Krista (Kris) Highland (they/them)

PhD

Department of Primary Appointment:
School of Medicine
Anesthesiology
Location: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Health Equity & Justice, Healthcare Optimization, Gender-Affirming Healthcare, Pain Management
Email
krista.highland@usuhs.edu

Education

PhD Clinical Psychology, University of Nebraska - Lincoln (2012)
MA Psychology, University of Nebraska - Lincoln (2009)
BS Psychology & Biology, Black Hills State University (2007)

Biography

Dr. Highland is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in advanced statistical methodology and clinical research. They are an Associate Professor in the Departments of Anesthesiology (primary), Military and Emergency Medicine (secondary), and Medicine (tertiary).

They are a principal investigator on several large grants. Their research examines pain management optimization through a health equity measurement framework and biopsychosocial lens. As such, Dr. Highland employs a range of statistical modeling approaches, including structural equation modeling and machine learning.

Dr. Highland completed their PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship at the University of Washington's Level I Trauma Center, Harborview Medical Center, in the Behavioral Medicine and Neuropsychology Track. After their PhD, they completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center.

Career Highlights: Positions, Projects, Deployements, Awards and Additional Publications

Director, Anesthesiology Research Coordinating Center

Faculty Advisor, Spectrum (LGBTQIA+) Student Group

Chair, LGBTQIA+ Affirming Curriculum Taskforce

Co-Chair, School of Medicine Diversity Committee - Sustainment and Assessment Subcommittee

Subject Matter Expert, Defense Health Agency, Pain Management Clinical Support Service

Secretary-Treasurer, USU Faculty Senate

Representative Bibliography

Biosketch Link
Full Publication List

Sowa H, Patzkowski J, Ismawan J, Velosky AG, Highland KB. Racialized Inequities in Knee Arthroplasty Receipt After Osteoarthritis Diagnosis in the US Military Health System. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2024 May;76(5):664-672. doi: 10.1002/acr.25290. Epub 2024 Feb 5. PMID: 38185854.

Tippit TL, O'Connell MA, Costantino RC, Scott-Richardson M, Peters S, Pakieser J, Tilley LC, Highland KB. Racialized and beneficiary inequities in medication to treat opioid use disorder receipt within the US Military Health System. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2023 Dec 1;253:111025. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.111025. Epub 2023 Nov 10. PMID: 38006670.

Wondwossen Y, Patzkowski MS, Amoako MY, Lawson BK, Velosky AG, Soto AT, Highland KB. Spinal Cord Stimulator Inequities Within the US Military Health System. Neuromodulation. 2024 Jul;27(5):916-922. doi: 10.1016/j.neurom.2023.03.008. Epub 2023 Apr 13. PMID: 38971583.

Johnson M, Carreño PK, Lutgendorf M, Brown J, Velosky AG, Highland KB. Hysterectomy Inequities Between Black and White Patients in the US Military Health System: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol. 2023, in press.

Wyatt-Nash B, Wondwossen Y, Lutgendorf MA, Highland KB. Opportunity to Integrate the American Medical Association's Inclusive Language Guidance. Health Equity. 2024 Mar 13;8(1):177-188. doi: 10.1089/heq.2023.0207. PMID: 38559848; PMCID: PMC10979659.

Klein DA, Gonzalez XB, Highland KB, Thornton JA, Sunderland KW, Funk W, Pav V, Brydum R, Schvey NA, Roberts CM. Variation in Time-to-Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy in US Active Duty Service Members. Med Care. 2024 Jul 1;62(7):481-488. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000002011. Epub 2024 May 16. PMID: 38761163.

Pakieser J, Peters S, Tilley LC, Costantino RC, Scott-Richardson M, Highland KB. Naloxone Prescribing Practices in the Military Health System before and after Policy Implementation. Pain reports. Mar-Apr 2022;7(2):e993. doi:10.1097/PR9.0000000000000993

Robertson I, Rhon DI, Fritz JM, Velosky A, Lawson BK, Highland KB. Post-lumbar surgery prescription variation and opioid-related outcomes in a large US healthcare system: an observational study. Spine J. 2023 Sep;23(9):1345-1357. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2023.05.006. Epub 2023 May 22. PMID: 37220814; PMCID: PMC10524933.

Scott-Richardson M, Johnson G, Burnett S, Giordano NA, Highland KB. Policy Facilitators Versus Structural Barriers: Integrative Therapy Telehealth Changes in the United States During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Telemed J E Health. May 2022;28(5):728-735. doi:10.1089/tmj.2021.0167

Cronin WA, Nealeigh MD, Zeien JL, Goc JM, Amoako MY, Velosky AG, Williman MC, Cyr KL, Highland KB. Opioid Prescribing Variation After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in the US Military Health System. J Surg Res. 2024 May;297:149-158. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.06.056. Epub 2023 Aug 19. PMID: 37604706.