Keep Children Healthy:

Susan R. Tortolero, Ph.D., assistant professor of health promotion and behavioral science
and epidemiology, School of Public Health

Susan R. Tortolero, Ph.D.

Keeping adolescents healthy is a challenge. Tortolero directs the Prevention Research Center, which brings academic researchers, community members, and public health and education agencies together to collaborate on developing effective strategies to prevent health problems among teens.

She is principal investigator (PI) on a long-term study, Healthy Passages, designed to provide an understanding of those factors that help keep children healthy. Information learned in this study can help families, health care providers, schools and communities make the best choices in developing and implementing programs and policies to improve the health and development of children, adolescents and adults.

Tortolero is also PI of several school-based intervention studies to test effective strategies for preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among teens. “I have always been interested in adolescent health; however, during my graduate studies, it became clear that many American adolescents are threatened by what has been called ‘social morbidities,’ which include: unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, homicide, suicide, injuries related to violence and substance abuse,” she said. “These social morbidities and unhealthy behavior patterns not only threaten adolescents’ current physical health status, but also are linked through the lifespan to adult chronic diseases and ultimately to adult mortality. “

The task of improving the health status of youth is complex and difficult, yet challenging and rewarding. The task is made more difficult by concurrent problems in educational performance, interrupted family relationships, poor living conditions, and a culture that supports and reinforces many unhealthy behaviors,” Tortolero said.

“Parents and educators need solutions to deal with these important health issues,” she said. “Being a parent of a 9-year-old and a 16-year-old further motivates me in helping parents, educators and community agencies to address these issues.”