2/4/2011
KATHERINE LYNN DICKIN
Division of Nutritional Sciences, 348 MVR Hall,
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
tel: (607) 255-7297; fax: (607) 255-0027
Professional Interests
My primary interest is in the effectiveness of maternal and child nutrition programsfor improving nutritional status and reducing health disparities in the US and globally. I conductformative research to guide program design, study program implementation to examine how contexts influence effectiveness, and develop evaluationapproaches to monitor program success. My work in the US involves Cooperative Extension nutrition education programs, paraprofessional community educators, community-based participatory research, and the prevention of childhood overweightthrough behavioral and environmental change. My international work has focused on young child feeding, undernutrition, micronutrient malnutrition, and primary health care in Africa and Asia.
Education
Ph.D. May 2003. Major: Nutrition. Minors: Organizational Behavior, Adult Education.
Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Doctoral Dissertation: The work context of Community Nutrition Educators: Relevance to work attitudes and program outcomes.
M.S. August 1986. Major: Human nutrition. Minor: Reproductive physiology.
Div. of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Thesis: Placental morphometry and infant birthweight in relation to maternal nutritional status and altitude of maternal birthplace in a Bolivian population.
B.A.Sc. August 1982. Major: Child Studies.
College of Family & Consumer Studies, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Current Employment
2003-present: Research Associate. Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
§ In-depth qualitative research on behavior change in low-income families and responses to parenting and nutrition recommendations, using household trials to identify feasible and acceptable strategies in the context of food insecurity and life stress.
§ Research on the feasibility and effectiveness of educational and environmental interventions to prevent childhood obesity. Supervision and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate research assistants involved in this research.
§ Development of the Collaboration for Health, Activity and Nutrition in Children’s Environments (CHANCE), an intervention combining behavioral education and environmental change to help low-income families prevent unhealthy weight gain in children. Oversaw implementation of this pilot Cornell Cooperative Extension program.
§ Design, implementation and analysis of process and outcome evaluations of CHANCE and dissemination of results.
§ Collaborative development of Healthy Children, Healthy Families: Parents making a difference!, a curriculum integrating nutrition, physical activity, and parenting education.
§ Creation and delivery of staff training and development programs and technical support Extension staff delivering nutrition education and environmental change programs.
§ Development and testing of validity and reliability of a tool to assess change in nutrition, physical activity and parenting behaviors related to the prevention of childhood obesity.
§ Research on parenting and feeding practices as part of the USDA W1005 Multistate project, “An Integrated Approach to Prevention of Obesity in High Risk Families”.
§ Mixed methods research on processed complementary food in Tanzania and ready-to-use therapeutic foods for infants of HIV-positive mothers in Zimbabwe. Consultant on qualitative data analysis and research identifying core competencies for health workers.
§ Mixed methods research on nutrition education program implementation in the context of welfare reform in the US. Analysis of efforts to balance program fidelity with program adaptation in Cooperative Extension nutrition programs.
§ Development of a program monitoring tool and training curriculum to enable EFNEP educators to recognize and record short and medium outcomes of nutrition education.
Previous Professional Experience
1997-2003: Doctoral Student, Research and Teaching Assistant, and National Institutes of Health Trainee. Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
§ Designed and implemented qualitative and quantitative research on the work context and motivation of community nutrition educators serving low-income families.
1995-1997: Nutrition Consultant. (Selected assignments described below.)
§ World Health Organization: Reviewed the impact of nutrition and child development programs and the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost of integrating these interventions.
§ PATH Canada and the Micronutrient Initiative: Global Vitamin A Initiatives panel; reviewed non-governmental organizations’ proposals to reduce vitamin A deficiency.
§ London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: Kintampo Vitamin A Project, Ghana. Study design, training, and data analysis for qualitative research on use of red palm oil and food fortification to improve vitamin A status of women and children.
§ Freedom from Hunger/Ghana & Academy for Educational Development: Trained Credit with Education program staff to conduct qualitative research on child feeding practices. Field-tested a manual on developing community nutrition education programs.
§ Cornell University and U.S. Department of Agriculture: Reviewed evidence of nutrition and health impacts of USDA food assistance programs.
§ COWATER International: Developed proposal on technical assistance to the Social Policy Development Centre in Pakistan.
1994-1995: Nutrition Advisor: The Manoff Group, Inc., Washington, DC
§ Technical assistance in nutrition education and communications, training, program planning and qualitative research to international health and nutrition programs.
§ Wrote training manual on qualitative research methods for consulting with mothers to identify strategies to improve young child feeding practices.
§ Developed research protocol for national adaptation of the nutrition counseling guidelines on young child feeding of the World Health Organization's Integrated Management of Childhood Illness program. Field-tested the protocol in Tanzania.
§ Wrote grant proposals and "best practices" papers and reviews; conducted formative research and evaluation for maternal and child nutrition programs in Africa and Asia.
1989-1994: International Nutrition Consultant. (Selected assignments described below.)
§ UNICEF Sri Lanka: Qualitative research and behavior change communication; inter-sectoral planning workshop for a participatory community nutrition initiative.
§ Harvard Institute for International Development: Facilitated training workshops for Pakistani medical professionals on methods for operational research on child health.
§ World Health Organization: Partnered with Pakistani medical personnel to develop observational methods and tools to assess hospital counseling on breastfeeding.
§ Canadian International Development Agency: Compiled research report on traditional birth attendants, pregnancy, and childbirth in Pakistan.
§ UNICEF Pakistan: Developed and edited the Lactation Management Training Curriculum for Pakistani health personnel. Provided training and technical assistance on nutritional surveys and community nutrition to university faculty.
§ The Gambian Food and Nutrition Association: Designed research and provided training for a qualitative research project to improve child feeding practices in the Gambia.
§ Pakistan Child Survival Project: Developed the nutrition component of the Integrated Child Survival Training Curriculum for physicians in Pakistan.
§ The World Bank: Participated in health sector missions in Pakistan and made recommendations for program planning and control of iron deficiency anemia.
§ The Manoff Group: Provided technical assistance to a primary health care project in Pakistan. Edited a report on breastfeeding practices and program implications.
1987- 1989: Nutritionist. School of Hygiene & Public Health, Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD
§ Supervised longitudinal nutrition research and intervention as part of the Dietary Management of Diarrhea Project in Nigeria. Trained and supervised field workers in anthropometric & dietary assessment, diarrheal surveillance, and surveys of food availability. Analyzed data and prepared reports.
§ Developed and tested a recipe for a nutritionally-fortified and culturally-appropriate complementary food for young children. Collaborated on design and testing of materials, trained health workers, and supervised a community-based nutrition education intervention implemented through village women teaching other mothers.
Professional Memberships & Activities
§ American Society for Nutrition (and International Nutrition Council) 2002 – present
§ Society for Nutrition Education 2003 – present
§ International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2008, 2010
§ Ad hoc reviewer for J. Nutrition; J. Nutrition Education & Behavior; Appetite; Maternal Child Nutrition; Health Education & Behavior; Social Science Medicine.
Selected Honors & Awards
§ Dannon Nutrition Leadership Institute, 2005
§ Degree Marshal, class of 2003 PhD recipients, Cornell University, 2003
§ National Institutes of Health Training Grant: Cornell University, 2001, 2002
§ Katherine Wykoff Harris Fellowship: Cornell University, 1998, 1999
§ Margaret Newell Mitchell Fellowship: Cornell University, 1998-1999
§ Flora Rose Fellowship: Cornell University, 1997-1999
§ Andrew Dickson White Fellowship: Cornell University, 1983-1985
Publications
Dickin KL, Dollahite JS, Habicht J-P. Enhancing the intrinsic work motivation of Community Nutrition Educators: How supportive supervision and job design foster autonomy. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management (under review).
Dickin KL, Lent M, Lu AH, Sequeira J, Dollahite JS. Developing a measure of behavior change in a program to help low-income parents prevent unhealthy weight gain in children. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (in press).
Lent M, Hill TF, Dollahite JS, Wolfe W, Dickin KL. Healthy Children, Healthy Families: Parents Making a Difference! A curriculum integrating key nutrition, physical activity, and parenting practices to help prevent childhood obesity Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (in press).
Dickin KL, Dollahite JS, Habicht J-P. Job satisfaction and retention of Community Nutrition Educators: The importance of perceived value of the program, consultative supervision, and work relationships. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 2010; 42:337-344.
Hirschl TA and Dickin KL. Poverty and Food Insecurity in the United States. Research & Policy Brief Series 2010; 35 (May). Community and Regional Development Institute, Cornell University.
Paul KH, Dickin KL, Ali NS, Monterrosa EC, and Stoltzfus, RJ. Soy-rice based processed complementary food improves nutrient intakes in infants and is equally acceptable with or without added milk powder. Journal of Nutrition 2008; 138: 1963-1968.
Dickin KL, Dollahite JS, Habicht J-P. Nutrition behavior change among EFNEP participants is higher in well-managed sites and where front-line nutrition educators value the program. Journal of Nutrition 2005; 135: 2199-2205.
Pelto GH, Dickin K, and Engle P. Promoting child well-being: the case for integrated growth and development interventions. In Promoting Growth and Development in Under Fives. (eds: P. Kolsteren, T. Hoeree, A. Perez-Cueto E.) Antwerp: ITG Press. 2002. pp. 222-232.
Pelto G, Dickin K, Engle P. A critical link: Interventions for physical growth and psychological development. Geneva: The World Health Organization, 1999.
Dickin K, Griffiths M, Piwoz E. Designing by Dialogue: Consultative research to improve young child feeding. Washington, DC: The Support for Analysis and Research in Africa (SARA) Project; Health and Human Resources Analysis (HHRAA) Project/USAID, 1997.
Griffiths M and Dickin K. Promoting the growth of children: What works. Rationale and guidance for programs. Washington, DC: The World Bank, 1995.
Bentley ME, Dickin KL, Mebrahtu S, Kayode B, Oni GA, Verzosa C, Idowu J, Brown KH. Development of a nutritionally-adequate and culturally-appropriate weaning food: an interdisciplinary approach. Social Science and Medicine 1991; 33(10):1103-1111.
Dickin KL, Binchan RK, Purdue SE, Obinya EA. Perceptions of neonatal tetanus and immunization during pregnancy: a report of focus group discussions in Kaduna, Nigeria. International Quarterly of Community Health Education 1991; 11(4):371-383.
Oni GA, Brown KH, Bentley ME, Dickin KL, Kayode B, Alade I. Handfeeding practice: its extent and implications for improved infant and child nutrition in Kwara State, Nigeria. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 1991; 25:1-11.
Dickin KL, Brown KH, Fagbule D, Adedoyin M, Gittelsohn J, Esrey SA, Oni GA. Effect of diarrhea on dietary intake by infants and young children in rural villages of Kwara State, Nigeria. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1990; 44:307-317.
Dickin KL, McKim M, Kirkland J. Designing intervention programs for infants at risk: considerations, implementation, and evaluation. Early Child Development and Care 1983; 11:145-164.
Presentations Abstracts
Hill T, Dickin K, Lent, M, Dollahite J. Healthy Children, Healthy Families (HCHF): Parents Making a Difference! (A curriculum combining nutrition, physical activity, and parenting to prevent unhealthy weight gain in low-income children). Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 2010; 42(4S): S73.
Dickin K, Hill T, Lent, M, Dollahite J. The Collaboration for Health, Activity and Nutrition in Children’s Environments (CHANCE): Results of an Integrated Nutrition, Active Play, and Parenting Education Program to Help Low-income Parents Prevent Childhood Overweight. Head Start 10th National Research Conf., Washington, DC, June 2010.
TF Hill, KL Dickin, M Lent, JS Dollahite. Engaging low-income parents in behavioural and environmental change interventions to promote effective parenting, healthy eating and activity. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity conference, Minneapolis, MN, June 2010,
Dickin K, Dollahite J, French S, Hill T, Shamah T, Verbestel V. Symposium: Engaging low-income parents in childhood obesity prevention: Translational research on parental involvement in educational and environmental interventions. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity conference, Minneapolis, MN, June 2010.
Dickin KL, Hill TF, Dollahite JS. The Collaboration for Health, Activity, and Nutrition in Children’s Environments (CHANCE): A program integrating parenting and nutrition behavioral education improves food, active play, and parenting practices in low-income families. Experimental Biology 2010, Anaheim CA, April 2010.
Sigman-Grant M, Dickin K, Dollahite J, Strom H, Olson B, Wengreen H, Mobley A, Krogstrand KS. Qualitative evidence of the disconnect between intent and interpretation of common child obesity prevention messages. Experimental Biology 2010, Anaheim CA, April 2010.
Hill TF, Dickin KL, Wolfe W, Lent, M, Dollahite JS. Translational research to prevent childhood obesity by promoting healthy eating and activity and effective parenting in low income families. 137th APHA Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA, November 2009.
Lent M, Dollahite JS, Dickin KL, Hill TF. Collaboration for Health, Activity and Nutrition in Children’s Environments (CHANCE): Helping low-income parents prevent childhood overweight. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 2009; 41: S36-S37.
Dollahite JS, Hill TF, Dickin KL, Lent M. Capacity building contributes to partnerships leading to positive outcomes shaping children’s environments to promote physical activity and healthy diets. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Conference. Lisbon, Portugal, June 2009.
Dickin K, Lu A, Scott-Pierce M, Dollahite J. Measuring behavior change in a program to help low-income parents prevent unhealthy weight gain in children. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Conference. Banff, Alberta, May 2008.
Dollahite J, Dickin K, Hill T, Wolfe W. Translational research to develop an educational program promoting healthy eating and activity and effective parenting in low-income families. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Conference. Banff, Alberta, May 2008.