Last Updated: 5/11/2009

Research Interests
Dr. Ammerman's research interests involve design and testing of innovative nutrition and physical activity intervention approaches for chronic disease risk reduction in primarily low income and minority populations. Interventions include low literacy materials development, interactive computer technology, individual tailoring, and multiple risk factor interventions. She has developed and validated dietary and physical activity assessment instruments as well as psychosocial surveys. Dr. Ammerman is also active in research and public health practice related to community based public health, nutrition interventions by primary care providers, participatory research, assets mapping, and university-community partnership development. She has conducted several large systematic evidence reviews regarding dietary change interventions.

Recent Accomplishments and Honors
2006
Excellence in Dietary Guidance Award, awarded by the Food and Nutrition Section, American Public Health Association

2006
Recipient of Global Health Faculty Research Partnership Grant to establish new research collaborations with Chinese Scientists in developing tools and policies to control obesity

2003-2008
Research Fellow, The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, UNC-CH

2002
Sarah Mazelis Best Paper of the Year Award for Health Promotion Practice, awarded by SOPHE Awards Committee for PRAISE! Project Paper

2000
Bernard G. Greenberg Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research,and Service, School of Public Health, UNC-CH

1997
Fellow: American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology

1994
Spotlight Dietitian, American Dietetic Association, Nutrition Research Dietetic Practice Group

1990
Secretary's Award for Innovations in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, UNC competition

1987
Nutrition Institute Fellowship Award for research in preventive cardiology

1981
Delta Omega Honor Society and Special Service Award

Publications
Jilcott, S., Ickes, S, Ammerman, A, Myhre, J., Iterative Design, Implementation and Evaluation of a Supplemental Feeding Program for Underweight Children Ages 6-59 Months in Western Uganda. Matern Child Health J DOI 10.1007/s10995-009-0456-3. Published online: 07 February 2009

Ammerman, AS, Farrelly, MA, Cavallo, DN, Ickes, SB, Hoerger, TJ. (2009) Health Economics in Public Health. Am J Prev Med 36(3):273-275
Evenson KR, Ballard K, Lee G, Ammerman A. (2009) Implementation of a school based state policy activity. J Sch Health. 79: 231-238.

Perrin EM, Vann JJ, Lazorick S, Ammerman A, Teplin S, Flower KB, Wegner S, Benjamin JT. (2008) Bolstering Confidence in Obesity Management Counseling for Residents and Community Pediatricians. Patient Educ Couns. 73(2):179-85.

Keyserling TC, Samuel-Hodge CD, Jilcott SB, Johnston LF, Garcia BA, Gizlice Z, Gross MD, Savinon CE, Bangdiwala SI, Will JC, Farries RP, Trost S, Ammerman AS. (2008). Randomized trial of a clinic-based, community-supported, lifestyle intervention to improve physical activity and diet: The North Carolina enhanced WISEWOMAN project. Prev Med, 46(6), 499-510.

Yeh MC, Ickes SB, Lowenstein LM, Shuval K, Ammerman AS, Farris R, Katz DL. (2008). Understanding barriers and facilitators of fruit and vegetable consumption among a diverse multi-ethnic population in the USA. Health Promot Int, 23(1), 42-51.

Jilcott S, Ammerman A, Sommers J, Galsgow RE. (2007). Applying the RE-AIM framework to assess the public health impact of policy change. Ann Behav Med, 34(2), 105-114.

Ammerman AS, Ward DS, Benjamin SE, Ball SC, Sommers JK, Molloy M, and Dodds JM. (2007). An intervention to promote healthy weight: Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) theory and design. Prev Chronic Dis, 4(3), A67.

Benjamin SE, Tate DF, Bangdiwala SL, Neelon B, Ammerman AS, Dodds JM, and Ward DS. (2007). Preparing Child Care Health Consultants to Address Childhood Overweight: A Randomization Controlled Trial Comparing Web to In-Person Training. Matern Child Health J, DOI 10.1007/s10995-0277-1.

Benjamin SE, Neelon B, Ball SC, Bangdiwala SI, Ammerman AS, Ward DS. (2007) Reliability and validity of a nutrition and physical activity environmental self-assessment for child care. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act, 4 (29) doi:10.1186/1479-5868-4-29.

Benjamin SE, Ammerman A, Sommers J, Dodds J, Neelon B, Ward DS. (2007). Nutrition and physical activity self-assessment for child care (NAP SACC): results from a pilot intervention. J Nutr Educ Behav, 39(3), 142-149.

Jilcott SB, Laraia BA, Evenson KR, Lowenstein LM, Ammerman AS. (2007). A guide for developing intervention tools addressing environmental factors to improve diet and physical activity. Health Promot Pract, 8(2), 192-204.

Gaskins ND, Sloane PD, Mitchell CM, Ammerman A, Ickes SB, Williams CS. (2007). Poor nutritional habits: a modifiable predecessor of chronic illness? A North Carolina Family Medicine Research Network (NC-FM-RN) study. J Am Board Fam Med, 20(2), 124-134.

Flower KB, Perrin EM, Viadro CI, Ammerman AS. (2007). Using body mass index to identify overweight children: barriers and facilitators in primary care. Ambul Pediatr, 7(1), 38-44.

Linnan LA, Rose JM, Carlisle VA, Evenson KR, Mangum A, Hooten EG, Mangum A, Ammerman A, Bangdiwala S, Hansen K, Bentley M, Biddle A. (2007). The North Carolina BEAUTY and Health Project: Overview and Baseline Results. The Community Psychologist, 40(2), 61-66.

Jilcott SB, Keyserling TC, Samuel-Hodge CD, Johnston LF, Gross MD, Ammerman AS. (2007). Validation of a brief dietary assessment to guide counseling for cardiovascular disease risk reduction in an underserved population. J Am Diet Assoc, 107(2), 246-255.

Jilcott SB, Evenson KR, Laraia BA, Ammerman AS. (2007). Association between physical activity and proximity to physical activity resources among low-income, midlife women. Prev Chronic Dis, 4(1), A04.

Ammerman A, Leung MM, Cavallo D. Addressing disparities in the obesity epidemic. (2006). N C Med J, 67(4), 301-304.

Ammerman AS, Cavallo D, Leung MM, Gustafson A. (2006). Farm, Food, Health: How Public Policy Affects Childhood Nutrition. Harvard Health Policy Review, 7(2), 152-165.

Jilcott SB, Keyserling TC, Samuel-Hodge CD, Rosamond W, Garcia B, Will JC, Farris RP, Ammerman AS. (2006). Linking clinical care to community resources for cardiovascular disease prevention: the North Carolina Enhanced WISEWOMAN project. J Womens Health (Larchmt), 15(5), 569-583.

Carey TS, Howard DL, Goldmon M, Roberson JT, Godley PA, Ammerman A. (2005). Developing effective interuniversity partnerships and community-based research to address health disparities. Acad Med, 80(11), 1039-1045.

Stefanich CA, Witmer JM, Young BD, Benson LE, Penn CA, Ammerman AS, Garcia BA, Jilcott SB, Etzel RA. (2005). Development, adaptation, and implementation of a cardiovascular health program for Alaska native women. Health Promot Pract, 6(4), 472-481.

Perrin EM, Flower KB, Garrett J, Ammerman AS. (2005). Preventing and treating obesity: pediatricians' self-efficacy, barriers, resources, and advocacy. Ambul Pediatr, 5(3), 150-156.

Perrin EM, Flower KB, Ammerman AS. (2005). Pediatricians' own weight: self-perception, misclassification, and ease of counseling. Obes Res, 13(2), 326-332.

Katz ML, Gordon-Larsen P, Bentley ME, Kelsey K, Shields K, Ammerman A.
(2004). "Does skinny mean healthy?" Perceived ideal, current, and healthy body sizes among African-American girls and their female caregivers. Ethn Dis, 14(4), 533-41.

Ammerman A, Washington C, Jackson B, Weathers B, Campbell M, Davis G, Garson-Angert D, Paige Rev J, Parks-Bani C, Joyner M, Keyserling T, Switzer B. The PRAISE! Project: a Church-based nutrition intervention designed for cultural appropriateness, sustainability, and diffusion. Journal of Health Promotion Practice 2002 April;3:286-301.

Keyserling TC, Samuel-Hodge CD, Ammerman AS, Ainsworth BE, Henrquez-Roldn CF, Elasy TA, Skelly AH, Johnston LF, Bangdiwala SI. Randomized trial of an intervention to improve self-care behaviors of African American women with type 2 diabetes: impact on physical activity. Diabetes Care 2002;25:1576-1583.

Evenson KR, Sarmiento OL, Macon ML, Tawney KW, Ammerman AS. Environmental, policy, and cultural factors related to physical activity among Latina immigrants. Women & Health 2002;36(2):43-57.

Ammerman AS, Lindquist CH, Lohr KN, Hersey F. The efficacy of behavioral interventions to modify dietary fat and fruit and vegetable intake: a review of the evidence. Prev Med 2002;35:24-41.

Samuel-Hodge CD, DeVellis RF, Ammerman AS, Keyserling TC, Elasy TA. Reliability and validity of a measure of perceived diabetes and dietary competence in African American women with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Educ 2002 Nov-Dec;28(6):979-988.

Pignone MP, Ammerman A, Fernandez L, Orleans CT, Pender N. Counseling to promote a healthy diet in adults. A summary of the evidence for the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force. Am J Prev Med, 2003 Jan;24(1):75-92.

Ammerman AS, Keyserling TC, Atwood JR, Hosking JD, Zayed H, Kransy C. A randomized controlled trial of a public health nurse directed treatment program for rural patients with high blood cholesterol. Prev Med 2003;36:340-351.

Satia-Abouta J, Galanko J, Martin CF, Potter JD, Ammerman A, Sandler RS. Associations of micronutrients with colon cancer risk in African Americans and Whites: Results from the North Carolina Colon Cancer Study. Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 2003;12(8):747-754.

Corbie-Smith G, Ammerman A, Katz ML, St. George DM, Blumenthal C, Washington C, Weathers B, Keyserling T, Switzer B. Trust, benefit, satisfaction and burden in a randomized controlled trial to reduce cancer risk through African American churches using a community-based participatory research approach, Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2003; 18:531-541.

Ammerman A, Corbie-Smith G, St. George, DM, Washington C., Weathers B., Christian, B. Research Expectations Among African American Church Leaders in the PRAISE! Project: A Randomized Trial Guided by Community-Based Participatory Research., JAPH, in press, 2003.

Shawn Ahmed, Arno Alpi, Michael O. Hengartner and Anton Gartner (2001). C. elegans RAD-5/CLK-2 defines a new DNA damage checkpoint protein. Current Biology 11: 1934-1944.

Bettina Meier and Shawn Ahmed (2001). Checkpoints: Meiotic chromosome pairing takes an unexpected twist. Current Biology 11: R865-R868.

Shawn Ahmed and Jonathan Hodgkin (2000). MRT-2 checkpoint protein is required for germline immortality and telomere replication in C. elegans. Nature 403: 159-164.
(note review in Nature - V. Lundblad (2000). A tale of ends. Nature 403: 149-150.)

Anton Gartner, Stuart Milstein, Shawn Ahmed, Jonathan Hodgkin and Michael O. Hengartner (2000). A conserved checkpoint pathway mediates DNA damage-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in C. elegans. Molecular Cell 5: 435-443.

Shawn Ahmed, Hong Sheng, Luming Niu and Eric Henderson (1998). Tetrahymena mutants with short telomeres. Genetics 150: 643-650.

Shawn Ahmed, Augustin Kintanar and Eric Henderson (1994). Human telomeric C-strand tetraplexes. Nature Structural Biology 1: 83-88.
(note review in Nature - G. Riddihough (1994). The art of intercalation. Nature 367: 488.)

Shawn Ahmed and Eric Henderson (1992). Formation of novel hairpin structures by telomeric C-strand oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acids Research 20: 507-513.

E-mail: alice_ammerman@unc.edu
Telephone: (919) 966-6082/4147
FAX: 919-966-3374
Address: 1700 Airport Road Chapel Hill, NC 27599-6140

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