Associate Professor

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

Professional Summary

• 2023-present, Associate Professor, UNMC Department of Health Promotion
• 2018-2023, Assistant Professor, UNMC Department of Health Promotion
• 2016-2018, Assistant Professor, Native American Studies/Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Nebraska-Omaha
• 2014-2016, Assistant Professor, College of Education, Northern New Mexico College 
• 2014-2016, Adjunct Faculty, Indigenous Liberal Studies, Institute of American Indian Arts
• 2010-2014, Program Evaluator, Interdisciplinary Center for Program Evaluation, UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute

Education

• 2014, PhD in Preventive & Societal Medicine, UNMC
• 2014, Graduate Certificate in Maternal & Child Health Epidemiology, University of Arizona
• 2010, M.A. in Christian Spirituality, Creighton University
• 2006, M.A. in Spanish Language and Culture, Arizona State University
• 1998, BS in Psychology, Arizona State University

Research Interests

• Practicing community-based and Indigenous research methods to address health disparities of mind, body and spirit
• Applying culturally-relevant ecological approaches in multi-level interventions
• Working in collaboration with interdisciplinary colleagues and community to explore the following:
  • Indigenous Health Sovereignty
  • Indigenous Knowledge Translation
  • Community Health Improvement
  • Workforce Development
  • Medical Humanities
  • Spiritual Wellness

Selected Publications

• Idoate, R., Desmarais, M. M., Strong, B., Steinhoff, A., Tamayo, L., Carroll, G., ... & Hoyt, V. (2020). An Indigenist Theory of Health Advocacy. Great Plains Research, 30(1), 35-48.

• Idoate, R., Gilbert, M., King, K. M., Spellman, L., McWilliams, B., Strong, B., ... & Michaud, T. (2020). Urban American Indian Community Health Beliefs Associated with Addressing Cancer in the Northern Plains Region. Journal of Cancer Education, 1-9.

• Clarke, M. A., Lyden, E. R., Ma, J., King, K. M., Siahpush, M. M., Michaud, T., Idoate, R., & Ramos, A. K. (2020). Sociodemographic Differences and Factors Affecting Patient Portal Utilization. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 1-13.

• Gilbert, M., Idoate, R., Desmarais, M. M., & Lydiatt, W. M. (2020). Anthony and the Role of Silence in Portraiture in Clinical Settings. AMA Journal of Ethics, 22(6), 488-498.

• McWilliams, B., & Idoate, R. (2020). Portraits of Suzanne, an Osage Woman’s Story of Loving the Sun and Living With Skin Cancer. AMA Journal of Ethics, 22(6), 557-564.

• Mindrup, R., & Idoate, R. (2020). Neurofibromatosis and a Portrait of 1 in 3000. AMA Journal of Ethics, 22(6), 513-524.

• Ocander, S., Saville, L., Gilbert, M., & Idoate, R. (2020). Health Care Professionals’ Journeys of Caring Through Portraiture. AMA Journal of Ethics, 22(6), 505-512.

• Ramos, A. K., Carvajal-Suarez, M., Siahpush, M., Robbins, R., Michaud, T. L., Clarke, M. A., & King, K. M. (2020). Predictors of life satisfaction among Hispanic/Latino immigrants in non-metropolitan communities in the Midwest. Rural Society, 1-14.

• Idoate, R., Desmarais, M., et al. (2020). (Accepted 11/2019). Promoting Spiritual Wellness on a College Campus through Community Based Participatory Research International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

• Idoate, R. (2019). Stats and Stories: Illustrating the path of one Native scholar in the Medical Sciences Book Chapter in Degrees of Difference edited by Dr. Kim McGee and Dr. Denise A. Delgado

• Robbins, R. E., Robbins, T. R., & Frailey, M. (2019). Campus-based ecotourism: A case study on the power of local ecotourism. Great Plains Research, 29(2), 107-121.

• Robbins, R. E., & Gilbert, M. (2019). An art-based case study: Reflections on end of life from a husband, artist and caregiver. Journal of Medical Humanities, 40(3), 437-448.

• Desmarais, M. M., & Robbins, R. E. (2019). From the ground up: Indigenizing medical humanities and narrative medicine. Survive & Thrive: A Journal for Medical Humanities and Narrative as Medicine, 4(1), 6.

• Gilbert, M., Idoate, R. E., & Rockwood, K. (2019). Exploring the relationship between geriatric patients and their carers through portraiture: Giving, receiving, observing & witnessing care (GROWing care). European Geriatric Medicine, , 1-3.

• Herek, T. A., Branick, C., Pawloski, R. W., Soper, K., Bronner, L. P., Pocwierz-Gaines, M. S., Kumar, S., Robbins, R. E., Solheim, J. C., & Godfrey, M. (2019). Cancer biology and you: An interactive learning event for Native American high school students to increase their understanding of cancer causes, prevention, and treatment, and to foster an interest in cancer-related careers. Cancer, 2

• Michaud, T. L., Siahpush, M., King, K. M., Ramos, A. K., Robbins, R. E., Schwab, R. J., . . . Su, D. (2019). Program completion and glycemic control in a remote patient monitoring program for diabetes management: Does gender matter? Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 107944.

• Siahpush, M., Farazi, P. A., Wang, H., Robbins, R. E., Singh, G. K., & Su, D. (2019). Muscle-strengthening physical activity is associated with cancer mortality: Results from the 1998–2011 national health interview surveys, national death index record linkage. Cancer Causes & Control, 30(6), 663-670.

• Siahpush, M., Robbins, R. E., Ramos, A. K., Michaud, T. L., Clarke, M. A., & King, K. M. (2019). Does difference in physical activity between blacks and whites vary by sex, income, education, and region of residence? results from 2008 to 2017 national health interview surveys. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 1-9.

• Gilbert, M. A., Lydiatt, W. M., Aita, V. A., Robbins, R. E., McNeilly, D. P., & Desmarais, M. M. (2016). Portrait of a process: Arts-based research in a head and neck cancer clinic. Medical Humanities, 42(1), 57-62. doi:10.1136/medhum-2015-010813 [doi]

• Siahpush, M., Shaikh, R. A., Robbins, R., Tibbits, M., Kessler, A. S., Soliman, G., . . . Singh, G. K. (2016). Point-of-sale cigarette marketing and smoking-induced deprivation in smokers: Results from a population-based survey. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 302.

• Frerichs, L., Brittin, J., Robbins, R., Steenson, S., Stewart, C., Fisher, C., & Huang, T. T. (2015). SaludABLEOmaha: Improving readiness to address obesity through healthy lifestyle in a midwestern latino community, 2011-2013. Preventing Chronic Disease, 12, E20. doi:10.5888/pcd12.140328 [doi]

• Frerichs L, Brittin J, Stewart C, Robbins R, Riggs C, Mayberger S, et al. SaludableOmaha: Development of a Youth Advocacy Initiative to Increase Community Readiness for Obesity Prevention, 2011–2012. Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:120095. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd9.120095

Professional Affiliations

• American Indigenous Research Association, Member
• Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, Member
• American Indian Science and Engineering Society, President of Omaha Professional Chapter
• Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Associate Member