Panagiota Kitsantas
Associate Professor
Application of data mining techniques and methods of categorical data analysis to investigate public health related issues in the fields of maternal and infant health and substance abuse among adolescents
Dr. Kitsantas, Associate Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology in Health Administration and Policy, focuses on the application of data mining techniques, such as classification and regression trees, and methods of categorical data analysis to investigate public health related issues in the fields of maternal and infant health and substance abuse among adolescents. She collaborates with a large number of researchers from various areas and serves as a biostatistics consultant on numerous projects. Dr. Kitsantas has published several manuscripts in both statistical and epidemiological related peer reviewed journals. She has also presented her research findings at national and international conferences.
Education
- Ph.D., Statistics, Florida State University, 2003
- M.S., Statistics, Florida State University, 2000
- M.S., Health Sciences, James Madison University, 1999
Research
2011-2012
Publications
Kitsantas, P., Gaffney, K.F., & Kornides, M. (in press). Prepregnancy body mass index, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and breastfeeding practices. Journal of Perinatal Medicine.
Gaffney, K.F., Kitsantas, P., Cheema, J. (in press). Clinical practice guidelines for feeding behaviors and weight-for-age in late infancy: A secondary analysis of the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing.
Kitsantas, P., & Marshall R. (2012). SPAN and CART partitions. Journal of Data Science, 10, 61-73.
Kitsantas, P., & Gaffney K.F., Bunch, S., & Franklin, P. (2011). Maternal race, weight for gestational age and infant survival. Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, 4(4), 353-361.
Kornides, M., Kitsantas, P., Yang, Y.T., Villarruel, A.M. (2011). Factors associated with obesity in Latino children: A Review of the Literature. Hispanic Health Care International, 9(3). 127-136.
Grants & Contracts
"Determinants of Alcohol Reduction and Cessation during Pregnancy." Foundation for Alcohol Research, 2012-2013, Kitsantas, P. (Primary Investigator), $37,000.
"Predictors of Excessive Weight Gain among Infants of Low Income Hispanic Mothers: A Comparison with the National Infant Feeding Practices Study-II." Mason-Inova Fund , 2012-2013, Kitsantas, P. (Co-Investigator), $49,000.
"Child Health Outcomes, Vaccination Patterns and Familial Genetic Risk." National Vaccination Information Center, 2011-2012, Kitsantas, P. (Co-Investigator), $70,000.
"Comparison of Health and Utilization Outcomes among Fully and Never Vaccinated Children." National Vaccination Information Center, 2010-2012, Kitsantas (Biostatistician), $50,000.
“Novel Risk Factors and Management Strategies for Transient Ischemic Attack and Stroke: the Inova Fairfax Stroke Database.” Inova Life Sciences Research Collaboration Fund, 2010-2011, Kitsantas (PI), $10,000.