Sara Baumann is a global health, mixed methods researcher with primary research interests in 1) participatory, arts-based, and visual research methods, 2) women’s and adolescent reproductive health, and 3) mental health. She has over 13 years of experience conducting research and programming in health and development in South Asia, with a current focus on Nepal. Her research agenda embraces community-engaged methods and developing evidence-based approaches for improving social determinants of health. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including Qualitative Health Research, Global Public Health, Health Promotion Practice, Women’s Reproductive Health and more. Her work has been featured in diverse media outlets from NPR to Glamour Magazine, and her films have been screened at the Smithsonian Institute, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and United Nations Headquarters in New York. Sara’s work has been supported by a Fulbright Scholarship to Bangladesh, and a Boren Fellowship to Nepal.
MPH THESIS/ESSAY OPPORTUNITIES STARTING FALL 2022 (Please email Dr. Baumann directly to learn more)
-
Exploring the Health Impacts and Mechanisms of Community Art Initiatives in Post-disaster Contexts: A Scoping Review Study
-
Capturing Context, Key Services, Challenges, and Opportunities for Meeting the Health Needs of Displaced Persons in Florence, Italy: A Photovoice Study
-
Harnessing Human-centered Design (HCD) for Intervention Development in Global Public Health: A Community-engaged Pilot Study in Nepal
2019 | University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA | PhD
2018 | Cornell University, Ithaca, NY | Intensive Nepali Language Program
2009 | BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh | MPH
2008 | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI | BA
Certifications & Trainings
2022 | Arts in Health Research Intensive, University College London & University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine
2021 | Introduction to Social Network Analysis, Statistical Horizons
2019 | Certified Practitioner of Human-centered Design, The Luma Institute
BCHS 3007 | Ethnographic and Qualitative Methods
PUBHLT 300 | Introduction to Community-based Approaches to Public Health
(Coming Spring 2023) Can Art Heal? An Introduction to Arts in Health Research and Interventions
Selected Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts
Women's Reproductive Health
- Baumann, S., Merante, M.*, Wiltrot, C.*, Cutlip, T.*, Finkel, M., Maharjan, B.*, Lhaki, P., & Burke, J. (2021). Is Criminalization the Answer? Perspectives of Community Members and Police Regarding Menstrual Seclusion (Chhaupadi) Policy in Far-West Nepal. Health Policy and Planning. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czab032
- Baumann, S., Lhaki, P., Terry, M., Sommer, M., Cutlip, T.*, Merante, M.*, & Burke, J. (2021) Beyond the Menstrual Shed: Exploring Caste/Ethnic and Religious Complexities of Menstrual Practices in Far-West Nepal. Women’s Reproductive Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2020.1861413
- Baumann, S. (2020). An Extensive Menstrual Studies Resource Spanning Disciplines, Contexts and Forms. [Review of the book Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies, edited by Bobel, C. et al.]. Psychology of Women Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684320967619
- Baumann, S., Lhaki, P., & Burke, J. (2019). Assessing the role of caste/ethnicity in predicting menstrual knowledge, attitudes and practices in Nepal. Global Public Health.  https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2019.1583267
Arts + Health & Innovation
- Baumann, S. & Burke, J. (2021). Creating Community During COVID-19: A Participatory Virtual Art Gallery Exploring Resilience, Social Cohesion and Creativity During the Pandemic. Health Promotion Practice.
- Baumann, S., Merante, M.*, Sylvan, M., & Burke, J. (2021). Creating a way forward: Exploring the role of community art and trauma, mental health and resilience in the aftermath of the 2015 mega-earthquake in Nepal. Health Promotion Practice, Arts & Public Health Supplement. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320941826
- Baumann, S., Lhaki, P., & Burke, J. (2020). Collaborative Filmmaking: A Participatory, Visual Method. Qualitative Health Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320941826
- Baumann, S., Merante, M.*, Folb, B. & Burke, J. (2019). Is Film as a Research Tool the Future of Public Health?: A Review of Study Designs, Opportunities, and Challenges. Qualitative Health Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732319871251
- Felter, E. & Baumann, S. (2019). Development of a Community-Engaged Classroom for Teaching Health Communications: Lessons Learned from Nine Semesters of Implementation. Pedagogy in Health Promotion. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2373379918824353 (Winner of the Paper of the Year Award)
Selected Commissioned Studies/Technical Reports
- Burke, J. &Baumann, S. (2020) Joint Documentation of Empowerment Outcomes among Adolescents Who Have Undertaken the ‘Rupantaran’ Social and Financial Skills Package. Funded by UNICEF South Asia.
- Baumann, S.Literature Review on Harmful Practices in Nepal. (2020, January). Funded by UN Development Operations Coordination Office, UN Population Fund, and UN Women.
- Baumann, S.Advancement for Recovery Initiatives for Safer Ethiopia (ARISE) Project Process Documentation, Best Practices and Lessons Identified from Standardized Provision of Non-Food Items (NFIs), Capacity Development and After-Action Review Process. (2020, February). Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
