Fall 2026

Inside this Issue

Editor's Note

What role do professional societies play in your work and career? Do you know how SBM operations and how all our programs and initiatives fit together? In this issue of Outlook, we celebrate the amazing breadth of research, advocacy, networking, and career development that SBM supports.

Did You Know? Fast facts about the Society of Behavioral Medicine

Insights under the hood of an organization can uncover useful information. After years of hearing many myths and assumptions about how SBM really works, we decided to get strategic. This year, the Membership Council is focused on enhancing membership understanding of organization process and structure and conveying a clear membership value proposition. Why? We want to be transparent to all members!

Insider Intel on what Reviewers are Saying about Intervention Optimization Proposals Guided by the Multiphase Optimization Strategy

Many academics can relate to the experience of pouring their heart and soul into a grant proposal only to have reviewers completely misunderstand key details pertaining to the importance of the research and the approach. This is especially true when leveraging paradigms, frameworks, and trial designs that are from the status quo.

Navigating Postpartum Pressure to “Bounce Back” to Pre-Pregnancy Weight in the Era of GLP-1s

Postpartum weight retention, defined as retaining weight gained during pregnancy, has been associated with increased risk for adverse outcomes in subsequent pregnancies as well as elevated longer-term cardiovascular disease risk. Given these associations, postpartum weight loss is one of many factors that healthcare providers should monitor to promote long term maternal health.

Science Communication and Policy Advocacy in Pain Research: An Interview with Dr. Lisa LaRowe

The Pain SIG interviewed Dr. Lisa LaRowe, a clinical psychologist and research faculty member at the Center for Optimal Aging and Serious Illness Research at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School to learn about her experiences with policy advocacy and her work disseminating pain research to a general audience.

Integrating SciComm in the Classroom and Beyond

Many academics want to make an impact on improving health but are unsure how to effectively communicate their research with the public that is accessible and impactful. When they do, their messages are often filled with jargon, focus heavily on research design, and stop short of offering actionable steps. One way for academics to address this is to engage in science communication (“SciComm”).

Supporting Mid- and Senior-Career Members in SBM’s Special Interest Groups

The Health Decision Making and Communication (HDMC) SIG has long prided itself on helping to support and cultivate the next generation of behavioral researchers. Our programming for trainees and early-career researchers has become a hallmark of the SIG's identity - including regular virtual Coffee Talks where more senior members provide career advice, involving trainees in leadership and decision-making, and encouraging new members to engage with the SIG.

Leading Through Collaboration: Advancing Behavioral Medicine on Interdisciplinary Teams

Behavioral medicine specialists are well positioned to provide leadership and serve as connectors within interdisciplinary teams, fostering meaningful partnerships across medical, surgical, health psychology, nursing, rehabilitation, and other allied health disciplines. Success in these settings requires not only clinical and scientific expertise, but also the ability to communicate the value of behavioral medicine, advocate for a biopsychosocial approach, influence clinical pathway design, and foster collaboration.

Digital Health Interventions for Cardiovascular Disease: A Behavioral Medicine Perspective

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for one-third of global deaths. The rapid evolution of digital health technologies has transformed CVD prevention and management by expanding access to supporting self-management and enabling personalized health behavior change.

Co-Occurring PTSD and Chronic Pain: From Shared Mechanisms to Integrated Treatment Approaches

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain frequently co-occur, with populations such as veterans, physical injury survivors, and those with widespread pain at particularly elevated risk. PTSD is characterized by symptoms such as intrusions, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and hyperarousal following a Criterion A traumatic event (i.e., threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence).

Getting Ahead of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Prevention Early in the Life Course

While atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) manifests primarily in adulthood, its risk factors associated with arteriosclerosis emerge early in life. Maintaining ideal cardiovascular health (CVH), defined as the presence of four favorable health behaviors (smoking, diet, physical activity, BMI) and three health factors (cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure), can mitigate CVD morbidity and mortality.

Accessible by Design: Advancing Integrative Health for Real-World Reach to Promote Healthy Aging

Improving access to effective complementary and integrative health interventions is increasingly important for promoting healthy aging, supporting cognitive health, and addressing chronic conditions that affect independence and quality of life.