Arizona's top public health problem is type 2 diabetes and obesity. To help combat this epidemic, we must effectively communicate findings from the above themes to the community, especially for our large, underserved community of Mexican Ancestry patients, for whom type 2 diabetes is especially burdensome.
Mentors in this Group
Scott Carvajal, PhD.
Dr. Carvajal’s principal research has focused on understanding a range of health behaviors that convey risk or protection (e.g., substance abuse, sexual risk taking, healthy food choice, physical activity) and mental health outcomes (e.g., bicultural stressors, depressive symptoms, coping strategies), with a major emphasis on testing social ecological models within minority populations.
David Garcia, PhD.
Dr. Garcia's research focus is on developing gender and culturally-sensitive weight loss interventions for Hispanics. To support this effort, Dr. Garcia recently established “Nosotros Comprometidos a Su Salud -Committed to Your Health,” a program developed to support research through community service and partnering with underserved Tucson residents. Evidence from his preliminary research with this population group suggests that targeted, tailored behavioral programs are acceptable, sustainable, and efficacious.
Melanie Hingle, PhD.
Dr. Hingle's research focus is on understanding the predictors and consequences of behaviors associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes and applying this knowledge to the design and delivery of lifestyle behavior modification interventions. The overall goal of the laboratory is the prevention of type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders, with an emphasis on youth and families by 1) understanding predictors and correlates of the lifestyle behaviors associated with energy balance and diabetes risk, 2) developing and test new approaches to support participants in modifying lifestyle behaviors associated with diet-sensitive disease risk, and 3) integrating research findings with clinical and community practice.
Gabriel Shaibi, PhD.
Dr. Shaibi's research focus is on understanding and preventing obesity-related health disparities in Latinos. He has published on physiological, biological, and behavioral factors that contribute to health disparities and as a Southwest Borderlands Scholar has a deep appreciation for the Social Determinants of Health as ingredients underpinning health disparities. He works with the local community in Phoenix, AZ to engage with families, community organizations, and clinics to ground his research in local health needs.