University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Publications
Selected Recent Publications by Topic
Key
* Community partner
† Junior faculty mentee
‡ Graduate student or medical resident
§ Undergraduate or medical student
Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations and Disparities in Pediatric Asthma Care
Kimberley H. Geissler, Meng-Shiou Shieh, Arlene S. Ash, Peter K. Lindenauer, Jerry A. Krishan, Sarah L. Goff
JAMA Pediatrics, September 2024
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This difference-in-differences cross-sectional study found no change in routine asthma visits, an increase in appropriate asthma medication ratios, and an increase in emergency department or hospital use for Medicaid-insured vs privately insured child-years following Medicaid ACO implementation. During the first 3 years of Massachusetts’ Medicaid ACO program, there was no clear evidence of success at reducing disparities in asthma care and outcomes for children insured by Medicaid compared to children with private insurance.
Health Insurance Type and Outpatient Specialist Care Among Children with Asthma
Kimberley H. Geissler, Meng-Shiou Shieh, Jerry A. Krishan, Peter K. Lindenauer, Arlene S. Ash, Sarah L. Goff
JAMA Network Open, June 2024
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In this cross-sectional study, children with asthma who had Medicaid were less likely to receive outpatient specialty care than those with private insurance; the gap was even greater among children with persistent asthma, for whom specialty care may be particularly important. These findings suggest that less specialist care among children with public vs private insurance may contribute to disparities in asthma outcomes.
Translating Evidence into Policy & Practice: Implementation Science
Barriers and Facilitators to Providing Preventive Dental Care for Young Children in Dental Settings
Sarah L. Goff, Charlotte F. Gilson, Marisa DaCosta, Erin DeCou, Ashley M. Kranz​​
Journal of Pediatric Dentistry, September 2025
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This qualitative study aims to understand dental professionals’ perspectives on preventive dental care for very young children and preventive oral health services provided outside dental settings. Early childhood dental care remains underused despite strong evidence for its benefits, and little is known about provider views on barriers and opportunities to improve access. Insights from this work aim to inform strategies to strengthen preventive dental services and reduce inequities in care for young children.
Barriers and Facilitators to Optimal Fluoride Varnish Application
Sarah L. Goff, Charlotte F. Gilson, Erin DeCou, Andrew W. Dick, Kimberley H. Geissler, Michelle Dalal, Ashley M. Kranz​​
Academic Pediatrics, July 2024
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National guidelines recommend that all children under age six receive fluoride varnish (FV) in medical settings. However, application rates remain low. This study aimed to update understanding of barriers and facilitators to guideline concordant FV application.​
Sarah L. Goff, Besty Brooks, Marissa C. DaCosa, Erin DeCou, Kate Wallace, Sahana Sule, Jonas Bromberg, Louis Vernacchia, Heather J. Walter​​
Academic Pediatrics, April 2024
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This qualitative study explores pediatric primary care clinicians’ experiences with the Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP), a model designed to enhance access to behavioral health services for children. Interviews were conducted to identify key barriers and facilitators to implementing integrated behavioral health care within pediatric practices.
Readiness to Implement a Doula-Hospital Partnership Program
Marisa C DaCosta §, Joyce Mogaka ‡, Laura Gebhardt, Sarah L Goff, Neena Qasba, Laura Attanasio
Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Neonatal Nursing, March 2024​
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This paper assess obstetric clinicians' and leaders' baseline knowledge, attitudes, and experience with doulas and their readiness to implement a novel doula-hospital partnership program in an academic medical center in Western Massachusetts.
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Sarah L Goff, Michael J Moran, Kathleen Szegda, Tina Fioroni, Mary Ann DeBanate, Nancy Byatt
Implementation Science Communications, July 2020
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Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 25% of women in lower-income and racial/ethnic minority populations in the USA. Evidence-based interventions for PPD screening and treatment exist, but many women with PPD are not identified or are inadequately treated. Study objectives were (1) to develop and pilot test an adaptable PPD screening protocol in safety-net practices and (2) to test strategies for implementing the protocol.
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We collaborate with UMass Amherst’s HEART Initiative, a cross-disciplinary collective in Health, Environment, and the Arts that fosters creative, arts-based approaches to health and environmental inequities. Together we have worked on projects such as the LGBTQ+ Photovoice study, which engages queer youth in identifying and responding to the factors affecting their mental health.
Protecting Public Health and Preparing for the Next Pandemic
Juliana Sopko ‡, Parker Sweet ‡, Taha Saeed ‡, Laura Attanasio, Sarah Goff, Michael Doonan
MA Health Policy Forum Issue Brief, January 2022
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This report provides an overview and analysis of public health needs and infrastructure in Massachusetts. The report (1) provides a brief overview of the 2019 Blueprint for Public Health Excellence report for MA, which resulted in the State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE 1.0) signed into law in 2020; (2) summarizes SAPHE 1.0 and the current draft of SAPHE 2.0 legislation; (3) provides analysis of policy actions to improve local public health infrastructure in other states; (4) describes key stakeholders’ perspectives on next steps for improvement that may be accomplished through SAPHE 2.0, and (5) makes recommendations based on these findings.
Sarah L. Goff, Kate Wallace §, Natalia Putnam §, Meghan Fernandes §, Eva Chow §, Marisa DaCosta §, and Kelsey Clary ‡
Frontiers Public Health, February 2022​
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This study sought to better understand the experiences, thoughts, concerns, and recommendations of HWs during one of the first major surges in the U.S. and to explore how these experiences might inform efforts to mitigate potential ongoing COVID-related negative health and psychological impacts on HWs.
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