We are happy to introduce the following plenary speakers for our 47th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions.
Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 10-10:50 a.m.
Dr. Russell is the current AI Division Director at USC/ISI, where he is responsible for helping to set the Division's strategic direction and supporting the AI Division's faculty, staff, and students to do what they do best: make positive impact through discovery, experimentation (aka "fail, learn, improve"), development, and deployment of new capabilities, focusing on our vision for "H > AI" (ensuring that humans and our world are greater than, greater because of, and greater with AI). He was also the host of the “AI/nsiders” and “ISI/nsiders” podcast.
Behavioral medicine, like much research, faces an inflection point where AI is emerging as a "liminal technology" for science - a tool, perhaps, but not like any tool that we’ve ever had before. I will examine the notion that AI (recalling that today’s AI is the worst AI we will ever have) may fundamentally help scientists and scientific organizations reimagine the explore/exploit tradeoff in science, and that the current funding crisis provides the launchpad, the fuel, and the motivation to do just that. I will argue that a central challenge for SBM - importantly positioned at the intersection of individual behaviors and systems change - is whether it can move beyond “Expert mindsets” to adopting “Explorer mindsets” and building “Explorer organizations” in order to defang the explore/exploit tradeoff and not let a good crisis go to waste.
Moderator: Eric Hekler, PhD, FSBM, University of California San Diego
Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 2-2:50 p.m.
Dr. Chin, the Richard Parrillo Family Distinguished Service Professor of Healthcare Ethics at the University of Chicago, is a practicing general internist and health services researcher who has dedicated his career to advancing health equity through interventions at individual, organizational, community, and policy levels. Through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Advancing Health Equity: Leading Care, Payment, and Systems Transformation program, Dr. Chin collaborates with teams of state Medicaid agencies, Medicaid managed care organizations, frontline healthcare delivery organizations, and community-based organizations to implement payment reforms to support and incentivize care transformations that advance health equity within an anti-racist framework.
Dr. Chin has evaluated the value of the federally qualified health center program, improved diabetes outcomes in Chicago’s South Side through healthcare and community interventions, and improved shared decision making among clinicians and LGBTQ persons of color. He also applies ethical principles to reforms to advance health equity, discussions about a culture of equity, and what it means for health care and public health professionals to care and advocate for their patients and communities. Dr. Chin uses improv and standup comedy and Theatre of the Oppressed to improve training of students in caring for diverse patients and engaging in constructive discussions around systemic racism and social privilege.
This experiential Master Lecture will use exercises and discussion to introduce how improvisational comedy and Theatre of the Oppressed can be used to teach health care trainees and professionals how to advance health equity and engage in constructive conversations around racism and other systems of oppression. Co-led by a health equity researcher and a professional improviser, this session will share lessons learned from successful trainings at the University of Chicago, corporations, and non-profit organizations.
Moderator: David Marquez, PhD, FSBM, University of Illinois Chicago
We’re thrilled to have Marshall H. Chin, MD, MPH, as a master lecture speaker at SBM’s 47th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions in Chicago, IL.
Dr. Chin’s presentation, Improv and Theatre of the Oppressed to Teach Advancing Health Equity, will be co-led by a professional improviser from the iO Theater Chicago. Being that comedy and improv runs deep in the roots of Chicago history, we’re excited to offer SBM Annual Meeting attendees an opportunity to experience it for themselves. The iO Theater Chicago has provided a 50% off promo code (SBMChicago) for any show on April 23 and April 24.
Please note that while we’re excited to spotlight this vibrant part of our host city’s history, SBM is not responsible for the content of any comedy shows or performances.
The code is SBMChicago and all of the shows this code can be applied to are linked below.
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Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 2-2:50 p.m.
Dr. Ashing is Professor Beckman Research Institute, Deputy Director Division of Health Equities, and Founding Director of the Center of Community Alliance for Research and Education at City of Hope Medical Center. As an advocate-population scientist, she is working closely with multiethnic, and multisectoral partners to develop and implement evidenced based, culturally, clinically and community responsive health improvement studies and interventions. Her mission is to conduct multidisciplinary, translational research while engaging advocates and civil society in science to speed-up and ensure the public benefit of biomedical research and advancements. She holds several national leadership roles, such as in the American Association for Cancer Researchers. She is a leader within the NIH-funded African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium where she co-chairs the Women’s Cancers Working-Group; Society of Behavioral Medicine, Cancer Special Interest Group-Health Equity; CancerCare Patient Values Initiative_Patient Values Working-Group; ASCO-Depression and Anxiety Expert Panel. She is a Life member of Association of Black Psychologists. She is a notable leader in examining health disparities, cancer inequities and survivorship. She has published over 130 articles and book chapters. In 2017, she coauthored Detecting and Living with Breast Cancer: for Dummies, Wiley, NY. She thrives on faith, family, science to society, and organic gardening. She is co-Principal investigator along with Pastor McCall and other leaders for the iCCaRE Consortium for Black men focused on improving survivorship care and outcomes.
The Lecture emphasizes, in all things health and health outcomes, the centrality of multidimensionality in understanding contexts, from biology to society, requires Behavioral Medicine. Therefore, to address these complex, multilevel drivers of health, multidisciplinary Team Science that includes advocates is needed to inform, study, and deploy solution-focused practice and policies.
Moderator: Lisa Carter-Bawa, PhD, MPH, FAAN, FSBM, Center for Discovery & Innovation at Hackensack Meridian Health
Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 4-4:50 p.m.
Dr. Hunter's research interests span the translational continuum and are grounded in a commitment to improve the health of all people. Until recently, she worked at the NIH as Deputy Director and then Acting Director of the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research. In these positions, she focused on enhancing the impact of behavioral and social sciences research, coordinating and integrating these sciences within the larger NIH research enterprise, and improving the communication of behavioral and social sciences research to many audiences. Previously, she was the Director of Behavioral Research at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases where she led a broad and innovative behavioral science research portfolio. Prior to joining the NIH, she was active duty in the U.S. Air Force and worked in clinical, research, leadership, and health policy positions. Dr. Hunter obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The University of Memphis, completed her psychology internship and postdoctoral training at Wilford Hall Medical Center, and is Board Certified in Clinical Health Psychology.
In a time where it feels like upheaval is happening with everything, everywhere, all at once, how do we navigate through the challenges and envision a better future for behavioral medicine research and practice? Dr. Hunter will share her career journey and what she “knows” now that she wishes she knew then. She will describe how these experiences and insights shape her vision for how behavioral medicine research might evolve to address the most pressing health challenges of our time. We share the goal of developing effective, equitable, adoptable, and sustainable health solutions. Achieving more robust and relevant interventions requires research methods that address the complex and multifaceted nature of health AND the need for pragmatic solutions.
Moderator: Jeff Goodie, PhD, ABPP, FSBM, Uniformed Services University
Friday, April 24, 2026, from 10-10:50 a.m.
Dr. Glasgow is Research Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado and Director of the Dissemination and Implementation Science (D&I) Program at the Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery Science (ACCORDS https://bit.ly/2BnJzuk) there. He is a psychologist by training and identifies as an implementation scientist. He is a well-known expert in studying ways to improve the translation of research into practice. Dr. Glasgow is one of the developers of the RE-AIM (www.re-aim.org), PRISM and Dynamic Sustainability frameworks.
He focuses on designing and evaluating pragmatic, cost-effective, equitable and sustainable multi-level prevention and illness management programs. Dr. Glasgow has published over 550 articles, been the PI on 25 NIH or AHRQ grants, and is among the top 1% of most frequently cited social scientists (Clarivate). He currently focuses much of his time on mentoring, training, and building capacity in implementation science. A particular focus is on facilitating accessibility and appropriate use of D&I frameworks and resources such as PRISM/RE-AIM.
This presentation and discussion will summarize advances in and speculation about future opportunities to apply pragmatic implementation science to the development, iteration, evaluation, transparent reporting, and sustainment of behavioral programs. It will focus on issues including applying implementation science in earlier stages of research, assessing and addressing context, documenting and guiding adaptations, the need for more attention to costs, and pragmatic and systems science-based approaches to evaluation and reporting.
Moderator: Paul Estabrooks, PhD, FSBM, University of Utah
Friday, April 24, 2026, from 2-2:50 p.m.
Dr. Arredondo is committed to reducing health disparities and advancing equity in diverse communities. Her research examines how social, cultural, and environmental factors shape health behaviors and outcomes, particularly among racial/ethnic minorities and communities facing social and economic barriers.
She co-designs and tests multilevel interventions—working at the individual, family, organizational, and community levels—to promote healthier lifestyles and prevent chronic disease. A central focus of her work is identifying practical ways to translate proven, evidence-based strategies into real-world settings. By partnering closely with community organizations, Dr. Arredondo aims to expand access to programs that encourage physical activity, increase cancer screening, and ultimately improve the health and well-being of underrepresented populations.
The presentation highlights how partnerships with promotoras and churches evolved across the translational research process, from formative research through implementation and sustainment. It reflects on key lessons learned at each stage and shares community-engagement strategies that strengthened the relevance, feasibility, and impact of prevention efforts in faith-based settings.
Moderator: Lorna McNeill, MPH, PhD, FSBM, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Friday, April 24, 2026, from 2-2:50 p.m.
Dr. Oldenburg is Professor of Public Health and Implementation Science at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and La Trobe University in Australia. Formerly, he was Professor of Public Health at the University of Melbourne. He is Director of the Australia Connected Health Centre of Research Excellence in Digital Technology and Director of Academic Research Collaboration in Health at the Alfred University Teaching Hospital. He is a behavioural scientist and chronic disease epidemiologist who researches the prevention and control of cardiometabolic diseases in high income and resource constrained settings and his research has developed new community-based and health system interventions to improve diabetes and other health outcomes. He is a world expert in implementation science. Currently, he is a Visiting Professor, Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy at the Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Denmark (2023-25).
Adapted from the diabetes prevention programs conducted as part of US DPP and Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, the K-DPP has been rigorously evaluated and then taken to scale in subsequent large trials. Key to the intervention has been the role of peer leaders recruited from the same communities as the program participants. The presentation will consider relevant learnings and the reverse innovations for high income countries.
Moderator: Jim Sallis, PhD, FSBM, University of California San Diego
Friday, April 24, 2026, from 4-4:50 p.m.
Dr. Alexander is the Metrolina Distinguished Professor of Health and Policy in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is also the Executive Director of the UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology with concentrations in forensic psychology and child and family therapy. Dr. Alexander’s research and clinical work focus on violence and victimization, human sexuality, and trauma-informed and culturally informed practice. She is an award-winning researcher whose work has been published in several leading journals. She is the recipient of the 2022 Social Justice in Psychology Award from the Rocky Mountain Humanistic Counseling and Psychological Association and the 2024 Karl F. Heiser Presidential Award for Advocacy from the American Psychological Association. In 2026, Dr. Alexander is the President of the APA Division 37, the Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice. Dr. Alexander is an engaged public scholar who has been featured in numerous media outlets, including The Associated Press, Essence Magazine, USA Today, and NBC Nightly News, discussing her research and advocacy work. Dr. Alexander also enjoys bringing psychology to the public through popular media and has previously contributed to Black Panther Psychology: Hidden Kingdoms and The Handmaid’s Tale Psychology: Seeing Off Red.
Public scholarship bridges research and the community by making research accessible and compelling to the public. Dr. Alexander will discuss using public scholarships to transform policy and practice.
Introduction: Yiqing "Skylar" Yu, MS, Colorado State University
Moderators: Carah D. Holesovsky, MS, Kansas State University
Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10-10:50 a.m.
As scientific advances rapidly transform the landscape of weight management, long-standing behavioral approaches, emerging medical therapies, and growing critiques of weight-centered outcomes are increasingly intersecting and sometimes colliding. This panel brings together three complementary perspectives: medical weight management, behavioral interventions, and a health-focused approach that challenges weight as the primary outcome. Panelists will explore where integration is possible, where tensions remain, and what new evidence is needed to determine what works best, for whom, and under what circumstances. Grounded in science and practice, the discussion will examine how future approaches can support health, well-being, and equity in an era of advancing science and powerful new tools.
Moderator: Robyn Pashby, PhD, Health Psychology Partners
Dr. Jamy Ard is a physician leader and national expert in obesity medicine and cardiometabolic health. He serves as Professor of Epidemiology and Prevention and Director of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Advocate Health and Wake Forest University School of Medicine. His work focuses on improving access to evidence-based obesity treatment, expanding inclusive clinical trials, and advancing innovative care models that translate scientific discovery into improved health outcomes. Dr. Ard is the current President of The Obesity Society and has played a leading role in shaping national policies and clinical guidelines to support high-quality, compassionate obesity care.
Dr. Joanna Buscemi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology of DePaul University's College of Science and Health. She also serves as the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Health Initiatives. Her research is primarily focused on addressing health inequities by engaging communities in the research process and expanding access to evidence-based interventions for those who need them most. Dr. Buscemi primarily specializes in health behavior-related inequities and has worked across disease presentations (e.g., cancer, diabetes, substance use disorders). Dr. Buscemi has expertise in technology-delivered interventions, dissemination and implementation science, and community-engaged research and uses these skills across her research projects. She is currently working on an NIH-funded trial to develop and test the efficacy of a community-health worker delivered, behavioral parenting intervention for caregivers of children presenting for dental surgery under anesthesia (MPI with Dr. Lee).
Dr Marie Spreckley is a Principal Investigator, researcher and Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) at the MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, specialising in behavioural weight management, nutrition, and lived experience research. She leads AMPLIFY, a mixed methods study examining the lived experiences, nutritional impacts, and support needs of adults using next-generation incretin-based therapies for weight management, with a particular focus on equity, acceptability, and real-world gaps in care.
Drawing on extensive clinical experience across NHS and private weight management services, Dr Spreckley’s work sits at the intersection of behavioural science, clinical care, and emerging obesity treatments. Her research examines how psychological processes, dietary support, and health system design shape sustainability, well-being, and equity in obesity care, with a particular emphasis on redefining success beyond weight alone.
