SARAH KEIM
PhD, MA, MS
Epidemiologist
Child Health Researcher
Clinical Trialist
Welcome to my website! I am a scientist who conducts research with the goal of improving the health and well-being of children and their families. I am a Professor of Pediatrics and Epidemiology at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, USA.
BIOGRAPHY
I'm a native Midwesterner currently settled in Columbus, Ohio. I am married to an amazing perinatal epidemiologist, Dr. Mark Klebanoff, and we have a wonderful daughter. I myself am the daughter of a retired veterinarian business-owner and university professor, sister of a luthier and hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon. I have pursued my education in the public university systems of Virginia, Wisconsin and North Carolina. I served my country as a Presidential Management Intern during the Clinton and Bush Administrations and as a scientist at the National Institutes of Health for 11 years before entering academia in 2011.
CURRENT RESEARCH STUDIES
What's Happening in Keim Lab Now
My research focuses primarily on early life influences on child development, behavior and growth. Some of the factors I explore the most include early nutrition (including breastfeeding), prenatal drug exposure, and parent-child relationships. Some special populations I work with include children born preterm and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. All of my work focuses on early childhood or the prenatal period. My work is currently funded by four NIH Institutes, the CDC, HRSA, the American Diabetes Association, and a philanthropic gift to Nationwide Children's Hospital.
UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS
Sharing Knowledge
Pediatric Academic Societies
April 2025- Honolulu, Hawaii
Abstract Presenter: Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation during Toddlerhood on Global Cognition, Language, and Executive Function of 8-10-Year-Old Children Born Preterm: Follow-up of the Omega Tots Trial
International Society of Autism Research
April 2023 - Seattle, Washington
Abstract Presenter: Inflammatory Cytokines As Biologic Signatures of the Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Omega Fatty Acids on Autism Symptoms Among Young Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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The Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research
June 2025- Boston, Massachusetts
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PUBLISHED WORK
My Research in the News
Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Executive Function and Aggressive Behavior at Age 5 Years
December 1, 2024
JAMA Pediatrics published our study investigating the impact of cannabis use during pregnancy on executive function and aggression on 5-year-old children. We found that children who had prenatal exposure to cannabis displayed differences in executive function and behaviors related to academic success and adaptive functioning.
NEW LOOK AT TODAY'S GRANDPARENT CAREGIVERS
August 23, 2022
In a study published in the Journal of Women & Aging, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital provide an updated look at how grandparents who care for grandchildren are faring in terms of their mental health and managing parenting demands. Study funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
THE RISKS OF BREAST MILK SOLD ONLINE
2013-2015
I led a series of studies examining the potential health and safety risks posed by breast milk being sold via the Internet. This work was featured in numerous new outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, NPR, LA Times and others. See also: Microbial contamination of human milk purchased via the Internet. Pediatrics, 3013 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24144714 , Cow's Milk Contamination of Human Milk Purchased via the Internet. Pediatrics, 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25847797
BREAST PUMPS AND FEEDING INFANTS PUMPED MILK
2013-2016
The Atlantic and other media outlets have covered my research about pumping milk and its impacts on child health.Â
See also:Â Feeding at the Breast and Expressed Milk Feeding: Associations with Otitis Media and Diarrhea in Infants, J Peds 2016.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Things I do in between everything else...
