Category: Community Health

Talking to families about forever chemicals

May 15, 2026 | Ethan Simmons

New research is testing effective ways to communicate with families about chemical exposures

The IKIDS research team at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the U. of I. studies maternal and child health outcomes and their relationship to environmental and nutritional exposures. Participant Margo Schiro, age 7, speaks to doctoral student Cai Zhang. (Photo by Fred Zwicky) 

Among the last things a mother wants to hear is that chemical compounds found nearly everywhere in the modern environment—our clothing, packaging, plastics and drinking water—could have implications for their child’s development in the womb.

Sarah Geiger, assistant professor of health and kinesiology at the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has studied the adverse impacts of environmental pollution and chemical exposures on human development for more than 15 years as a researcher. 

Now she’s part of emerging research to hone those conversations: how do we communicate these findings without creating undue levels of fear or concern?

“You don’t want them to feel like, ‘Great, now I’ve somehow unknowingly put my developing child at risk,’” Geiger said. “The conversations we try to have with mothers is, ‘Here’s what we know so far and here’s what we’re trying to learn; here’s what could be the case, or not.

“We also equip them with knowledge to empower them to avoid chemical exposure in a way that is tailored to their individual chemical measures, as well as protective behaviors that could help to mitigate any effects of existing chemical exposure.’”

This process, known as ethical report-back of research results (“report-back”) is a science unto itself. With an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health, Geiger is collaborating with the Silent Spring Institute—a women’s and environmental health research organization—and colleagues at the University of California San Francisco to experiment with the report-back process. 

Geiger has teamed up with Silent Spring and UCSF previously to make a tutorial for research participants to understand chemical exposure. In this new study, participants will be tracked on several biomarkers that have not typically been reported back to participants—like telomere length, oxidative stress and inflammation—then informed of the results in separate groups.

“We’re doing a randomized controlled trial, not with vaccines or pharmaceutical products, but with report-back,” Geiger said. “If one study group gets the report-back report, and the other received their results with a feature designed to facilitate them taking action around these results, are there differences in behavior change outcomes? 

“The idea is that we want to learn what best helps research participants understand and act on their individual results in a way that has the potential to enhance health.”

The report-back process is important because our polluted environment isn’t going away. Even as larger studies, including a birth cohort study hosted at the University of Illinois, continue to reveal how common chemicals impact children’s development, the United States industrial ecosystem doesn’t seem to be improving, Geiger said.

“Most of the chemicals far and away that I’ve studied are endocrine-disrupting. And the situation is not getting better—it’s getting worse because we’re stripping away environmental regulations in this country,” Geiger said. “Whatever your political persuasion is, the reality is that we don’t abide by the precautionary principle for chemical exposures and chemicals in products to the extent that our counterparts in other developed nations do.” 

Understanding ‘forever chemicals’

Among the many compounds Geiger studies as an environmental epidemiologist, so-called “forever chemicals” are recurring characters. 

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are manmade compounds used in water-resistant clothing, stain-resistant food packaging, nonstick cookware materials and countless other consumer products. Also found in drinking water, PFAS earned the moniker of forever chemicals for their durability and tendency to accumulate in human and animal bodies. 

PFAS were long considered chemically inert. But a crisis in middle America opened new investigations into their health effects, and Geiger had a front-row seat. 

Sarah Geiger (Photo provided)

For decades, chemical producer DuPont knowingly dumped perfluorooctanoic acid, called PFOA or C8, in the Ohio River, which flowed into drinking water for the surrounding communities. DuPont used C8 to produce nonstick Teflon products. 

In 1998, more than 70,000 residents of the mid-Ohio River Valley in West Virginia and Ohio reached a $671 million settlement with DuPont. The class action lawsuit also funded a massive cohort study to observe PFOA’s long-term effects on human health. 

Geiger obtained her doctorate at West Virginia University School of Medicine, where many researchers were untangling the damage done. 

“I was really interested in environment and human health—and pediatrics, too,” Geiger said. “I had a couple kids at that time: I was interested, partially just from being a mom, in child development.” 

What they learned: PFAS disrupts human endocrine systems. PFAS chemical structures are similar to the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. Significant adult exposure is associated with kidney and testicular cancer risk, lowered fertility, and damage to the immune system.

Other common endocrine disruptors include bisphenol A, a chemical used in plastic manufacturing which coats the insides of metallic products like food and beverage cans, and parabens, preservatives commonly found in cosmetic products like shampoos and moisturizers.  

Exposure to endocrine disruptors in utero can disrupt and complicate children’s pre-birth sexual development and affect their developmental trajectory years down the line—leading to lower birth rate, decreased bone density and accelerated puberty. 

“How can a chemical exposure for a developing fetus in the womb change child behavior at age 5? Physically, chemically, how in the world does that happen? That’s what we’re trying to get to the bottom of,” Geiger said.  

Geiger is an investigator on the Illinois Kids Developmental Study, or IKIDS, a cohort study led by neuroscientist Susan Schantz at the Beckman Institute at Illinois.

Prospective human cohort studies are the gold standard in epidemiology. They enroll participants and follow up with them for years or even decades, collecting relevant health data to find patterns in their development and life outcomes. 

In IKIDS, pregnant women are enrolled early in their pregnancy and continue to check in from their child’s birth up to age 8 in many cases. More than 600 mothers, fathers and their children have been enrolled so far, and they’ve secured funding from the National Institutes of Health to continue the study through 2030. 

Most of the chemicals far and away that I’ve studied are endocrine-disrupting. And the situation is not getting better—it’s getting worse because we’re stripping away environmental regulations in this country.

Sarah Geiger

HK Assistant Professor

Some participating mothers have been tested on a variety of chemical exposures in their blood during pregnancy. Their kids’ development is tracked for any significant associated outcomes, particularly around neurodevelopment, or the growth of the brain and nervous system. 

“We don’t always know exactly what the causal factors are biologically for an outcome we see, but cohort studies allow us to drill down into it in a way that most studies don’t allow you to do,” Geiger said. 

Communicating risks

In the large research group at IKIDS, Geiger has led the report-back process for participating families. With grant funding, she helped pilot an app made for the task. 

Screenshots of the graph-reading tutorial for study participants, walking them through their chemical exposures. (Source: A personalized tutorial to improve understanding of individual chemical results and opportunities for reducing exposure)

Collaborators at the Silent Spring Institute and UCSF created a smartphone-based tutorial for mothers who participated in two cohort studies, including IKIDS, that walked participants through their chemical exposure results and offered personalized recommendations for reducing contaminants in the future. 

According to their study published this February, the tutorial helped study participants understand graphs that detailed their own chemical exposures, aimed at accessibility to participants of all education levels and backgrounds. 

The digital interface showed participants how their own chemical exposure levels compared against other mothers collectively in both the study and nationally, then offered pointers to reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting contaminants.

Some practical recommendations shared in the study: eating more fresh and frozen food, opting for drinks in glass bottles instead of cans, moisturizing with natural oils like shea butter or avoiding household products that are advertised as “antimicrobial.”

The tutorial proved effective at “creating intentions to adopt health-protective behaviors,” the study’s authors wrote, while providing a report-back tool that scaled for participants across different socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. 

The tricky part, Geiger said, is framing risks in the proper dose. Since many of these chemicals are still being researched, investigators must give participants their best guidance off of incomplete or evolving information. 

“We have to think really hard about how to report these levels back—it’s a little bit of a double-edged sword because we’re getting grants to study these chemicals simultaneously,” Geiger said. “It’s still emerging research with many of these chemicals, so we don’t always have that hard and fast guidance to give back.

“We’re continuing to do this work and hoping that, at the policy level, we become more aware that we may be doing damage to children at these crucial developmental stages, by dosing them with chemicals that are not tested or understood commensurate with the value that our children hold for the future.” 

Editor’s note

To contact Sarah Geiger, email smurphy7@illinois.edu 

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Where does AI fit into the big picture of public health?

May 13, 2026 | Ethan Simmons

AI could revolutionize disease prevention—but flawed data risks deepening health inequalities

Bruno Nunes is trained as an epidemiologist. Now he studies how machine learning can lead to better health outcomes at the population level. (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

In the view of University of Illinois public health researcher Bruno Nunes, artificial intelligence shapes up as a potent tool to predict and prevent public health problems, such as chronic diseases. 

But before AI-powered models are deployed in public health settings, they must be trained on richer data sets so they don’t amplify inequalities that exist in our healthcare system and society.

“To reach this future, we need to have better data to develop these models,” said Nunes, associate professor at the Department of Health and Kinesiology at the College of Applied Health Sciences. “Machine learning is a data learning process. It’s not just about using the fanciest algorithm—the problem is if you don’t have good data, you won’t have a good model.” 

Trained as an epidemiologist, Nunes is focused on public health strategies: how to prevent chronic disease and promote positive health outcomes at the population level, in some cases before people visit the doctor’s office. 

Artificial intelligence is already widely deployed in healthcare settings to better diagnose patients, especially reading medical imagery like X-rays, MRIs and CT scans.

With machine learning’s superior ability to detect patterns using huge tranches of data, Nunes envisions a future where models can accurately predict the risks of developing chronic diseases and allow populations to intervene earlier than before.

Part of this, Nunes argues, is AI may help us untangle “multimorbidity.” Many healthcare patients show up to the doctor’s office with two or more diseases, such as hypertension combined with diabetes or high cholesterol, which complicates management and quality of life. 

“Our health system and services are tailored to one disease. But in most cases, especially when talking about populational aging, most people are presenting different diseases at the same time,” Nunes said. “And the worst part of that is when we aren’t able to manage this patient well because they have such complex conditions and interactions.” 

His recent research has tested machine learning models on their ability to predict real-world outcomes. One recent study showed that machine learning models can predict a population’s dental service usage with solid accuracy but show poorer results with certain demographic subgroups. 

Machine learning is a data learning process. It’s not just about using the fanciest algorithm—the problem is if you don’t have good data, you won’t have a good model.

Bruno Nunes

HK Associate Professor

Nunes collaborated on a study that used an AI model to predict dental service use for adults in Southern Brazil. The model used 47 different characteristics—sociodemographic data, behavioral traits and oral and general health markers—to predict whether participants went to the dentist in the past year from a cohort study in Pelotas. 

Though the machine learning model’s predictions were largely accurate, it performed significantly worse across the board for mixed-race individuals in the study compared to Black and white participants, making the model unsuitable for real-world implementation in its current form.  

“None of the models are perfect: they present an error rate, and we need to deal with it,” Nunes said. “But if this error rate is higher for a subgroup of the population, the subgroup may be under- or over-diagnosed.

“If the model is not so good for people who already present with historical inequalities in the health system, the model can amplify these inequalities instead of decrease them.”   

Nunes tries to teach his students to frame the right questions in his new class, Artificial Intelligence in Public Health, which debuted in fall 2026 in HK.

Through critical discussions, he hopes to get students to think more about how “AI can fit into the big picture of public health,” and construct their own models around the right questions. 

“In most cases we tend to develop models for disease-related consequences or for problems which we already have an effective public health strategy, for example—but what if we could create equitable models to predict the problems in advance or issues without scalable solutions?” Nunes said. 

“You can’t just press a button to develop a machine learning model. You must have prior knowledge of the topic, skills and abilities to interpret the model considering public health principles. How can it be useful to solve the disease burden at the population level?”

Editor’s note:

To reach Bruno Nunes, email nunesb@illinois.edu 

“Dental services use prediction among adults in Southern Brazil: A gender and racial fairness-oriented machine learning approach” is available online.  

DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2025.105929The database is publicly available: https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/BTLAAD


 

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Spring 2026: Message from HK Department Head Kim Graber

May 13, 2026 | Kim Graber

Hello faculty, staff, alumni and friends,

Kim Graber

As we move through another dynamic semester in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, I am continually struck by the breadth and impact of the work happening across our department. This spring, our faculty, students and alumni have advanced important conversations at the intersections of health, behavior and society—work that not only contributes to scholarship, but also to real-world understanding and change.

Among our recent highlights, Jacob Allen and Elisa Caetano-Silva’s work on inflammatory bowel disease and stress-related colitis is helping to deepen our understanding of how physiological and psychological factors interact in complex ways. Similarly, Thayna Flores and Pedro Hallal’s research on toddler diets is offering fascinating insight into how early nutrition may shape not just physical development, but cognitive and behavioral patterns as well.

We are also excited to share an upcoming story on iPALS, which underscores the power of alumni engagement and support in sustaining meaningful programming. This story reflects the strong community that continues to define our department.

Our faculty are also pushing into emerging and interdisciplinary areas. Bruno Nunes’ work exploring the relationship between artificial intelligence and mortality raises compelling questions about the future of health analytics and prediction. Sarah Geiger’s early childhood investigations continue to illuminate foundational stages of development, adding depth to our understanding of lifelong health trajectories.

Additional articles highlight the impactful work from Laura Rice (research on fall prevention and management) and Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo (postpartum depression and pain during and after childbirth in racial/ethnic minority women), as well as Soyoung Choi’s interdisciplinary collaborations and Robyn Gobin’s work in areas of Veterans’ health and mental health research.

Thank you for being part of a community that values curiosity, collaboration and meaningful impact. I look forward to all that the remainder of the semester will bring.

Warm regards,

Kim Graber

Department Head, Health and Kinesiology

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AHS Faculty Q&A: Robyn Gobin understands trauma as both professor and clinician

May 13, 2026 | Ethan Simmons

Robyn Gobin said the authenticity of research participants and clients motivates her work. (Photo provided)

Health and Kinesiology Associate Professor Robyn Gobin inhabits many roles—teacher, researcher, psychologist, author—which continue to influence each other. Gobin is a trauma specialist: she works with domestic violence survivors and military Veterans and has published studies about their experiences.  

Gobin joined the Department of Health and Kinesiology in 2015, after clinical and research fellowships at UCSD and Brown University. She obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oregon in 2012, then worked at the VA Providence Healthcare System’s PTSD Clinic and the VA San Diego Healthcare System, as an Advanced Women’s Health Research Fellow and postdoctoral clinician.

Part of what keeps Gobin motivated to do this work is “the authenticity and courage” she witnesses from research participants and clients as they navigate their healing journeys.   

“It is a privilege to contribute, in both small and meaningful ways, to people reclaiming their sense of self and well-being in the aftermath of trauma,” she said. 

Gobin reflected this semester on her background and ongoing work for the College of Applied Health Sciences. 

Why did you want to become a psychologist? When did academia and the research world come into the picture for you? 

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to have a career that would allow me to help the people in my community experience less stress and have more joyful and fulfilling lives. I discovered the field of psychology during my senior year in high school when I took an AP Psychology course. What attracted me most to the field was that it would allow me to enjoy the best of both worlds: research and practice. I knew I wouldn’t be limited to using just one skill set. Psychology gives me the freedom to use many gifts and talents. As a research psychologist who is also licensed to practice, I get to help shape the knowledge that informs interventions in clinical and community settings, while my work with clients helps shape the way I conceptualize my research.

What brought you to the University of Illinois and the College of Applied Health Sciences? 

As a trauma specialist, I’ve had the opportunity to receive both research and clinical training as a predoctoral and postdoctoral fellow at several Veterans Affairs hospitals. It has truly been an honor to work with military Veterans. When my postdoctoral fellowship concluded, I knew I wanted to continue serving this population. During my job search, I stumbled across a tenure-track faculty position affiliated with the Chez Veterans Center, housed in the College of Applied Health Sciences. I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to continue my Veteran-centric research in a university setting. 

What is it like to occupy the roles of therapist, researcher and professor? Are there ways that each role affects the others for you personally? 

It provides a meaningful balance. I enjoy work that keeps me on my toes by offering opportunities to engage different parts of my brain. One of my core values is being of service and having a direct impact in the community, and these three roles allow me to integrate service and impact into my professional identity. Teaching and therapy allow for immediate, direct impact while collaborative research allows me to contribute to longer-term, broader impact by generating knowledge that can shape practice and policy. Each role is influenced by the others. 

My clinical work grounds my research in real-world experiences and helps ensure it remains relevant and responsive. My research strengthens my teaching and clinical practice by providing evidence-based frameworks and keeping me abreast of emerging topics and the latest research in the field. Teaching allows me to draw directly from both my clinical experiences and research to facilitate rich, nuanced conversations about the complexities of trauma and mental health while engaging learners at all levels, from undergrad and graduate students to new and experienced clinicians. 

You co-authored two recent papers detailing the responses of women who experienced intimate partner violence about their beliefs and practices around forgiveness. What was it like to collaborate on these studies, and what did you learn from them? 

These projects were very special because I got to collaborate with former graduate student Kristen Golden, Ph.D., around our shared passion for enhancing well-being and supporting healing among women survivors of domestic violence. 

I always consider it an honor when survivors are willing to share their stories with us. As a trauma researcher who embraces feminist and intersectional frameworks, one of the biggest takeaways for me was that it matters how we socialize women and girls around forgiveness both in communities and in religious contexts where expectations are often shaped by the intersection of gender, race, culture and faith. 

When women internalize beliefs around forgiveness that align with rigid gender role expectations, they may make choices that inadvertently increase risk for continued harm. However, when women are supported in adopting more expansive beliefs about forgiveness that are not solely about nurturing others but also allow them to retain agency (i.e., believing that it is possible to forgive their abusers without reconciling), they are better positioned to make choices that prioritize their safety and well-being. 

Your research areas and mental health practice undoubtedly expose you to profound grief and trauma of your clients and participants. How do you manage this as a practitioner, and what keeps you motivated to work in this field? 

I manage this by being highly devoted to my self-care practices. Having a nourishing morning routine, setting boundaries and intentionally creating space to recharge allow me to do this work from a grounded and resourced place. I also prioritize time with family, friends and community, which helps sustain me both personally and professionally. What keeps me motivated is radical hope and the belief that we can work collectively to reduce harm and create safer environments where women and girls are better protected from sexual violence and all other forms of interpersonal trauma. 

I am also inspired by the authenticity and courage I witness in research participants and clients as they navigate their healing journeys. It is a privilege to contribute, in both small and meaningful ways, to people reclaiming their sense of self and well-being in the aftermath of trauma. 

Is there anything else you’re working on right now that you’d like to share?

I have several exciting new collaborations with colleagues at the University of Illinois and other institutions. This work includes examining the influence of radical hope on psychological and physiological responses to race-based stress; conducting community-engaged research on intellectual health and scholarly identity as pathways to promoting educational equity and well-being among Black youth; exploring cultural betrayal trauma theory in Black men; and developing patient-centered, community-engaged strategies to enhance mental health outcomes for military sexual trauma survivors.

Is there anything in particular you would like students or others working in the college to know about you? 

My work is inspired, in part, by Dawna Markova’s poem, “I Will Not Die an Unlived Life.” It serves as both an inspiration and a continuous invitation to live and work with intention:

“I will not die an unlived life 

I will not live in fear 

of falling or catching fire. 

I choose to inhabit my days, 

to allow my living to open me, 

to make me less afraid, 

more accessible, 

to loosen my heart 

until it becomes a wing, 

a torch, a promise. 

I choose to risk my significance; 

to live so that which came to me as seed 

goes to the next as blossom 

and that which came to me as blossom, 

goes on as fruit.”

Editor’s note:

To reach Robyn Gobin, email rgobin@illinois.edu.
 

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Researcher Soyoung Choi pushes Pilates toward evidence-based wellness

May 13, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Pilates promises transformations, but science reveals quieter, longer-lasting health benefits.

Health and Kinesiology Assistant Professor Soyoung Choi, left, handles various Pilates-related books and research materials with her doctoral students, Hyun Seo Ko and Diego Soto at Freer Hall. (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

In the age of algorithm-driven fitness trends and curated wellness aesthetics, reformer Pilates has become a cultural phenomenon, celebrated as much for its sleek studios and celebrity endorsements as for its exercise benefits. But beneath the social media sheen, Soyoung Choi, an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is asking a more grounded question: what does the science actually say?

Choi’s research challenges some of the most popular assumptions surrounding Pilates, especially the idea that it is a reliable path to weight loss. According to her recent meta-analysis, the evidence does not support strong claims that Pilates significantly reduces body weight. 

“Pilates primarily focuses on strengthening the core musculature,” she said, noting that it typically does not generate enough caloric expenditure for meaningful weight reduction. 

That conclusion might surprise practitioners who associate reformer classes with lean physiques and body transformations. But Choi said the disconnect lies not in the effectiveness of Pilates itself, but in how it is framed. Rather than positioning the workout as a fat-burning solution, she believes it should be understood as part of broader physical activity recommendations that support long-term health.

Evidence from her research suggests that Pilates delivers measurable improvements in areas that are often less visible but deeply meaningful for overall well-being: core strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, balance, posture and functional movement. These benefits can translate to reduced injury risk, improved daily mobility and better quality of life.

“Pilates has a strong mind-body component,” Choi said, pointing to its emphasis on breathing, concentration and controlled movement. These elements may help with stress management and encourage sustained exercise participation—factors that public health experts increasingly view as critical for lasting health behavior change.  

Still, Choi is careful to distinguish what research can confidently support from what remains uncertain. Studies show clear gains in flexibility, especially in the hamstrings and lower back, as well as improvements in functional stamina measured through walking-based endurance tests. Some evidence even points to reductions in systolic blood pressure.  

But when data from multiple studies are combined, several popular claims about Pilates lose strength. The research has not consistently demonstrated significant effects on body mass index, body fat percentage, cholesterol levels, bone mineral density or agility. Choi said inconsistent program designs, varied exercise intensity and uneven reporting standards make it difficult to draw stronger conclusions. In other words, Pilates is not ineffective; it is simply more nuanced than is often suggested.

“Too often, the fitness industry is designed around a ‘standard’ population.”

Soyoung Choi

HK assistant professor

That nuance becomes even more complicated when filtered through modern fitness culture. Choi’s work in health behavior and literacy has led her to examine how cultural narratives about body ideals shape exercise motivation. When Pilates is framed primarily as a path to thinness or a certain aesthetic, she said, participants may focus on appearance rather than health.

“That kind of motivation can be short-lived,” she said, especially when visible changes fail to appear quickly. The emphasis on external results can overshadow less obvious but meaningful outcomes like improved mobility, reduced pain or increased body awareness. 

Social media intensifies this tension. Online, reformer Pilates is frequently showcased through images of toned bodies and minimalist studio spaces, visuals that can create unrealistic expectations. Choi said that the scientific evidence supports flexibility, functional fitness and core strength more consistently than dramatic body reshaping. When expectations collide with reality, participants might feel discouraged even though they are making genuine health gains.  

Bridging this gap between research and public perception, she said, is essential for promoting informed decision-making around wellness.

Choi’s broader academic work also widens the conversation beyond aesthetics and trends. Much of her research focuses on accessibility in physical activity, particularly for disability populations. From that vantage point, mainstream Pilates reveals another challenge: inclusivity.

Most classes rely heavily on visual demonstrations, assuming participants can watch and replicate precise movements. For individuals with visual impairments, this creates an immediate barrier. Likewise, routines that assume full mobility can exclude people who use wheelchairs or have limited range of motion.  

“Too often, the fitness industry is designed around a ‘standard’ population,” Choi said. When accessibility is overlooked, entire groups miss opportunities for health promotion, contributing to broader disparities over time. 

In response, her lab is developing an audio-guided Pilates program specifically for menopausal women with visual impairments. Instead of relying on demonstration, the program uses structured verbal cues to guide movement. The goal is not only inclusion but reimagining how exercise instruction can adapt to diverse needs.

Her work in health literacy also informs how she views influencer-driven wellness culture. Health literacy, she said, involves more than understanding information—it means evaluating whether claims are evidence-based or shaped by marketing. In digital spaces dominated by appearance-focused content, distinguishing science from promotion can be difficult.

When fitness messaging centers narrowly on weight or shape, people might adopt definitions of health that ignore functional ability or mental well-being. Choi believes strengthening critical thinking around health information is increasingly necessary in a landscape flooded with simplified advice.

Looking ahead, Choi hopes research on Pilates and similar trends will evolve beyond short-term outcomes and aesthetic narratives. Longitudinal studies that track mobility, injury prevention, cardiovascular health and healthy aging could provide a clearer picture of Pilates’ role across a lifespan. Mental health outcomes, such as stress, anxiety, confidence and body awareness, also need more rigorous investigation, she said.  

Equity is another priority. Many existing studies involve relatively homogeneous groups who already have access to expensive studios or wellness resources. That limits how widely findings apply. Choi suggests that researchers should design studies from the outset with accessibility and diversity in mind, rather than treating inclusion as an afterthought.

Ultimately, her perspective reframes Pilates not as a quick fix, but as a tool whose value depends on how society chooses to define health. The question, she suggests, is not whether Pilates lives up to social media hype, but whether fitness culture is ready to embrace a broader understanding of wellness.

As trends come and go, Choi’s research serves as a reminder that the most meaningful benefits of exercise may be the ones that don’t always show up in a mirror.

Editor’s note:

To reach Soyoung Choi, email soyoung@illinois.edu.
 

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Jeff Woods’ retirement closes a chapter in the College of Applied Health Sciences 

May 08, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Woods leaves a legacy of groundbreaking research and inspired mentorship

Jeff Woods, center, got a rousing sendoff from faculty and staff at the AHS college meeting on May 7. (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

After a noteworthy tenure spanning more than three decades at the University of Illinois,  Jeffrey Woods, Ph.D., the associate dean for research in the College of Applied Health Sciences and a national leader in exercise physiology research, has announced his retirement, marking the end of an era for one of the campus’ most influential scholars in health and aging studies. 

Woods, whose work has reshaped scientific understanding of how physical activity benefits the immune system and human health, retires as one of the College of Applied Health Sciences’ most honored researchers and mentors. Named the inaugural Mottier Family Professor in Applied Health Sciences in 2019, Woods leaves a legacy of groundbreaking research and institutional leadership that has influenced both scholars and students alike.  

“When Jeff started his career at Illinois 32 years ago, life looked very different. His days began with an hour-long commute from Charleston, Illinois, to the University of Illinois. Even in tough winter conditions, he never complained; he simply did what needed to be done,” said Amy Woods, the James K. and Karen S. McKechnie Professor and associate dean for faculty affairs in AHS and Jeff’s wife. 

“All the while, his impact extended far beyond home. He traveled widely, shared his expertise with colleagues around the world and contributed to NIH grant reviews, helping to shape the future of research in his field. Now, he has a well-earned chance to slow down and enjoy life on his own terms. Jeff’s dedication and integrity have made a lasting difference, and this milestone is so richly deserved. We are so proud of him and so grateful for the life we’ve built together.” 

Woods earned his B.S. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, an M.S. from Springfield College and his Ph.D. in Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina. He joined the University of Illinois faculty in 1994, eventually holding appointments across multiple disciplinary programs, including the Departments of Health and Kinesiology, Nutritional Sciences and the Carle-Illinois College of Medicine.  

In his retirement announcement, Woods credited the undergrad and graduate students he worked with, as well as faculty and staff, whom he called the “unsung heroes” of the university.

“It has been a great career at a great university,” he wrote. “I look forward to observing your future success through the lens of my emeriti role.”

Throughout his career, Woods became internationally respected for his pioneering research into how regular exercise counteracts inflammation, bolsters vaccine responses in older adults and, perhaps most notably, alters the gut microbiome in ways that promote health independent of diet. His research findings have appeared in over 140 peer-reviewed publications and helped define new directions in the study of aging and preventative health.  

“Jeff has been a defining presence in the College of Applied Health Sciences—as a scientist, as a mentor and as a leader. His career represents the very best of our mission: rigorous research, collaborative innovation and an unwavering commitment to improving human health,” said Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences. “From the moment he arrived, he brought with him a spirit of curiosity and a deep belief in the transformative power of research.” 

In addition to his pioneering scientific contributions, Woods served in numerous leadership capacities on campus. He was associate dean for research in the College of Applied Health Sciences and director of the Center on Health, Aging and Disability, where he guided interdisciplinary collaborations and championed integrative research programs aimed at improving the quality of life for aging populations.  

Jeff has been a defining presence in the College of Applied Health Sciences—as a scientist, as a mentor and as a leader.

Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell

Dean, College of Applied Health Sciences

Colleagues and students will also remember him as a committed mentor. Over the years, Woods supervised more than 30 graduate students and served as a guiding force for early-career researchers, helping to cultivate a new generation of scholars in health sciences. His leadership extended beyond campus, with roles in national organizations and review panels that have shaped federal research agendas. 

“One thing I’ve always appreciated about Jeff is the space he gave his trainees to grow,” said Jacob Allen, an associate professor in Health and Kinesiology. “As his Ph.D. student, he trusted me early on to think independently, take risks and develop my own scientific voice—practicing over and over how to communicate science clearly. That’s what ultimately matters: making an impact with your science. Jeff always reiterated that. That kind of environment is not easy to create, and it made a lasting impact on how I approach mentorship and science today. Now Jeff gets to apply that same approach to his golf game—plenty of time, plenty of reps, … but now no deadlines! Though he may still need a little extra ‘scientific creativity’ when his ball ends up in the woods.” 

The Mottier Family Professorship, established through a generous estate gift honoring Charles and Audrey Phyllis Mottier, was awarded to Woods in recognition of his outstanding contributions to both science and education. At the investiture ceremony in 2019, Woods spoke warmly of the collaborative spirit of his colleagues and his gratitude for their daily challenges and inspirations.  

As he steps away from his official duties, Woods said he looks forward to continuing to engage in collaborative projects, writing and opportunities to speak on issues at the intersection of exercise, aging and public health. 

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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From Huff Hall to national impact: American Lung Association CEO visits his alma mater

April 02, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo


Wimmer’s chance choice leads to national public health leadership

Harold Wimmer, left, with Applied Health Sciences Dean Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, got his undergrad and master’s degrees in AHS. (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

When Harold Wimmer returned to the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois, it wasn’t just a professional visit—it was a homecoming shaped by decades of purpose, mentorship and public health leadership.

Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, first walked the halls of what was then the College of Applied Life Studies as a student searching for direction. His visit offered a glimpse into how early moments of uncertainty can evolve into a career leading one of the nation’s most influential health organizations.

“I came into this college because as a freshman, I started in (the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences), more general studies, and I was really trying to find where I would best fit,” said Wimmer, who’s been working with the American Lung Association since 1978, the year he earned his master’s in health administration from the University of Illinois. He also got his undergrad from what is now Applied Health Sciences.

That sense of searching is familiar to many undergraduates. For Wimmer, the turning point came not from a formal advising session, but from a conversation with a roommate. It was a simple nudge—one that ultimately redirected his entire career trajectory.

“And it happened that my roommate was in kinesiology,” he said. “He talked about his experiences and the courses. I certainly had a passion for personal health and community also and working with others, so I came to (AHS) in my sophomore year.” 

The decision to transfer to community health set the foundation for everything that followed.

If Wimmer’s story has a central theme, it is the power of mentorship. During his time at Illinois, he found not only academic rigor but also a network of professors who helped shape his thinking and ambitions.

“I got connected with Tom O’Rourke, Larry Olsen (and) Bill Creswell,” he said, listing faculty members who left a lasting impression. “Those individuals just really impacted me in so many different ways.” 

What stood out wasn’t just their expertise, he said.

“They were also accessible. If you had any issues … their doors were always open. And that’s something that I remember.” 

Wimmer’s academic focus quickly sharpened once he entered the community health curriculum. Courses in epidemiology and population health proved challenging, but transformative.

“I certainly fell in love with the curriculum and the work that’s behind it in terms of community health, public health,” he said. 

What I studied here really aligned with the work of the American Lung Association.

Harold Wimmer

Applied Health Sciences alumnus and CEO, American Lung Association

He credits those classes with giving him a framework that still underpins his work at the national level.

“They were tough courses, but they were ones that have helped me throughout my career in terms of how to really work through public health … using sound data and epidemiology to help track diseases from the earliest points to a way to treat disease also.” 

That emphasis on data-driven decision-making has become even more critical in today’s public health landscape, where emerging diseases, environmental challenges and health disparities require evidence-based responses.

Wimmer’s path to the American Lung Association began in an unexpectedly local way—with a job posting.

“I was fortunate to come across a job posting that the American Lung Association had in the office here at Huff Hall,” he said. 

At the time, he admits, he didn’t know if he was prepared for the setting.

“I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into going into a nonprofit health organization,” he said. 

But the alignment between his education and the organization’s mission quickly became clear.

“What I studied here really aligned with the work of the American Lung Association,” he said. “The mission … is not only about assisting patients with a lung disease, but it’s also working to prevent lung disease.” 

That dual focus—treatment and prevention—is a hallmark of public health and one that reflects the principles taught in AHS.

Harold Wimmer became president and CEO of the American Lung Association in 2013 (Photo by Ethan Simmons).

Wimmer, who became president and CEO in 2013, oversees a nationwide organization tackling issues ranging from air quality to chronic lung disease. Yet when asked what skills matter most, he doesn’t point first to technical expertise.

Instead, he emphasizes communication.

“One thing that I think is really key in community health or public health is to have good communication skills and to be able to interact with individuals … and also groups,” he said. 

For Wimmer, those skills were nurtured during his time at Illinois, through classroom discussions, group work and faculty mentorship.

During his visit, Wimmer—who met with AHS Dean Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell as well as taking visits to Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the Cancer Center at Illinois and the Beckman Institute—also offered practical advice to students eager to make an impact in public health, a field that has gained renewed visibility in recent years.

“I would say really study epidemiology and population data,” he said. “I think [that] is really critical in the field today.” 

But technical knowledge alone isn’t enough. He stressed the importance of understanding diverse communities and advancing health equity.

“Having great communication skills, the ability to communicate with others in really diverse populations … health equity is very important,” he said. 

It’s a message that aligns closely with the college’s current mission—demonstrating how its core values have remained consistent even as the field has evolved.

Like many alumni, Wimmer’s visit also prompted reflection. When asked what advice he would give his younger self, his answer was both practical and revealing.

“I would have probably looked at a minor in finance on the business side,” he said, noting how much of his current role involves budgeting and financial management. 

It’s a reminder that careers in health aren’t confined to science alone—they often require a blend of skills, including leadership, strategy and financial acumen.

He also acknowledged a lingering curiosity about further education.

“I always think I would have liked to continue my education to get a Ph.D.,” he said, before adding with a laugh, “but I think I’m OK where I’m at.” 

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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What toddlers eat might shape how they think years later, study suggests

Feb. 02, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

By the time children in Pelotas, Brazil, reached their first day of school, some had already been influenced by decisions made years earlier—at the family table

Study co-authors Thayna Flores, left, and Pedro Hallal. (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

A new analysis from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort suggests that dietary patterns at just two years of age are associated with cognitive performance at ages six and seven. The findings add to growing global evidence that early childhood nutrition—particularly exposure to ultraprocessed foods—may play a meaningful role in shaping brain development.

The Pelotas Birth Cohort is one of the most comprehensive long-running population studies in Latin America, following thousands of children from birth. Researchers from the University of Illinois and the Federal University of Pelotas collected detailed information on what children were eating at age two and later assessed their cognitive performance once they reached early school age.

Rather than focusing on individual foods or nutrients, the research team examined overall dietary patterns. Using principal component analysis, a statistical method that identifies common combinations of foods, they identified two dominant patterns among toddlers in the cohort. One, labeled “healthy,” included beans, fruits, vegetables, baby foods and natural fruit juices. The other, labeled “unhealthy,” was characterized by snacks, instant noodles, sweet biscuits, candies, soft drinks, sausages and processed meats.

Children who more closely adhered to the unhealthy dietary pattern at age two scored lower on IQ tests at ages six to seven. The association remained even after accounting for a wide range of social, economic, and family factors that could influence cognitive development.

“The covariates were identified as potential confounding factors based on a literature review and the construction of a directed acyclic graph,” said Thayna Flores, an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois and one of the study’s authors. “The analyses were adjusted for child’s sex, maternal age, maternal schooling, maternal work, maternal depression, family structure, parental relationship, socioeconomic status, number of people in the household, number of older siblings, preschool, score of stimulation, duration of exclusive breastfeeding and food introduction before 6 months.”

Some factors often raised in debates about child cognition—such as parental IQ—were not included, largely because they were not measured in the cohort. However, Flores noted that the study did incorporate proxies for the home learning environment. “We didn’t measure the parental IQ, but home stimulation and early childhood education were both used in our adjustments,” she said.

Despite established guidelines, consumption of ultraprocessed foods is already common at this age.

Thayna Flores

Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology

One of the study’s more surprising findings was what it did not show. The healthy dietary pattern was not associated with higher IQ scores. Rather than undermining the importance of fruits and vegetables, Flores said the result reflects how common these foods already were in the sample.

“The lack of association observed for the healthy dietary pattern can be largely explained by its lower variability,” she said. “Approximately 92% of children habitually consumed four or more of the foods that characterize the healthy pattern.” When nearly everyone is eating similarly, statistical differences become harder to detect, she said.

Where the results became especially concerning was among children who were already biologically vulnerable. The negative association between unhealthy diets and cognitive performance was stronger in children who had early-life deficits in weight, height, or head circumference.

“According to the literature, children with a deficit in height and head circumference from birth to the first year of life were more likely to be classified as having a low IQ,” Flores said. “Other studies suggest that insufficient growth before age two is related to impaired cognitive development.”

This pattern points to what researchers call cumulative disadvantage: when biological vulnerability and environmental exposures—like poor diet quality—interact to produce worse outcomes than either would alone.

The study did not directly test biological mechanisms, but Flores said existing research offers plausible explanations. “Diets of poor nutritional quality, particularly those high in ultraprocessed foods, may interfere with neurodevelopmental processes through mechanisms involving systemic inflammation, oxidative stress and alterations in the gut–brain axis,” she said.

‘We need to consider the rise in ultraprocessed foods,’ said Thayna Flores. (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

The researchers, who also included study co-author HK Professor Pedro Hallal—who came to the University of Illinois after a long stint at Pelotas—also examined whether breastfeeding and the timing of complementary feeding influenced the results. Both were included as confounders, and exploratory analyses looked for interactions.

“We identified that the association between adherence to unhealthy dietary patterns and IQ scores was significantly modified by the presence of early-life deficits,” Flores said. “No evidence of effect modification by sex, birth weight, gestational age, or duration of exclusive breastfeeding was found.”

Although the study is based in southern Brazil, its implications may extend far beyond Pelotas. Ultraprocessed foods are now common in early childhood diets worldwide, including in high-income countries.

“The longitudinal design, high follow-up rates and the large sample size strengthen the study,” Flores said. “While direct comparison should be made with caution, our findings are informative and can generate hypotheses for studies conducted in high-income countries,” such as the United States.

Whether similar effects would be seen in countries with greater food fortification or different health systems remains an open question. Still, Flores believes the core message is broadly relevant. “Considering the worldwide dissemination and higher prevalence of ultraprocessed foods, I think so,” she said when asked whether similar patterns might emerge elsewhere.

For policymakers, the findings carry clear implications. In Brazil, infant and young child feeding guidance is already part of primary health care, but Flores said the study highlights a gap between recommendations and reality.

“Our results reinforce the importance of strengthening counseling during routine child health visits, emphasizing the need to limit the habitual offer of ultraprocessed and unhealthy foods,” she said. “Despite established guidelines, consumption of ultraprocessed foods is already common at this age.”

Flores said public health efforts should focus on promoting healthy foods and reducing the emphasis on unhealth ones, but timing matters. “We need to consider the rise in ultraprocessed foods,” she said. “Stronger actions now can help prevent these foods, especially in early childhood.”

The Pelotas study is not the final word on diet and cognition. Researchers are now collecting more detailed dietary data as cohort members reach adolescence, opening the door to stronger causal analyses and a better understanding of long-term effects. Still, the takeaway is difficult to ignore. Long before report cards and standardized tests, children may already be accumulating advantages—or disadvantages—based on what is offered to them at the age of two. In a world where ultraprocessed foods are cheap, convenient and heavily marketed, the study suggests that early dietary choices may quietly shape how children learn, think and thrive years later.

Editor’s note:

To reach To reach Thayna Flores, email trflores@illinois.edu. To reach Pedro Hallal, email phallal@illinois.edu. You can read the study here.
 

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How social stress can worsen colitis, and what it reveals about the biology of IBD

Jan. 23, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo


Study from AHS researchers links stress to gut inflammation via adrenergic oxidative pathways

Jacob Allen, left, with study co-author Elisa Caetano-Silva, said data suggest that stress makes the gut environment more fragile. (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

For decades, patients with inflammatory bowel disease have reported a familiar and frustrating pattern: periods of intense stress are often followed by worsening symptoms or full-blown disease flares. Clinicians have observed the same phenomenon, yet the biological explanation has remained elusive—leaving stress dismissed by some as subjective, anecdotal or “all in the head.”

A new study is helping to change that narrative. Researchers from the University of Illinois have identified a biological pathway by which social stress can worsen colitis, linking psychological experience to measurable damage in the gut itself. Their findings show that stress activates β-adrenergic signaling in the intestine, triggering oxidative stress that weakens the gut lining and intensifies inflammation.

“Clinicians have long noticed that highly stressful events—death in the family, major life events, chronic life stress—often precede worsening symptoms and flares in patients with inflammatory bowel disease,” said one of the study’s authors, Jacob Allen, an associate professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology in the College of Applied Health Sciences. “Our findings uncover potential physiological mechanisms for how stress can translate into changes in the gut that make IBD worse.”

Stress is known to activate the sympathetic nervous system—the body’s “fight-or-flight” response—leading to the release of catecholamines such as adrenaline and noradrenaline. These hormones prepare the heart, lungs and muscles for rapid action. What has been less clear is how they affect the gastrointestinal tract.

The researchers found that during social stress, these stress hormones rise not just in the bloodstream but locally within gut tissue itself. “What we found is that in response to social stress, these hormones are increased locally in the gut,” Allen said. “These stress signals can directly affect the gut lining … leading to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), also known as free radicals.”

Reactive oxygen species are chemically reactive molecules that can damage cells if not tightly regulated. In this case, the study identified a specific ROS-producing pathway involving a protein called DUOX2. Excessive ROS weakened the intestinal epithelial barrier—the protective lining that keeps bacteria and toxins from leaking into underlying tissue—making the gut more inflamed and fragile.

“Overall, our data suggest that stress makes the gut environment more inflammatory and more fragile,” Allen said, adding that ROS signaling may be a “proximal trigger for why stress increases IBD flare risk.”

Importantly, the study suggests that stress does more than worsen existing inflammation. It may also prepare—or “prime”—the gut for future disease activity.

“Yes, stress clearly worsens ongoing inflammation,” said Elisa Caetano-Silva, a co-author of the study and a senior research scientist in Allen’s Integrative Microbiota & Physiology lab. “But interestingly, we also found evidence that stress-induced changes in the gut can precede active disease, priming the tissue to respond more strongly to later insults.”

Stress can ‘set the stage’ for a flare by making the gut more vulnerable, even before symptoms appear.

Elisa Caetano-Silva

Senior research scientist

This insight may help explain why patients sometimes experience flares weeks or months after stressful events, even if symptoms were initially absent. Stress, the researchers argue, can quietly reshape epithelial biology and redox signaling, increasing vulnerability long before inflammation becomes clinically obvious.

“In other words,” Caetano-Silva said, “stress can ‘set the stage’ for a flare by making the gut more vulnerable, even before symptoms appear.”

Rather than using physical stressors such as pain or restraint, the researchers focused on social stress—an experimental model that mimics psychological stressors relevant to human experience.

“We chose social stress because it strongly activates adrenergic signaling … which is very relevant to certain types of human psychological stress,” Allen said, including conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Stress is often framed primarily as a cortisol problem, linked to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, or HPA, axis. But in this study, blocking cortisol signaling did not prevent stress-induced worsening of colitis. Blocking β-adrenergic signaling, however, did.

“In this model and in this context, adrenergic signaling appears to be the dominant driver of stress-induced worsening of gut inflammation,” Allen said, while emphasizing that cortisol is not irrelevant in all settings.

One of the most striking findings was that inhibiting oxidative stress itself could blunt the harmful effects of stress. A compound called apocynin, which limits ROS production, significantly reduced stress-related disease severity in mice.

“We were especially excited by how well a ROS-targeting compound worked in limiting stress-induced worsening of IBD,” Allen said. “Whether this translates to humans is a critical next question … but it’s promising.”

The work also raises—but does not answer—questions about existing drugs. Because β-adrenergic signaling was central to disease worsening, could medications like β-blockers play a role in IBD care?

“Potentially … but we need to be careful,” Allen cautioned. “It’s too early to recommend β-blockers for IBD management” without controlled human studies examining safety, timing, and patient subgroups.

Allen and Caetano-Silva were equally clear about what patients should not take away. “I would caution patients not to interpret this as: ‘Just take a beta-blocker and your IBD will improve,’” Allen said. “IBD is complex, and it’s unlikely that one intervention will solve everything.”

Elisa Caetano-Silva is a senior research scientist in Jacob Allen’s Integrative Microbiota & Physiology lab. (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

The study also challenges how medicine talks about stress itself. Too often, stress is framed as a personal failing or a psychological weakness. This research pushes back against that framing.

“It supports the idea that stress isn’t ‘just in your head,’” Allen said. “It can create measurable biological changes that affect gut physiology and immune responses.”

By identifying specific pathways—adrenergic signaling, epithelial oxidative stress and barrier dysfunction—the work reframes stress as a biological factor that can be studied, measured, and potentially treated.

Looking ahead, the researchers envision a more integrated future for IBD care. “I don’t think IBD will ever be treated by one drug,” Allen said. “But the future is more holistic and personalized care—combining immune-targeting therapies, strategies to strengthen gut barrier function, microbiome-targeted interventions and approaches that reduce stress-driven inflammation.”

If that future arrives, patients’ long-standing intuition—that stress matters—may finally be matched by equally strong biological evidence.

Editor’s note:

To reach Jacob Allen, email jmallen5@illinois.edu. To reach Elisa Caetano-Silva, email elisacsa@illinois.edu. You can read the study online.
 

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Message from HK Department Head Kim Graber

Oct. 27, 2025 | Kim Graber

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Now that fall 2025 is underway, I’m excited to share some of the exciting stories from the Department of Health and Kinesiology. Each newsletter reminds me of how fortunate I am to work alongside such passionate faculty, students and alumni who are making a real difference in people’s lives.

In this issue, you’ll find a fascinating look at how our researchers are using fMRI technology to see how a new mother’s brain responds to pain. We’re also tackling an issue you may have seen in the news related to the growing misuse of nitrous oxide. Our faculty are at the forefront of this devastating issue. In the past decade, U.S. annual deaths from nitrous oxide poisoning are up by nearly 600 percent.

Another feature dives into how machine learning is helping us better understand cognitive function. The study offers insight into the health and lifestyle indicators—including diet, physical activity and weight—that align most closely with healthy brain function. And for those interested in nutrition, you won’t want to miss our story on potato-protein diet combinations. This research is showing creative, practical approaches to fueling both wellness and performance.

What ties all these stories together is the spirit of curiosity and care that defines our department. And, as always, none of this work would be possible without the encouragement of alumni like you. Your support inspires our students and drives our mission forward.

Thank you for staying connected with us—I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

Warmly,

Kim Graber, Ph.D.

Head, Department of Health and Kinesiology

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