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Publications

Across my 60+ journal articles and book chapters, I have developed a diverse expertise in different health related topics and methodologies, however much of my current research expertise center around:

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  • Family and community level contributors to health

  • Diet and cardiovascular disease risk factors

  • Asian, immigrant, and racial/ethnic minority health

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I have used my strong methodological background in innovative quantitative, qualitative, and geo-spatial methods to conduct this work. Currently, this expertise is reflected in my recent work on social/family dynamics, program evaluation and implementation science, diet/eating behaviors and the food environment, as well as mhealth and the digital health environment. Additionally, my diverse topical and methodological skillset in public health research is also evidenced in my past work on COVID-19, mental health, environmental health, and injuries/violence.

Current Research Interests

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Citations

Social, Family dynamics
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  1. ​​Ali SH, Yi SS, Wyatt LC, Misra S, Kwon SC, Trinh-Shevrin C, Islam NS. Neighborhood social cohesion and disease prevention in Asian immigrant populations. Prev Med. 2020;141:106298. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106298.

  2. Ali SH, DiClemente RJ, Parekh N. Changing the landscape of South Asian migrant health research by advancing second-generation immigrant health needs. Transl Behav Med. 2021;11(6):1295-1297. doi:10.1093/tbm/ibaa084.

  3. Ali SH, Mohsin FM, Rouf R, Parekh R, Dhar B, Kaur G, Parekh N, Islam NS, DiClemente RJ. Family involvement within Asian American health interventions: a scoping review and conceptual framework to identify pathways for innovation. Public Health Reports. 2022; (Online first). doi:10.1177/00333549221138851.

  4. Ali SH, Rouf R, Mohsin FM, Meltzer G, Sharma P, DiClemente RJ. The influence of routine and leisure family activities on the ability of young Asian Americans to maintain a healthy lifestyle: findings from a nationwide survey. J Behav Med. 2022;45(6):962-974. doi:10.1007/s10865-022-00352-z

  5. ​Gu Y, Zhang H, Ali SH, Huang M, Wei J, Gu S, Zhen X, Hu X, Sun X, Dong H. Social Determinants of Health-related Quality of Life among Residents in Zhejiang and Qinghai, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(8):1314. doi:10.3390/ijerph16081314

  6. Gu Y, Ali SH, Guo A. Comparing the role of social connectivity with friends and family in depression among older adults in China: evaluating the moderating effect of urban-rural status. Front Psychiatry. 2023;14(1):1162982. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1162982.

  7. Auer S, Penikalapati R, Parekh N, Merdjanoff AA, DiClemente RJ, Ali SH. “We know what he likes, even if he doesn’t know”: how second-generation South Asian Americans characterize and influence the diets of their first-generation parents. Health Educ Res;(Online first):cyad036. doi:10.1093/her/cyad036.

  8. Le TP, Ali SH, Tran NK, Atkin AL, Ching THW, Csizmadia A, Tran NK, DiClemente RJ. Family Connectedness and Sexual Minority Asian Americans’ Eating Behavior Regulation Motives. Eating Behaviors. 2023;51(1):101817. doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101817.

  9.  Gu Y, Ali SH, Guo A. The association between leisure activities and health outcomes among Chinese older adults. J Public Health. 2023;(Online first). doi:10.1007/s10389-023-02094-x.

  10. Kwon S, Ali SH, DiClemente RJ. Comparing the Influences of Spouses or Partners with Other Family Members in the Ability of Young Asian Americans to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2024;(Online first). doi:10.1177/15598276241236115.

  11.  Ali SH, Cai J, Kamal F, Auer S, Yang K, Parikh RS, Parekh N, Islam NS, Merdjanoff AA, DiClemente RJ. A multi-stage dyadic qualitative analysis to disentangle how family members influence the dietary behaviors of Asian American young adults. Behav Med. 2024;1-13. doi:10.1080/08964289.2023.2298766.

Program Evaluation, Implementation Science
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  1. ​Ali SH, Misra S, Parekh N, Murphy B, DiClemente RJ. Preventing Type 2 Diabetes among South Asian Americans through community-lifestyle interventions: a systematic review. Prev Med Rep. 2020;20:101182. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101182.

  2. Ali SH, Islam NS, Commodore-Mensah Y, Yi SS. Implementing Hypertension Management Interventions in Immigrant Communities in the U.S.: a Narrative Review of Recent Developments and Suggestions for Programmatic Efforts. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2021;23(1):5. doi:10.1007/s11906-020-01121-6.

  3. Ali SH, Islam NS. Developing research interventions in Asian American settings. In: Kwon SC, Trinh-Shevrin C, Islam NS, Yi SS, eds. Applied Population Health Approaches for Asian American Communities John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2022:85-105.

  4. Mohaimin S, Zanowiak J, Ali SH, Mammen S, Taher M, Alam G, Uddin MJ, Zafar S, Sultana S, Islam NS. The Dream Initiative: An Iterative Approach To Addressing South Asian Health Needs In New York City. In: Kwon SC, Trinh-Shevrin C, Islam NS, Yi SS, eds. Applied Population Health Approaches for Asian American Communities. John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2022:245-250.

  5. Islam N, Wyatt L, Ali SH, Zanowiak J, Mohaimin S, Goldfeld K, Lopez P, Kumar R, Beane S, Thorpe L, Trinh-Shevrin C. Integrating Community Health Workers into Community-based Primary Care Practice Settings to Improve Blood Pressure Control: Results from a Randomized Control Trial. Circulation. 2023;(Online first). doi:10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.122.009321.

  6. Onakomaiya DO, Ali SH, Islam T, Mohaimin S, Kaur J, Pillai S, Monir A, Mehdi A, Mehmood R, Mammen S, Hussain S, Zanowiak J, Wyatt LC, Alam G, Lim S, Islam NS. Stakeholder Perspectives on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Implementation of a Community-Clinic Linkage Model in New York City. Prev Sci. 2023;(Online first). doi:10.1007/s11121-023-01534-0.

Book chapter

Book chapter

Diet, Lifestyle Behaviors

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  1. Ali SH, Gu Y, Yan S, Craig HC, Adams L, Poirier L, Park R, Gunen B, Gittelsohn J. Healthy Mondays or Sundays?  Day preferences for healthy eating and cooking among food pantry clients. J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2020;17(1)14-31. doi:10.1080/19320248.2020.1804032.

  2. Gu Y, He Y, Ali SH, Harper K, Dong H, Gittelsohn J. Fruit and vegetable consumption and all-cause mortality in a Chinese population: The China Health and Nutrition Survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(1):342. doi:10.3390/ijerph18010342.

  3. Ali SH, Yi SS, Kranick J, Lee M, Thorpe LE, Rummo PE. Disentangling the roles of generational status and acculturation on dietary behaviors in disaggregated Asian American subgroups. Appetite. 2022;171:105903. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2021.105903.

  4. Ali SH, Gu Y, Yuan C, DiClemente RJ. Personal prioritization of healthy eating among Chinese adults and its association with dietary behaviors: findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Journal of Asian Health. 2022;2(1):e202210. doi:10.59448/jah.v2i1.11

  5. Ali SH, Gupta S, Tariq M, Vasquez-Lopez X, Penikalapati R, Auer S, Hanif C, Parkeh N, Merdjanoff AA, DiClemente RJ. Mapping drivers of second-generation South Asian American eating behaviors using a novel integration of qualitative and network analysis methods. Ecol Food Nutr. 2022;61(4):503-521. doi:10.1080/03670244.2022.2056166.

  6. Trude ACB, Ali SH, Vedovato GM, Black MM, Ruggiero CF, Steeves EA, Gittelsohn J. Associations between Household- and Child-Referenced Food Security Status and Dietary Intake among Low-Income Urban African American Children. J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2022;(Online first):1-16. doi:10.1080/19320248.2022.2033145.

  7. Pachipala K, Shankar V, Rezler Z, Vittal R, Ali SH, Srinivasan MS, Palaniappan L, Yang E, Juul F, Elfassy T.  Acculturation and associations with ultra-processed food consumption among Asian Americans: NHANES, 2011–2018. J Nutr. 2022;152(7):1747-1754. doi:10.1093/jn/nxac082.​

  8. Gunen B, Reznar MM, Yan S, Poirier L, Katragadda N, Ali SH, Sundermeir SM, Gittelsohn J. Fresh Shelves, Healthy Pantries: A Pilot Intervention Trial in Baltimore City Food Pantries. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19:15740. doi:10.3390/ijerph192315740

  9. Ali SH, Parekh N, Islam NS, Merdjanoff AA, DiClemente RJ. Evaluating the healthfulness of Asian American young adult dietary behaviors and its association with family structure: Disaggregated results from NHIS 2015. Nutr Health. 2023;(Online First). doi:10.1177/02601060231151986.

  10. Ali SH, Lin NF, YI SS. Challenging dietary research measures, concepts, and definitions to promote greater inclusivity of immigrant experiences: considerations and practical recommendations. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2023;(Online First). doi:10.1016/j.jand.2023.06.280.

  11. Huang S, Gu Y, Ali SH, Xue J, Wen X. Association Between Adherence to 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and Noncommunicable Disease Risk in Chinese Adults: Prospective Cohort Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2024;10:e47517. doi:10.2196/47517.

Food Environment, Food Security
Bird-Eye View of Fish Market

  1. Parekh N, Ali SH, O’Connor J, Tozan Y, Jones AM, Capassso A, Foreman J, DiClemente RJ. Food insecurity among households with children during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a study among social media users across the United States. Nutr J. 2021;20(1):73. doi:10.1186/s12937-021-00732-2.

  2. Gu Y, Ali SH, Yan S, Gunen B, Poirier L, Craig HC, Adams L, Park R, Gittelsohn J. Associations between Food Pantry Size and Distribution Method and Healthfulness of Foods Received by Clients in Baltimore City Food Pantries. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(13):6979. doi:10.3390/ijerph18136979.

  3. ​Daniel L, Hinman S, Harper K, Ali SH, Gu Y, Poirier L, Park R, Trujillo A, Gittelsohn J. Exploring the Reasons for Low Usage and Informing Strategies to Improve Use of a Nonprofit Grocery Store in Baltimore City. Ecol Food Nutr. 2021;60(6):722-736. doi:10.1080/03670244.2021.1899916.

  4. Russo RG, Ali SH, Mezzacca TA, Radee A, Chong S, Kranick J, Tsui F, Foster V, YI SS. Assessing Changes in the Food Retail Environment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities, Challenges, and Lessons Learned. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):778. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-12890-x

  5. ​Yi SS, Ali SH, Russo RG, Foster V, Radee A, Chong S,Tsui F, Kranick J, Lee D, Imbruce V, Mezzacca TA. COVID-19 Leads to Dramatic Changes in the Food Retail Environment in New York City: May–July 2020. J Immigr Minor Health. 2022;24(1):31-37. doi:10.1007/s10903-021-01230-7.

  6. Ali SH, Imbruce VM, Russio RG, Kaplan S, Stevenson K, Mezzacca TA, Foster V, Radee A, Chong S, Tsui F, Kranick J, Yi SS. Evaluating Closures of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Vendors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Methodology and Preliminary Results Using Omnidirectional Street View Imagery. JMIR Form Res. 2021;5(2):e23870. doi:10.2196/23870.

mHealth,
Digital health environment
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  1. Ali SH, Foreman J, Capasso A, Jones AM, Tozan Y, DiClemente RJ. Social media as a recruitment platform for a nationwide online survey of COVID-19 knowledge, beliefs, and practices in the United States: methodology and feasibility analysis. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2020;20(1):116. doi:10.1186/s12874-020-01011-0.​

  2. Ali SH, Lowery CM, Trude ACB. Leveraging Multiyear, Geospatial Social Media Data for Health Policy Evaluations: Lessons From the Philadelphia Beverage Tax. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2023;(Online first). doi:10.1097/PHH.0000000000001804​

  3. Chong SK, Ali SH, Doan LN, Yi SS, Kown SC. Social media use and misinformation among Asian Americans during COVID-19. Front Public Health. 2022;9:764681. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.764681

  4. ​Ali SH, Merdjanoff AA, Parekh N, DiClemente RJ. Development of an integrated approach to virtual mind-mapping: methodology and applied experiences on enhancing qualitative health research. Qual Health Res. 2022;32(3):571-580. doi:10.1177/10497323211058161

  5. Rummo P, Ali SH, Kranick J, Thorpe LE, Yi SS. Online grocery shopping behaviors and attitudes among Asian Americans. J Immigr Minor Health. 2022; (Online first). doi:10.1007/s10903-022-01433-6.

  6. Ali SH, Lloyd-Montgomery J, Lowery CM, Vedovato GM, Trude ACB. Equity-Promoting Strategies in Online Grocery Shopping: Recommendations Provided by Households of Low Income. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2022;54(11):998-1010. doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2022.08.007

  7. Trude ACB, Ali SH, Lowery CM, Vedovato GM, Lloyd-Montgomery JM, Hager ER, Black MM. A click too far from fresh foods: A mixed methods comparison of online and in-store grocery behaviors among low-income households. Appetite. 2022;175:106038. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2022.106038

  8. Vedovato GM, Ali SH, Lowery CM, Trude ACB. Giving Families a Voice for Equitable Healthy Food Access in the Wake of Online Grocery Shopping. Nutrients. 2022;14(20):4377. doi:10.3390/nu14204377.

  9. Trude ACB, Lowery CM, Ali SH, Vedovato GM. An equity-oriented systematic review of online grocery shopping among low-income populations: implications for policy and research. Nutr Rev. 2022;80(5):1294-1310.  doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuab122.

  10. Mohsin FM, Ali SH, Chong SC, Parikh RS, DiClemente RJ. Social Media Utilization within Asian American Families and its Role in Healthy Lifestyle Behavioral Influence: Results from a Nationwide Survey. Soc Media Soc. 2023;9(3). doi:10.1177/2056305123119654.

  11. Ali SH, Luo R, Li Y, Liu X, Tang C, Zhang P. Application of mHealth technologies aimed at salt reduction: a systematic review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019;7(4):e13250. doi:10.2196/13250.

  12. Hu L, Wyatt L, Mohsin F, Lim S, Zanowiak J, Mammen S, Hussain S, Ali SH, Onakomaiya D, Belli H, Aifah A, Islam N. Characterizing technology use and preferences for health communication in South Asian immigrants with prediabetes or diabetes. JMIR Form Res. 2024;8:e52687. doi:10.2196/52687

Other/Past Research

COVID-19
Public Transportation

  1. Ali SH, Foreman J, Tozan Y, Capasso A, Jones AM, DiClemente RJ. Trends and predictors of COVID-19 information sources and their relationship with knowledge and beliefs related to the pandemic: a nationwide cross-sectional study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2020;6(4):e21071. doi:10.2196/21071.​​

  2. Ali SH, Tozan Y, Jones AM, Foreman J, Capasso A, DiClemente RJ. Regional and socioeconomic predictors of perceived ability to access Coronavirus testing in the United States: results from a nationwide online COVID-19 survey. Ann Epidemiol. 2021;58:7-14. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2021.03.001

  3. Capasso A, Jones AM, Ali SH, Foreman J, Tozan Y, DiClemente RJ. Increased alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic: the effect of mental health and age in a cross-sectional sample of social media users in the U.S. Prev Med. 2021;145:106422. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106422

  4. Batool-Anwar S, Robbins R, Ali SH, Capasso A, Foreman J, Jones AM, Tozan Y, DiClemente RJ, Quan SF. Examining changes in sleep duration associated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: Who is sleeping and who is not? Behav Med. 2021;1-10. doi:10.1080/08964289.2021.2002800

  5. Kim S, Capasso A, Cook S, Ali SH, Jones AM, Foreman J, DiClemente RJ, Tozan Y. Impact of COVID-19-related knowledge on protective behaviors: The moderating role of primary sources of information. PLoS One. 2021;16(11):e0260643. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0260643

  6. Russo RG, Li Y, Doan L, Ali SH, Siscovick D, Yi SS. COVID-19, Social Determinants of Health, and Opportunities for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Conceptual Framework. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021;10(24):e022721. doi:10.1161/JAHA.121.022721

  7. Capasso A, Kim S, Ali SH, Jones AM, DiClemente RJ, Tozan Y. Employment conditions as barriers to the adoption of COVID-19 mitigation measures: How the COVID-19 pandemic may be deepening health disparities among low-income earners and essential workers in the United States. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):870. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-13259-w

  8. Capasso A, Kim S, Ali SH, Jones AM, DiClemente RJ, Tozan Y. Socioeconomic predictors of COVID-19-related health disparities among U.S. workers: A structural equation modeling study. PLOS Global Health. 2022;2(2):e0000117. doi:10.1371/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000117​​

  9. Kim S, Capasso A, Ali SH, DiClemente R, Tozan Y. What predicts people’s adherence to COVID-19 misinformation? A retrospective study using a nationwide online survey among adults residing in the United States. BMC Public Health. 2022;22:2114. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-14431-y.

  10. DiClemente RJ, Capasso A, Ali SH, Jones AM, Foreman J, Tozan Y.  Knowledge, beliefs, mental health, substance use, and behaviors related to the COVID-19 pandemic among U.S. adults: A national online survey. J Public Health. 2022;30(8):2069-2079. doi:10.1007/s10389-021-01564-4.

  11. ​Yi SS, Ali SH, Chin M, Russo RG, Doan LN, Rummo P. Contrasting the experiences for high- and low-income Asian Americans during COVID-19. Prev Med Rep. 2021;24:101519. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101519.

Mental Health
Young Man in Therapy

  1. Misra S, Wyatt LW, Wong JA, Huang CY, Ali SH, Trinh-Shevrin C, Islam NS, Yi SS, Kwon SC. Determinants of depression risk among three Asian American subgroups in New York City. Ethn Dis. 2020;30(4):553-562. doi:10.18865/ed.30.4.553.

  2. Ali SH, Islam T, Pillai S, Kalasapudi L, Shinu M, Inala S, Kalasapudi V, Islam NS, Gunness H. Loneliness and mental health outcomes among South Asian older adult immigrants in the United States: a cross-sectional study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2021;36(9):1423-1435. doi:10.1002/gps.5549.

  3. Ali SH, Mohsin F, Banks A, Lynn P, Lim S. Peer-led, remote intervention to improve mental health outcomes using a holistic, spirituality-based approach: results from a pilot study. Community Ment Health J. 2022;58(5):862-874. doi:10.1007/s10597-021-00893-8.

Environmental
Health
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  1. Ali SH, Foster T, Hall NL. The Relationship between Infectious Diseases and Housing Maintenance in Indigenous Australian Households. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(12):2827. doi:10.3390/ijerph15122827.

  2. Tuan P, Lee CB, Nguyen H, Lin JD, Ali SH, Chu C. Integrative settings approach to workplace health promotion to address contemporary challenges for worker health in the Asia-Pacific. Glob Health Promot. 2020;27(2):82-90. doi:10.1177/1757975918816691.

Injuries / Violence
Image by Salman Hossain Saif

  1. Agrawal P, Yusuf Y, Pasha O, Ali SH, Ziad H, Hyder AA. Interpersonal stranger violence and American Muslims: an exploratory study of lived experiences and coping strategies. Glob Bioeth. 2019;30(1):28-42. doi:10.1080/11287462.2019.1683934.

  2. Mehmood A, Hung YW, He H, Ali SH, Bachani AM. Performance of injury severity measures in trauma research: a literature review and validation analysis of studies from low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ Open. 2019;9(1):e023161. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023161.

  3. Ali SH, Mohaimin S, Dhar R, Dhar M, Rahman F, Roychowdhury L, Islam T, Lim S. Sexual violence among LGB+ South Asian Americans: findings from a community survey. PLoS One. 2022;17(2):e0264061. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264061.

  4. ​Lim S, Ali SH, Mohaimin S, Dhar R, Dhar M, Rahman F, Roychowdhury L, Islam T, Islam NS. Help Seeking and Mental Health Outcomes among South Asian Young Adult Survivors of Sexual Violence in the New York Metropolitan Area. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):1147. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-13489-y.

  5. Lim S, Park O, Mohaimin S, Lee C, Lee S, Chauhan D, Roberts T, Ali SH, Trinh-Shevrin C. Non-partner Sexual Violence among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Adults: A Scoping Review. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2022;(Online first). doi:10.1177/15248380221082088.

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