International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Milagros C. Rosa

Biography

Dr. Rosal is a clinical research psychologist and Associate Professor in the Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine. She is an active member of the American Heart Association Behavior Committee and a faculty member in the Ph.D. Program in Clinical and Population Health Research at UMass.Dr. Rosal’s research interests focus on the development and evaluation (randomized clinical trials) of interventions to promote adherence to health behavior change, including dietary and physical activity prescriptions, medications, and cancer screening recommendations. Dr. Rosal has studied these topics with particular emphasis on health disparities (disadvantaged and minority populations), especially as it relates to the prevention and management of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease and gestational weight gain and post-partum weight loss. Dr. Rosal also has studied the influence of psychosocial factors on the prevention and management of these conditions. Dr. Rosal has expertise in community-based participatory research. She is co-director of the UMass Worcester Prevention Research Center, which goal is to develop capacity, within the city of Worcester and the adjacent region, to conduct community-based participatory research in obesity and associated chronic conditions. Dr. Rosal has a history of research collaborations with community organizations for the planning, implementation and evaluation of clinical trials. She has collaborated with multiple community health centers, senior centers, the YMCA and the Women, Infant and Children’s program (WIC) among others.

Research Interest

Treatment adherence,Health behavior change (smoking,diet, physical activity), Stress, Women's health,Minority health, Adjustment to chronic illness,Diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention, Diabetes self-management,Mood and anxiety disorder

Relevant Topics