Mary P. Gallant, Ph.D., M.P.H. Associate Professor and Chair Social Behavior and Community Health Address: Department of Health Policy, Management, & Behavior School of Public Health One University Place Rensselaer, NY, 12144-3455 Phone:  (518) 402-0333 Fax:  (518) 402-0414 E-mail:  mgallant@albany.edu

HOW DID YOU BEGIN YOUR CAREER IN PUBLIC HEALTH?

“I ‘discovered’ public health somewhat accidentally when I was a senior in college. I had always been interested in health and medicine, but had little desire to pursue medicine as a career. When I stumbled upon some information about schools of public health in the library, I realized that this was the field that really sparked my interest. My MPH program further sharpened my interest in health behavior research and in issues related to aging.”

WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH?

“Public health gives us the incredible opportunity to influence the health of communities and populations in significant ways. Yet there are still major challenges to overcome in health promotion, such as learning how to encourage healthy lifestyles more effectively and understanding the important roles the social and physical environment have in supporting such lifestyles. Plus, public health has historically paid little attention to aging issues, and there is much untapped potential for promoting healthy aging.”

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO DO OUTSTANDING RESEARCH IN YOUR FIELD?

“I am motivated by my desire to make a difference in the quality of life of older people and people with chronic illness. I want my research to have practical results for health promotion programs and strategies that will translate into enhanced well-being for our aging population.”

Education:

• A.B., Harvard University, magna cum laude, Biology, 1987
• M.P.H., University of Michigan, Health Behavior & Health Education, 1990
• Ph.D., University of Michigan, Health Behavior & Health Education, 1995
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Social Research on Applied Issues of Aging, University of Michigan School of Social Work, 1995-1996

Other Professional Appointments:

Faculty Affiliate, Center for Social and Demographic Analysis, University at Albany.

Faculty Associate, Center for Managing Chronic Disease, University of Michigan.

Co-Investigator, University at Albany Prevention Research Center.

Faculty Associate, Center for Social and Demographic Analysis, University at Albany.

Faculty Associate, Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities, University at Albany.

Core faculty, Alden March Bioethics Institute, Albany Medical College

Research Interests:

Self-care and health behaviors among older adults, psychosocial influences on chronic illness management, physical activity, falls prevention, dissemination of evidence-based interventions into public health practice, caregiving; gender differences in health and health behavior, particularly among older adults.

Current Research Focus:

Dr. Gallant's current research focuses on psychosocial influences on the self-care behaviors of older adults and adults with chronic illness. One area of her work examines how family relationships, friendships, and interactions with other informal social network members influence chronic illness self-care among older adults. Other work in this area focuses on understanding individual and community-level factors that promote physical activity, particularly among adults with arthritis and other chronic illnesses.

Dr. Gallant also conducts research on the process of implementing and disseminating evidence-based health promotion interventions for older adults into public health practice. She currently collaborates with Senior Services of Albany on a demonstration project examining the implementation of a heart disease self-management program for older women in community settings. In addition, her current research also includes work on fall prevention among older adults.

Courses Frequently Taught:

• HPM 625: Introduction to Public Health and Aging
• HPM 627: Public Health Education
• SPH 341: Promoting Healthy People and Communities
• HPM 626: Topics in Chronic Illness: Social and Behavioral Aspects

Selected Publications and Presentations:

Gallant, M.P., Spitze, G., & Prohaska, T. Help or hindrance? How family and friends influence chronic illness self-management among older adults. Research on Aging, in press.

Shaw, B.A., Gallant, M.P., Riley-Jacome, M., & Spokane, L.S. (2006). Assessing sources of support for diabetes self-care in urban and rural underserved communities. Journal of Community Health, 31, 393-412.

Spitze, G., & Gallant, M.P. (2004). “The bitter with the sweet”: Older adults’ strategies for handling ambivalence in relations with their adult children. Research on Aging, 26, 387-412.

Gallant, M.P. & Connell, C.M. (2003). Neuroticism and depressive symptoms among spouse caregivers: Do health behaviors mediate this relationship? Psychology & Aging, 18, 587-592.

Gallant, M.P. (2003). The influence of social support on chronic illness self-management: A review and directions for research. Health Education & Behavior, 30, 170-195.

Gallant, M.P. & Dorn, G.M. (2001). Gender and race differences in the predictors of daily health practices among older adults. Health Education Research, 16, 21-31.

Gallant, M.P., & Connell, C.M. (1998). The stress process among dementia spouse caregivers: Are caregivers at risk for negative health behavior change? Research on Aging, 20, 267-297.

Gallant, M.P., & Connell, C.M. (1997). Predictors of decreased self-care among spouse caregivers of older adults with dementing illnesses. Journal of Aging and Health, 9, 373-395.

Selected Presentations:

Gallant, M.P. (2005, November). Women Take Pride: Heart Disease Self-Management for Older Women in Community Settings . In T. Healy (Chair), It Takes an Interdisciplinary Team: Translating Evidence-Based Practice into Community Based Health Promotion Programs. Presented at the 58 th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Orlando, FL, November, 2005.

Gallant, M.P., & Riley-Jacome, M. (2005, November). Understanding “Successful” Exercise Behavior among Adults with Arthritis . Presented at the 58 th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Orlando, FL, November, 2005.

Riley-Jacome, M., Gallant, M.P., & Shaw, B.A. (2005, November). Development of a community-based intervention to enhance community resources for diabetes management. Accepted for presentation at the 133rd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA, December, 2005.

Grants:

A Falls Prevention Environmental Scan. M. P. Gallant, Principal Investigator. Faculty Research Awards Program, University at Albany, 4/14/06 - 4/15/07, $3996.

University at Albany Prevention Research Center. D. Strogatz, Principal Investigator; M.P. Gallant, Center Co-Investigator and Co-PI of Core Research Project. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 10/1/04-9/30/09, $3,047,200.

Evidence-Based Prevention Programs: Women Take Pride in Managing Heart Disease. M.P. Gallant, Principal Investigator of Subcontract for Evaluation. Administration on Aging to Senior Services of Albany. 10/1/03 – 9/30/06, $137,258 for subcontract.

“Successful Exercisers” among People with Arthritis. M.P. Gallant, Principal Investigator. Association of Schools of Public Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 10/1/02-9/30/04, $142,282.

Community-Based Interventions to Prevent Chronic Disease. D.S. Strogatz, Principal Investigator for Prevention Research Center; M.P. Gallant, Principal Investigator of Center Research Project. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10/01/02 – 9/30/04. $1,376,099 ($378,385 for Research Project).

Social Network Influences on Illness Self-Management. M. P. Gallant, Principal Investigator; G. Spitze, Co-Investigator. National Institute on Aging, 5/1/01 - 4/30/03, $74,950.

Predictors of Self-Care Behaviors among Older Adults. M. P. Gallant, Principal Investigator. Faculty Research Awards Program, University at Albany, 4/1/98 - 4/1/99, $9000.

Social Network Influences on Illness Self-Management. M. P. Gallant, Principal Investigator; G. Spitze, Co-Investigator. National Institute on Aging, $74,950, pending.

Awards:

Delta Omega (Alpha Gamma chapter), National Public Health Honorary Society . Elected in 2002.