Kate Hendricks Thomas, PhD, MCHES

Adjunct Faculty, Public Health

Contact Information

Biography

Kate Hendricks Thomas, PhD, MCHES is a researcher, speaker, and veterans’ health advocate. Her research interests focus on mental health and care access for military members. A former Marine, she has authored books on mental fitness and the experiences of women veterans. Her editorials have been featured in the Washington Post, Task & Purpose, and Vox Media, among others. Before coming to George Mason, she was an assistant professor of public health and Charleston Southern University.

Research

Publication

Thomas, K.H., Angel, C., Armstrong, N.A., McDaniel, J. T., Erwin, M., & Pinter, J.J. (In press). Sex differences in baseline enrichment levels in a large military and Veteran Service Organization: A Secondary Analysis of New Member Surveys. Sage Open.

McDaniel, J. T., Davis, J., Anton, P. M., Godfrey, K., Albright, D. L., Thomas, K. H., Fletcher, K. L., & Nuhu, K. (In press). Physical activity and mental distress among veteran cancer survivors with heart disease and diabetes. Journal of Military, Veteran, and Family Health.

Thomas, K.H., McDaniel, J.T., Grohowski, M., Whalen, R., Fletcher, K., Albright, D.L., Haring, E. (2019). Depression prevalence and geographic distribution in United States military women: Results from the 2017 Service Women's Action Network needs assessment. Journal of Military, Veterans and Family Health. doi:10.3138/jmvfh.2018-0006.

McDaniel, J. T., Albright, D. L., Patrick, S., Beck, A., Piontek, A., Kono, S., Thomas, K. H., Fletcher, K., & Anton, P. M. (2019). Physical activity and mental health among veteran lung and colorectal cancer survivors: Results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Military Behavioral Health, 7(2), 238-244.   

Albright, D. L., Landor, A. M., McDaniel, J. T., Godfrey, K., Fletcher, K. L., Thomas, K. H., & Bertram, J. (2019). Sexual behaviors and health practices in a national sample of student service members/veterans. Archives of Sexual Behavior. doi: 10.1007/s10508-018-1331-3

Albright, D. L., Thomas, K. H., McDaniel, J. T., Fletcher, K. L., Godfrey, K., Bertram, J. M., & Angel, C. (2019). When women veterans return: The role of education in transition in their civilian lives. Journal of American College Health, 67(5), 479-485.

Albright, D. L., McDaniel, J. T., Godfrey, K., Thomas, K. H., Fletcher, K. L., & Rosen, G. (2019). Civic engagement among student veterans. Journal of American College Health. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1559170

Albright, D. L., Godfrey, K., McDaniel, J. T., Fletcher, K. L., Thomas, K. H., Bertram, J., Cobb, D. I., & Stephens, T. M. (2019). Oral health among student veterans: Effects on mental and physical health. Journal of American College Health. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1540985

Albright, D. L., Fletcher, K. L., McDaniel, J. T., Thomas, K. H., Godfrey, K., Grohowski, M., & Dane, J. (2018). Intimate partner violence among postsecondary students with military experience. Traumatology, 25(1), 58-65.  

McDaniel, J.T., Shields, M.M., Diehr, A.J., Thomas, K.H., & Middleton, W.K. (2018). Pedalcyclist fatalities and socioeconomic status: A spatial epidemiological study of the United States, 2011-2013. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 10(4), 294-303. 

McDaniel, J. T., Thomas, K. H., Angel, C. (2018). Regional differences in BMI, obesity, and exercise frequency in a large Veteran Service Organization: A secondary analysis of new veteran member surveys from Team Red, White, and Blue. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 116-121.

McDaniel, J.T., Thomas, K.H., Albright, D.L., Fletcher, K., & Shields, M.M. (2018). Mental health outcomes in military veterans: A latent growth curve model. Traumatology, 24(3), 228-235. 

McDaniel, J. T., Middleton, W. K., Albright, D. L., Fletcher, K., Thomas, K. H., Black, E., Ratnapradipa, D. (2018). Military veteran residential location and risk for Lyme disease. Journal of Veterans Studies, 3(2), 45-56.

Albright, D.L., McCormick, W.H., Carroll, T.D., Currier, J., Thomas, K.H., Hamner, K., Slagel, B.A., Womack, B., Simms, B.M., & Deiss, J. (2018). Barriers and resources for veterans’ post-military transitioning in the South Alabama: A qualitative analysis. Traumatology, 24(3), 236-245.  

McDaniel, J. T., Diehr, A. J., Davis, C., Kil, N., & Thomas, K.H. (2018). Breast cancer screening and outcomes: An exploratory study of the intersection of county-level veteran population composition and social vulnerability. Journal of Military, Veteran, and Family Health, 4 (1), 51-59.

Albright, D.L., Fletcher, K., Thomas, K.H., McDaniel, J.T. Diehr, A., Bertram, J.M., Cobb, D. (2018). Tobacco use in a national sample of service member and veteran students. Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health, 26(2), 25-34.

Thomas, K.H., McDaniel, J.T., Albright, D.L., Fletcher, K., & Koenig, H.G. (2018). Spiritual fitness for military veterans: A curriculum review and impact evaluation using the Duke Religion Index (DUREL). Journal of Religion and Health, 57(3), 1168-1178.

Thomas, K.H., Albright, D.L., Phillips, D., Roosevelt, K., Crawley, R., & Plummer Taylor, S. (2018). Mental health status in service member and veteran students at four-year postsecondary institutions: A pilot needs assessment. Best Practices in Mental Health, 14(1), 1-14.

Thomas, K.H., McDaniel, J.T, Diehr, A., Hunter, K. (2018). Mindful living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS: Behavioral medicine for patient resilience and improved screening practices. Nursing Clinics of North America, 53(1), 35-46.

Thomas, K.H., McDaniel, J.T., Albright, D.L., Fletcher, K., & Haring, E. (2017). Mental health needs of military and veteran women: An assessment conducted by the Service Women’s Action Network. Traumatology, 23(4), 104-112.   

McDaniel, J.T., Albright, D.L., Beck, A., Fletcher, K.L., Thomas, K.H., & McDermott, R.J. (2017). Social support mediates the relationship between mental-physical multiple morbidities and engagement in aerobic physical activity among military service members and veterans. Journal of Veterans Studies, 2(2), 69-80.

Thomas, K.H., Haring, E., McDaniel, J.T., Fletcher, K., & Albright, D.L. (2017). Belonging and support: Women Veterans' perceptions of veteran service organizations. Journal of Veterans Studies, 2(2), 1-12.

Shields, M.M., Thomas, K.H., & Paschal, A., Usdan, S., Tucker, M., & Leeper, J. (2017). Promoting campus cycling for outdoor recreation and transportation: Investigating factors influencing student bicycle usage on a large, southeastern university from an ecological perspective. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, Special Issue: Exploring the Value of Campus Outdoor Recreation Programs, 9(1), 100-114.

Thomas, K.H. (2017) Mental health and women in the military. Naval War College Press Women, Peace, and Security Series, Special Issue: The Next Decade: Amplifying the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, 77-88.

Honors and Awards

 

  • Jack Warner outstanding alumni award, University of Alabama
  • Research Scholarship, Duke University’s Center for Theology, Health, and Medicine Summer Institute
  • Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year, Charleston Southern University

 

Consulting Experience

  • Service Women’s Action Network | 2015

    Advisory and research support for SWAN, the largest advocacy organization serving military women in the United States. Professional contributions focus on training, needs assessments, formal program evaluation, and publication of assessment results in peer-reviewed and mainstream venues.

  • Wounded Warrior Project | 2015-2016

    Provided educational seminars to clients both domestically and internationally with a focus on military and veteran personnel. Served as a field site for MSW students from the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW).

Affiliations

Degrees

  • PhD, Health Education and Health Promotion, University of Alabama
  • MS, Health Promotion Management, American University