Research & Grants
Grants
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Research Institute Pilot Award (2019)
Children’s Hospital Colorado, $30000
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Building Resilience for Healthy Kids (2019)
Children's Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs Foundation, $1200000
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Sleep, Insulin Sensitivity, and Weight in Adolescents Post-Bariatric Surgery: Sleep-PBS Study (2019)
Children’s Hospital Colorado Bariatric Surgery Center Pilot Award, $15000
Research interests for Patients:
As a behavioral epidemiologist, I study how health behaviors (i.e., sleep, diet, and activity), impact the health (i.e., obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), early risk factors for cardiovascular disease) and well-being (i.e., indicators of mental health, depression, anxiety) of children and adolescents. I use observational methods via both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to first identify key associations with health behaviors and disease risk, and then use these findings to guide intervention strategies with potential for widespread dissemination and implementation. At this time, I am principal investigator for three active intervention protocols that use both clinical and school-based designs to change behaviors of children and adolescents. All active protocols have a sleep intervention component and are focused on improving mental and/or physical health of pediatric populations. I have worked in the field of pediatric weight management for almost fifteen years. First, as a dietician at a children’s hospital outpatient weight management clinic and on others’ research protocols and now I am the principal investigator for my own research studies targeting health outcomes (i.e., weight loss, prevention of T2D) and well-being (i.e., building resilience, coping skills, decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety) in pediatric populations. My primary research focus is examining the mediating effect of sleep duration on the relationship between health behaviors, diet and activity, and overall health in children and adolescents.
