Solutions to Diabetes in Black Americans Core Webinar Series

Tuesday, January 26 at 10:00AM CST

Presenter: Stephanie Mazzucca, PhD

Affiliation: Washington University in St. Louis  

Presenter Bio: Stephanie Mazzucca is an Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research seeks to develop and evaluate evidence-based approaches for promoting healthy eating and physical activity to prevent chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cancer. This research is mainly focused on improving home environments and organizations –  such as public health departments, childcare centers and community-based groups –  to support healthy behaviors for those with higher risks of chronic diseases. Additionally, she is interested in studying the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based programs and policies into public health and clinical settings, to improve the translation of research into practice and ultimately improve individuals’ health.

Webinar Description: The limited success in the prevention of diabetes and other chronic diseases and the related efforts to achieve health equity reflects a lack of knowledge about which programs and policies can effectively reach underserved racial/ethnic minority and low-resource populations. Implementation of programs and policies outside of health care settings (i.e., in community settings such as schools and childcare centers, worksites, social service organizations, and religious organizations) has high potential in this respect. However, unique challenges arise from the fact that primary missions, capacity, cultures, and values in such settings are not centered on physical health or health services delivery. This webinar will present a review of implementation research in community settings and highlight lessons learned to guide future research and practice in diverse settings and geographies.