Overview

Dr. Chesser is an Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at Wichita State University. She holds a doctorate in health communications. Her primary research interests are health communication, health literacy, health equity, and older adults. She has taught multiple communications courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels including Health Communications, Health Communications for Older Adults, Social Marketing, Organizational Communications, Global Public Health Communications, and Introduction to Communications. She currently directs a community-based health fair for older adults, and is the principal investigator for an engagement award entitled “Women Involved Network (WIN for Kansas): Community collaboration to Create Health Equity,” which has received an award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. She also serves on the Advisory Board for the regional Health Literacy Network.

Information

Academic Interests and Expertise

Kansas Public Health Association Annual Conference

Dr. Chesser enjoys conducting research involving Health Literacy and Older Adults, Attitudes and Knowledge of Older Adults, and Mental Health Literacy and Women.

Areas of Teaching Interest

Dr. Chesser enjoys teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in Aging Studies including:

  • Women and Aging
  • Health Communications and Aging
  • Public Health and Aging
  • Advanced Public Health and Aging
Publications

Selected Publications:

  • Chesser A, Ahlers-Schmidt C.R., and Schunn C. Grandparent Knowledge of Infant Safe Sleep. Global Pediatric Health. 2019:6:1-4. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2333794X19852008
  • Showstack, R., Guzman, K., Chesser, A., and Keene Woods, N. Improving Latino Health Equity Through Spanish Language Interpreter Advocacy in Kansas. Hispanic Health Care International, 2018: 17:1, 18-22.
  • Chesser A, Reyes J, Keene Woods N, Identifying Health Literacy in Kansas Using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. International Quarterly of Community Health Education. 2018: 0(0):1-8. doi.org/10.1177/0272684X18821305.
  • Chesser A, Reyes J, Keene Woods N, Rogers N. Health Literacy and Older adults: Fall prevention and health literacy in a Midwestern state. Journal of Aging Research and Healthcare.2018; 2(2):23-32. ISSN: 2474-7785.
  • Keene Woods, N. & Chesser A. Validation of a Single Question Health Literacy Screening Tool for Older Adults. Submitted to Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 2017; 3, 1-4. DOI: 10.1177/2333721417713095 
  • Chesser A, Melhado T V, Hines R, Keene Woods N. Identifying Health Literacy in Kansas Using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Journal of Family Medicine and Disease Prevention. 2016; 2(2):03. 
  • Chesser A, Keene Woods N, Smothers K, Rogers N. Health Literacy and Older Adults: A systematic review. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine. 2016; 1(2), 1-13. DOI: 10.1177/2333721416630492

 

Grants

Dr. Chesser is proud to be part of the Investigation Team for the Women's Health Network funded by the Patient Centered Research Institute (PCORI).

She is a Co-Investigator for the Planning for a Center of Health Equity in Kansas also funded by PCORI.