Anna M. Kerr, PhD is a health communication scientist whose research examines how patients, families, and clinicians navigate uncertainty in the context of rare and complex diseases. Her work focuses on improving communication, care coordination, and decision-making for individuals affected by vascular anomalies, cancer, and other chronic conditions. Dr. Kerr has led and collaborated on multi-institutional studies supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the National Communication Association, and the Orphan Disease Center, among others. Her publications in Patient Education and Counseling, Health Communication, Hospital Pediatrics, Pediatric Blood & Cancer, and the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases advance understanding of how patients and clinicians manage ambiguity and build trust amid limited medical evidence and fragmented systems of care.

Dr. Kerr’s scholarship also extends to developing educational interventions that prepare health professionals to navigate uncertainty and to partner with patients as experts in their own experiences. Beyond academia, Dr. Kerr collaborates with patient advocacy organizations such as the PHACE Syndrome Community, CLOVES Syndrome Community, and K-T Support Group, translating research into accessible formats and amplifying the voices of patients and caregivers in rare disease research.

Dr. Kerr currently serves as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of PEC Innovation, an interdisciplinary journal which aims to explore and elucidate new developments and innovation in the fields of health promotion, health education, and health communication.

• Sisk, B.A., Bereitschaft, C., Milam, S., Kerr, A.M., Baker, J.N., Marghitu, T., White, B., Mack, J.W., Bourgeois, F., DuBois, JM. (2025). Trust, transparency, and acceptability of artificial intelligence-powered communication tools in cancer: focus groups with parents, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.32094.
• Kerr, A. M., King, K. A., Bereitschaft, C., Romaker, G., & Sisk, B. A. (2025). The experiences of older adults with vascular anomalies: An oral history. Journal of Vascular Anomalies, 6(4), e125. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOVA.0000000000000125
• Sisk, B. A., Kerr, A. M., Cohen-Cutler, S., & Sanfilippo, K. (2025). Deficiencies in care for adults with vascular anomalies. Blood Vessels, Thrombosis, & Hemostasis, 2(3), 100083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bvth.2025.100083
• Kerr, A. M., Sisk, B. A., Wehrli, J., & Contente, C. (2024). Dyadic coping experiences of parents of children with vascular anomalies. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 74(11), e31261. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.31261
• Kerr, A. M., Thompson, C. M., Stewart, C., & Rakowsky, A. (2024). A longitudinal mixed-methods assessment of pediatric residents’ goals when communicating with attendings about uncertainty. Hospital Pediatrics, 14(10), 852-859. https://doi.org/10.1542/hpeds.2024-007777
• Kerr, A. M., Bereitschaft, C., & Sisk, B. A. (2024). Role of primary care in rare disorders: Perspectives of parents and patients managing complex vascular anomalies. Journal of Family Practice and Primary Care, 13(5), 2116-2122. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1556_23.
• Kerr, A. M., Bereitschaft, C., Goldberg, J., & Sisk, B. (2024). Significant experiences caring for vascular anomalies: A survey of caregivers and adult patients. Journal of Vascular Anomalies, 5(1), e083. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOVA.0000000000000083
• Kerr A. M., Lin, S., & Sisk, B. (2023). Mental and physical health of adult patients affected by complex vascular anomalies. Patient Education and Counseling, 117, 107987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2023.107987
• Kerr, A. M., Thompson, C. M., Stewart, C. M., & Rakowsky, A. (2023). “I want them to still trust me with their child’s care”: A longitudinal study of pediatric residents’ reactions to and communication with parents about medical uncertainty across residency. Health Communication, 38, 1054-1064. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2021.1991637
• Kerr, A. M., & Thompson, C. M. (2022). Medical students’ reactions to uncertainty during clinical rotations. Family Medicine, 54, 285-289. https://doi.org/10.22454/FamMed.2022.947719
• Kerr, A. M., Thompson, C. M., & Rubinsky, V [student]. (2020). Memorable messages parents of children with vascular birthmarks receive from others: Implications for stigma and identity. Health Communication, 35, 685-695. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2019.1582314
• Kerr, A. M., Harrington, N. G., & Scott, A. M. (2020). Uncertainty management and decision making: How parents navigate the information-rich context of pediatric multidisciplinary care. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 52, 18-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.02.009