School of Public Health

Education

• Ph.D. at Purdue University, 1982
• M.P.H. at Indiana University, 1984
• M.S.P.H at Tehran University, 1978
• B.S. at Tehran University, 1975

Background

Editor, Eta Sigma Gamma Health Education Monograph Series, Publication of National Health Education Honorary

Past President, American Academy of Health Behavior

Past Board Member, American Association for Health Education and American School Health Association

Research Awards: Alliance Scholar Award, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, 2008/2009; Distinguished Scholar Award, International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport, and Dance (ICHPER-SD), 2008; Presidential Citation, American School Health Association, 2007.

Distinguished Service Award, Eta Sigma Gamma National Health Honorary, 2009.

Grant: Co-Investigator with L. Kolbe, "The Community Health Educator/Community Health Lay Worker Program," Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives, September 1, 2010 - August 31, 2011, $142,861

Grant: Co-Investigator with L.Kolbe, "The Community Health Educator/Community Health Lay Worker Program," Indiana State Department of Health, September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010, $214,482

Research:

Dr. Torabi's research focus is in the area of measurement and evaluation of school and public health education programs and factors associated with health behavior. His research extends into health promotion and key factors related to individual's decisions in the prevention of drug abuse, cancer, and HIV/AIDS infection. His research is published extensively in a variety of major journals in the field. Professor Torabi has served as a research consultant for various state and national organizations including governmental and nongovernmental agencies, and he has presented his research at major national and international conferences.

Publications

Githiri, V., Torabi, M.R., & Seo, D-C. (2012) Barriers to physical activity and weight-loss maintenance for African American women. Eta Sigma Gamma Health Education Monograph Series, 29(1): 64-77.

Jay, S., Torabi, M., & Spitznagle, M. (2012). A Decade of Sustaining Best Practices for Tobacco Control: Indiana's Story. Preventing Chronic Disease, 9110144; http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2012/110144.htm

Jayawardene, W., YoussefAgha, A., Mattar, S.G., Labib, N.A. & Torabi, M. (2012). Differential Characteristics of the Diabetes Epidemic across Global Regions. International Journal of Health, Wellness, and Society, 1(4): 61-78.

YoussefAgha, A., Maffini, C., Jayawardene, W., Perez-Medina, E., & Torabi, M. (2012). Barriers Contributing to Health Disparities Among Latinos in the United States. The International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society, 1(4): 163-170.

Perera, B., Torabi, M., & Kay, N.S. (2011). Alcohol use related problems and psychological health in college students. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 23(1).

Seo, D.C., Torabi, M.R., Chin, M-K, Huang, H.S., Chen, C.K., Mok, M.M., Wong, P., Chia, M., & Wang, C. (2011). A Comparison of Factors Associated with Physical Inactivity Among East Asian College Students. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, DOI 10, 1007/S12529-011-9167-4, 2011

Seo, D.-C., Torabi, M.R., Sa, J., & Blair, E.H. (2011). Emergency preparedness of U.S. college campuses. Security Journal (Security Journal advance online publication, 18 July 2011: doi:10.1057/sj.2011.18)

Torabi, M.R., Tao, R., Jay, Stephen J., & Olcott, C. (2011). A cross sectional survey on the inclusion of tobacco prevention/cessation, nutrition/diet, and exercise physiology/fitness education in medical school curricula in the United States. Journal of the National Medical Association, 103(5), 400-406.

Perera, B., Torabi, M., Jayawardana, C., & Perera, R. (2010). Knowledge of and attitudes toward smoking, smoking patterns and perceived stress in Sri Lankan undergraduates. International Journal of Child Health and Human Development, 3(1), 49-56.

Li, K.-G., Seo, D.-C., Torabi, M.R., Peng, C.-Y., Kay, N.S., & Kolbe, L.J. (2010). Leisure-time physical activity and obesity in Black adults in Indianapolis. American Journal of Health Behavior, 34(4), 442-452.

Torabi, M.R., Jun, M.K., Nowicke, C., Seitz, B., & Gassman, R. (2010). Tobacco, the Common Enemy and A Gateway Drug: Policy Implications. American Journal of Health Education, 41(1), 4-13 (Invited).

Seo, D.-C., Torabi, M.R., Jiang, N., Fernandez-Rojas, X., & Park, B.-H. (2009). Cross-cultural comparison of lack of regular physical activity among college students: universal versus transversal. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 16(4), 355-359.

Thiagarajah, K., & Torabi, M.R. (2009). Irregular breakfast eating and associated health behaviors: A pilot study among college students. The Health Educator, 41(1), 1-7.

Torabi, M.R., Perera, P.B., & Seo, D.C. (2008). Attitudes as an important predisposition to health behavior. In R.W. Pierce & R.I. Schwartz (Eds.), New Perpectives on Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Health (pp. 217-229). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.

Seo, D.-C., Torabi, M.R., Li, K., John, P.M., Woodcox, S.G., & Perera, B. (2008). Perceived susceptibility to diabetes and attitudes towards preventing diabetes among college students at a large Midwestern university. American Journal of Health Studies, 23(3), 143-150.

Seo, D.-C., Torabi, M.R., & Weaver, A.E. (2008). Factors influencing openness to future smoking among nonsmoking adolescents. Journal of School Health, 78(6), 328-336.

Courses Recently Taught

C591 Public Health Statistics

H594 Measurement and Evaluation in Health Education