Researchers Study Childhood Obesity in Local Community

A UC professor and graduate student have joined forces to study and combat childhood obesity.

Beyond her innovative work in pediatric psychology, University of Cincinnati researcher Monica Mitchell is influencing the future through her mentorships with graduate students.

Mitchell, a professor in the College of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics and the McMicken College of Arts Sciences Department of Psychology, works as a pediatric psychologist and researcher in behavioral medicine and clinical psychology at UC and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Mitchell’s research aims to improve child health across a multitude of areas like obesity, though her research mainly focuses on sickle cell disease. Mitchell said her research matters because it integrates the community.

Her latest work researching preschool childhood obesity will lead to actual interventions and solutions based on the deep knowledge she has of her subjects, she said.

“I think I’ve been able to introduce innovation into my research because without involving the community, it’s hard for us to get to interventions that are effective,” she said. “Without community support and interaction, it’s hard for us to ultimately improve outcomes that matter to people.”

In addition to her many appointments and research, Mitchell finds the time to build mentorships and connections with both graduate and undergraduate students at UC.

Heather Strong, a third-year graduate student in the clinical psychology doctoral program at UC, first met Mitchell at the beginning of her senior undergraduate year. Now, Strong works with Mitchell on research projects.

Strong’s research interests include pediatric obesity and health disparities in ethnic minorities, she said. Her master’s thesis looks at the health behaviors of preschool-age children.

“With research, it’s very important to target the underserved or underrepresented populations in urban communities, which is what I’m primarily going to be focusing on,” Strong said. “I think it’s really important for minorities to see a researcher who looks like them, makes them feel more comfortable and has them participate in the research.”

Both Mitchell and Strong work to educate the communities on health topics so they can ultimately reduce preventable diseases. They have a passion for research, and their mentorship has benefitted them both.

“As we know, women are underrepresented in the science fields and certainly in the research fields,” Mitchell said. “Often times, we as women don’t think about research as a place for us. I’m really proud I can serve as a role model for other people.”

Mitchell knows what it’s like to go through the process of finding your passion. “I was Heather,” she said. As an undergraduate, she didn’t even know what psychology was, especially in the terms of research.  

“I worked in the lab of a female researcher one summer and I was really awed by the research she did,” she said. “I thought, ‘Wow, if this is what research is, then I think I can make a difference in the world.’”

Now, Mitchell wants to pass it on.

“Monica’s path has really inspired me,” Strong said. “I really feel like Monica was the first person to give me a chance. It really inspired me to keep pushing forward to the PhD program. I really want to make a difference in the community through research.”