|
ABOUTPublic Health Behavior Solutions (PHBS) is a global leader in applied cognitive neuroscience and public health. We leverage evidence-based, multidisciplinary, and cognitive-based research and innovative behavior change strategies to enhance public health education and develop effective disease and injury prevention programs. Founded by our program director to address critical gaps in the public health landscape, PHBS is dedicated to reducing exposure to illness and injury, ultimately promoting healthier behaviors and improving community wellness.
CONTACT |
At PHBS, our mission is to enhance public health by applying cognitive neuroscience principles to develop evidence-based strategies and interventions that improve health promotion and disease and injury prevention programs. In other words, prevention programs are developed based on how the brain learns, what the brain has been exposed to, and how it responds to stimuli based on those experiences. Learning models are then incorporated into behavior change interventions that promote individual control of their behaviors and choices. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, research, leaderships, and the utilization of advanced technologies, we aim to empower individuals and communities to lead healthier lives. We strive to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical application, ensuring that our findings have a direct impact on public health policies and practices. Our long-term vision for PHBS is to foster healthier communities worldwide and be a global leader in the field of applied cognitive neuroscience and public health, by utilizing evidence-based research and behavior change approaches to improve public health, and disease and injury prevention programs.
Inspiration for PHBS began with the idea based on an accumulation of positive childhood experiences, cultural opportunities, exposure to travel and living in third-world countries, and a foundation of domestic and international educational opportunities, that have shaped my interests and vision in applying neuroscience research to improve public health behavioral interventions to promote health and wellness among individuals and communities. I also have the educational background and graduate education to take research findings to policy development for long-term sustainability. More specifically, when I was working at a public health agency developing behavioral interventions to reduce exposure to injury and violence, I observed a gap in the efficacy of behavior change models used in injury prevention and control and research outcomes from cognitive neuroscience. With graduate education in public health, health behavior, and health promotion, and disease prevention, I began doctoral research in cognitive neuroscience to better understand brain and behavior to improve public health interventions. My early research began with the development of several Neuroscience-based Models that established a strong neurodevelopmental association between exposure to child abuse and neglect and lifetime exposure to abuse, and illness. These traumatic experiences resulted in chronic activation that resulted in negative impacts on the amygdala and hippocampus, due to elevated Glucocorticoids (GCs). As a result, we observed victims of trauma with adult manifestations that affected their physical and mental health and behavior, which predisposed them to injury and disease risk. Our research continued to study exposure to traumatic experiences from in utero, early childhood, and teen years, affect psychopathology and cognitive functioning beginning in early adulthood. This was studied to learn how early exposure to trauma affects the developing brain, so we can more effectively establish neuroscience models to develop primary prevention programs in public health prevention programs. Our neuroscience models have been incorporated into several prevention-based programs developed to improve individual behavioral control by managing Corticosteroid Receptors-CR (controlling hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical-HPA) and Mineralocorticoid Receptors-MR (an intracellular steroid hormone receptor that mediates a physiological response, significant for maintaining homeostasis) within the hippocampus and amygdala, which are stimulated during an acute stress event. Overall, public health interventions can be made most effective when they take into consideration how the brain functions - specifically how it responds to stimuli and influences behavior. Once individuals have the tools to understand and control their behavior and choices, we can establish public health interventions that can more effectively promote health and wellness, make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, and contribute to the overall improvement of global health outcomes.
At PHBS, we are dedicated to promoting health equity through our core values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We carry out our objectives with integrity and reliability, ensuring accountability in all our actions. Our collaborative and multidisciplinary approach leverages science and evidence to drive innovation, focusing on prevention and wellness to create lasting impacts in our communities. Together, we strive to empower individuals and enhance the overall well-being of those we serve.
Inspiration for PHBS began with the idea based on an accumulation of positive childhood experiences, cultural opportunities, exposure to travel and living in third-world countries, and a foundation of domestic and international educational opportunities, that have shaped my interests and vision in applying neuroscience research to improve public health behavioral interventions to promote health and wellness among individuals and communities. I also have the educational background and graduate education to take research findings to policy development for long-term sustainability. More specifically, when I was working at a public health agency developing behavioral interventions to reduce exposure to injury and violence, I observed a gap in the efficacy of behavior change models used in injury prevention and control and research outcomes from cognitive neuroscience. With graduate education in public health, health behavior, and health promotion, and disease prevention, I began doctoral research in cognitive neuroscience to better understand brain and behavior to improve public health interventions. My early research began with the development of several Neuroscience-based Models that established a strong neurodevelopmental association between exposure to child abuse and neglect and lifetime exposure to abuse, and illness. These traumatic experiences resulted in chronic activation that resulted in negative impacts on the amygdala and hippocampus, due to elevated Glucocorticoids (GCs). As a result, we observed victims of trauma with adult manifestations that affected their physical and mental health and behavior, which predisposed them to injury and disease risk. Our research continued to study exposure to traumatic experiences from in utero, early childhood, and teen years, affect psychopathology and cognitive functioning beginning in early adulthood. This was studied to learn how early exposure to trauma affects the developing brain, so we can more effectively establish neuroscience models to develop primary prevention programs in public health prevention programs. Our neuroscience models have been incorporated into several prevention-based programs developed to improve individual behavioral control by managing Corticosteroid Receptors-CR (controlling hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical-HPA) and Mineralocorticoid Receptors-MR (an intracellular steroid hormone receptor that mediates a physiological response, significant for maintaining homeostasis) within the hippocampus and amygdala, which are stimulated during an acute stress event. Overall, public health interventions can be made most effective when they take into consideration how the brain functions - specifically how it responds to stimuli and influences behavior. Once individuals have the tools to understand and control their behavior and choices, we can establish public health interventions that can more effectively promote health and wellness, make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, and contribute to the overall improvement of global health outcomes.
At PHBS, we are dedicated to promoting health equity through our core values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We carry out our objectives with integrity and reliability, ensuring accountability in all our actions. Our collaborative and multidisciplinary approach leverages science and evidence to drive innovation, focusing on prevention and wellness to create lasting impacts in our communities. Together, we strive to empower individuals and enhance the overall well-being of those we serve.
One brain. One life. Protect it.
|
The human brain, constantly learns and adapts to the environmental stimuli it is exposed to, shaping our behavior, our ability to react or respond, make choices, and interact with others, including non-verbal cues, and our ability to feel and learn. What our brain has been exposed to, affects every aspect of our lives. By including brain and behavior and applying cognitive and social neuroscience to public health prevention programs, we can improve the efficacy of public health injury and violence prevention programs, increasing self-awareness, promoting behavior changes, and improving healthy lifestyles and communities. You have, "One brain. One life. Protect it." Dr. J. DeCarli, Founder, Public Health Behavior Solutions/Pro Consumer Safety
|
Alumnus
|
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
|
|
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
|
Awards and Honors
|
DELTA OMEGA HONORARY SOCIETY IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Milken Institute of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington DC. Inducted May 15, 2024 |
|
ETA SIGMA GAMMA
National Public Health Education Society, George Washington University. Washington DC |
|
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP
[Formerly, the American College of Physician Executives] Executives Award Recipient, Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Loma Linda, California |
Certifications
|
|
CERTIFIED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN
Safe Kids Worldwide |
|
TRAUMA MODEL THERAPY CERTIFICATION
Colin Ross Institute |
Fellowships & Volunteer Projects
|
CHILDREN'S NATIONAL
Alumni, George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington DC Preventing Listeriosis Among Pregnant Women |
|
WRIGLEY MARINE SCIENCE CENTER, WRIGLEY INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
|
|
THE WHITE HOUSE
Volunteer Internship. Office of the President |
Professional Memberships
- Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society (PNIRS)
- Society for Neuroscience (SfN)
- American Public Health Association (APHA)
- Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Society for Research on Adolescence
- World Federation of Public Health Associations
- Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA)
Organizational Memberships
- Public Health Behavior Solutions, Organizational Member Region 5, Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM)
