Fabio A. Almeida, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Health Promotion
University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Public Health

Professional Summary

• 2016 - present, Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion
• 2014 - 2016, Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
• 2012 - 2016, Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech
• 2008 - 2012, Research Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech
• 2003 - 2008, Research Associate, Kaiser Permanente Colorado

Education

• 2008, PhD, University of Denver
• 2002, MSW, Eastern Washington University
• 2000, BSW, Lewis-Clark State College

Research interests

My research and professional experience, to date, have focused on seeking solutions to the growing global chronic disease epidemic in particular as it has a disproportional negative impact on the lives of those who are the most vulnerable in our societies. The ultimate goal of my work is to eliminate health disparities within chronic diseases, enhance health equity, and improve health outcomes for those who need it most in collaboration with community and practice partners by using available resources, evidence-based programs, and cost-effective strategies focusing on better health and enhanced quality of life for all.

To address these challenges, my research program concentrates on a systems approach to the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. We focus on identifying the connections between systems and individuals which can create and sustain positive behavior changes associated with improved health outcomes. A systems approach explores the potential of multiple and diverse systems to influence individual choices and behaviors around physical activity, nutritional choices, and patient compliance with treatment recommendations.

This approach to program development and dissemination seeks to achieve a greater public health impact by reducing disparities while enhancing health equity. We operationalize public health impact through the RE-AIM framework and design and disseminate programs and policies that (a) Reach a large representative sample of the target audience (in particular those most vulnerable); (b) demonstrate Effectiveness in changing individual behaviors and Maintaining those changes; (c) are easily Adopted and Implemented in a variety of settings by a variety of delivery agents with the available resources; and (d) can be Maintained at the organizational level over time. By achieving greater public health impact, programs and policies can lead to better health and enhanced quality of life for all.

Selected Publications

• Zheng LD, Linarelli LE, Brooke J, Smith C, Wall SS, Greenawald MH, Seidel RW, Estabrooks PA, Almeida FA*, Cheng Z. Mitochondrial Epigenetic Changes Link to Increased Diabetes Risk and Early-Stage Prediabetes Indicator. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2016; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5290638
• Almeida FA, Smith-Ray RL, Dzewaltowski DA, Glasgow RE, Lee RE, Thomas DS, Xu S, Estabrooks PA. An Interactive Computer Session to Initiate Physical Activity in Sedentary Cardiac Patients: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res 2015;17(8):e206 URL: http://www.jmir.org/2015/8/e206 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.3759
• Almeida, F. A., You, W., Harden, S. M., Blackman, K. C.A., Davy, B. M., Glasgow, R. E., Hill, J. L., Linnan, L. A., Wall, S. S., Yenerall, J., Zoellner, J. M. and Estabrooks, P. A. Effectiveness of a worksite-based weight loss randomized controlled trial: The worksite study. Obesity 2015; 23: 737–745. doi: 10.1002/oby.20899. PMID: 25678325.
• Zheng LD, Linarelli LE, Liu L, Wall SS, Greenawald MH, Seidel RW, Estabrooks PA, Almeida FA* and Cheng Z. Insulin resistance is associated with epigenetic and genetic regulation of mitochondria in obese humans. Clinical Epigenetics 2015;7:60 doi:10.1186/s13148-015-0093-1 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13148-015-0093-1
• Almeida, F.A., Pardo, K.A., Seidel, R.W., Davy, B., You, W., Wall, S., Smith, E., Greenawald, M.H., and Estabrooks, PA Design and Methods of “diaBEAT-it!”:  A Hybrid Preference/Randomized Control Trial Design using the RE-AIM Framework. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2014; 38(2): 383-396. DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2014.06.010
• Cheng, Z., Almeida, F.A. Mithochondrial alteration in type 2 diabetes and obesity: an epigenetic link. Cell Cycle 2014, 13(6): 1-8.
• Almeida, F.A., Brito, F.A., and Estabrooks, PA RE-AIM framework: Translation and cultural adaptation to Brazil. REFACS (online) 2013, 1(1): 6-16.
• Osuna, D., Barrera Jr., M., Strycker, L.A., Toobert, D.J., Glasgow, R.E., Geno, C.G., Almeida, F.A., Perdomo, M., King, D., and Doty, A. Methods for the Cultural Adaptation of a Diabetes Lifestyle Intervention for Latinas: An Illustrative Project. Health Promotion Practice 2011, 12(3), 341-348.
• Almeida FA, Shetterly S, Smith-Ray RL, Estabrooks PA. Reach and effectiveness of a weight loss intervention in patients with prediabetes in Colorado. Prev Chronic Dis 2010, 7(5). http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2010/sep/09_0204.htm Accessed
• Smith-Ray, R.L, Almeida, F.A., Bajaj, J., Gilson, M., Heikennen, S., Shetterly, S., Estabrooks, PA Translating efficacious behavioral principles for diabetes prevention into practice. Health Promotion Practice 2009, 10, 58-66.

Professional Affiliations

• American Public Health Association
• Society of Behavioral Medicine