Featured Researcher Program
The Featured Researcher program identifies a UIC or UIC affiliated researcher who has completed his/her research and is ready to disseminate results and recommendations beyond the research community to those who will most benefit from the research. HCC staff members assist researchers in preparing a one-page, lay person summary of the research design, results and implications. The goal is to produce a document that translates complex research language and recommendations into a community friendly version that is suitable for distribution through mailings, electronic medium, social networks and community gatherings. The work of the Featured Researcher is promoted for one month through meetings and education events sponsored by the Office of Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health Partnerships (OCEAN-HP).
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Please select a research summary from the list below.
2023
- MARCH – Men’s and Women’s Daily Experiences Studies
Wendy Bostwick, MPH, PhD, Associate Professor, Population Health Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago - JULY – Promoting Trauma Recovery in the Community
Erin Berenz, PhD, PLLC, Associate Professor, Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago
2022
- FEBRUARY – Reimagining Community-Engaged Research Design Methods at the UIC Center for Literacy: The Read, Make & Play family literacy initiative study as example
Kira Baker-Doyle PhD, Associate Professor of Curriculum & Instruction Director of the Center for Literacy University of Illinois-Chicago College of Education - APRIL – Sleep apnea as a risk factor for clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease
Ana C. Ricardo, MD, MPH, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Illinois Chicago - MAY – Stock Albuterol: Preventing Asthma Emergencies in Schools
Andrea A. Pappalardo MD, FAAAI, FACAAI, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics; University of Illinois College of Medicine Allergist-Immunologist, Internist, and Pediatrician; University of Illinois Hospitals Medical Director; CHECK Program Medical Director; Mobile Care Chicago Asthma Van - JUNE – Alcohol use disorders in military veterans: An evaluation of the Roy Adaptation Model
Hagar Hallihan, PhD, RN, PREMIER T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine - NOVEMBER – Examining colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer screening and diagnosis among Chicago Community Health Center patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
Keith Naylor, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Director: Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program Co-Chair: Illinois Cancer partnership, Screening and Early Detection Subcommittee, Co-Lead: Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative Outreach Core - DECEMBER – Enhancing self-management and quality of life for adults with Epilepsy: PAUSE to Learn Your Epilepsy at UIC
Dilip Pandey, MD, PhD, FAHA, Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation
2021
- APRIL -I PROMOTE IL (Innovations to ImPRrOve Maternal OuTcomEs in Illinois)
Rachel Caskey, MD, MAPP, Chief, Division of Academic Internal Medicine, Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics - JUNE – Social Context, Stress, Cancer, and Oral Health of Black and LatinX Men
Patrick Smith, DMD, MPH, Assistant Professor, UIC College of Dentistry, Division of Prevention and Public Health Sciences - SEPTEMBER – Addressing Lifestyle Physical Activity Among Minority Women with Asthma
Sharmilee Nyenhuis, MD, FAAAAI, Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of the Allergy/Asthma/Immunology Program, Faculty Affiliate of Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Section Chief of Allergy, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center - NOVEMBER – Our Peers: Empowerment and Navigational Support – A peer navigator intervention for people with disabilities
Susan Magasi, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Applied Health Sciences, Departments of Occupational Therapy and Disability Studies
University of Illinois Cancer Center, Member
2020
- OCTOBER – Tackling Breast Cancer Disparities in Chicago through Breast Screening and Patient Navigation: the Mi-MAMO Program
Vida Henderson, PhD, PharmD,MPH, MFA, Research Scientist, University of Illinois Cancer Center, Research Assistant Professor,
University of Illinois School of Public Health, Division of Community Health Sciences - DECEMBER – Chicago Center for Health & Environment
Gail Prins, PhD, Professor of Urology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Director, Chicago Center for Health and Environment (CACHET),
School of Public Health University of Illinois at Chicago
2019
- JANUARY – Helping People with Serious Mental Illness Fight Obesity and Embrace Wellness
Judith Cook, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Director, Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy University of Illinois at Chicago - FEBRUARY – Prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors among diverse Hispanic/ Latino individuals in the United States
Martha L. Daviglus, MD, PhD, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Director, Institute for Minority Health Research, Edmund Foley Professor of Medicine, UIC College of Medicine - MAY – Childhood Experiences and Lifelong Health: How do we Teach and Apply the Science?
Audrey Stillerman, MD ABFM ABIHM ABOIM, Associate Director of Medical Affairs and Medical Director of School Health Centers
Office of Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health Partnerships, Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago - JUNE – Exploring How Chicago Youth Remain Resilient in the Context of Poverty
Amanda L. Roy, PhD, Assistant Professor, Community and Prevention Research Program Chair, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago
2018
- JULY – Why does it seem the nurses and doctors contradict each other when talking to patients?
Andrew Boyd, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy
Department of Medical Education, University of Illinois at Chicago - JUNE – Exploration of the Self-Perceived Roles of Trusted Faith Leaders in the Promotion of Flu Vaccination in a Disadvantaged African-American Community
Rev. Dr. Shirley Fleming, Director of Faith Health Promotion for UIC Office of Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health
Partnerships, Co-Director of the Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation
Rev. Dr. Kirsten Peachey, Director for Congregational Health Partnerships at Advocate Health Care, Co-Director of the Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation - APRIL – Using Makerspaces to Introduce Computational Thinking
Roxana Hadad, Principal Investigator, Assessing Computational Thinking for Making Activities (ACTMA), Department of Educational
Psychology, College of Education, University of Illinois at Chicago
2017
- JANUARY – Improving asthma outcomes in African American women, one step at a time
Sharmilee M. Nyenhuis, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of Allergy, Asthma, Immunology Program, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy, University of Illinois at Chicago - FEBRUARY – Nurse Overestimation of Patient’s Health Literacy
Carolyn Dickens MSN, APN, ACNP-BC Doctoral Candidate, Nurse Practitioner, Adjunct Faculty Department of Biobehavioral Health
Sciences, UIC College of Nursing - JUNE – Data simplification to empower patients in Heart Disease and Cancer
Andrew D Boyd, MD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences, Medical Education, and Physical Therapy,
University of Illinois at Chicago - OCTOBER – Preventing Violence in Relationships Across the Lifespan
Paul Schewe, PhD, Director, Interdisciplinary Center for Research on Violence, Department of Criminology, Law, and Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago
2016
- FEBRUARY – Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (ChicagoCHEC)
Robert A. Winn, MD, Associate Vice Chancellor for Community Based Practice, Director, University of Illinois Cancer Center - APRIL – Latino Parents Helping Their Children to Change
Ané M. Maríñez-Lora, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, Institute for Juvenile Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago - MAY – New Directions for Mental Health Promotion among Immigrant-Origin Families
Dana Rusch, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Juvenile Research (IJR), University of Illinois at Chicago - JUNE – Sustaining Mental Health Services in Community Settings
Tara Mehta, Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor, Institute for Juvenile Research, University of Illinois at Chicago - SEPTEMBER – The Women’s Lifestyle Physical Activity Program: An intervention to increase physical activity and prevent weight gain in African American women
JoEllen Wilbur PhD, APN, FAAN, Professor and Endowed, Independence Chair in Nursing, Associate Dean for Nursing, College of Nursing
Rush University
2015
- JANUARY – Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Help Prevent and Manage Diabetes
Laurie Ruggiero, Ph.D., Professor of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago - MARCH – Superman in the Smallest Space: Exploring a Music Studio for Young People Experiencing Homelessness
Brian L. Kelly, PhD, MSW, CADC, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago - MAY – Prevention of Food Poisoning in Vulnerable Populations
Mark S. Dworkin, MD, MPH&TM, Professor, Associate Director of Epidemiology, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health - JULY – Contexts of Sex-Based Exchange: A Cultural Analysis of Risk Perception and Behavior
Paul A. LaKosky, Ph.D., Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Chicago - SEPTEMBER – Disparities in Access to HIV Care
Richard M. Novak, MD, Professor and Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago - NOVEMBER – Health Promoters and Pharmacists in Diabetes Team Management
Ben Gerber, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Academic Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago
Lisa K. Sharp, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes, & Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago - DECEMBER – Risk Factors for a Drinking-Related Identity: Key Vulnerability for Alcohol Problems
Colleen Corte, PhD, RN, Associate Professor, UIC College of Nursing
2014
- JANUARY – What is Youth’s Role? Planning a Pelvic Healthy Education Program in Chicago Schools
Jessica Barnes, MPH, Research Coordinator, Hispanic Center of Excellence, Department of Medical Education, University of Illinois at Chicago with Jennifer Herbert-Beirne, PhD, MPH - MARCH – HIV/AIDS and Mental Health Among Youth and Families
Geri R. Donenberg, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Research, School of Public Health, Professor, College of Medicine, Director, Community Outreach Intervention Projects and the Healthy Youths Program - AUGUST – Encouraging Patients to use Participatory Communication Behaviors at Visits to their Doctor
Howard S. Gordon, MD, Staff Physician, JBVAMC, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago - JULY – BAILA: Being Active, Increasing Latinos’ healthy Aging
David X. Marquez, PhD, FACSM, FGSA, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, Center for Research on Health and Aging, University of Illinois at Chicago - OCTOBER – The Chicago Prostate Cancer Survival Study
Vincent L. Freeman, MD, MPH, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UIC School of Public Health
2013
- JUNE – The Suburban Cook County Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Obesity Prevention Initiative Case Study Evaluation
Michael C. Fagen, PhD, MPH, Community Health Sciences Division, School of Public Health (SPH), University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) - SEPTEMBER – Little Village Collaborative Community Health Assessment
Jennifer Hebert-Beirne, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health - OCTOBER – Vascular Integrity To Advance Longevity VITAL Studies
Melissa Lamar, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago - NOVEMBER – Improving Health Behaviors of Latina Mothers of Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Sandra Magaña, PhD, MSW, Professor, Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago
2012
- JANUARY – Building a Community of Wellness in Humboldt Park, Chicago for and with Adolescents and Young Adults
Michele A. Kelley, ScD, MSW, MA, Associate Professor, Community Health Sciences, UIC School of Public Health with Jenny Byelick, Mayra Estrella, Jose E. Lopez and Nicole Gillens - FEBRUARY – Keeping Unmarried, African American Adolescent Fathers Involved with Their Children
Constance Dallas, PhD, RN, Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing - MARCH – The Breast Cancer Care in Chicago Study
Garth H. Rauscher, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UIC School of Public Health - APRIL – The Association between Home and Neighborhood Environments and Youth Physical Activity and Obesity
Sandy Slater, PhD, MS, Research Assistant Professor, Division of Healthy Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago - MAY – Elder Abuse Decision Support System
Kendon J. Conrad, PhD, MSPH, Professor Emeritus, HPA, SPH, University of Illinois at Chicago, Senior Research Scientist, Chestnut Health Systems, Normal, Illinois - JUNE – Stress, “Strength” and Black Women’s Preventive Care
Angela Rose Black, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign - JULY – African American Girls and Sex
Barbara L. Dancy, PhD, RN, FAAN, Kathleen S. Crittenden, MA, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, Hongyan Ning, MS Northwestern University - AUGUST – Supporting Engagement & Enrollment in Clinical Trials S.E.E.C. A Review to examine recruitment and enrollment of African Americans in Clinical Trials
Karriem S. Watson, MPH, MS, Director of Recruitment Retention and Community Engagement in Clinical Research, University of Illinois at Chicago - OCTOBER – African Americans’ Perception of Risk for Diabetes Complications
Donna J. Calvin PhD, FNP-BC, Post-Doctoral Research, Associate, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago
2011
- APRIL – C-TALK: HIV Prevention for Men Who Have Sex with Men and Who Use Stimulants
Dr. Thomas Lyons, Director, HIV/AIDS Research and Policy Institute, Chicago State University, Research Scholar, University of Illinois at Chicago Great Cities Institute - MAY – “When We Have Better, We Can Do Better” Community Action to Increase Demand for Healthy Foods in African American Communities
Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, Office of Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health Partnerships, University of Illinois at Chicago - JUNE – The Eastland Prostate Cancer Survey: A tool for African American Women
Taryn Y. Eastland, PhD, RN, FNP, UIC Post-Doctorate Fellow - OCTOBER – Opportunities and Barriers to Local Food Production in the Greater Chicago Region
Researchers: Amalia Turkewitz, Cristina Silva, UPPA/MUPP Student Mentor: Sheila R. Castillo - NOVEMBER – Study Title: Differences in the Conceptualization of Medical Mistrust among African Americans and Whites of Low Socioeconomic Standing
Dr. Teri A. Strenski, Public Health Researcher - DECEMBER – Faith-based HIV prevention with African American mothers and daughters
Chisina Kapungu, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois at Chicago