Ortmeyer, Heidi
  • Additional Title: VA Research Physiologist
  • Email: hortmeye@som.umaryland.edu
  • Location: Baltimore VA Medical Center, Room 4B-187 (Heidi.Ortmeyer@va.gov)
  • Phone (Primary): (410) 605-7000 x55419
  • Fax: (410) 605-7913

    • Education and Training

    Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL: BA, Psychology, 1985

    Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL: BS, Food Science, 1985

    University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD: Ph.D., Physiology, 1992

    University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD: Fellow, Physiology, 1995

     

     

     

    Research/Clinical Keywords

    companion animal, human-animal interaction, heart rate variability, physical activity, older Veterans, skeletal muscle lipoprotein lipase, skeletal muscle glycogen synthase, mitochondrial enzyme activities, insulin resistance, insulin action

    Highlighted Publications

    Effects of Proximity between Companion Dogs and Their Caregivers on Heart Rate Variability Measures in Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

    Ortmeyer HK, Katzel LI.  Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Apr 13;17(8). pii: E2674. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17082674

    Companion Dog Foster Caregiver Program for Older Veterans at the VA Maryland Health Care System: A Feasibility Study.

    Ortmeyer HK, Robey LC.  Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Nov 4;16(21). pii: E4285. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16214285

    Combining Actigraph Link and PetPace Collar Data to Measure Activity, Proximity, and Physiological Responses in Freely Moving Dogs in a Natural Environment.

    Ortmeyer HK, Robey L, McDonald T.  Animals (Basel). 2018 Dec 4;8(12). pii: E230. doi: 10.3390/ani8120230

    Insulin suppression of fatty acid skeletal muscle enzyme activity in postmenopausal women, and improvements in metabolic flexibility and lipoprotein lipase with aerobic exercise and weight loss.

    Ryan AS, Ortmeyer HK.  Int J Obes (Lond). 2018 Jun 15. doi: 10.1038/s41366-018-0068-3. [Epub ahead of print]  PMID:  29907844

    Resistance training reduces inflammation and fatigue and improves physical function in older breast cancer survivors. 

    Serra MC, Ryan AS, Ortmeyer HK, Addison O, Goldberg AP.  Menopause. 2018 Feb;25(2):211-216. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000969.  PMID:28832427

    Exercise with weight loss improves adipose tissue and skeletal muscle markers of fatty acid metabolism in postmenopausal women.  Ortmeyer HK, Goldberg AP, Ryan AS.  Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). 2017; 25(7):1246-53.

    Skeletal muscle cellular metabolism in older HIV-infected men.  Ortmeyer HK, Ryan AS, Hafer-Macko C, Oursler KK.  Physiological reports. 2016; 4(9).  PMC4873639

    Increased Skeletal Muscle Capillarization Independently Enhances Insulin Sensitivity in Older Adults After Exercise Training and Detraining.  Prior SJ, Goldberg AP, Ortmeyer HK, Chin ER, Chen D, Blumenthal JB, Ryan AS.  Diabetes. 2015; 64(10):3386-95.  PMC4587640

    Aerobic exercise plus weight loss improves insulin sensitivity and increases skeletal muscle glycogen synthase activity in older men.  Ryan AS, Katzel LI, Prior SJ, McLenithan JC, Goldberg AP, Ortmeyer HK.  The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. 2014; 69(7):790-8.  PMC4111634

    Aerobic exercise + weight loss decreases skeletal muscle myostatin expression and improves insulin sensitivity in older adults.  Ryan AS, Li G, Blumenthal JB, Ortmeyer HK.  Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). 2013; 21(7):1350-6. PMC3742694

    Exercise with calorie restriction improves insulin sensitivity and glycogen synthase activity in obese postmenopausal women with impaired glucose tolerance.  Ryan AS, Ortmeyer HK, Sorkin JD.  American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism. 2012; 302(1):E145-52.  PMC3328088

    Effects of aerobic and resistive exercise training on glucose disposal and skeletal muscle metabolism in older men.  Ferrara CM, Goldberg AP, Ortmeyer HK, Ryan AS.  The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. 2006; 61(5):480-7.  16720745

    Additional Publications

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/heidi.ortmeyer.1/bibliography/public/

    Research Interests

    Human-animal interaction: Older Veterans and Companion Dogs: Effects on physical activity, health, and quality of life

     

    Skeletal muscle fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism in aging, obesity, HIV, and stroke

     

     

    Grants and Contracts

    1. Project Title:  Veterans as Foster Ambassadors

      • Project Number (PD/PI): No Project Number (Ortmeyer)

      • Source: Duffield Family Foundation

      • Major Goals: The aim of this project is to start a companion dog foster program for military veterans at the VAMHCS.  The short-term goal is to examine the effects of a two-month companion dog foster program on health, quality of life, and physical activity of older veterans.

      • Dates of Approved Project: 9/22/17-9/21/18

      • Annual Direct Costs: 25,000

         

    2.  Project Title:  Companion Dog Fostering Program for Older Veterans

      • Project Number (PD/PI): No Project Number (Ortmeyer)

      • Source: GEC/VACO

      • Major Goals: This is a clinical demonstration for older veterans with PTSD.

      • Dates of Approved Project: 3/2/18-3/1/19

      • Annual Direct Costs: 73,399

    Community Service

    Executive Director of Eskie Rescuers United, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue organization, 2007-present

    Professional Activity

    Editorial Board, Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019-present

    Chair, Subcommittee on Research Safety, VAMHCS, 2015-2019

    Member, Subcommittee on Research Safety, VAMHCS, 2015-present

    Member, Research and Development Committee, VAMHCS, 2012-present

    VACO Subject Matter Expert, 2017-present

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