Elizabeth A. Dennis, PhD, R.D.

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, BS 2006
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, PhD 2010
• Marywood University, Dietetic Internship, 2011
• Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, Postdoctoral Fellow 2011-2013

My personal and professional experiences have led to an increased interest in non-pharmacologic interventions to improve health and chronic disease related outcomes particularly in populations such as under-resourced communities. My AHA career development award evaluated current teacher workplace health behaviors, such as diet, physical activity and work-related stress, and how changes to the school environment may positively impact these behaviors.  More recently, my research has focused on older adults with impaired mobility, exploring how disability negatively impacts dietary quality, and identifying barriers to consuming a healthy diet among this population. I am also the PI of the NIH SEPA funded Cure Connections program, a stem enrichment program for 9th and 10th grade UMB CURE Scholars, and the RAMP program, a summer research training and mentoring program for upper-level high school students.

Community Health, Nutrition, Disease Prevention, Dietary Intake, Weight Management Strategies, Lifestyle Interventions

• Dennis EA, Flack KD, Davy BM.  Beverage Consumption and Adult Weight Management: A Review. Eating Behaviors 2009; 10(4):237-246. PubMed PMID: 19778754; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2864136.
• Dennis EA, Dengo AL, Comber DL, Flack KD, Davy KP, Davy BM.  Water Consumption Increases Weight Loss During a Hypocaloric Diet Intervention in Middle-aged and Older Adults. Obesity 2010 Feb;18(2):300-7.  PubMed PMID: 19661958; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2859815.
• Dennis EA, Potter KL, Estabrooks PA, Davy BM.  Weight Gain Prevention for College Freshmen: Comparing Two Social Cognitive Theory-based Interventions with and without Explicit Self-Regulation Training.  Journal of Obesity  2012; 2012: 803769.  PubMed PMID: 22778919; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3384957.
• Dennis Parker EA, Sheppard VB, Adams-Campbell LL.  Compliance with National Nutrition Recommendations among Breast Cancer Survivors in Stepping Stone.  Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2014 Mar;13(2):114-20. doi: 10.1177/1534735413503550. Epub 2013 Oct 7. PMID: 24105362
• Davy BM, Potter KL, Dennis Parker EA, Harden S, Hill JL, Halliday TM, Estabrooks PA.  Feasibility, Effectiveness, and Perceptions of an Internet- and Incentive-Based Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention for Overweight and Obese College Freshmen: A Mixed Methods Approach. Open Journal of Preventative Medicine 2013; Vol.3, No.7, 429-440.
• Bailey RL, Parker EA, Rhodes DG, Goldman JD, Clemens JC, Moshfegh AJ, Thuppal SV, Weaver CM. Estimating Sodium and Potassium Intakes and Their Ratio in the American Diet: Data from the 2011-2012 NHANES Journal of Nutrition 2016 Mar 9. [Epub ahead of print]