David B Abrams
David Abrams
Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Professional overview
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Dr. David Abrams' career focuses on systems and social learning frameworks to inform population health enhancement. He has experience in testing theory, research design, measuring mechanisms of behavior change and outcome, and evaluating clinical trials (behavioral and pharmacological). His interests span topics from basic bio-behavioral mechanisms and clinical treatments to policy across risk factors and behaviors (e.g. tobacco/nicotine; alcohol, obesity, co-morbidity of medical and mental health), disease states (cancer; cardiovascular; HIV-AIDS), levels (biological, individual, organizational, worksite, community, global, and internet based), populations and disparities. His interests converge in the domain of implementation science to cost-efficiently inform evidence-based public health practice and policymaking.
Through transdisciplinary and translational research strategies, Dr. Abrams provides scientific leadership in tobacco control. His current focus is in strengthening global and United States tobacco and nicotine management strategies. Deaths of 1 billion smokers are estimated by 2100 caused overwhelmingly by use of combustible (smoked) tobacco products, not nicotine. Harm minimization is a key overarching systems strategy to speed the net public health benefit of emergent disruptive technologies for cleaner nicotine delivery. The goal is more rapid elimination of preventable deaths, disease burdens, and the widening gap in health disparities driven disproportionately by disparities in smoking.
Dr. Abrams was a professor and founding director of the Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine at Brown University Medical School. He then directed the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Until 2017, he was Professor of Health Behavior and Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the founding Executive Director of the Schroeder National Institute of Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at Truth Initiative (formerly the American Legacy Foundation).
Dr. Abrams has published over 250 peer reviewed scholarly articles and been a Principal Investigator on numerous NIH grants. He is lead author of The Tobacco Dependence Treatment Handbook: A Guide to Best Practices. He has served on expert panels at NIH and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine on Obesity, Alcohol Misuse and Ending the Tobacco Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation. He has also served on the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute (NIH-NCI) and was President of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
For a complete list of Dr. Abrams' published work, click here.
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Education
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BSc (Hons), Psychology and Computer Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaMS, Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJPhD, Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJPostdoctoral Fellow, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI
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Honors and awards
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Research Laureate Award, American Academy of Health Behavior (2014)Joseph W. Cullen Memorial Award for Tobacco Research, American Society for Preventive Oncology (2008)Distinguished Alumni Award: Rutgers University, The Graduate School, New Brunswick, NJ (2007)The Musiker-Miranda Distinguished Service Award, American Psychological Association (2006)Distinguished Service Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine (2006)Outstanding Research Mentor Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine (2006)Book of the Year Award: Tobacco Dependence Treatment Handbook. American Journal of Nursing (2005)Distinguished Scientist Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine (1998)
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Areas of research and study
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Behavioral ScienceChronic DiseasesEvaluationsImplementation and Impact of Public Health RegulationsImplementation sciencePopulation HealthPublic Health PedagogyPublic Health SystemsResearch DesignSystems IntegrationSystems InterventionsTobacco ControlTranslational science
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Publications
Publications
The stages and processes of exercise adoption and maintenance in a worksite sample.
Failed retrieving data.Using the stages of change model to increase the adoption of physical activity among community participants
Failed retrieving data.A bioinformational systems perspective on tobacco dependence
Failed retrieving data.Alcohol abusers' and social drinkers' responses to alcohol-relevant and general situations
Failed retrieving data.Behavioral techniques in the management of nicotine dependence
Failed retrieving data.Cue reactivity in addictive behaviors : Theoretical and treatment implications
Failed retrieving data.Effectiveness of three types of spouse‐involved behavioral alcoholism treatment
Failed retrieving data.Medical and behavioral treatment of nicotine dependence: Nicotine as a drug of abuse
Failed retrieving data.Patient-treatment matching for alcoholic men in communication skills versus cognitive-behavioral mood management training
Failed retrieving data.Self-Efficacy in Weight Management
Failed retrieving data.The Contemplation Ladder : validation of a measure of readiness to consider smoking cessation.
Failed retrieving data.Tobacco dependence : An integration of individual and public health perspectives
Failed retrieving data.Usefulness of physical exercise for maintaining smoking cessation in women
Failed retrieving data.Behavioral medicine strategies for medical patients
Failed retrieving data.Communication skills training, communication skills training with family and cognitive behavioral mood management training for alcoholics
Failed retrieving data.Reducing the risk of cancer through worksite intervention
Failed retrieving data.A comparative evaluation of a restrictive smoking policy in a general hospital
Failed retrieving data.Debunking Myths About Self-Quitting : Evidence From 10 Prospective Studies of Persons Who Attempt to Quit Smoking by Themselves
Failed retrieving data.Effects of behavioral skills training and schedule of nicotine gum administration on smoking cessation
Failed retrieving data.Evaluating worksite smoking policies. Methodologic issues
Failed retrieving data.Irrational beliefs, urges to drink and drinking among alcoholics
Failed retrieving data.Reactivity to high risk situations and smoking cessation outcome.
Failed retrieving data.Reasons for Smoking and Severity of Residual Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms When Using Nicotine Chewing Gum
Failed retrieving data.Responses to smoking-related stimuli and early relapse to smoking
Failed retrieving data.Treating alcohol dependence
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