Kim Gans

Professor

Human Development and Family Studies

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I am a tenured Professor with the University of Connecticut Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Institute for Collaboration on Health, Interventions and Policy. I am also an affilicate faculty member of the UConn Rudd Center where Ms. Cooksey-Stowers is currently employed as a postdoctoral fellow. In addition, I am Adjunct Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University School of Public Health and former Director of the Brown Institute for Community Health Promotion (now Center for Health Equity Research). I have over 30 years of experience in intervention development and evaluation research in community-based settings to improve eating habits, prevent/control obesity and increase physical activity. The majority of this research has been with ethnic minority, low income and/or low literate populations and has included environmental as well as behavioral interventions.

I am currently MPI (along with Dr. Risica of Brown University) of an intervention to help home childcare providers improve their childcare settings to improve the diet and physical activity behaviors of preschool children (R01 HL123016), which is the parent grant for which this diversity supplement is being proposed. I am also MPI of a new grant (R34HL128067) to use tailored web and text interventions to increase physical activity in Latino men and PI of a community-based participatory research planning grant (R13HD077245) to reduce childhood obesity in Providence, RI.  I am MPI of a seed grant to conduct formative research to create multi-level interventions for childhood obesity and dental caries prevention in collaboration with dental practices in CT. I am currently collaborating as a co-I on three grants: an R21 to pilot an obesity prevention intervention for fathers of preschool children, a RWJF-HER grant to refine anddisseminate an assessment tooltomeasureimplementationofschoolwellnesspolicies,and a seed grant to create a multi-level intervention (including a food retail component) for childhood obesity prevention with Southeast Asian populations in RI.

My research has also focused on developing and evaluating multi-level interventions to improve neighborhood, home, work, school, and childcare environments and studying how these interventions interface with educational interventions to enhance dietary change and obesity prevention. In addition to the grants mentioned above, I recently completed two R01 studies to increase fruit and vegetable availability, access and intake by bringing mobile produce markets and educational programs to worksites (1R01CA134903), and low income housing projects with diverse low income populations (R01CA133396). I have also completed a RWJF-funded grant to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile fruit and vegetable markets in improving the fruit and vegetable intake of low income children aged 3-13 years. I was also PI of a grant with low income parents of preschool children to help them change their home dietary and physical environments through an intervention using peer educators, motivational interviewing and tailored educational materials (R21DK080396).

I have also led several NIH-funded RCTs using tailored health communication to improve the diets of low income adults (R01CA81828, R18DP001147) and worksite employees (R01CA86066), and diet, physical activity and weight of overweight adults (R18DK079880) as well as the studies mentioned above (R21DK080396), (R01 HL123016), (R34HL128067). I have also collaborated on several other studies using tailored health communications to increase physical activity of Latinos (R21NR009864, R01CA159954, R01NR011295).Another major emphasis of my work is on translational research to study the adaptation and dissemination of effective physical activity, nutrition and obesity prevention interventions to various community and clinical settings. I have been PI or co-I of four translational research grants (R18DK071946, R18DP001147, R18DK68525 and R18DK079880) and several foundation grants.

I am also trained in intervention mapping, a protocol for developingand evaluating theory– and evidence-based health promotion programsand have taught a course in this method for 15 years. I live in RI and have a part time office at Brown University in addition to my office space at UConn, which will facilitate my role on the proposed research. Also, I have extensive long-standing partnerships with multiple community organizations in the Providence area including co-lead of a community advisory board focused on childhood obesity prevention that has been in operation for over 5 years. Thus, with my extensive experience and expertise in the development, implementation and evaluation of community-based, multi-level, multicomponent, nutrition and obesity prevention interventions with diverse populations and my role as MPI on the R01 in family child care homes, I am very qualified to be Dr. Cooksey-Stower’s mentor for the proposed research, which will study the association of the food environment with the food served and dietary quality of children in family care homes as well as the potential moderating effect of the neighborhood food environment on effects of the intervention on the childcare food environment and children’s diets.

Education

Duke University, Biology, B.S., 1983
University of North Carolina, Nutrition, M.P.H., 1985
University of Rhode Island, Biological Sciences (Nutrition), Ph.D., 1992

Recent Publications

• Gans KM, Lovell HJ, Fortunet R, McMahon C, Carton-Lopez S, Lasater TM. Implications of qualitative research for nutrition education geared to selected Hispanic audiences. J Nutr Educ. 1999;31(6):331-338.
• Gans KM, Hixson ML, Eaton CE and Lasater TM. Rate Your Plate: An eating pattern assessment and educational tool for blood cholesterol control. Nutr Clin Care. 2000;3(3):163-169, 177-178.
• Barner CW, Wylie-Rosett J, Gans K. WAVE: a pocket guide for a brief nutrition dialogue in primary care. Diabetes Educ. 2001 May-Jun;27(3):352-8, 361-2. PubMed PMID: 11912796.
• 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.
• 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. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2002 Jul-Aug;34(4):202-10. PubMed PMID: 12217263.
• 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.
• Eaton CB, McBride PE, Gans KA, Underbakke GL. Teaching nutrition skills to primary care practitioners. J Nutr. 2003 Feb;133(2):563S-6S. Review. PubMed PMID: 12566503.
• 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. J Nutr. 2003 Feb;133(2):556S-62S. Review. PubMed PMID: 12566502.
• 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. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003 Jun;103(6):699-706; discussion 706. PubMed PMID: 12778040.
• 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. Prev Med. 2003 Dec;37(6 Pt 1):654-67. PubMed PMID: 14636799.
• Gans KM, Burkholder GJ Jr, Risica PM, Harrow B, Lasater TM. Cost-effectiveness of minimal contact education strategies for cholesterol change. Ethn Dis. 2006 Spring;16(2):443-51. PubMed PMID: 17682247.
• 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. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2006 Sep-Oct;38(5):286-92. PubMed PMID: 16966049.
• 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 Educ Res. 2006 Aug;21(4):465-76. Epub 2005 Nov 22. PubMed PMID: 16303783.
• 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. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2007 Mar-Apr;39(2 Suppl):S63-71. PubMed PMID: 17336811.
• Gans KM, Risica PM, Kirtania U, Jennings A, Strolla LO, Steiner-Asiedu M, Hardy N, Lasater TM. Dietary behaviors and portion sizes of black women who enrolled in SisterTalk and variation by demographic characteristics. J Nutr Educ 2009 Jan-Feb;41(1):32-40. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2657871.
• Gans KM, Risica PM, Strolla LO, Fournier L, Kirtania U, Upegui D, Zhao J, George T, Acharyya S. Effectiveness of different methods for delivering tailored nutrition education to low income, ethnically diverse adults. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2009 May 5;6:24. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2688475.
• Pekmezi DW, Neighbors CJ, Lee CS, Gans KM, Bock BC, Morrow KM, Marquez B, Dunsiger S, Marcus BH. A culturally adapted physical activity intervention for Latinas: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Prev Med. 2009 Dec;37(6):495-500.PubMed PMID: 19944914; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2814545.
• Sheldon M, Gans KM, Tai R, George T, Lawson E, Pearlman DN. Availability, affordability, and accessibility of a healthful diet in a low-income community, Central Falls, Rhode Island, 2007-2008. Prev Chronic Dis. 2010 Mar;7(2):A43. Epub 2010 Feb 15. PubMed PMID: 20158971; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2831797.
• Mello JA, Gans KM, Risica PM, Kirtania U, Strolla LO, Fournier L. How is food insecurity associated with dietary behaviors? An analysis with low-income, ethnically diverse participants in a nutrition intervention study. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010 Dec;110(12):1906-11. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3005628.
• Johnson P., Risica, P., Gans, K., Kirtania, U. and Kumanyika, S., Association of Perceived Racial Discrimination With Eating Behaviors and Obesity Among Participants of the Sister-Talk Study. J Natl Black Nurses Assoc, (23) 1, July 2012, 34-40.
• Pekmezi D, Dunsiger S, Gans K, Bock B, Gaskins R, Marquez B, Lee C, Neighbors C, Jennings E, Tilkemeier P, Marcus B. Rationale, design, and baseline findings from Seamos Saludables: A randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a culturally and linguistically adapted, computer- tailored physical activity intervention for Latinas. Contemp Clin Trials. 2012 Nov;33(6):1261-71. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3468688.
• Marcus BH, Dunsiger SI, Pekmezi DW, Larsen BA, Bock BC, Gans KM, Marquez B, Morrow KM, Tilkemeier P. The Seamos Saludables study: A randomized controlled physical activity trial of Latinas. Am J Prev Med. 2013 Nov;45(5):598-605. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.07.006. PubMed PMID: 24139773.
• Risica PM, Gans KM, Kumanyika S, Kirtania U, Lasater TM. SisterTalk: final results of a culturally tailored cable television delivered weight control program for Black women. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 10:141 December 2013. PMID: 24373253 PMCID: PMC3880004
• Hartman SJ, Risica PM, Gans KM, Marcus BH, Eaton CB. Tailored weight loss intervention in obese adults within primary care practice: rationale, design, and methods of Choose to Lose. Contemp Clin Trials. 2014 Jul;38(2):409-19. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2014.06.001. Epub 2014 Jun 15. PMID: 24937016; PMCID: PMC4151311
• Keita AD, Risica PM, Drenner KL, Adams I, Gorham G, Gans KM. Feasibility and acceptability of an early childhood obesity prevention intervention: results from the healthy homes, healthy families pilot study. J Obes. 2014;2014:378501. doi: 10.1155/2014/378501. Epub 2014 Oct 27. PubMed PMID: 25405026; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4227329.
• Marcus BH, Dunsiger SI, Pekmezi D, Larsen BA, Marquez B, Bock BC, Gans KM, Morrow KM, Tilkemeier P. Twelve-month physical activity outcomes in Latinas in the Seamos Saludables Trial. Am J Prev Med.2015 Feb;48(2):179-82. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2014.08.032. Epub 2014 Nov 6. PMID: 25442225
• Dominick GM, Dunsiger SI, Pekmezi DW, Larsen B, Marquez B, Nodora J, Gans KM, Marcus BH. Moderating Effects of Health Literacy on Change in Physical Activity among Latinas in a Randomized Trial. J of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 2015:1-7 PMCID: PMC5064840, PMID: 26863464
• Tovar A, Risica P, Mena N, Lawson E, Ankoma A, Gans KM. An assessment of nutrition practices and attitudes in family child-care homes: implications for policy implementation. Prev Chronic Dis. 2015 Jun 4;12:E88. doi: 10.5888/pcd12.140587. PubMed PMID: 26043303; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4456854.
• Marcus BH, Hartman SJ, Pekmezi D, Dunsiger SI, Linke S, Marquez B, Gans KM, Bock BC, Larsen BA, Rojas C. Using interactive Internet technology to promote physical activity in Latinas: Rationale, design, and baseline findings of Pasos Hacia La Salud. Contemp Clin Trials. 2015 Aug 5. pii: S1551-7144(15)30063-X. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2015.08.004. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26255237.
• Tovar A, Mena NZ, Risica P, Gorham G, Gans KM. Nutrition and physical activity environments of home-based child care: What Hispanic providers have to say. Child Obes. 2015 Oct;11(5):521-9. doi: 10.1089/chi.2015.0040. Epub 2015 Sep 2. PubMed PMID: 26332455. PMCID number in progress.
• Gans KM, Dulin-Keita A, Risica PM, Dawood M, Strolla L. Innovative video tailoring for dietary change: Final results of the Good For You! cluster randomized trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2015, 12:130 PMID: 26445486, PMCID: PMC4596558
• Gorham G, Dionne L, Risica PM, Mello J, Papandonatos G, Gorham S, Dulin-Keita A, Gans KM. Effectiveness of Fresh to You, a discount fresh fruit and vegetable market in low-income neighborhoods, on children’s fruit and vegetable consumption, Rhode Island, 2010–2011. Prev Chronic Dis2015;12:140583. PMID: 26469949, PMCID: PMC4611858.
• Gans KM, Salkeld J, Risica PM, Lenz, E, Burton D, Mello, J, Bell JP. Occupation is related to weight and lifestyle factors among employees at worksites involved in a weight gain prevention study. J Occup Environ Med. Volume 57(10), October 2015, p e114–e120.
• Marcus BH, Hartman SJ, Larsen BA, Pekmezi D, Dunsiger SI, Linke S, Marquez B, Gans KM, Bock BC, Mendoza-Vasconez AS, Noble ML, Rojas C. Pasos Hacia La Salud: a randomized controlled trial of an internet-delivered physical activity intervention for Latinas. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2016 13:62; DOI: 10.1186/s12966-016-0385-7; Published: 28 May 2016 PMID: 27234302, PMCID: PMC4884436
• Gans KM; Gorham G; Risica PM; Dulin-Keita A; Dionne L; Gao T; Peters S; Principato L. A multi-level intervention in subsidized housing sites to increase fruit and vegetable access and intake: Rationale, design and methods of the ‘Live Well, Viva Bien’ cluster randomized trial. BMC Public Health. 2016:June. 16:521, PMID: 27353149, PMCID: PMC4924350
• Eaton CB, Harman SJ, Schindler E, Panc G, Roberts MB, Risica PM, Gans KM, Jakicic JM, Marcus BH. A randomized clinical trial of a tailored lifestyle intervention for obese, sedentary patients in primary care: Choose To Lose translational research study. Annals of Family Medicine. July-August 2016;14:311-319. doi: 10.1370/afm.1952.
• Dulin-Keita A; Whittaker S; Wynter J; Kidanu TW; Cardel M; Chhay C; Gans K. Applying concept mapping methodology to identify the perceptions of risk and protective factors for childhood obesity among Southeast Asian refugees. J Health Care Poor Underserved.November 2016;27(4):1909-1933. PMID: 27818447
• Hartman, S.J., Dunsiger, S., Bock, B.C., Larsen, B. A., Linke, S., Pekmezi, D., Marquez, B., Gans, K.M., Mendoza-Vasconez, A., & Marcus, B.H. (2017). Physical Activity Maintenance among Spanish-Speaking Latinas in a Randomized Controlled Trial of an Internet-based Intervention. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2017 Jun;40(3):392-402 PMID: 27752866, PMCID: PMC5393970
• Hughes BL, Gans KM, Raker C, Hipolito ER, Rouse DJ. A Brief Prenatal Intervention of Behavioral Change to Reduce the Risk of Maternal Cytomegalovirus: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Oct;130(4):726-734. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002216. PubMed PMID: 28885428.
• Risica PM, Gorham G, Dionne L, Nardi W, Ng D, Middler R, Mello J, Akpolat R, Gettens K, Gans KM. A multi-level intervention in worksites to increase fruit and vegetable access and intake: Rationale, design and methods of the ‘Good to Go’ cluster randomized trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials. 2018 Feb;65:87-98. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2017.12.002. Epub 2017 Dec 12. PMID: 29242108
• Marquez B., Norman G, Fowler J, Gans K, Marcus B. Weight and weight control behaviors of Latinas and their social ties. Health Psychology. 2018 Apr;37(4):318-325. doi: 10.1037/hea0000597. Epub 2018 Feb 1. PMID: 29389157, PMCID: PMC5880731
• Dulin-Keita A; Risica PM; Ahmed R; Mello, J.; Cardel M; Howe C; Nadimpalli S; Gans KM. Neighborhood social and environmental factors and fruit and vegetable intake among residents in subsidized housing. BMC Public Health. Apr. 5 2018;18:455, PMCID: PMC5887203, PMID: 29621989
• Dulin-Keita A; Quintiliani L; Buscemi J; Bell, B.M.; Gans KM; Yaroch A. Society of Behavioral Medicine position statement: increase funding for fruits and vegetables production in The Farm Bill reauthorization. Translational Behavioral Medicine. 2018 Apr 13.  [Epub ahead of print]
• Marquez B, Norman G, Fowler x, Gans KM, Marcus B. Egocentric networks and physical activity outcomes in Latinas. PLOS One. In Press.
• Gans KM, Dulin-Keita A, Gorham G. Final results of Live Well, Viva Bien: A randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of an innovative fruit and vegetable market and educational program in subsidized housing projects. In Press. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-018-0704-2. Published: August 20, 2018

BOOKS AND BOOK CHAPTERS

• Lasater TM, Gans KM. Church-Based Interventions. In NB Anderson (Editor), Encyclopedia of Health and Behavior. Vol. 1. Sage, 2004.
• Gans KM, Eaton CB. Chapter 16: Cultural Influences. In: The Complete Guide to Nutrition in Primary Care. Editors: Deen D Jr. and Hark LA. Blackwell Publishing. 2007, ISBN# 1405104740.
• Gans K, Drenner K, Gorham G. Nutrition Counseling in a Busy Office Practice. In: Rippe JM, editor. Lifestyle medicine. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2013. p. xli, 1588 p. ISBN-13:978-1439845424.