Harvard Catalyst Profiles

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Monica Li-Sha Wang, Sc.D.

Title
Institution
Department
Address

Biography
education and training
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthScD05/2012Social and Behavioral Sciences
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthMS05/2009Social and Behavioral Sciences
Tufts UniversityBA05/2007Community Health; Child Development
awards and honors
2018
Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Award
2016
Early Career Investigator Award
2016
Excellence in Teaching Award
2014
Junior Faculty Research Poster Award, 1st Place
2012
Dissertation Award
2010
Teaching Assistance Award
2009 - 2010
Doctoral Student Award

Overview
overview
Dr. Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her work focuses on addressing racial/ethnic and social inequities in obesity and chronic diseases through community-engaged interventions and pursuing cross-sector collaborations to implement and disseminate programs and policies that promote healthy eating and physical activity. One of her recent studies focuses on empowering youth to reduce sugary drink intake and obesity risk in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She has generated over $4 million in federal and foundation funding for her program of research and published over 50 manuscripts, book chapters, and policy documents. As an expert in curriculum development and online education, Dr. Wang has developed and taught graduate courses (traditional and hybrid) at Harvard and Boston University since 2010. She has received numerous awards for her research, teaching, and service, including the Society of Behavioral Medicine Early Investigator Award and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Award. At the national level, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Behavioral Medicine and as the Society's Chair of the Civic and Public Engagement Committee.
webpage

Research
research activities and funding
The research activities and funding listed below are automatically derived from NIH ExPORTER and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing items. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
Most Recent  |  List All
  1. R01DK120713 (WANG, MONICA L.) Feb 1, 2020 - Jan 31, 2025
    NIH
    Preventing Childhood Obesity Through Youth Empowerment: A Cluster RCT of the H2GO! Program
    Role: Principal Investigator
  2. K01DK102447 (WANG, MONICA L.) Sep 15, 2014 - Jul 31, 2020
    NIH
    A culturally-tailored narrative intervention to target disparities in obesity
    Role: Principal Investigator

Bibliographic
selected publications
Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
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PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
  1. Ausenhus C, Gold JM, Perry CK, Kozak A, Wang ML, Jang SH, Leong J, Rodriguez E, Duggan C, Ko LK. Factors impacting implementation of nutrition and physical activity policies in rural schools. BMC Public Health. 2023 02 10; 23(1):308. PMID: 36765324; PMCID: PMC9921364.
    Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  2. Wang ML, Britton OJ, Beard J. The call for science communication and public scholarship. Transl Behav Med. 2022 Dec 16. PMID: 36525596.
    Citations:    Fields:    
  3. Wang ML, Narcisse MR, McElfish PA. Higher walkability associated with increased physical activity and reduced obesity among United States adults. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2023 02; 31(2):553-564. PMID: 36504362; PMCID: PMC9877111.
    Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  4. Egan KA, Waring ME, Wang ML. Pilot Intervention Targeting Sugary Drink Intake Associated With Improvements in Adolescent Sleep Duration. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2022 03; 54(3):276-281. PMID: 34920968.
    Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  5. Wang ML, Narcisse MR, Alatorre S, Kozak AT, McElfish PA. Neighborhood social cohesion and physical activity and obesity outcomes among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander individuals. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2022 01; 30(1):249-256. PMID: 34910366.
    Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  6. Kantor O, Wang ML, Bertrand K, Pierce L, Freedman RA, Chavez-MacGregor M, King TA, Mittendorf EA. ASO Visual Abstract: Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes within the AJCC Pathologic Prognostic Staging System. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Dec; 28(Suppl 3):585-586. PMID: 34368929.
    Citations:    Fields:    
  7. Wang ML, Sprague Martinez LS, Weinberg J, Alatorre S, Lemon SC, Rosal MC. A youth empowerment intervention to prevent childhood obesity: design and methods for a cluster randomized trial of the H2GO! program. BMC Public Health. 2021 09 15; 21(1):1675. PMID: 34525990; PMCID: PMC8441230.
    Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  8. Kantor O, Wang ML, Bertrand K, Pierce L, Freedman RA, Chavez-MacGregor M, King TA, Mittendorf EA. Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes within the AJCC Pathologic Prognostic Staging System. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Jan; 29(1):686-696. PMID: 34331158.
    Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  9. Wang ML, Libby BA, Moore Simas TA, Waring ME. Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Sleep Duration and Quality Among Pregnant Women. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2021 09; 53(9):793-797. PMID: 33858771; PMCID: PMC8440333.
    Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  10. Wang ML, Minyé HM, Egan KA, Heaton B. Community-based sugar-sweetened beverage intervention associated with short-term improvements in self-rated oral health. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2021 08; 49(4):362-368. PMID: 33389770.
    Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  11. Gordon AR, Austin SB, Schultz J, Guss CE, Calzo JP, Wang ML. Gender Expression, Peer Victimization, and Disordered Weight-Control Behaviors Among U.S. High School Students. J Adolesc Health. 2021 06; 68(6):1148-1154. PMID: 33071166; PMCID: PMC8756556.
    Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  12. Wang ML, Behrman P, Dulin A, Baskin ML, Buscemi J, Alcaraz KI, Goldstein CM, Carson TL, Shen M, Fitzgibbon M. Addressing inequities in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality: research and policy recommendations. Transl Behav Med. 2020 08 07; 10(3):516-519. PMID: 32542349.
    Citations: 26     Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsPHPublic Health
  13. Otis M, Zhu J, Mustafa-Kutana SN, Bernier AV, Ma Shum J, Soros Dupre AA, Wang ML. Testing Usability and Feasibility of a Mobile Educator Tool for Pediatric Diabetes Self-Management: Mixed Methods Pilot Study. JMIR Form Res. 2020 May 01; 4(5):e16262. PMID: 32356773; PMCID: PMC7229529.
    Citations: 3     
  14. Wang ML, Lusk K. Engaging Local Policy Makers in Public Health: Current Perceptions and Future Directions. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2019 Nov/Dec; 25(6):619-620. PMID: 31569193.
    Citations:    Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
  15. Wang ML. Relevance and Uses of the Getting to Equity in Obesity Prevention Framework. Am J Public Health. 2019 10; 109(10):1321-1322. PMID: 31483733; PMCID: PMC6727305.
    Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  16. Wang ML, Otis M, Rosal MC, Griecci CF, Lemon SC. Reducing sugary drink intake through youth empowerment: results from a pilot-site randomized study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2019 07 30; 16(1):58. PMID: 31362753; PMCID: PMC6668134.
    Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  17. Wang ML, McElfish PA, Long CR, Lee MS, Bursac Z, Kozak AT, Ko LK, Kulik N, Kim Yeary KH. BMI and related risk factors among U.S. Marshallese with diabetes and their families. Ethn Health. 2021 11; 26(8):1196-1208. PMID: 31288554; PMCID: PMC6952582.
    Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  18. Menon U, Ashing K, Chang MW, Christy SM, Friberg-Felsted K, Rivas VG, Gwede CK, Lu Q, Meade CD, Sly J, Wang M, Yanez B, Yeary K, Yi JC, Alcaraz KI. Application of the ConNECT Framework to Precision Health and Health Disparities. Nurs Res. 2019 Mar-Apr; 68(2):99-109. PMID: 30540700; PMCID: PMC6863736.
    Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  19. Wang ML, Little TV, Frisard C, Borg A, Lemon SC, Rosal MC. Development and validation of a Weight Literacy Scale in English and Spanish. PLoS One. 2018; 13(10):e0204678. PMID: 30356277.
    Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  20. Silfee VJ, Lopez-Cepero A, Lemon SC, Estabrook B, Nguyen O, Wang ML, Rosal MC. Adapting a Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention for Delivery via Facebook: A Pilot Series Among Low-Income Postpartum Women. JMIR Form Res. 2018 Sep 10; 2(2):e18. PMID: 30684423; PMCID: PMC6334676.
    Citations: 7     
  21. Haughton CF, Waring ME, Wang ML, Rosal MC, Pbert L, Lemon SC. Home Matters: Adolescents Drink More Sugar-Sweetened Beverages When Available at Home. J Pediatr. 2018 11; 202:121-128. PMID: 30029864; PMCID: PMC6233293.
    Citations: 11     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  22. Haughton CF, Silfee VJ, Wang ML, Lopez-Cepero AC, Estabrook DP, Frisard C, Rosal MC, Pagoto SL, Lemon SC. Racial/ethnic representation in lifestyle weight loss intervention studies in the United States: A systematic review. Prev Med Rep. 2018 Mar; 9:131-137. PMID: 29616185; PMCID: PMC5880332.
    Citations: 24     
  23. Wang ML, Waring ME, Jake-Schoffman DE, Oleski JL, Michaels Z, Goetz JM, Lemon SC, Ma Y, Pagoto SL. Clinic Versus Online Social Network-Delivered Lifestyle Interventions: Protocol for the Get Social Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2017 Dec 11; 6(12):e243. PMID: 29229591; PMCID: PMC5742659.
    Citations: 6     
  24. Morgan PJ, Young MD, Lloyd AB, Wang ML, Eather N, Miller A, Murtagh EM, Barnes AT, Pagoto SL. Involvement of Fathers in Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention Trials: A Systematic Review. Pediatrics. 2017 Feb; 139(2). PMID: 28130430; PMCID: PMC6200318.
    Citations: 54     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  25. Wang ML, Haughton CF, Frisard C, Pbert L, Geer C, Lemon SC. Perceived weight status and weight change among a U.S. adult sample. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017 01; 25(1):223-228. PMID: 27863126; PMCID: PMC5182114.
    Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  26. Wang ML, Lemon SC, Clausen K, Whyte J, Rosal MC. Design and methods for a community-based intervention to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among youth: H2GO! study. BMC Public Health. 2016 11 09; 16(1):1150. PMID: 27829397.
    Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  27. Kozak AT, Buscemi J, Hawkins MA, Wang ML, Breland JY, Ross KM, Kommu A. Technology-based interventions for weight management: current randomized controlled trial evidence and future directions. J Behav Med. 2017 Feb; 40(1):99-111. PMID: 27783259; PMCID: PMC5988351.
    Citations: 32     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  28. Rosal MC, Haughton CF, Estabrook BB, Wang ML, Chiriboga G, Nguyen OH, Person SD, Lemon SC. Fresh Start, a postpartum weight loss intervention for diverse low-income women: design and methods for a randomized clinical trial. BMC Public Health. 2016 09 09; 16:953. PMID: 27612615.
    Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  29. Rosal MC, Wang ML, Moore Simas TA, Bodenlos JS, Crawford SL, Leung K, Sankey HZ. Predictors of Gestational Weight Gain among White and Latina Women and Associations with Birth Weight. J Pregnancy. 2016; 2016:8984928. PMID: 27688913.
    Citations: 6     Fields:    
  30. Wang ML, Goins KV, Anatchkova M, Brownson RC, Evenson K, Maddock J, Clausen KE, Lemon SC. Priorities of Municipal Policy Makers in Relation to Physical Activity and the Built Environment: A Latent Class Analysis. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2016 May-Jun; 22(3):221-30. PMID: 26079657; PMCID: PMC4677062.
    Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
  31. Haughton CF, Wang ML, Lemon SC. Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Meeting 5-2-1-0 Recommendations among Children and Adolescents in the United States. J Pediatr. 2016 08; 175:188-194.e1. PMID: 27112040; PMCID: PMC5988361.
    Citations: 28     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  32. Lemon SC, Wang ML, Haughton CF, Estabrook DP, Frisard CF, Pagoto SL. Methodological quality of behavioural weight loss studies: a systematic review. Obes Rev. 2016 07; 17(7):636-44. PMID: 27071775.
    Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  33. Wang ML, Gallivan L, Lemon SC, Borg A, Ramirez J, Figueroa B, McGuire A, Rosal MC. Navigating to health: Evaluation of a community health center patient navigation program. Prev Med Rep. 2015; 2:664-8. PMID: 26844134; PMCID: PMC4721349.
    Citations: 7     
  34. Fitzpatrick SL, Wischenka D, Appelhans BM, Pbert L, Wang M, Wilson DK, Pagoto SL. An Evidence-based Guide for Obesity Treatment in Primary Care. Am J Med. 2016 Jan; 129(1):115.e1-7. PMID: 26239092; PMCID: PMC5988348.
    Citations: 24     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  35. Alker HJ, Wang ML, Pbert L, Thorsen N, Lemon SC. Impact of school staff health on work productivity in secondary schools in Massachusetts. J Sch Health. 2015 Jun; 85(6):398-404. PMID: 25877437.
    Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  36. Wang ML, Arroyo J, Druker S, Sankey HZ, Rosal MC. Knowledge, Attitudes and Provider Advice by Pre-Pregnancy Weight Status: A Qualitative Study of Pregnant Latinas With Excessive Gestational Weight Gain. Women Health. 2015; 55(7):805-28. PMID: 26016948.
    Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  37. Pbert L, Wang ML, Druker S, Jackson EA, Rosal MC. Designing and Testing the Feasibility of a Multi-level Intervention to Treat Adolescent Obesity in the Pediatric Primary Care Setting. J Child Adolesc Behav. 2014; 3:2. PMID: 30364825; PMCID: PMC6198822.
    Citations:    
  38. Kreuter MW, Wang ML. From Evidence to Impact: Recommendations for a Dissemination Support System. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev. 2015; 2015(149):11-23. PMID: 26375188.
    Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  39. Wang ML, Gellar L, Nathanson BH, Pbert L, Ma Y, Ockene I, Rosal MC. Decrease in Glycemic Index Associated with Improved Glycemic Control among Latinos with Type 2 Diabetes. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015 Jun; 115(6):898-906. PMID: 25547339; PMCID: PMC4450120.
    Citations: 12     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
  40. Little TV, Wang ML, Castro EM, Jiménez J, Rosal MC. Community health worker interventions for Latinos with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Curr Diab Rep. 2014 Dec; 14(12):558. PMID: 25374313; PMCID: PMC6191032.
    Citations: 25     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  41. Wang ML, Lemon SC, Whited MC, Rosal MC. Who benefits from diabetes self-management interventions? The influence of depression in the Latinos en Control trial. Ann Behav Med. 2014 Oct; 48(2):256-64. PMID: 24664615.
    Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  42. Lemon SC, Schneider KL, Wang ML, Liu Q, Magner R, Estabrook B, Druker S, Pbert L. Weight loss motivations: a latent class analysis approach. Am J Health Behav. 2014 Jul; 38(4):605-13. PMID: 24636123.
    Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  43. Wang ML, Pbert L, Lemon SC. Influence of family, friend and coworker social support and social undermining on weight gain prevention among adults. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2014 Sep; 22(9):1973-80. PMID: 24942930.
    Citations: 26     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  44. Richardson MP, Waring ME, Wang ML, Nobel L, Cuffee Y, Person SD, Hullett S, Kiefe CI, Allison JJ. Weight-based discrimination and medication adherence among low-income African Americans with hypertension: how much of the association is mediated by self-efficacy? Ethn Dis. 2014; 24(2):162-8. PMID: 24804361.
    Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  45. Wang ML, Druker S, Gapinski MA, Gellar L, Schneider K, Osganian S, Olendzki B, Pbert L. The Role of Social Support vs. Modeling on Adolescents' Diet and Physical Activity: Findings from a School-based Weight Management Trial. Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior. 2014; 2(2):132.
  46. Lemon SC, Wang ML, Wedick NM, Estabrook B, Druker S, Schneider KL, Li W, Pbert L. Weight gain prevention in the school worksite setting: results of a multi-level cluster randomized trial. Prev Med. 2014 Mar; 60:41-7. PMID: 24345602.
    Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  47. Richmond TK, Spadano-Gasbarro JL, Walls CE, Austin SB, Greaney ML, Wang ML, Mezegebu S, Peterson KE. Middle school food environments and racial/ethnic differences in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: findings from the Healthy Choices study. Prev Med. 2013 Nov; 57(5):735-8. PMID: 24036015; PMCID: PMC3912741.
    Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  48. Wang ML, Lemon SC, Olendzki B, Rosal MC. Beverage-consumption patterns and associations with metabolic risk factors among low-income Latinos with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013 Dec; 113(12):1695-703. PMID: 23999278; PMCID: PMC3833873.
    Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  49. Wang ML, Peterson KE, Richmond TK, Spadano-Gasbarro J, Greaney ML, Mezgebu S, McCormick M, Austin SB. Family physical activity and meal practices associated with disordered weight control behaviors in a multiethnic sample of middle-school youth. Acad Pediatr. 2013 Jul-Aug; 13(4):379-85. PMID: 23830023.
    Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  50. Wang ML, Peterson KE, McCormick MC, Austin SB. Environmental factors associated with disordered weight-control behaviours among youth: a systematic review. Public Health Nutr. 2014 Jul; 17(7):1654-67. PMID: 23777623.
    Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  51. Wang ML, Lemon SC, Welch G, Rosal MC. Development and validation of the Lifestyle Self-Efficacy Scale for Latinos with Diabetes (LSESLD). Ethn Dis. 2013; 23(4):428-35. PMID: 24392604; PMCID: PMC3956449.
    Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  52. Wang ML, Walls CE, Peterson KE, Richmond TK, Spadano-Gasbarro J, Greaney ML, Blood E, Mezgebu S, McCormick MC, Subramanian SV, Bryn Austin S. Dietary and physical activity factors related to eating disorder symptoms among middle school youth. J Sch Health. 2013 Jan; 83(1):14-20. PMID: 23253286.
    Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  53. Austin SB, Richmond TK, Spadano-Gasbarro J, Greaney ML, Blood EA, Walls C, Wang ML, Mezgebu S, Osganian SK, Peterson KE. The contribution of school environmental factors to individual and school variation in disordered weight control behaviors in a statewide sample of middle schools. Eat Disord. 2013; 21(2):91-108. PMID: 23421693.
    Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  54. Lindsay AC, Sussner KM, Greaney M, Wang ML, Davis R, Peterson KE. Using qualitative methods to design a culturally appropriate child feeding questionnaire for low-income, Latina mothers. Matern Child Health J. 2012 May; 16(4):860-6. PMID: 21512780; PMCID: PMC3178008.
    Citations: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  55. Austin SB, Spadano-Gasbarro JL, Greaney ML, Blood EA, Hunt AT, Richmond TK, Wang ML, Mezgebu S, Osganian SK, Peterson KE. Effect of the planet health intervention on eating disorder symptoms in Massachusetts middle schools, 2005-2008. Prev Chronic Dis. 2012; 9:E171; quiz E171. PMID: 23194779.
    Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
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