Research Interests:
Reduction of alcohol-exposed pregnancies, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) research, education and training, clinical and community-based health projects as well as program evaluation of clinical and community-based programs. Current research studies include: reducing alcohol- exposed pregnancies in community and clinical based samples, relationship between FAS diagnoses and the drinking patterns of populations of women, access to mental health services by women.

Teaching Interests:
Adjunct faculty at Washington University in the Masters in Health Sciences Program. Clinical Research Methods course for Sports Medicine Fellows in the Belleville Residency program. Clinical Research Elective course for Family Medicine Third and Fourth Year Students.

Other Interests:
Alternative and Integrative Medicine, Healthy Lifestyles, Spirituality in daily practice, Gardening.

Selected Publications:

• Peer-revied articles (Journals)

  Xaverius P, Tenkku LE, Salas J, & Morris DS.(2009). Exploring health by reproductive status: An epidemiological analysis of preconception health. Journal of Women's Health, 18(1), 49-56.

  Xaverius P, Tenkku LE, & Salas J. (2009, in press). Health differences between women at higher and lower risk for an unintended pregnancy. Women's Health Issues.

  Tenkku LE, Morris DS, Salas J, Xaverius PK. (2008, in press). Racial disparities in pregnancy-related drinking reduction. Maternal and Child Health Journal.

• Morris DS, Tenkku LE, Salas J, Xaverius PK, Mengel MB. (2008). Exploring drinking patterns of White and Black pregnant and non-pregnant women. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 32(3): 505-512.
• Tenkku LE, Morris DS, Mengel MB. (2007). Disparities in risk of an alcohol exposed pregnancy in a sample of urban women. Journal of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome International, 5:e4.

• Tenkku LE, Morris DS, Salas J, & Xaverius P. (2008, Sep 9). Racial disparities in pregnancy-related drinking reduction. Maternal and Child Health Journal, epub

  Tenkku LE, Morris D, Mengel MB. (2007). Disparities in risk of an alcohol exposed pregnancy in a sample of urban women. Journal of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome International, 5, e4.

  Xaverius PK, Homan S, Nickelson P, Tenkku LE (2007). Disparities rank high in prioritized maternal child health (MCH) research agenda in Missouri. Maternal Child Health Journal, 11(5), 511-516.

  Schamp, R.O., & Tenkku, L.E. (2006). Managed death in a PACE: pathways in present and advance directives. Journal of the American Medical Doctors Association, 7(6), 339-344.