Rachel Reimer, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Public Health
Additional Roles
Chair, Master of Public Health Program
Chair, Master of Health Care Administration Program
Professor and Chair, Master of Public Health Program
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Reimer was trained in Social Psychology with a focus on health behavior at Iowa State University prior to joining Des Moines University. She joined DMU in 2009 as a part-time faculty member, is now the Chair of the department of public health, the MPH and MHA program director, and an Associate Professor. She is interested in the social, environmental, and cultural factors that influence health behavior decisions. Her recent work has been focused on examining the epigenetic effects of nicotine and alcohol consumption. She has taught many courses at DMU, including Social and Behavioral Sciences, Research Methods, the MPH culminating courses, and most recently, public health communications and social marketing. Dr. Reimer is passionate about ensuring MPH and MHA students at DMU are given excellent training, ongoing support, and graduate ready to make a difference in their communities!
Service and Community Involvement
Dr. Reimer currently serves on the Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Advisory Board, the Board of the American College of Healthcare Executives – Iowa Chapter, participates in the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health Leadership committee. She has served as a peer-reviewer for scientific journals including Preventive Medicine, Pediatrics, American Journal of Public Health, and Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
| Education: |
|---|
| Doctor of Philosophy Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA |
| Master of Science, Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA |
| Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA |
Dr. Reimer’s recent research endeavors focus on the epigenetic effects of alcohol and nicotine consumption. Smoking in particular remains one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide, and alcohol consumption can have long-term negative effects on health. Dr. Reimer’s most recent funded project included studying the psychological, biological, and epigenetic effects of smoking, vaping, chewing, and alcohol consumption. Student researchers assisted in collecting and preparing biospecimens for analysis. Future studies are planned to examine smoking cessation using a novel combination of epigenetic biofeedback and psychological therapeutic techniques.
Peer Reviewed Publications
Duffy, P.A., Ronnenbaum, J.A., Stumbo, T.A., Smith, K.N., Reimer, R.A. (2017). Does including public health students on interprofessional teams increase attainment of interprofessional practice competencies? Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 117, 244.
*Antolik, T.L., Cunningham, K.J., Alabsi, S., & Reimer, R. A. (2017). Empirical gentamicin dosing based on serum creatinine levels in premature and term neonates. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 74, 466-472.
Dayton, P., Feilmeier, M., *Parker, K., *Otti, R., Reimer, R. A., Kauwe, M., Eisenschink, J., Wolfe, J. (2017). Experimental comparison of the clinical measurement of the ankle joint dorsiflexion and radiographic tibiotalar position. Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 56, 1036-1040.
Feilmeier, M., Dayton, P., Kauwe, M., *Cifaldi, A., *Roberts, B., Johnk, H., Reimer, R.A. (2017). Comparison of transverse and coronal plane stability at the first tarsal-metatarsal joint with multiple screw orientations. Foot and Ankle Specialist, 10, 104-108.
Dayton, P., *Kauwe, M., *DiDomenico, L., Feilmeier, K., Reimer, R. A. (2016). Quantitative analysis of the degree of frontal rotation required to anatomically align the first metatarsal phalangeal joint during modified tarsal-metatarsal arthrodesis without capsular balancing. Journal Foot and Ankle Surgery, 55, 220-5.
Dayton, P., Feilmeier, M., *Coleman, N., *Ranum, R., Reimer, R. A. (2016). First metatarsal phalangeal joint range of motion following implant arthroplasty: A systematic Review. Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Dayton, P., Feilmeier, M., *Thompson, M., *Whitehouse, P., & Reimer, R. A. (2015). Comparison of complications for internal and external fixation for Charcot reconstruction: A systematic Review. Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 54, 1072-1075.
Feilmeier, M., Dayton, P., *Sedberry, S., & Reimer, R.A. (2014). Incidence of surgical site infection in foot and ankle with early exposure and showering of surgical sites: A prospective observation. Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 53, 173-175.
Gentile, D.A., Reimer, R.A., Nathanson, A., Walsh, D.A., Eisenmann, J.C. (2014). Protective effects of parental monitoring on children’s media use: A prospective study. JAMA –Pediatrics, 168, 479-484. DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.146
Dayton, P., Feilmeier, M., *Huniker, B., *Nielson, T., & Reimer, R. A. (2014). Reduction of the intermetatarsal angle following first metatarsal phalangeal arthrodesis: A systematic review. Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 53, 620-623.
Reimer, R. A., *Schommer, J. A., Houlihan, A. E., & Gerrard, M. (2014). Ethnic and gender differences in HPV knowledge, awareness, and vaccine acceptability among white and 3 Hispanic men and women. Journal of Community Health, 39, 274-284. DOI: 10.1007/s10900-013-9773-y
Reimer, R. A., Houlihan, A. E., Gerrard, M., *Deer, M., & *Lund, A. (2013). Ethnic differences in predictors of HPV vaccination: Comparisons of predictors for White and non-White Latina women. Journal of Sex Research, 50, 748-756. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2012.692406
Gentile, D. A., Nathanson, A. I., Rasmussen, E. E., Reimer, R. A., Walsh, D. A. (2012). Do you see what I see? Parent and child reports of parental monitoring of media. Family Relations, 64, 470-481. DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2012.00709.x
Reimer, R. A., Gerrard, M. & Gibbons, F. X. (2010). Racial differences in smoking knowledge: Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey. Psychology and Health, 25, 943-959. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-2888
Roberts, M.E, Gerrard, M., Reimer, R. A., & Gibbons, F. X. (2010). Mother-Daughter communication and HPV Vaccination. Pediatrics, 125, 982-989.
Gentile, D. A., Welk, G., Eisenmann, J., Reimer, R. A. Walsh, D. A., Russell, D. W., Callahan, R., Walsh, M., & Strickland, S., Fritz, K. (2009). Evaluation of the SWITCH program: A multiple ecological level obesity prevention program. BioMed Central – Medicine, 4: 49.
Houlihan, A. E., Gibbons, F. X., Gerrard, M., Yeh, H-C., Reimer, R. A., Murry, V. M. (2008). Sex and the self: The impact of early sexual onset on the self-concept and subsequent risky behavior of African American Adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 28, 70-91.
Recker, K., Plumert, J. M., Hund, A. M & Reimer, R. A. (2008). How do biases in memory for location emerge during learning? Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 98, 217-232.
Gibbons, F. X., Reimer, R. A., Gerrard, M., Hsiu-Chen, Y., Houlihan, A. E. Cutrona, C., Simons, R. Brody, G. (2007). Rural Urban differences in substance use among African American Adolescents. Special Issue, Journal of Rural Health, 23, 22-30.
Gibbons, F. X., Gerrard, M., Reimer, R. A. & Pomery, E. A. (2006). Health Decision-making: Reasoned vs. reactive responding (pp. 45-70). In D. de Ridder & J. de Wit (Eds.) Self-regulation in health behaviour. W. Sussex, UK: Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Conference Presentations and Research Talks
Ozdemir, D., Reimer, R. A., & Liu, D. (2019). Evaluation of a Competency-based curriculum to prepare resilient health care administrators. Poster accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.
Houlihan, A. E. & Reimer, R. A. (2017). Exploring associations between socioeconomic status and HPV vaccination Decisions. Poster presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
Nadkarni, S.G. & Reimer, R. A. (2016). Effect of healthcare professionals discussions on human Papillomavirus beliefs and vaccination rates. Poster presented at the 2016 DMU Research Day.
Reimer, R. A. (2016). Patterns of HPV vaccination among nations: Key factors for consideration Presented at the Iowa HPV conference – Iowa Cancer Consortium, Des Moines Area Community College.
Reimer, R. A. & Houlihan, A. E. (2016). Factors associated with healthcare providers’ recommendation for HPV vaccination. Poster presented at the 2016 Annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
Houlihan, A.E., Reimer, R. A. (2015). Images of Illness: Skin cancer prototypes predict UV-related cognitions and behaviors. Poster accepted for presentation at the Annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. February, 2015
Dayton, P., Feilmeier, M., *Coleman, N., *Ranum, R., Reimer, R. A. (2014). First metatarsal phalangeal joint range of motion following implant arthroplasty: A systematic Review. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
*Pearson, C., *Ben-David, S., Reimer, R. A. (2014). Information avoidance in real versus hypothetical conditions. Presented at the DMU mentored student research program closing symposium.
Dayton, P., Feilmeier, M., *Sedberry, S., & Reimer, R.A. Does getting sutures we postoperatively increase the incidence of infection? A prospective study. Poster presented at the 2014 annual meeting of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
*Gustavson, J., *Schommer, J.A. & Reimer, R.A. (2014) Social and Demographic Influences on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Knowledge, Beliefs, and Barriers to Recommend Vaccination among physician and physician assistant students. Accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association.
*Gustavson, J., *Schommer, J.A. & Reimer, R.A. (2014) Social and Demographic Influences on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Knowledge, Beliefs, and Barriers to Recommend Vaccination among physician and physician assistant students. Accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual meeting.
*Ben-David, S., *Schommer, J.A., & Reimer, R.A. (2014). Predictors of Health Information Avoidance. Accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting.
*Schommer, J. A., *Hughes, T. & Reimer, R. A. (2013). Gender and ethnic differences in social and behavioral factors related to human papillomavirus vaccination rates among a community sample. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, CA.
*Schommer, J. A., & Reimer, R. A. (2013). Physician’s recommendation and HPV vaccination among a community sample of White and Latino men and women. Presented at the DMU mentored student research program closing symposium.
* Christman, L., *Davidson, K. M., * Deer, M., * Kjome, K., & Reimer, R. A. (2012). Predictors of HPV vaccination among a community sample of White and Latino men and women. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, CA.
*Kjome, K., *Christman, L., *Deer, M. & Reimer, R. A. (2011). HPV awareness, HPV vaccine uptake, and the potential impact of physicians: A cross-sectional community based survey. Poster presented at the American Osteopathic Association Research Conference, Orlando, Fl.
Gentile, D. A., Nathanson, A. I., Reimer, R. A., & Rasmussen, E. (2011). The longitudinal effects of Parental involvement in media on child wellness. Talk presented at the Society for Research in Child Development biennial meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
*Lund, A., *Deer, M. & Reimer, R. A., (2011). Effects of Machismo and Acculturation on HPV Vaccination Status and Willingness among Whites and Latinas. Poster presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual conference, San Antonio, TX.
Reimer, R. A. (2010). Racial Disparities between Latina and Non-Latina White Women in Factors Associated with HPV Vaccination. Plenary delivered at the DMU research symposium.
Prieto, L., & Reimer, R. A. (2010). Latino/a sexual health, HPV, & public policy implications. Talk jointly presented at the 12th Annual Strengthening and Valuing Latin@ communities in Iowa conference, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.
*Deer, M., *Lund, A., *Vitiritto, K., *Marchand, C., & Reimer, R. A. (2010). Sociocultural influences on HPV vaccination among a community sample of White and Latino men and women: Preliminary findings. Presented at the DMU summer research closing program.
*Vitiritto, K., *Marchand, K., *Deer, M., *Lund, A., & Reimer, R. A. (2010). Knowledge levels associated with HPV vaccination among a community sample of White and Latino men and women. Poster presented at the DMU summer research closing program.
Buchanan, P., & Reimer, R. A. (2010). Systems perspectives on human behavior: Understanding change over time. Talk jointly presented at the DMU summer research program.
Reimer, R. A., Roberts, M., Gerrard, M., & Gibbons, F. X. (2010). Racial disparities between Latina and non-Latina White women in factors associated with HPV vaccination. Poster presented at the American Public Health Conference, Denver, CO.
Reimer, R. A. (2010). Disparities between Latina and White women in factors associated with HPV vaccination. Research talk given at the Iowa Initiative’s On the Issues Conference, Des Moines, IA.
Houlihan, A. E., Reimer, R.A., & *Fahey, L. Acculturation and risky sexual behavior among Hispanic college students. (2010). Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Society, Boston, MA.
Reimer, R. A., Houlihan, A. E., *Deer, M., & *Lund, A (2010). Racial disparities between Latina and Caucasian women in factors associated with HPV vaccination. Poster presented at the Annual meeting for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Las Vegas, NV.
Reimer, R. A. (Oct, 2009). Race disparities in attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of HPV and the HPV vaccine: Preliminary findings. Presented at the College of Health Sciences monthly research seminar. Des Moines University.
*Deer, M., *Lund, A. & Reimer, R. A. Effects of previous sexual behaviors on HPV vaccine acceptability: Preliminary Findings. (2009). Poster Presented at Des Moines University Summer Research Closing Program.
*Lund, A., *Deer, M., & Reimer, R. A. Socio-cultural factors and HPV preventive behaviors. (2009). Talk given at Des Moines University Summer Research Closing Program.
Reimer, R. A., Gibbons, F. X., Madon, S., Gentile, D. A. (2009). The effect of a betweensubjects manipulation of processing route on behavioral intentions and behavioral willingness to engage in risky health behaviors. Poster presented at the Annual meeting for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Tampa, FL.
Roberts, M., Gerrard, M., Reimer, R. A., Gibbons, F. X. (2009). Mother-daughter communication and HPV vaccine uptake. Poster accepted for presentation at the Annual meeting for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Tampa, FL.
Reimer, R. A., & Gerrard, M. (2008). Racial differences in smoking Myths: Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey. Poster presented at the Annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Albuquerque, NM.
Houlihan, A. E. & Reimer, R. A. & Gibbons, F. X., Yeh, H. C., & Gerrard, M. (2006). Early sexual behavior’s impact on self-concept and risky behavior. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Invited Talks
Reimer, R. A. (2018). Developmental and Cultural Features of Smoking Initiation. Presentation at Behavioral Diagnostics, LLC for Grant Proposal Workshop. Iowa City, Iowa
Reimer, R. A. (2016) My Leadership Journey. Women at noon presentation to DMU campus for Women’s History Month.
Reimer, R. A. (2014). Switch what you do, view, and chew. Keynote address delivered to Mercy College of Health Sciences Research symposium.
Reimer, R. A. (2011). Social Psychology in Health and Medicine. Presidential Inauguration series – Des Moines University.
*Represents student author.
Des Moines University
2014 – Des Moines University Distinguished Researcher Award
2014 – DMU MPH Student Choice Faculty of the Year
2013 – DMU MPH Student Choice Faculty of the Year
2012 – DMU MPH Student Choice Faculty of the Year
2010 – President’s Cabinet Bonus
2010 – DMU MPH Student Choice Faculty of the Year
2009 – Alpha Eta Society inductee
Iowa State University
2009 – Graduate Student Research Excellence Award
2008 – Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award
2008 – Graduate and Professional Student Senate Peer Teaching Award
2007 – Department of Psychology Professional Advancement travel Grant
2007 – ISU Graduate College Professional Advancement Travel Grant
2006 – Department of Psychology Professional Advancement Travel Grant
2005 – Premium Academic Excellence Award
University of Iowa
2001 – University of Iowa Honors Society – Honors Commendation
2001 – Psi Chi, National Honors society in Psychology
Directory
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