May 13, 2026 | Kim Graber
Hello faculty, staff, alumni and friends,
As we move through another dynamic semester in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, I am continually struck by the breadth and impact of the work happening across our department. This spring, our faculty, students and alumni have advanced important conversations at the intersections of health, behavior and society—work that not only contributes to scholarship, but also to real-world understanding and change.
Among our recent highlights, Jacob Allen and Elisa Caetano-Silva’s work on inflammatory bowel disease and stress-related colitis is helping to deepen our understanding of how physiological and psychological factors interact in complex ways. Similarly, Thayna Flores and Pedro Hallal’s research on toddler diets is offering fascinating insight into how early nutrition may shape not just physical development, but cognitive and behavioral patterns as well.
We are also excited to share an upcoming story on iPALS, which underscores the power of alumni engagement and support in sustaining meaningful programming. This story reflects the strong community that continues to define our department.
Our faculty are also pushing into emerging and interdisciplinary areas. Bruno Nunes’ work exploring the relationship between artificial intelligence and mortality raises compelling questions about the future of health analytics and prediction. Sarah Geiger’s early childhood investigations continue to illuminate foundational stages of development, adding depth to our understanding of lifelong health trajectories.
Additional articles highlight the impactful work from Laura Rice (research on fall prevention and management) and Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo (postpartum depression and pain during and after childbirth in racial/ethnic minority women), as well as Soyoung Choi’s interdisciplinary collaborations and Robyn Gobin’s work in areas of Veterans’ health and mental health research.
Thank you for being part of a community that values curiosity, collaboration and meaningful impact. I look forward to all that the remainder of the semester will bring.
Warm regards,
Kim Graber
Department Head, Health and Kinesiology
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