Prevention and Health Promotion
Testing interventions for prevention and health promotion to minimize the burden of diseases and increase healthy behaviors.
Developing and testing interventions for prevention and health promotion to minimize the burden of diseases and associated risk factors and empower people to increase control over their health and its determinants to increase healthy behaviors. A primary goal of prevention and health promotion is to achieve health equity, where everyone can attain their highest level of health. Achieving health equity requires addressing the social determinants of health. Determinants of health are multiple and complex, and include social and economic environments, physical environments, health care behaviors, genetics, and the health care system.
Within prevention and health promotion, our researchers are focused on preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Our faculty also develop novel methods for early detection of disease. Our health promotion researchers focus on creating and testing interventions for improving health across life course, maternal-child health, and health behaviors.
Faculty
Hyochol Brian Ahn
Hyochol Brian Ahn , PhD, MSN, MS-CTS, MS-ECE, APRN, ANP-BC, FAAN
Research Impact
My research is aimed at enhancing health and promoting independence within vulnerable populations, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities. Currently, my primary focus lies in leveraging innovative technologies to advance pain and symptom management.
Terry A Badger
Terry A Badger , PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAPOS, FAAN
Director, Research Initiatives
Endowed Chair, Eleanor Bauwens - Nursing
Professor
Professor, Psychiatry
Professor, Public Health
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Research Impact
My research helps cancer survivors and their caregivers to reduce psychological distress and manage cancer symptoms during and after cancer treatment. I remove the barriers to receiving supportive care services by using the telephone to provide health education and counseling.
Aleeca Bell
Aleeca Bell , PhD, RN, CNM
Research Impact
I aim to improve the health and well-being of mothers and babies by promoting physiologic birth, a positive birth experience, and healthy mother-baby attachment/interaction. I also aim to understand the role of oxytocin as an underlying mechanism of conditions related to birth, attachment and adversity.
Elise Erickson
Elise Erickson , PhD, CNM, FACNM
Assistant Professor, BIO5 Institute
Assistant Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences
Assistant Professor, Nursing
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice-Science
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Sheila M Gephart
Sheila M Gephart , PhD, RN, FAAN
Interim Chair, Advanced Nursing Practice and Science Division
Professor
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Research Impact
I conduct research to help clinicians make evidence-based decisions using a technology called clinical decision support systems. My nursing experience in neonatal intensive care informs my work to prevent and support timely diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis in fragile infants- a project we call "NEC-Zero."
Judith S Gordon
Judith S Gordon , PhD
Associate Dean, Research
Professor
Professor, BIO5 Institute
Professor, Family and Community Medicine
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Research Impact
I conduct research to help people engage in healthier lifestyle behaviors, primarily tobacco use cessation and prevention. Currently, I focus on reaching tobacco users in a variety of healthcare settings, and using integrative approaches and technology to reduce tobacco use.
Kathleen C Insel
Kathleen C Insel , PhD, RN
Research Impact
My area of research focuses on cognitive function and how cognition is influenced by age, illness, and treatment; this also informs how cognitive function influences self-management. Using cognitive theories, we developed an intervention to improve medication adherence. We are now translating this intervention to an App.
Helena W Morrison
Helena W Morrison , PhD, RN
Research Impact
I am working to improve stroke patient outcomes by informing novel sex-specific therapeutics. I investigate microglia cells—the brain phagocyte—under physiologic and pathologic conditions. My primary research inquiry focuses on discovering how sex, estrus cycle and ovarian function influences microglial morphology in the healthy brain and their phagocytic phenotypes after ischemic stroke.
Thaddeus Pace
Thaddeus Pace , PhD
Associate Professor
Associate Professor, Psychiatry
Associate Professor, Psychology
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Research Impact
I study mechanisms of stress-biological changes in cancer survivors who experience distress, fatigue and depression. Informed by this work, I also investigate effectiveness of novel integrative interventions for survivors designed to optimize psychosocial wellness. These include Cognitively-Based Compassion Training, a compassion meditation program, and curcumin.
Timothy Joseph Sowicz
Timothy Joseph Sowicz , PhD, RN
Research Impact
I conduct research to facilitate personal access to health care. Presently, I concentrate on the barriers and facilitators to treatment access that Hispanic adults living with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders experience.
Ruth E Taylor-Piliae
Ruth E Taylor-Piliae , PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN
Research Impact
My research focuses on increasing physical activity among older adults, especially those with heart disease and stroke. I use innovative interventions such as Tai Chi, to help them improve their physical and cognitive function, reduce fall rates, ameliorate negative symptoms, and enhance quality of life.