Susan C. McKernan, DMD, MS, PhD

Oliveira, Rubelisa CG de, et al. Visit Characteristics Associated With Pediatric Dental Appointment No‐Shows in an Academic Dental Setting. International Journal of Dentistry 2025.1 (2025): 2114933

Sukalski, Jennifer MC, et al. Perceived Social Status and Oral Health Among Medicaid Insured Adults in Iowa. Health Equity 8.1 (2024): 667-675.

McKernan, S.C., Momany E.T., Sukalski J.M.C., Jones, M.P., Damiano., P.C., Kuth, R.A. (2023) Variation in general dentists’ patterns of sealant use in children with elevated caries risk. JDR Clinical & Translational Research, 8(4):367-373.

Sukalski J.M.C., Askelson, N.M., Reynolds, J.C., Damiano, P.C., Shi, W., Xie, X.J., McKernan, S.C. (2023). Perceived Social Status, socioeconomic status, and preventive dental utilization among a low- income Medicaid adult population. Journal of Public Health Dentistry.

Reynolds, J. C., Ingleshwar, A., Nwachukwu, P., McKernan, S.C., Damiano, P. C. (2023) Dentist- reported differences in services provided to patients with public vs. private dental insurance. BMC Oral Health, 23, 431.

Obadan-Udoh, E., Boylston Herndon, J., Kohli, R., McKernan, S.C., Jura, M., Momany, E. T., Arora, G., Sehgal, H. S., Yansane, A., Mertz, E. (2023) Testing dental quality measures: Emergency department visits for nontraumatic dental conditions and subsequent follow-up dental visits. Journal of the American Dental Association, 154(6), 507-518.

McKernan, S. C., Sukalski, J. C. C., Starman, E. E., Mayhle, M. M., Holland, H. A., Chi, D. L. (2023). Introducing dental students to dental public health: an analysis of U.S. predoctoral course syllabi. Journal of Dental Education, 87(5), 654-659.

Askelson, N. M., Ryan, G. W., McKernan, S. C., Scherer, A. M., Daly, E. R., Avdic, L. H. (2023). Engaging new partners in HPV vaccine promotion: considerations for training private practice dental professionals in HPV vaccine promotion. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 83(2), 185-192.

Macek, M., Zavras, A., Tomar, S., Cappelli, D., McKernan, S. C., Timothe, P., Okunseri, C. (2023). American Board of Dental Public Health Diplomate Survey, 2021: Competency Domains and Practice. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 83(1), 78-86.

McKernan, S. C., Reynolds, J. C., Damiano, P. C., McInroy, B. (2022). Randomized experiment on the effect of incentives and mailing strategy on response rates in a mail survey of dentists. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 82(4), 363-494.

Scholtes, M., Comnick, C., Reynolds, J. C., McKernan, S. C., Damiano, P. C. (2022). Dentist attitudes toward an annual benefit maximum in Iowa’s adult Medicaid program. Journal of Public Health Dentistry.

Yu, H., Klompas, M., Kofner, A., Horowitz-Lennon, M., McKernan, S. C. (2022). COVID-19 Vaccination: Concerning Trends in Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 63(1), e31-e33.

Kateeb, E., McKernan, S.C., Askelson, N., Momany, E., Damiano, P.C. (2021). Applying the "Stages of Readiness to Change Model" to dentists’ decisions to participate in Medicaid: An exploratory study. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 14, 3311.

Reynolds, J. C., McKernan, S. C., Kuthy, R. A. (2021). Predictors of multiple jobholding among dental hygienists in the State of Iowa. Journal of Dental Hygiene, 95(1), 43-49.

Garcia, D., Lawson, J., Brody, E., McKernan, S. C., Raskin, S. E., Arauz, N. R., Mosavel, M., Brickhouse, T. H. (2021). A scoping review of the roles, training, and impact of community health workers in oral health. Community Dental Health, 38, 198-208.

Gratz, K., McKernan, S. C., Pendleton, C., Xie, X. J., Leary, K. (2020). Factors attracting pediatric dentists to associateship agreements. Journal of Dentistry for Children, 87(3), 3-9.

Reynolds, J. C., McKernan, S. C., Sukalski, J. M. (2020). Who provides open-ended comments? Assessing item non-response bias in Medicaid surveys of members and dentists. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 80(1), 18-22.

Teixeira, E., Warren, J. J., McKernan, S. C., McQuistan, M. R., Qian, F. (2020). Prescribing practices for antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with large prosthetic joints. Special Care in Dentistry, 40, 198-205.

Reynolds, J. C., McKernan, S. C., Kuthy, R. A., Damiano, P. C. (2019). A tale of two public dental benefit programs: Iowa dentist participation in traditional Medicaid versus a Medicaid expansion program. BMC Oral Health, 19(1), 89-95.

Reynolds, J. C., Sukalski, J. C., McKernan, S. C., Damiano, P. C. (2019). Member and dentist narratives about a dental program for the Medicaid expansion population: a content analysis. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 47(6), 485-493.

Sukalski, J., McKernan, S. C., Avila-Ortiz, G., Cunningham-Ford, M., Qian, F., Damiano, P. C. (2019). Periodontal treatment needs in the Medicaid patient population: a retrospective study in a US dental school. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 79(1), 53-59.

Damiano, P. C., Reynolds, J. C., Boylston Herndon, J., McKernan, S. C., Kuthy, R. A. (2019). The patient-centered dental home: a standardized definition for quality improvement. Health Services Research, 54(2), 446-454.

Reynolds, J. C., McKernan, S. C., Sukalski, J. M., Damiano, P. C. (2018). Evaluation of enrollee satisfaction with Iowa's Dental Wellness Plan for the Medicaid expansion population. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 78(1), 78-85.

Bohn, C. E., McQuistan, M. R., McKernan, S. C., Askelson, N. M. (2018). Preferences related to the use of mobile apps as dental patient educational aids: a pilot study. Journal of Prosthodontics, 27(4), 329-334.

Marshall, T. A., McKernan, S. C., Straub-Morarend, C. L., Guzman-Armstrong, S., Marchini, L., Handoo, N. Q., Cunningham, M. A. (2018). Evidence based dentistry skill acquisition by second year dental students. European Journal of Dental Education, 22(3), e612-e618.

Singhal, A., McKernan, S. C., Sohn, W. (2018). Dental public health practice, infrastructure, and workforce in the United States. Dental Clinics of North America, 62(2), 155-175

Kuthy, R. A., McKernan, S. C., Pooley, M., Zimmerman, M. B. (2018). Relationship between community level variables and number of general dentists. Journal of the American Dental Association, 149(4), 308-316.

Marshall, T. A., Straub-Morarend, C. L., Guzman-Armstrong, S., McKernan, S. C., Marchini, L., Handhoo, N. Q., Cunningham, M. A. (2018). An approach on defining competency in evidence-based dentistry. European Journal of Dental Education, 22(1), e107-e115.

McKernan, S. C., Reynolds, J. C., Ingleshwar, A., Pooley, M., Kuthy, R. A., Damiano, P. C. (2017). Transportation barriers and use of dental services among Medicaid insured adults. JDR Clinical & Translational Research, 3(1), 101-108.

Kuthy, R. A., McKernan, S. C., Hoyle, D. A. (2016). An interactive website to facilitate in-state retention of new dentists and recruitment to underserved areas. Journal of Dental Education, 80(6), 686- 690.

McKernan, S. C., Singhal, A., Momany, B., Kuthy, R. A. (2016). Dental visits by age one: general dentist availability for privately insured children in a rural state. Pediatric Dentistry, 38(1), 55-60.

Reynolds, J. C., McKernan, S. C., Kuthy, R. A., Adrianse, N. B., Mani, S., Damiano, P. C. (2016). Public dental safety net in Iowa: capacity and readiness for health care reform. Journal of Health Care for the Poor & Underserved, 27(2), 450-64.

Kuthy, R. A., Reynolds, J. C., McKernan, S. C., Damiano, P. C. (2016). Rise of managed care in the USA: lessons for dentistry. Current Oral Health Reports, 3(3), 131-139.

McKernan, S. C., Pooley, M. J., Momany, B., Kuthy, R. A. (2016). Travel burden and dentist bypass among dentally insured children. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 76(3), 220-227.

Darling, B., Kanellis, M. J., McKernan, S. C., Damiano, P. C. (2015). Potential utilization of expanded function dental auxiliaries to place restoratives. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 75(2), 163-168.

Kateeb, E. T., McKernan, S. C., Gaeth, G. J., Kuthy, R. A., Adrianse, N. B., Damiano, P. C. (2015). Predicting dentists' decisions: a choice-based conjoint analysis of Medicaid participation. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 76(3), 171-178.

McKernan, S. C., Reynolds, J. C., Momany, B., Kuthy, R. A., Kateeb, E. T., Adrianse, N. B., Bjorndal, A. (2015). Relationship between altruistic attitudes and dentists' Medicaid participation. Journal of the American Dental Association, 146(1), 34-41.

McKernan, S. C., Kuthy, R. A., Hanley, P. F., Jones, M. P., Momany, B., McQuistan, M. R., Damiano, P.C. (2015). Geographic variation of dental utilization among low-income children. Health & Place, 34(July), 150-156.

Nashleanas, B. M., McKernan, S. C., Kuthy, R. A., Qian, F. (2014). Career influences among final year dental students who plan to enter private practice. BMC Oral Health, 14(1), 18-25.

McKernan, S. C., Kuthy, R. A., Kavand, G. (2013). General dentist characteristics associated with rural practice location. Journal of Rural Health, 29(s1), S89-S95.

McKernan, S. C., Kuthy, R. A., Momany, E. T., McQuistan, M. R., Hanley, P. F., Jones, M. P., Damiano, P. C. (2013). Geographic accessibility and utilization of orthodontic services among Medicaid children and adolescents. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 73(1), 56-64.

McKernan, S. C., Kuthy, R. A., Joshi, A. (2012). Primary care providers and practice locations: examining the relationships. Journal of the American Dental Association, 143(5), E8-E15.

Kuthy, R. A., McKernan, S. C., Hand, J. S., Johnsen, D. C. C. (2009). Dentist workforce trends in a primarily rural state: Iowa: 1997-2007. Journal of the American Dental Association, 140(12), 1527-1534.

Dr. McKernan is an Associate Professor in Dental Public Health. Prior to joining the UMN School of Dentistry in 2023, she was an Associate Professor in Community and Preventive Dentistry at the University of Iowa (2012-2023). In 2020, Dr. McKernan was appointed to a 7-year term as a Director of the American Board of Dental Public Health (ABDPH). She currently serves as Treasurer/Auditor of the ABDPH.

Dr. McKernan conducts health services research focusing on rural accessibility of dental provide with a goal of eliminating oral health disparities. Methodological expertise includes survey design and administration, longitudinal workforce analysis, and analysis of secondary data including Medicaid and EHR data. In 2019, she was an NIMHD Health Disparities Research Scholar and was the recipient of several NIMHD Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Awards. Dr. McKernan's research has been funded by NIDCR, NIMHD, CDC, CMS, as well as state and foundation sources. She is the current President of the ABDPH (2025-2026).

Role: Co-Investigator PI: N. Askelson
Grant Number: U48DP006389
Granting Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Grant Title: UI Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network Collaborating Center
Project Dates: 01/01/2019-09/30/2024

Role: Multiple PI
Grant Number: MED-21-008
Pass-Through Entity: Iowa Department of Human Services
Federal Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services/ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Grant Title: Contract for Program-related Research Services (Evaluation of the Iowa Wellness Plan)
Project Dates: 07/01/2022-09/30/2023

Role: Subaward PI
PI: H. Yu (Harvard Pilgrim Health) Grant Number: R01MD013736
Pass-Through Entity: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc. Federal Awarding Agency: NIH/NIMHD
Grant Title: Impact of the National Health Service Corps on Health Disparities
Project Dates: 02/01/2020-08/30/2023

Role: Single PI
Granting Agency: University of Iowa College of Dentistry
Grant Title: Impact of Pandemic Dental Office Closures: A Natural Experiment to Identify Nondeferrable Dental Conditions
Project Dates: 01/01/2023-09/30/2023

Role: Multiple PI
Grant Number: MED-18-0-13
Granting Agency: Iowa Department of Human Services
Grant Title: Evaluation of the Iowa Wellness Plan Section 1115 Demonstration
Project Dates: 07/01/2020-12/31/2021 Total Cost: $5,625,000
% Effort: 11

(2021). Access to Dental Care. Burt and Eklund's Dentistry, Dental Practice, and the Community, Seventh Edition. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, Inc.