Asia Sikora Kessler, PhD

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health
University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Public Health

Professional Summary

• 2016 - present Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, UNMC 
• 2011- 2016 Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, UNMC
• 2007 Instructor, Department of Economics, University of Colorado Denver
• 2006-2011 Research Assistant, Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University
• 2005-2006 Teaching Assistant, Department of Economics, University of Colorado Denver
• 2004-2007 Research Assistant, Department of Economics, University of Colorado Denver

Education

• PhD Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, 2011
• MS Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, 2011
• MA Economics, University of Colorado Denver, 2006
• BS BA International Business and Economics, University of Denver, 2003

Research Interests

Dr. Sikora’s research experience is in the area of health economics and health behaviors, with an emphasis on dementia and obesity. Her current research focuses on the social determinants of health, specifically social engagement and elderly health. Dr. Sikora also has an interest in informal care-giving for the elderly.

Selected Publications

• Ayyagari P, Sikora Kessler A. (Accepted June 2015). Smoking and Cognitive Functioning at Older Ages: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.  The Journal of the Economics of Ageing.
• Siahpush M, Shaikh RA, Cumming KM, Hyland A, Dodd M, Carlson L, Sikora Kessler A, Meza J, Neng W, Wakefield M. (Accepted May 2015). The association of self-reported exposure to point-of-sale cigarette marketing with craving to smoke in a population-based study. Tobacco Control.
• Sikora Kessler A, Maclean JC.  (Accepted May 2015).  Personality Traits and Alcohol Misuse among Older Adults: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.  Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics.
• Maclean JC, Covington R, and Sikora Kessler A.  (Accepted April 2015) Leaving school in an economic downturn: Long-run effects on marriage and fertility.  Contemporary Economic Policy.
• Maclean JC, Sikora Kessler A, Kenkel DS.  (Accepted Jan. 2015) Cigarette Taxes and Older Adult Smoking: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.  Health Economics.
• Siahpush M, Tibbits M, Shaikh R, Singh GK, Sikora Kessler A, Huang T T-K.  (2015) Dieting increases the likelihood of subsequent obesity and BMI gain: Results from a prospective study of an Australian national sample.  International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1-10.
• Shaikh RA, Sikora A, Siahpush M, Singh GK. (2015). Occupational variations in obesity, smoking, heavy drinking, and non-adherence to physical activity recommendations: Findings from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 58(1): 77-87.
• Mohammad S, Shaikh R, McCarthy M, Sikora Kessler A, Tibbits M, Singh G. (2015). Association between duration of use of pharmacotherapy and smoking cessation: Findings from a national survey.  BMJ Open, 5(1), e006229.
• Wilson FA, Wang Y, Stimpson JP, Sikora Kessler A, Do DV, Britigan DH. (2014). Disparities in Visual Impairment by Immigrant Status in the United States. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 158(4), 800-807.
• Siahpush M, Huang TTK, Sikora A, Tibbits M, Shaikh RA, Singh GK.  (2013). Prolonged financial stress predicts subsequent obesity: Results from a prospective study of an Australian national sample. Obesity, 22(2), 616-621. doi: 10.1002/oby.20572
• Joyner, Kara, H. Elizabeth Peters, Kathryn Hynes, Asia Sikora, Jamie Rubenstein and Michael Rendall. (2012) “The Quality of Male Fertility Data in Major U.S. Surveys.” Demography 49(1), 101-124.
• Averett, Susan L., Asia Sikora and Laura M. Argys. (2008) “For Better or Worse: Relationship Status and Body Mass Index.” Economics and Human Biology 6(3), 330-349.

Professional Affiliations

• American Economic Association
• American Public Health Association
• American Society of Health Economists
• Gerontological Society of America
• International Health Economics Association
• Population Association of America