Center for Healthful Behavior Change
At the launching ceremony, from left: Marc Gourevitch, MD, (Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine); Martin Blaser, MD, (Chair of the Department of Medicine); Gbenga Ogedegbe, MD, (Director of the Center); and Robert Grossman, MD, (Dean of the NYU Langone Medical Center and School of Medicine)
Overview
Approximately 50% of deaths in the United States result from unhealthy behaviors such as physical inactivity, poor medication taking habits, ineffective weight management, suboptimal diet, cigarette smoking, alcohol and other substance use, risky sexual behavior, and low rates of follow-through on recommended screening and preventive measures. The prevention and management of many chronic illnesses require that patients change specific behaviors, in some cases shedding unhealthful habits and in other cases adopting healthy ones. While tremendous progress has been made in the medical treatment of many chronic diseases, far too little attention is paid to changing the behaviors that are essential to improved outcomes. Research to translate what we know about improving health into practical changes that can be accomplished in everyday clinical practice settings is vitally needed.
Mission
The Center for Healthful Behavior Change (CHBC), develops, tests, and spreads innovative evidence-based behavioral interventions into everyday clinical practice and community settings. The CHBC focuses on integrating basic behavioral concepts into clinical research across a broad spectrum of health care delivery settings serving New York City’s diverse patient populations.
Research Focus
The CHBC research agenda targets key gaps in translational science, from bedside to-clinic and clinic-to-population. A life course perspective informs the development of behavioral interventions that target all ages and sectors of the population served by NYU Langone Medical Center and its affiliates.
Educational and Training Focus
The CHBC promotes education and training in translational behavioral medicine research leading to the development of a new cadre of investigators with expertise in this field.
Center Investigators
The Center’s faculty includes a cohesive multi-disciplinary team of scientists and clinicians from diverse disciplines with expertise in translational behavioral medicine research. The faculty's expertise also encompasses health services research, clinical epidemiology, behavioral science, clinical psychology, health psychology, health education, and internal medicine.
The Center is supported by an Executive Committee, a Scientific Advisory Board, and program administrative and research support staff.
Center Director:
Olugbenga Ogedegbe, MD, MPH, MS, FAHA
Core Research Faculty:
Joseph Ravenell, MD, MS
Senaida Fernandez, PhD
Antoinette Schoenthaler, EdD