About.

Dr. Kathryn J. LaRoche, PhD, MSc is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at Purdue University with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Anthropology. She is the founder and director of PARC. As a public health social scientist and applied anthropologist, Dr. LaRoche carries out community-engaged, action- and intervention-oriented research about sexual and reproductive health with a focus on abortion and pregnancy. In 2022, she received the Carole Joffe and Stanley Henshaw Early Achievement in Social Science Research Award from the National Abortion Federation for her contribution to generating abortion-related knowledge.

She currently serves on the Editorial Board for Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health and is a Deputy Editor for Contraception.

Education and Training.

2020-2022

2015-2020

2013-2015

2009-2013

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Anthropology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Master of Science (MSc), Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Bachelor of Arts (BA), with Honors & Distinction, Specialization in Psychology and Minor in Women’s Studies, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Current Teaching.

Fall 2026: Contemporary Women's Health (PUBH 225), Research Methods in Public Health (PUBH 365)

Spring 2027: Research Methods in Public Health (PUBH 365)

Selected Publications.

LaRoche KJ, Maldonado Quiles A, Fafowora OJ, Lawal F. “Just Stay Home and Wait It Out”: Exploring Challenges Accessing Care for Miscarriage in Indiana. Perspect Sexual Reproductive 2026;58:69–76. https://doi.org/10.1111/psrh.70057.
LaRoche KJ, Cromer R, Alexander A, Tucker Edmonds B, Freedman L. Consulting OB: How Indiana’s abortion ban impacted management of vaginal bleeding in the emergency department. Contraception 2026:111519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2026.111519.
Gordon EM, Garzella EG, Sheley SK, LaRoche KJ. Navigating sexual and reproductive health: An analysis of messages sent to a youth-focused textline in Missouri. Contraception 2026:111517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2026.111517.
Alexander AB, LaRoche KJ, Cromer R, Edmonds BT, Freedman L. Impact of Abortion Bans on Emergency Care for Patients With Vaginal Bleeding: An Ethnographic Analysis. Academic Emergency Medicine 2026;33:e70328. https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.70328.