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Ann Ferris, Ph.D., RD

Co-Director, Center for Public Health and Health Policy & Professor, Jointly appointed in Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut Health Center

Phone: (860) 282-8537
Email: aferris@uchc.edu

Education and Background

  • 1978 Ph.D. Food Science and Nutrition, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • 1975 M.S. Food Science and Nutrition, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • 1967 B.S. Nutrition, Simmons College, Boston

Academic Appointments and Experience

  • 2004 - Present - Co-Director, Center for Public Health and Health Policy, University of Connecticut
  • 2003 - Present - Faculty affiliate, Center for Health and HIV Prevention, University of Connecticut.
  • 2003 - Present- Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Health Care
  • 1999 - Present - Professor, School of Allied Health Professions.
  • 1991- Present - Professor, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Nutritional Sciences
  • 1990 - 1996 Head, Department of Nutritional Sciences 1984 -1997 Faculty Associate, Traveler’s Center on Aging
  • 1984 - 1991 Associate Professor, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Nutritional Sciences
  • 1978 - 1984 Assistant Professor, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Nutritional Sciences
  • 1978 Instructor, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Nutritional Sciences
  • 1973 - 1978 Research and teaching assistant, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.
  • 1967 - 1973 Clinical, administrative, and private consulting dietitian at various ranks.

Honors or Distinctions

  • AAUP, University of Connecticut, University Service Award 2002,
  • Gamma Sigma Delta, Senior Faculty Award, 2000, USDA, ESCOP/ACOP Leadership Training Program, 1994-95,
  • Visiting Faculty, Charles University School of Medicine, Prague, Czeck Republic and Slovak Academy of Sciences, Brastislava, Slovak, Republic, Fall, 1992,
  • Regional Technical Research Committee, NE-172. Chair (1985 1988),
  • AAUP Special Meritorius Performance Award, Journal of Nutrition Education. Special guest editor for issue on aging. 1989 1990,
  • Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Crown Zelleback Foundation Scholar, 1967

Professional and Honorary Organizations

  • Member: American Dietetic Association. Registered (R407438).
  • First Chair of the Glenda Bible Scholarship Committee for Dietitians in Pediatric Practice, Public Health Practice Group (Network Committee),
  • Nutrition Research Practice Group, Association of Nutrition Programs and Departments, Founding Executive Board and Treasurer, 1993-1996,
  • American Society of Nutritional Sciences (Finance Committee Member, Steering Committee, Community and Public Health Research Interest Section, Chair 2002-2003, Executive Committee, 2003-2004),
  • American Society for Clinical Nutrition (Publications Committee (2002-Pres.),
  • American Anthropological Association (Nutritional Anthropology), Society for Nutrition Education, American Public Health Association,
  • Connecticut Dietetic Association,
  • Past memberships: Association for Chemoreception Sciences, International Society for Research on Human Milk and Lactation, Connecticut Nutrition Council.

Research

Ann Ferris has worked at the University of Connecticut since 1978. She is a full professor in nutritional sciences, the co-director of the Center for Public Health and Health Policy, and a joint professor in Community Medicine and Health Care at the UConn Health Center.

Ann's current research interests include community and public health nutrition, specifically the nature of iron-deficiency anemia and childhood overweight of children living in poverty and community-based participatory research. She is also working on two applications of the IMB model for changing beverage intake and increasing the intake of foods with bioavailable iron in preschool children.

Ann has received numerous awards, including the AAUP and CT State Legislature University Service Award in 2002 and the Gamma Sigma Delta Senior Faculty Award in 2000. Ann also serves on the Publications Management Committee for the American Society for Nutrition and was the 2002-2003 Public Nutrition Research Interest Section Chair for the American Society for Nutritional Sciences.

Post Doctoral Fellows

  • Katie Martin, Ph.D. Tufts University 2002. Project: Food security, social capital, and family obesity patterns.
  • Michelle Pierce, Ph.D., R.D., University of Connecticut. Qualitative research into the determinants of iron-deficiency anemia.

Current Doctoral Students

  • Rebecca Crowell, MS. (American Society for Nutritional Sciences, Gerber Foundation, pre-doctoral fellow, 2002). AB. Philosophy, 1987 Kenyon College MS. Nutritional Sciences. 1999. University of Connecticut, Nutritional Sciences. Dissertation project: Early childhood anemia: utility of psychosocial support, peer education, and preventive screening.
  • Nitza Diaz, MS. (University of Connecticut, Multi-cultural scholar) AB, Psychbiology. 1995. Mt. Holyoke College, Anthropology. 1999, University of Connecticut Dissertation project. Behavioral manifestations of iron-deficiency anemia in Hispanic toddlers..
  • L. Suzie Henderson, MS, R.D. (USDA National Needs Fellow) B.S. Biology. 1999.Hardin-Simmons Univ., MS. Nutrition. 2002. Texas Tech University, Dietetic Internship. 2003. Cornell University
  • James Weinstein, Capt. USAF, MBA, MS, RD. (Department of Nutritional Sciences, J.Czajkowski Community Nutrition Scholar, 2003), B.S. Nutrition. 1997. Rutgers University, MBA. 2001. Webster University, MS. Nutritional Sciences. 2003. University of Connecticut. Dissertation Project: The household food system and iron-deficiency anemia.

Current Master's Students

  • Marcia Fider. (University of Connecticut Multi-cultural scholar) AS. Dietetics. 1993. Northern Caribbean University BS. Behavioral Sciences. 2002. Atlantic Union University. Thesis project: Food security and family obesity.
  • Kara Tamburri, B.S. Mathematics. 1992. Clarkson Univ. Thesis project: Maternal anemia and birth outcome in Hartford, CT.
  • Meredith Poehlitz, RD., BA. Psychology. 1975. Univ. of Oregon. B.S. Clinical Dietetics. 1983. Univ. of Washington. Thesis project: Evaluation of Husky Nutrition Service Learning Program.
  • Valerie Phillips, BS. Biology and Chemistry. 2001. St. Michael’s College, VT, Thesis project: . Iron bioavailability in meals of low-income children.
  • Vanessa Sawyer-Rodriguez, RD BS. Nutrition. 2001. Cornell University, Dietetic Internship 2002. St. Joseph’s College, CT.
  • Rachael Glennon, BS. Biology. 2003. Catholic University, DC.

Doctoral Dissertations Supervised and Completed

  • Michelle Pierce 1998. Functional status, social support, and diet quality in elderly women. (Curriculum coordinator, Food Stamp Nutrition Education. Department of Nutritional Sciences. University of Connecticut)
  • Laurie Lucchina 1995. 6-n-propylthioracil status: Genetic determinant of diet-related behaviors and nutritional status in older females. (Research Scientist. Shuster Laboratories, Canton, MA)
  • Valerie Duffy 1992. Olfactory dysfunction, food behaviors, dietary intake, and anthropometric measures in single-living, elderly women. (University of Connecticut, School of Allied Health Professions, Associate Professor).
  • Maureen Murtaugh 1991. Examination of factors leading to euglycemia in lactating insulin-dependent diabetic women in the first 12 weeks postpartum. (Health Research Center, Univ. of Utah).
  • Suzanne Neubauer 1989. Breast milk composition of diabetic women. (Professor of Consumer Sciences. Framingham State College)
  • Karin Ostrom 1989. A study of the hormone prolactin during lactation of insulin-dependent diabetic women: concentration in milk and serum, bioactivity and the stimulated response to breastfeeding. (Senior Scientist. Ross Laboratories. Retired. 2003).

Master's Theses Supervised and Completed

  • Capt. James Weinstein, MBA, RD. USAF. 2003. Measuring household food inventory with a UPC scanner.
  • Jessica Peranick 2000. Food stamps, nutrient intake, and anemia in low-income preschoolers from Hartford, Connecticut.
  • Rebecca Crowell 1999. Health care providers perceptions on the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of iron-deficiency anemia.
  • Sandra Wasco 1999. Food nutrition care of dementia patients living at home: Qualitative research on caregiver issues.
  • Marcia Campbell 1996. Training needs of family day care providers in Connecticut
  • Linda Daube 1995. Measuring dietary variety in independently living, older women.
  • Rebecca Rappaport 1995. Relationship between olfactory function and body composition in 60 successfully aging women. (decreased)
  • Shaila Rodrigues 1995. Growth differences in children of mothers with insulin-dependent diabetes, seven-year follow-up.
  • Candace Stewart 1991. Differences in dietary intake and potential effects on lactation of vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians and omnivores in Connecticut.
  • Joanne Fanelli Panus 1990. The effect of insulin-dependent diabetes on breast milk protein and nonprotein nitrogen.
  • Christina Chase 1989. Breast milk intake and growth of infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers.
  • Colleen Russell Thompson. 1986. Insulin-dependent diabetes and infant milk intake.
  • Claire Dalidowitz 1986. Lactation and the diabetic mother.
  • Mary Ann Dotts 1984. Lactose and calorie content of human milk.
  • Lilliam Restifo 1984. Lactation patterns of healthy women.
  • Nancy Fey-Yensan, Ph.D. R.D.1984. Development of a measure of food behavior for an anosmic population. (University of Rhode Island, Dept. Foods and Nutrition, Assoc. Professor.)
  • Helene Jensen 1983. Development and evaluation of a nutrition education kit for merchandising nutrition in the school lunch program. (retired)
  • Kathleen Kendall 1983. Development and evaluation of a training module for food production record-keeping in school food service operations.
  • Theresa McCabe 1982. The assessment of factors that affect the duration of lactation of women residing in Eastern Connecticut: A predictive model.

University Scholars and Honors Graduates

  • Hardy, Stephanie. Food acceptance in pre-school children. Selected for Council for Undergraduate Research, Washington, DC. 3/29/01
  • Talaga, L. 1991. Olfactory perception in older adults.

Refereed Journal Articles

  • Crowell R, Ferris A, Wood RJ, Joyce P, Slivka H. (2006) Comparative effectiveness of zinc protoporphyrin and hemoglobin concentration in identifying iron-deficiency in a group of low-income preschoolers: The practical implications of recent illness. Pediatrics. 118:224-232.
  • Pierce, MB, Crowell, RE, Ferris, AM (2006) Differing perspectives of inner city parents and pediatric clinicians impact management of iron-deficiency anemia. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 38:169-176.
  • Weinstein, J. A.M. Ferris, V. Phillips, and M. Arsenault. (2006) A Universal Product Code Scanner is a Feasible Method of Measuring Household Food Inventory and Food Usage Patterns in Low Income Families. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 106:443-5.
  • Crowell, RE, Pierce, MB, Ferris, AM, Slivka, H, Joyce, P, Bernstein B, Russell-Curtis, S. (2005) Managing anemia in low-income toddlers: barriers, challenges and context in primary care. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 16 (4) 791-807.
  • Ferris, A. M. and G. Marquis. (2005). Bioethics in scientific research: conflicts between subject’s equitable access to participate in research and current regulations. J. Nutr. 135(4): 916-7.
  • Pierce, M. R. Crowell, and A.M. Ferris. (2003) Broccoli, liver, or ponché: How inner city families and health practioners differ on the identification and management of iron-deficiency anemia. Submitted to Social Science and Medicine.
  • Ferris, A., D. Moran, R. Crowell, B. Bernstein, G. Burke, P. Joyce, C. Orkin, and H. Slivka. (2003) The occurrence and correlates of anemia among inner city 18 to 36 month old children in Hartford, Ct. Submitted to Pediatrics
  • Pierce, M.B., N.W Sheehan, and A.M. Ferris. 2002. Nutrition concerns of low-income elderly women and related social support. J. Nutr. Elderly, 21 (3):37-53.
  • Chapman, D., S. Young, M.McLaren, A.M.Ferris, C. Lammi-Keefe, and R. Perez-Escamilla. 2001. The impact of breast pumping on the onset of lactogenesis stage II following Cesarean delivery: A randomized clinical trial. . Pediatrics 107:e94.

Abstracts of Presented Papers

  • MacLeod, E. M.A. Arsenault, JL. Weinstein, V. Phillips, A.M. Ferris. V. B. Duffy. 2003. High intakes of added sugar: relationship to dietary quality in preschool children of economic disadvantage. Proc. Conn. Diet. Assoc. 5/2003. (Undergraduate research).
  • Arsenault. M.A. E. MacLeod, J. Weinstein, V. Phillips, A.M. Ferris, A., V. Duffy. 2003. Reported history of Otitis Media (OM) in children associates with intake of vegetables and sweets. Proc. Conn. Diet. Assoc. Annual Meeting. 5/2003.
  • Crowell, R.M. , M. Pierce, A.M. Ferris. Targeting hard-to-reach populations: application of a community-based approach. FASEB J. 17 (4): A375 (Abstr. 269.3).
  • Weinstein, J. L., V. Phillips, M. Pierce, R. Crowell, A.M. Ferris. 2003. Low iron bioavailability, low heme iron, and poor nutrient density in diets of children of low-income families residing in Hartford, CT. FASEB J. 17 (4):A728 (Abstr. 445.3).
  • Ferris, AM., AR Muhammad, G. Burke, H. Slivka, B. Berstein, F. Bogin, P.Joyce, S. Jackman. 2003. The Hartford Anemia Project: A university and community partnership not looking for an easy answer. Proc. Nutrition Connections. USDA/FNS, Washington, DC. 2/24/03. p. 20.
  • Crowell, R. M. Pierce, A. Ferris, N. Diaz. 2003. Inner city families and service providers differ relative to understanding of and approach to early childhood anemia. Proc. Nutrition Connections. USDA/FNS, Washington, DC. 2/25/03. p. 57.
  • Weinstein, J., V. Phillips, E. MacLeod, M.Arsenault, AM Ferris. 2003 Measuring household food inventory with a UPC scanner is a feasible method of studying food usage patterns in low income Hartford families. . Proc. Nutrition Connections. USDA/FNS, Washington, DC. 2/25/03. p. 65.
  • Poehlitz, M. AM. Ferris. 2003. Service-learning enhances delivery of community-based nutrition services. Proc. Nutrition Connections. USDA/FNS, Washington, DC. 2/26/03. p. 76.
  • Pierce, M., R. Crowell, AM Ferris. 2003. Culturally-linked prevention practices and remedies for anemia are employed by low-income caretakers of young children in Hartford, CT. Proc. Nutrition Connections. USDA/FNS, Washington, DC. 2/26/03. p. 84.
  • Diaz, N. A. Ferris, R. Crowell. 2003. Taking it to the streets: ethonography’s role in nutrition education. Proc. Nutrition Connections. USDA/FNS, Washington, DC. 2/26/03. p. 86.
  • Beeman, S., M. Poehlitz, A. Ferris,. 2003. Recipe exchange: a method to encourage food stamp participants to access the Foodlinks® website. Proc. Nutrition Connections. USDA/FNS, Washington, DC. 2/26/03. p. 95.
  • Poehlitz, M., V. Duffy, A. Ferris. 2002. Undergraduate program (CUP) and community program collaborate for service-learning. J. Amer. Diet. Assoc. 102(Suppl): A-58
  • Ferris, AM. , R. Crowell, F. Rosales. 2002. Iron deficiency complicated by inflammation among poor preschoolers in Hartford, CT. FASEB J. abstr. April 18, 2002.
  • Ferris, AM. 2001. Husky Nutrition – Using a needs assessment to facilitate community and institutional change. Nutrition Education for Diverse Audiences II: Integrating Research and Practice. Dallas, Texas. 9/12/02.
  • Beeman. S. AM Ferris. 2001 Collaborative development of the Foodlinks website for food stamp recipients. Nutrition Education for Diverse Audiences II: Integrating Research and Practice. Dallas, Texas:
  • Poehlitz, M., A. Ferris. 2001. Service learning in FSNEP programs. Nutrition Education for Diverse Audiences II: Integrating Research and Practice. Dallas, Texas. 9/12/02.
  • Fey-Yensan, N., AM Ferris. 2001. Management of a regional FNP program for the elderly: An innovative partnership for value added nutrition programming. Nutrition Education for Diverse Audiences II: Integrating Research and Practice. Dallas, Texas. 9/12/02
  • Beeman SJ, AM Ferris, CC Cantor. 2001. Food stamp recipients and nutrition educators differ with respect to development of the Foodlinks website. Proc. Soc. Nutr. Educ. Annual Meeting
  • Ferris, A.M. J.L. Peranick, M.B. Pierce, R. Pérez-Escamilla, and G. Burke. 2001. Association of food stamps with diagnosis of anemia in inner-city preschoolers from Hartford, CT. FASEB J. 15:A1000(Abstr. 761.3).
  • Hardy, S., P. Parmar, M.B. Pierce, and A. M. Ferris. 2001. The role of home based activities in influencing children’s vegetable preference. Council for Undergraduate Research. Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Undergraduate Research Posters on Capital Hill. Washington, DC.: 3/29/2001.
News and Updates

"What's Happening"
The Spring-Fall 2007 edition of the Department of Nutritional Sciences newsletter, "What's Happening," is available as a pdf here.

 

Positions Open

Pre-Doctoral Fellowships Available
The Department of Nutritional Sciences is offering 3 pre-doctoral fellowships for outstanding students for 3 years.