About

Kenneth Williams is an associate professor at The Ohio State University School of Music, where he directs the graduate programs in piano pedagogy and coordinates the class piano program. He holds a Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University, along with graduate degrees from the University of Maryland in piano performance and Arizona State University in piano performance and pedagogy. His research focuses on enrollment trends among international students in music and cross-cultural teaching in music performance. Dr. Williams has contributed articles on piano teaching and teacher training to various publications, including American Music Teacher, Piano Quarterly, Clavier, Keyboard Companion, and proceedings of national conferences. His work on cross-cultural communication in music education was recognized as the 2002 Article of the Year by the Music Teachers National Association. He has presented research and lecture-demonstrations at numerous national and international conferences, including the International Society for Music Education, the European Piano Teachers Association, and the College Music Society. Additionally, he serves on the editorial committee of the MTNA e-Journal and has been involved in professional activities such as lecturing at the University of Oklahoma and receiving awards like the Ohio Music Teachers Association Teacher of the Year and the MTNA Article of the Year.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Family medicine
• Social psychology

Selected publications

• An unbreakable bond? Maternal adverse childhood experiences and mothers’ relationships with adult children

  Social Forces · 2025-01-29

  articleOpen access

  Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)-the constellation of experiences of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction in childhood-affect the subsequent formation and maintenance of social relationships. Yet to date, there is limited knowledge on the potential consequences of maternal ACEs for the mother-adult child tie, one of the most important relationships across the life course. Insights from a life course perspective and research on the deleterious effects of ACEs suggest that mothers' experiences of ACEs in childhood are so powerful that they may shape mother-adult child relationship quality decades later. To test this possibility, we draw on nationally representative, longitudinal cohort data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) and the NLSY79 Child and Young Adult Supplement to examine associations between maternal ACEs and mother-adult child estrangement, contact, and closeness. Multi-level logistic and ordinal logistic regression models show that greater maternal ACEs exposure is associated with greater odds of estrangement from, less frequent contact with, and lower levels of closeness to the mother as reported by the adult child. Our findings highlight and extend research on intergenerational relationships by demonstrating that a mother's ACEs exposure may be a fundamental determinant of her relationships with her adult children, documenting lengthier intergenerational consequences of ACEs than uncovered by prior research.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Decoding the Transcriptional Response to Severe Exacerbations Among African-american Individuals With Asthma

  2024-04-30

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Accuracy of the Exeter Hospitalizations-Office Visits-Medical Conditions-Extra Care-Social Concerns Index for Identifying Children With Complex Chronic Medical Conditions in the Clinical Setting

  Academic Pediatrics · 2023-07-27

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Effectiveness of Screening for Household Gun Ownership in an Urban Primary Care Clinic

  Clinical Pediatrics · 2023-03-23 · 2 citations

  article

  Gun-related suicide and homicide are leading causes of death among children. Little is known about the effectiveness of screening for gun ownership in primary care. We examined positive gun ownership screens over a 2.5-year period in a pediatric primary care clinic. The main outcome was a positive screen for gun ownership. The main predictors included insurance type, neighborhood median income, number of clinic visits, and other social needs. Of 19 163 patients, 474 (2.5%) screened positive for gun ownership. Patients with private insurance and from higher income neighborhoods had 2 to 3 times higher odds of a positive screen. Patients with more visits and with food insecurity had approximately 2 to 4 times the odds of a positive screen for household gun ownership. In conclusion, the rate of positive gun ownership screens was very low and far below known gun ownership rates. Improved screening methods could better identify opportunities for gun safety advocacy.

  PublisherDOI

• Effect of Pharmacy Involvement in Transitions of Care for Children With Medical Complexity

  The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics · 2023-08-01 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of pharmacy integration into care transitions for children with medical complexity. These children are at a higher risk for medication errors and adverse effects because of their complex medication regimens. In addition, care transitions increase the risk for medication errors, especially during hospital-to-home transitions. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of patients enrolled in a complex care clinic who were discharged between September 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, and who had received a discharge medication evaluation. Intervention categories were predetermined (medication reconciliation and clinical interventions) and documented. The primary outcome was to quantify and characterize the types of interventions made by the pharmacist. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Continuous data were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sum test, and correlation was measured using Spearman correlation values. RESULTS: A total of 92 clinic encounters for 60 patients were included, with a median patient age of 7 years (IQR, 5-12.3), median length of stay of 3.2 days (IQR, 1.2-5.7), and a median number of 18 discharge medications (IQR, 14.8-25). A total of 283 interventions were made, consisting of 192 (68%) clinical interventions and 91 (32%) medication reconciliation interventions. In addition, 82 (89%) of the clinic encounters had at least one pharmacist intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacist evaluation of a patient's discharge medication regimen clarifies and better optimizes the patient's medication regimen.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 2321. Long-term immunogenicity of Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein vaccine against RSV in a phase 2b study by age and risk level

  Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2022-12-01 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause serious lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) among older adults. There is no licensed RSV vaccine. In CYPRESS (a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2b proof-of concept trial; NCT03982199), an Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein vaccine demonstrated 80.0% efficacy for prevention of RSV LRTD and 69.8% efficacy for prevention of any RSV acute respiratory infection in adults aged ≥65 years through the first RSV season. This study evaluated the durability of immune responses elicited by Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein after two RSV seasons (up to 1.5 years post-vaccination) in the overall study population and in groups of participants stratified by age and risk level for severe RSV LRTD. Methods Participants (N=5782) were randomized 1:1 to receive vaccine or placebo before the RSV season. The primary endpoint was first occurrence of RSV LRTD. RSV A2 virus neutralizing antibodies (VNAs; through Day 365), RSV preF binding antibodies (through Day 533), and RSV-F–specific IFN-γ enzyme-linked immune absorbent spot (ELISpot; through Day 533), were evaluated in an immunogenicity subset (n=195; ages 65–74 years: n=141; 75–84 years: n=47; ≥85 years: n=6; increased risk [chronic heart or lung disease]: n=48; non-increased risk: n=147). Results In the vaccine group of the immunogenicity subset, RSV A2 VNAs peaked at Day 15 and were maintained at 2.8-fold over baseline at 1 year. Similarly, RSV preF-specific binding antibodies peaked at Day 15 and were maintained at 2.1-fold above baseline at 1.5 years. Median RSV-F–specific IFN-γ T-cell frequency increased from 34 spot-forming cells (SFC)/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at baseline to 143 SFC/106 PBMCs at 1.5 years. Comparable immune responses were observed in age/risk subgroups. No relevant changes were observed in the placebo group at any time point. Pre-existing Ad26 VNAs did not appear to impact RSV-specific immune response durability. Conclusion Ad26.RSV.preF/RSV preF protein vaccine was efficacious and elicited robust, durable (to at least 1.5 years) humoral and cellular immune responses in adults aged ≥65 years, older participants (≥75 years), and in participants with increased risk for severe RSV LRTD. Disclosures Christy A. Comeaux, MD, PhD, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V.: Employee Ann R. Falsey, MD, BioFire Diagnostics: Grant/Research Support|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|Merck Sharp & Dohme: Grant/Research Support|Novavax: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Kristi Williams, PhD, Janssen Research and Development: Employee John E. Ervin, MD, The Alliance for Multispecialty Research – KCM: Contractual agreement for conduct of study protocol Arangassery R. Bastian, PhD, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention BV: Employee Joris Menten, PhD, Janssen Infectious Diseases: Employee Els De Paepe, MSc, Janssen Infectious Diseases: employee Sjouke Vandenberghe, PhD, Janssen Infectious Diseases: Employee Eric K. H. Chan, PhD, Janssen Global Services, LLC: Employee Jerald Sadoff, MD, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention BV: Employee Macaya Douoguih, MD, MPH, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V.: Employee Benoit Callendret, PhD, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V.: Employee Esther Heijnen, MD, PhD, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V.: Employee.

  PublisherDOI

• Between a Rock and a Hard Place: COVID Concerns and Partnered U.S. Mothers’ Employment during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  Socius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World · 2022-01-01 · 9 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Shutdowns of in-person school and childcare in spring 2020 in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic were associated with substantial reductions in mothers’ labor force participation (LFP). By fall 2020, in-person school and daycare were more widely available, but mothers’ LFP remained as low as it was in spring. Coincidently, by fall 2020, daily COVID deaths had also began to peak. Using unique panel survey data from partnered U.S. mothers ( n = 263), the authors use structural equation modeling to analyze how mothers’ concerns over COVID shaped their LFP in fall 2020. Findings show that mothers’ COVID concerns were associated with reduced LFP via children’s time at home, perceived stress, and remote work. Concerned mothers were more likely to keep children home, but this resulted in less paid work likely vis-à-vis work-family conflicts. The findings illuminate one reason mothers’ LFP failed to rebound in fall 2020 despite increased access to in-person school and daycare.

  PublisherDOI

• Safety and Tolerability of an Ad26.RSV.preF-based Vaccine in a Phase 2b Study in Older Adults

  Innovation in Aging · 2021-12-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may cause severe lower respiratory tract disease in older adults and there is currently no approved vaccine. We assessed the safety and reactogenicity of an Ad26.RSV.preF-based vaccine in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b proof-of-concept trial in adults aged ≥65 years (CYPRESS; NCT03982199). Prior to the RSV season, participants were randomized 1:1 to receive an Ad26.RSV.preF-based vaccine or placebo. Solicited adverse events (AEs; fatigue, headache, nausea, myalgia, fever, injection site reactions) and unsolicited AEs were assessed from time of vaccination to Day 8 and Day 29, respectively, in a safety subset of 695 participants (vaccine, n=348; placebo, n=347). All participants were followed for serious AEs (SAEs) until the end of the RSV season or 6 months after vaccination, whichever occurred later. A total of 5728 participants were randomized and received vaccine or placebo (n=2891 in each group). In the safety subset, the frequency of solicited AEs and Grade ≥3 solicited AEs was 51.4% and 3.2% in the vaccine group and 20.2% and 0.6% in the placebo group, respectively. The most frequent solicited AEs in the vaccine group were fatigue, myalgia, headache, and injection site pain/tenderness. The rates of unsolicited AEs and Grade ≥3 unsolicited AEs were similar between the vaccine (16.7% and 1.7%) and placebo (14.4% and 1.4%) groups. In the overall study population, the rate of SAEs was similar between groups (vaccine, 4.6%; placebo, 4.7%); none were considered related to the vaccine. The Ad26.RSV.preF-based vaccine was safe and well tolerated in adults aged ≥65 years.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pharmacist Integration Into Care for Patients With Medical Complexity: An Intervention to Optimize Complex Therapeutic Regimens Through Medication Services

  Hospital Pediatrics · 2021-03-01 · 3 citations

  reviewSenior author

  Children with medical complexity have a significant impact on health care cost and outcomes. Children with medical complexity are at risk for substantial polypharmacy and inherent drug-related dangers. In this special article, we describe the integration of clinical pharmacy services into our clinic for children with medical complexity. We review the process that yields results by effectively managing patients' medications across the continuum of care while also possibly improving health care spending and outcomes.

  PublisherDOI

• Phase 2b Study of an Ad26.RSV.preF Vaccine for Prevention of RSV-mediated Respiratory Tract Disease in Older Adults

  Innovation in Aging · 2021-12-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may cause serious lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in older adults, and there is currently no licensed vaccine. CYPRESS (NCT03982199) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b proof-of-concept trial of an Ad26.RSV.preF-based vaccine for the prevention of RSV-mediated LRTD in older adults. Adults aged ≥65 years were randomized 1:1 before the RSV season to receive Ad26.RSV.preF-based vaccine or placebo. Acute respiratory infection symptoms were collected through a patient eDiary and/or clinician assessment until the end of the RSV season. The primary endpoint was the first occurrence of RTPCR-confirmed RSV-mediated LRTD according to any of 3 case definitions: (1) ≥3 symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), (2) ≥2 symptoms of LRTI, or (3) ≥2 symptoms of LRTI or ≥1 symptom of LRTI with ≥1 systemic symptom. Immunogenicity was assessed in a subset of approximately 200 participants. A total of 2891 participants in each study arm received study treatment. Vaccine efficacy was 80% (94.2% CI, 52.2-92.9%), 75% (50.1-88.5%), and 69.8% (43.7-84.7%) for case definition 1, 2, and 3, respectively (all P <0.001). In the vaccine arm, geometric mean fold increase in antibody titers 14 days after vaccination was 13.5 for RSV neutralizing antibodies and 8.6 for RSV prefusion F-specific binding antibodies, and median frequency of RSV-F-specific INFγ T-cells increased from 34 to 444 SFC/10^6 PBMC; no relevant changes were observed in the placebo arm. The Ad26.RSV.preF-based vaccine was highly effective against RSV-mediated LRTD through the first RSV season and elicited robust immune responses in older adults.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R01HD054866

  NIH · $965k · 2011

Frequent coauthors

• Jennifer V. Schurman

  Children's Mercy Hospital

  21 shared

• Dustin P. Wallace

  Center for Children

  21 shared

• Mark Connelly

  Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research

  20 shared

• JoLynn Parker

  Children's Mercy Hospital

  19 shared

• Rebecca J. Johnson

  St. Michael's Hospital

  16 shared

• Kevin J. Mroczka

  16 shared

• Lynn Anson

  Children's Mercy Hospital

  16 shared

• Amanda D. Deacy

  Children's Mercy Hospital

  16 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Sociology

  The University of Texas

  2000

Awards & honors

• Music Teachers National Association Article of the Year (200…