Dr. Kim M. Gans is a Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University School of Public Health and Director of the Brown Institute for Community Health Promotion.

Biography

Dr. Gans has over 28 years of experience in intervention development and evaluation research in community-based settings to improve eating habits and prevent obesity. The majority of her research has been with ethnic minority, low income and/or low literate populations. Currently she is developing and evaluating interventions to improve home, work and neighborhood nutrition and physical activity environments and studying how these interventions interface with behavior change/educational interventions to enhance obesity prevention. Another emphasis of her research has been on innovative health communication technologies including theory-based tailored print and video interventions using computerized expert systems. Dr. Gans also conducts translational research to study the dissemination of effective nutrition and obesity prevention interventions to various community and clinical settings.

Institutions

Mhri

Research Description

Dr. Gans has over 28 years of experience in intervention development and evaluation research in community-based settings to improve eating habits and prevent obesity. The majority of her research has been with ethnic minority, low income and/or low literate populations. An emphasis in her research has been on innovative health communication technologies including theory-based tailored print and video interventions using computerized expert systems. She is also developing and evaluating interventions to improve home, work and neighborhood nutrition and physical activity environments and examining how these interventions interface with behavior change/educational interventions to enhance obesity prevention. Another major emphasis of Dr. Gans work is on translational research to study the dissemination of effective nutrition and obesity prevention interventions to various community and clinical settings. Dr. Gans has had extensive experience in the design and delivery of recruitment, retention, study implementation, process and outcome evaluation procedures for large scale randomized trials in the community and the design and development of nutrition, physical activity, weight control and other behavior change educational materials for diverse populations.

Awards

Duke University Dean's list: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983;
graduated cum laude in 1983

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, inducted in 1992

Master of Arts, ad eundem, Brown University, 2000

Providence Journal, "Up and Comers in Rhode Island", January 2006

Master of Arts, ad eundem, Brown University, 2000

Providence Journal, "Up and Comers in Rhode Island", January 2006

Affiliations

International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

American Public Health Association

Society for Nutrition Education

Society for Behavioral Medicine

American Heart Association-Council on Epidemiology and Prevention

American Heart Association-Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism

International Heart Federation-Section on Epidemiology and Prevention

Rhode Island Public Health Association

Rhode Island Prevention Council

Nutrition Council of RI

Funded Research

Evaluating the effectiveness of providing coaching and technical assistance during implementation of new school physical education (PE) law in RI. The overall goal of this study is to evaluate whether the two schools that receive coaching, training and technical assistance from Kids First in their final year of implementing RI's new Physical Education Law have better PA outcomes than the matched control schools that receive no coaching, training or technical assistance. Role: PI Period: 8/15/11– 2/14/13

Developing tailored home environment interventions to address childhood obesity.
Formative and feasibility research to inform a future study to help low income parents of 2-5 year old children develop new lifestyles and create supportive home environments to promote healthful eating and physical activity in their children. Role: PI Period: 4/1/09 – 3/31/13

SisterTalk@Home: Home-based Weight Loss for AA Women
This study builds upon an existing and demonstrably effective 12-hour video-based weight management program for Black women. Existing video footage is being adapted and new content is being added to develop a series of 36 half hour sessions and 6 boosters targeting nutrition, physical activity and self-management techniques. Role: Co-I Period: 5/01/07 – 4/30/13

Culturally and Linguistically Adapted Physical Activity Intervention for Latinas
The purpose of the study is to promote physical activity among this at-risk population using a high-reach, low-cost strategy, which has great potential for adoption on a larger scale and thus high potential for reducing existing health disparities in the U.S. Role: Co-I Period: 6/1/11 – 5/31/13

Helping Ethnically Diverse Teen Moms Prevent Obesity in their Preschool Children.
The goal of this project is to develop and pilot an obesity intervention for use with teen mothers to prevent obesity in their preschool children using formative and feasibility research with a small RCT pilot study. The proposed intervention will be an innovative adaptation of empirically supported obesity prevention and parenting interventions not previously used with this population. Role: Co-I Period: 5/14/12 – 4/3/14

Fresh to you: Multilevel approaches in low income housing to increase F&V intake
The purpose of the proposed research is to conduct a group-randomized study with 16 affordable housing projects to study the effectiveness of educational interventions and a delivery system to offer fresh fruits and vegetables (F&V) at discount prices for purchase at housing projects on increasing residents' F&V consumption. Role: PI Period: 6/1/09– 4/3/14

Tailored Lifestyle Intervention in Obese Adults within Primary Care Practice
The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized controlled cluster designed clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative, tailored lifestyle intervention on overweight and obese patients in primary care practice. Role: PI of subcontract Period: 9/1/09 – 7/31/14

Clinical Trial of Behavioral Modification to Prevent Congenital Cytomegalovirus
This study will test whether behavioral intervention improves compliance with CDC-recommended behaviors to decrease the risk of congenital CMV. Development of a brief screening and intervention that will be both acceptable to clinic staff and feasible to implement as part of routine clinical prenatal care, and to test whether behavioral intervention for susceptible women can effect behavioral change that is likely to lead to decreased primary CMV infection. Role: PI of subcontract Period: 9/28/12 – 9/27/14

Innovative approaches to increase F&V intake thru worksites: The Fresh Initiative
The purpose of this study is to study the effectiveness of educational interventions and a delivery system to offer fresh fruits and vegetables (F&V) at discount prices for purchase at worksites on increasing employees' F&V consumption. Role: PI Period: 5/7/09 – 2/28/15

Promoting Physical Activity in Latinas via Interactive Web-based Technology
Build on recent pilot (R21NR009864), which culturally and linguistically adapted tailored intervention for sedentary Latinas which conducted randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a culturally and linguistically modified, individually tailored physical activity intervention delivered via the Internet relative to an Internet wellness contact control condition. Role: PI of subcontract Period: 9/16/11-7/31/15

Teaching Experience

Current Teaching

Course leader, PHP 236 Designing and Evaluating Public Health Interventions, Spring 2013.

Course leader, PHP 1999 Public Health Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, Fall 2013.

Senior honors thesis advisor for Brown undergraduate students, ongoing.

Academic Advisor for MPH students, ongoing.

Courses Taught

• Designing, Implementing and Evaluating Public Health Interventions (BC0236)

View My Full Publication List in pdf format

Selected Publications

• Risica PM, Burkholder GB, Gans KM, Smith K, Davis C, Lasater TM. Assessing fat – related dietary behaviors among Black women: Reliability and validity of a new food habits questionnaire. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. In Press.(IN PRESS)
• Fitzgibbon M, Gans KM, Evans WD, Viswanath K, Johnson-Taylor WL, Krebs-Smith SM, Rodgers AB, Yaroch AL. Communicating healthy eating: lessons learned and future directions. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2007;39:S63-71(2007)
• Anderson CA, Kumanyika SK, Shults J, Kallan MJ, Gans KM, Risica PM. Assessing dietary change in a weight loss program for African Americans: A potential short method based on frequency of fat – related eating behaviors. J Amer Diet Assoc. 2007 May;107(5):838-42.(2007)
• Strolla LO, Gans KM, Risica PM: Using qualitative and quantitative formative research to develop tailored nutrition intervention materials for a diverse low–income audience. Health Education Research. 2006 21: 465-476.(2006)
• Gans KM, Burkholder GJ, Risica PM, Harrow B, Lasater TM. Cos-effectiveness of minimal contact nutrition education strategies for cholesterol change. Ethnicity and Disease. 2006 Spring,16:443-451.(2006)
• Gans KM, Risica PM, Wylie-Rosett J, Ross EM, Strolla LO, McMurray J, Eaton CB. Development and evaluation of the nutrition component of the Rapid Eating and Activity Assessment for Patients (REAP): a new tool for primary care providers. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2006 Sep-Oct;38(5):286-92.(2006)
• Segal-Isaacson CJ, Wylie-Rosett J, Gans KM: Validation of a short dietary assessment questionnaire: The Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants (Short Version): REAP-S. Diabetes Educator 2004 Sep-Oct;30(5):774, 776, 778.(2004)
• Lasater TM, Gans KM. Church-Based Interventions. In NB Anderson (Editor), Encyclopedia of Health and Behavior. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2004;1:194-197.(2004)
• Gans KM, Ross E, Barner CW, Wylie – Rosett J, McMurray J, Eaton C. REAP and WAVE: new tools to rapidly assess/discuss nutrition with patients. Journal Nutrition. 2003 Feb;133(2):556S-62S.(2003)
• Eaton CB, McBride PE, Gans KM, Underbakke GL. Teaching nutrition skills to primary care practitioners. Journal Nutrition. 2003 Feb;133(2):563S-6S.(2003)
• Gans KM, Burkholder GJ, Risica PM, Lasater TM. Baseline fat-related dietary behaviors of White, Hispanic, and Black participants in a cholesterol screening and education project in New England. Journal American Diet Association. 2003;103:699-706.(2003)
• Gans KM, Kumanyika SK, Lovell HJ, Risica PM, Goldman R, Odoms-Young A, Strolla LO, Decaille DO, Caron C, Lasater TM. The development of SisterTalk: A cable TV-delivered weight control program for black women. Preventative Medicine. 2003;37(6): 654-667.(2003)
• Gans KM, Delessio D. A brief diet assessment tool facilitates the medical nutrition therapy of diabetic patients. Diabetes Care and Education: On the Cutting Edge. 2002; 23:16-18.(2002)
• Gans KM, Burkholder GJ, Upegui DI, Risica PM, Lasater TM, Fortunet R. Comparison of baseline fat – related eating behaviors of Puerto Rican, Dominican, Colombian, and Guatemalan participants who joined a cholesterol education project. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2002; 34(4): 202-210.(2002)
• Wylie–Rosett J, Mossavar–Rahmani Y, Gans KM: Therapeutic update on nutrition: Recent dietary guidelines to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Heart Disease. 2002 Jul-Aug;4(4):220-30.(2002)
• Sciamanna CN, DePue JD, Goldstein MG, Park ER, Gans KM, Monroe AD, Reiss PT. Nutrition counseling in the PRx (Promoting Cancer Prevention in Primary Care) study. Preventative Medicine. 2002;35(5):437-46.(2002)
• Gans KM, Wylie–Rosett J, Eaton CE: Treating and preventing obesity through diet: Practical approaches for family physicians. Clinics in Family Practice. 2002; 4(2):1-23.(2002)
• Assaf AR, Coccio E, Gans K, Lasater TM. Community-based approaches with implications for hypertension control in Blacks. Ethnicity and Disease. 2002;12(supple 1):S1-33.(2002)