RESEARCH FOCUS

The focus of the Public Health Research program is to provide the opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students across the University of Delaware campus to gain experience in conducting population-level research on a broad range of issues relevant to public health.  Students have the opportunity to work closely with research professionals to apply classroom learning to practical problems.  

Program Director

Mia A. Papas, PhD

Description of Current Projects

We are in the process of conducting research on

1. Nutrition, activity and obesity among an hispanic population
2. Premature mortality among Delaware medicaid recipients with serious mental illness
3. EWAS application to obesity among children and adults using NHANES
4. Fast food, diet and obesity among adolescents
5. Health disparities among adolescents with disabilities 

In addition to these studies, we consult with students across the University interested in exploring their research hypothesis using large national datasets such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) or data they collect themselves.                                  

Recent Presentations

1. Plummer J, Papas MA, Dominick G, Markil M, Trabulsi J  The impact of family meals on healthy lifestyle behaviors within Latino families.  Society for Behavioral Medicine, April 23-26 2014, Philadelphia, PA.
2. Takayama K, Dominick G, Papas M, Markil M, Trabulsi J.  Relationship between dietary intake and social health determinants in low-Income, Hispanic mothers.  Society for Behavioral Medicine, April 23-26 2014, Philadelphia, PA. 
3. Axe M, Dominick G, Takayama K, Trabulsi J, Markil M, Papas MA.  Education continues to be a strong predictor of health literacy among Latinas, while psychosocial factors did not
   Society for Behavioral Medicine, April 23-26 2014, Philadelphia, PA. 
4. Nomura JT, Poole CL, Boyer BW, Papas MA, Thomas J, Gregore DR, Hausman S, Shulkov S, Ciechanowski MC, Munson A, Raser-Schramm J. Customized Swallow Screening Tool to Exclude Aspiration Pneumonia Risk in Acute Stroke Patients.  Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, May 13 – 17 2014, Dallas, TX.
5. Bounds R, Coletti C, McGhee J, Papas MA.  Implementation of a statewide opiate prescribing policy is associated with a significant decrease in number of opiates prescribed from the Emergency Department.  Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, May 13 – 17 2014, Dallas, TX.
6. Clay L, Papas MA, Kendra J.  Social institutions: A novel approach to measuring social capital in communities.  39th Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop. Broomfield, Colorado, June 22-26, 2014.
7. Papas MA.  Everything you wanted to know about research but were afraid to ask.  Christiana Care Health Systems Resident Seminar. Aug 6, 2014.
8. Papas MA, Axe M.   Unhealthy weight loss strategies are associated with obesity among adolescents with disabilities in the United States.  American College of Epidemiology Meeting, September 7-9 2014, Washington D.C.
9. Clay L, Papas MA, Abramson D, Kendra J. “Social Capital and Recovery: The Influence of Community Social Institutions”. Accepted for oral presentation at the Third International Conference on Urban Disaster Reduction, Boulder, CO, October 2014. 
10. Papas MA.  Understanding the co-occurrence of obesity and disability among U.S. adolescents.  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Nutrition Seminar. Oct 15, 2014.
11. Clay L, Papas MA, Kendra J.  Social institutions: A novel approach to measuring social capital in communities.  142nd Annual American Public Health Association Meeting, November 15-19, 2014, New Orleans, LA.
12. Clay L, Papas MA, Abramson D, Kendra J.  Influence of social institutions on disaster recovery outcomes following Hurricane Katrina.  142nd Annual American Public Health Association Meeting, November 15-19, 2014, New Orleans, LA.
13. Papas MA, Axe M.   Predictor of obesity among adolescents with disabilities.  142nd Annual American Public Health Association Meeting, November 15-19, 2014, New Orleans, LA.
14. Papas MA, Mazade N, McDuffie MJ, Tulsky D, Pohlig R, Botticello A, Gallucci G.  Integrating State Medicaid Paid Claims, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Data.  Delaware CTR ACCEL Annual Meeting.  Feb 17 – 19, 2015.  Charleston, South Carolina.

In the News

• Obesity risk more likely to be higher for disabled adolescents.  Nov 17, 2104.
• Obesity Rate Highest in Teens with Disabilities.  Nov 20, 2014. 
• Study: Teens with Disabilities at Greater Risk for Obesity.  Nov 19, 2104. 
• Young people with disabilities experience greater obesity rates. The Nation's Health January 2015 44:21. 

Public Health Club

The University of Delaware currently sponsors the Public Health Club.  The mission of the club is to allow students interested in public health to come together and discuss current events, volunteer in the local community, and learn about potential careers.  Throughout the school year, the club will sponsor discussion panels from public health professionals, forums to discuss current topics in public health, seminars in internships and job opportunities in public health, and an annual lecture series in public health.