Lena Hatchett , PhD
Assistant Professor

Lena Hatchett, PhD is an Assistant Professor in The Department of Public Health Sciences at Loyola University Medical Center. Dr. Hatchett received her Ph.D in Social and Health Psychology from State University of New York Stony Brook and her post-doctoral training in Community Prevention Research from University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Hatchett has more than 10 years teaching and research experience to reduce health disparities among ethnic/racial minorities in the US and Africa. Her primary research interests are in community-based approaches for chronic disease prevention and the promotion of physical activity. Her recent work includes a community health outreach project aimed at implementing culturally relevant approaches to prevent overweight/obesity for underserved African-American communities. Below is a description of some of the research activities related to obesity prevention:

• Socio-cultural Determinants of Health We are conducting several qualitative studies to explore the socio-cultural factors related to health behaviors of African-American and Latina women. This work is used to design and implement effective culturally appropriate interventions for women to promote healthy eating and physical activity.

• Community Health Outreach Program We are conducting a community health outreach program for Maywood residents and the surrounding towns. We provide health and wellness workshops and trainings for community residents and healthcare providers to promote healthy eating and increase physical activity at the individual and community level. The primary goal of this work is to increase the community’s capacity for health promotion.

• Maywood Health Initiative Dr. Hatchett is a member of the 48-agency Maywood Health Initiative which is a community-based partnership to identify and implement health promotion research and services for the Maywood community. The Maywood Health Initiative group is completing a community-wide health assessment and focus groups to help prioritize local health needs in Maywood.

Phone: (708) 327-9015
lhatchett@lumc.edu

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