Heather M. Gardiner
Heather M. Gardiner
Professor and Carl V. Granger Endowed Chair in Health Equity
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Virginia Commonwealth University (2009)
- PhD, Communication Sciences, University at Buffalo (2006)
- MA, Communication Sciences, University at Buffalo (2004)
- BA, Communication Sciences/English minor, University at Buffalo (2002)
Employment:
- Director of the Community Health Equity Research Institute, Clinical and Translational Research Center, University at Buffalo (2025-present)
- Professor, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo (2025-present)
- Professor (Tenured), Social and Behavioral Sciences, Temple University (2023–2025)
- Associate Professor (Tenured), Social and Behavioral Sciences, Temple University (2018–2023)
- Founding Director of the Office of Community Engaged Research and Practice, College of Public Health, Temple University (2018–2023)
- Associate Professor (Tenure Track), Social and Behavioral Sciences, Temple University (2015–2018)
- Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Social and Behavioral Health, Virginia Commonwealth University (2011–2014)
Research Centers:
- Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC)
UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:
- Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- July 2025–June 2030
Impact of “Institutions for Mental Diseases” (IMD) Medicaid waivers on opioid use disorder treatment outcomes: A Mixed Methods Approach to Identify Strategies that Improve Utilization and Quality of Care and Promote Equity in Treatment
NIH
Role: Other
$945,788 - July 2024–June 2029
Igniting Hope in Buffalo NY Communities: Training the Next Generation of Public Health Researchers
NIH
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,447,605 - January 2023–December 2028
Patient Priorities in Lung Transplant: Quality of Life Outcomes to Inform Decision Making
NIH
Role: Other
$927,000 - September 2024–August 2028
A Mixed Methods Analysis of Pediatric Voice Therapy
NIIH
Role: Co-Investigator
$3,345,276 - July 2024–June 2027
Photo-Experiencing and Reflective Listening (PEARL) to Promote Healing Engagement for Women Survivors of Gender-Based Violence: A Feasibility Study
NIH
Role: Other
$465,513 - June 2023–June 2027
Communicating Effectively about Donation – Improving Donation and Outcomes with Black Americans (CEaD-I DO)
Gift of Life Foundation
Role: Co-Investigator
$3,962,490
Journal Articles:
- Heller Murray E, Paulson S, Gardiner H, Sabatino MT. (2026) Adapting the Determinants of Implementation Behavior Questionnaire to Examine Pediatric Voice Therapy in the School System. Revised and resubmitted to Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools (Jan)
- Luck C, Bass S, Singley K, Hoadley A, Paulus K, Wilson-Shabazz I, Kelly PJA, Rincon M, Cabey W, Abuhillo M, Gardiner H. (2026) Using the Diffusion of Innovation Theory to understand COVID-19 booster vaccine hesitancy in adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Jan)
- Lee BE, Gardiner HM, Gadegbeku CA, Reese PP, Obradovic Z, Fink EL, Gillespie A. (2025) A cross-sectional social network analysis of decision-making about recruiting a living donor for kidney transplantation. Kidney Medicine (Aug), 10(7): 101095. doi:10.1016/j.xkme.2025.101095
- Urbanski M, Siminoff LA, Waterman A, Gadegbeku CA, Dumenci L, Arriola KJ, Plantinga LC, Gardiner H. (1900) “Crashing” onto Dialysis: A mixed methods exploration of patient perspectives on the kidney failure transition to and dialysis start. Revised and resubmitted to the Journal of the American Nephrological Society (Jan)
- Werner D, Amaral S, Varnell Jr. C, Gardiner H. (1900) Improving nonadherence in adolescents with chronic kidney disease: An integrative review of interventions. Revised and resubmitted to Health Psychology (Jan)
- Gardiner H, Werner D, Barker J, Hollin IL, Slashinski M, Siminoff L, Bass SB, Blunt R, Gillespie A. (1900) Ethical perspectives in renal genetic testing and counseling. Invited submission. Revised and resubmitted to Advances in Kidney Disease and Health (Jan)
- Kayler LK, Koizumi N, Nie J, Keller M, Gardiner H, Von Visger J, Cadzow RB, Noyes K, Feeley TH. (1900) Randomized controlled trial of a mobile patient-centered education-outreach intervention (KidneyTIME) to promote live kidney transplantation. Clinical Transplantation (Jan)
Books and Book Chapters:
- Gardiner H, Barker J, Werner D, Blunt R, Slashinski M, Hollin I, Siminoff L, Bass S, Gillespie A. (1900) Ethical perspectives in renal genetic testing (invited). In: Renal Genetics. Sage
Presentations:
- "IDEA: Development of the first decisional support tool for potential living kidney donors contemplating APOL1 genetic testing" International Society of Organ Donation Professionals (2025)
- "IDEA: Development of the first decisional support tool for potential living kidney donors contemplating APOL1 genetic testing." American Public Health Association, Washington DC (2025)
- "IDEA: Development of the first decisional support tool for potential living kidney donors contemplating APOL1 genetic testing" International Conference of Communication in Healthcare (2025)
- "Gardiner HM, Barker JS, Bass SB, Hollin I, Slashinski M, Siminoff L, Gillespie A, Blunt R, Kachur E, Rentler J, Lind R, Weis-Haggerty M, El Nokali N, Shaaban S" 30th International Congress of The Transplantation Society (TTS 2024)
- "Medical mistrust and organ donation" REIMAGINE Symposium
Service Activities:
- NIH SEIR Study Section; Scientific Reviewer (2026–present)
- Biomedical Research Advisory Council; Member & Department Representative (2025–present)
- Connected for Change - Kaleida Health & UB JSMBS; Panelist (2025–present)
- Office of the Vice President for Health Sciences Research Orientation; Presenter (2025–present)
- Tenure & Promotion, Valerie Paz Soldán, Tulane University; External Reviewer (2025–present)
- UB JSMBS Dean's Podcast; Featured Guest (2025–present)
- APHA Health Equity First Fridays; Co-planner/co-facilitator (2025–present)
- National Donation Leadership Council, The Organ Donation & Transplantation Alliance; Member (invited) (2025–2026)