Division of Preventative Medicine

Associate Directors: Elizabeth Kotyla and Maureen Faul

The mission of the Division of Preventative Medicine is to develop and implement: 1. intervention strategies for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, asthma and macular degeneration.  2. community outreach service programs in schools, nursing homes, Senior Citizen Centers, and after school and summer camp programs.

Research

Currently working on a clinical trial in collaboration with Nashua Eye Associates in Nashua, NH examining the effect of 12 eggs a week on the progression of Age-related Macular Degeneration (ADM) in clients previously diagnosed with AMD.  This is the fourth consecutive grant the Center has received from the Egg Nutrition Center/USDA to investigate the effect of nutrients found in egg yolk on AMD.  Two phases of a clinical research trial involving generally healthy older adults and the effects of the consumption of eggs in the prevention of AMD are complete.

Community Outreach

• Participate in facilitating a seven-week health education program in local fourth grade classrooms called Granite State FitKids.
• Collaboration with the UMass Lowell Recreation Center to run healthy lifestyle programs.
• Provide presentations for older adult populations in local nursing home facilities.
• Provide presentations for healthcare workers in local healthcare facilities in Lowell as part of continuing education credits (CEU).
• Provide nutrition expertise for a campus wide healthy initiative program involving the campus catering company Aramark, the campus recreation center and the physical therapy department.
• Provide ongoing nutrition/fitness presentations at the community senior centers and assisted living facilities.
• Provide yearly nutrition presentations for the Lowell Adult Education Center whose students are learning English as a second language.
• Participate in health fairs at the Lawrence and Lowell Senior Centers.
• Provide ongoing health, nutrition, and physical therapy workshops, media, educational presentations, various health fairs, stress relief clinics, and eating awareness days.
• Collaboration with the Counseling Center, Student Activities, Campus Recreation, Health Services and other departments in the University.

Accomplishments

• Offered nutrition education as part of a summer long series at a Lowell community Farmers' market.
• Provided a nutrition segment to the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women conference for the UMass Lowell and Lowell community.
• Participated in the instruction of the UMass Lowell/American Red Cross Learn to Swim program.
• Partnered with the Lowell National Park and the Lowell Folk Festival Committee to provide a Sun Safety Program for park employees and volunteers.
• Sponsored a conference on Cardiac Health for Merrimack Valley health care professionals.
• Developed and presented nutrition presentations at elementary schools in Lowell.

The staff of the Division of Preventative Medicine along with our community partners in good health are available for presentations and discussions.

To arrange a presentation to your group or to plan a health screening, please contact Elizabeth Kotyla at 978-934-4507 or Maureen Faul at 978-934-4502.