Rachel Widome, PhD
Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health

Contact Info
Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health
Member, Obesity Prevention Center
Member, Masonic Cancer Center (MCC)
PhD, Epidemiology, University of Minnesota
MHS, International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
BA, Medical Anthropology, Brown University
Summary
The focus on my research centers on how environmental and contextual factors (such as policy or economic conditions) influence chronic disease-related behaviors, such as tobacco use and eating. My work is currently focused on three areas: the role sleep plays in development of obesity and how policy could promote healthful sleep; policy and interventions that can promote tobacco-free lifestyles in populations that face disadvantage; and commercial cigarette marketing in American Indian communities. I also study military veteran health issues, such as food access, tobacco use cessation, and sleep patterns.
Expertise
Epidemiology, prevention policy, equity, tobacco, obesity, adolescents/young adults, sleep, veterans, social & economical factors
Awards & Recognition
Research
Research Funding Grants
- 2016–2019, NIH/NICHD, "Impacts of Later High School Start Times on Adolescent Weight and Weight-Related Behavior," Principal Investigator
- 2016-2018, Clearway Minnesota, "Impacts of Commercial Tobacco Marketing on American Indian Reservations," Co-Principal Investigator with Kristine Rhodes of American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF)
- 2014-2017, Clearway Minnesota “Impact of Smoke-Free Policy Implementation on Public Housing Buildings,” Co-Principal Investigator with Deb Hennrikus
Publications
See a full list of publications on PubMed
Selected Recent Publications
- Carroll AJ, Carnethon MR, Liu K, Jacobs DR, Colangelo LA, Stewart JC, Carr JJ, Widome R, Auer R, Hitsman B. "Interaction Between Smoking and Depressive Symptoms with Subclinical Heart Disease in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study," Health Psychology, Oct 2016
- Castro Y, Heck K, Forster JL, Widome R, Cubbin C. "Social and Environmental Factors Related to Smoking Cessation among Mothers: Findings from the Geographic Research on Wellbeing (GROW) Study," American Journal of Health Behavior, Nov 2015
- Widome R, Joseph AM, Hammett P, Van Ryn M, Nelson DB, Nyman JA, Fu SS. "Associations Between Smoking Behaviors and Financial Stress Among Low-Income Smokers," Preventive Medicine Reports, Oct 2015
- Aldrich MC, Hidalgo B, Widome R, Briss P, Brownson RC, Teutsch SM. "The Role of Epidemiology in Evidence-Based Policy Making: A Case Study of Tobacco Use in Youth," Annals of Epidemiology, May 2015
- Widome R, Jensen A, Bangerter A, Fu SS. "Food Insecurity Among Veterans of the US Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan," Public Health Nutrition, April 2015
- Widome R, Jensen A, Fu SS. "Socioeconomic Disparities in Sleep Duration Among Veterans of the US Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan," American Journal of Public Health, Feb 2015
Teaching
Teaching Areas
I teach in the following programs within the School of Public Health:
- Epidemiology PhD
- Epidemiology MPH
- Community Health Promotion MPH
- Undergraduate public health minor
Courses
- PubH 6320, Fundamentals of Epidemiology
Community Engagement
Service
- American College of Epidemiology Policy Committee, Vice-Chair
- International Joint Policy Committee of the Societies of Epidemiology, Board member
- Tobacco Regulatory Science, Associate editor
- American Journal of Health Promotion, Associate editor
Media
In The News
SPH News
- Later School Start Times Better for Adolescent Development
- Veterans with Lower Socioeconomic Status Sleep Less, May Suffer Related Health Issues
In The Media
- VA partners with food banks as more veterans struggle to afford food (KPBS)