joining the faculty, I completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in evaluation sponsored jointly by the University of Pennsylvania Campbell Collaboration and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. There I worked on research, evaluations, and programming for childhood obesity and health issues affecting vulnerable populations.

injury epidemiology, injury and obesity, obesity prevention policy, physical activity, occupational injury prevention, worksite prevention policy

Leon S. Robertson Career Development Chair in Injury Prevention, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2006-2009

Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, Alpha Chapter, Johns Hopkins University, 2006

William Haddon, Jr. Fellowship in Injury Prevention, 2002-2004

Jan A.J. Stolwijk Fellowship, Yale University School of Public Health, 2001-2002

James P. Keogh Memorial Scholarship, American Public Health Association, 2001

Wendell Phillips Award for Leadership and Oratorical Skills and University Commencement Speaker, Tufts University 2000

Gibbons L, Pollack K, Curriero F, Shields T, Smart M, Furr-Holden D, Cooley M. Neighborhood Incivilities, Perceived Neighborhood Safety and Walking Behavior among Urban-Dwelling Children. Journal of Physical Activity and Health (in press).

Pollack KM, Austin W, Grisso JA. Employee Assistance Programs: A Workplace Resource to Address Intimate Partner Violence. Journal of Women’s Health (in press).

Crompton JG, Pollack KM, Oyetunji T, Chang DC, Efron DT, Haut ER, Cornwell EE, Haider A. Racial Disparities in Motorcycle-Related Mortality: An Analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank. American Journal of Surgery, 2009 (in press).

Pollack KM. An Injury Prevention Perspective on the Childhood Obesity Epidemic. Preventing Chronic Disease, 2009; 6(3): http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2009/\jul/08_0258.htm.

Pollack KM, Frattaroli S, Morhaim D. Working in the Legislature: Perspectives on Injury Prevention in the United States. Injury Prevention, 2009:15(3):208-211.

Taiwo O, Cantley L, Slade M, Pollack KM, Vegso S, Fiellin MG, Cullen MR. Gender Differences in Injury Patterns among Workers in Heavy Manufacturing. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2008: 169(2):161-166.

Pollack KM, Xie D, Arbogast KB, Durbin DR. Body Mass Index and Injury Risk Among U.S. Children 9-15 Years Old in Motor Vehicle Crashes. Injury Prevention, 2008:14(6):372-376.

Pollack KM, Sorock GS, Slade M, Cantley L, Sircar K, Taiwo O, Cullen MR. Interpretation of Interaction Terms Between Body Mass Index and Age. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2008; 167:123-24.

Pollack KM, Cheskin L. Obesity and Workplace Traumatic Injury: Does the Science Support the Link? Injury Prevention, 2007:13:297-302.

Pollack KM, Agnew J, Slade MD, Cantley L, Sircar K, Taiwo O, Cullen MR. Use of Employer Administrative Databases to Identify Systematic Causes of Injury in Aluminum Manufacturing. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2007:50:676-86.

Pollack KM, Sorock GS, Slade M, Cantley L, Sircar K, Taiwo O, Cullen MR. The Association of Body Mass Index and Occupational Injury in Hourly Manufacturing Employees. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2007:166:204-11.