Sara E. Baumann, PhD, MPH

(she/her)
Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences

Sara Baumann is a global health, mixed methods researcher with primary research interests in harnessing participatory and creative visual research methods to study women’s and adolescent reproductive health. She has over 12 years of experience conducting research and programming in health and development in South Asia. Her research agenda embraces community-engaged methods and developing evidence-based approaches for improving social determinants of women’s and girls’ health. Some of her current work includes exploring culturally and socially situated menstrual practices in Nepal and the impacts on health outcomes, developing contextually-appropriate tools to measure empowerment in Nepal, using human-centered design tools to assess community impacts of a comprehensive sexuality education program in Madagascar, and using Collaborative Filmmaking (www.collaborativefilmmaking.com) to explore reproductive health decision-making in the Republic of Georgia.

Education & Training
2019-2021 | University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA | Postdoctoral Fellow
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
Awards
2020, Best Doctoral Dissertation Award from Delta Omega National Public Health Honor Society, Omicron Chapter, Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
2019, Paper of the Year Award 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, DOI: 10.1177/237337991882
2018/2019- Boren Fellowship to Nepal
2008/2009 – Fulbright Fellowship to Bangladesh
Representative Publications

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., 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., 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

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