Suzanne Phelan

Professor | Kinesiology and Public Health Department

Director, Center for Health Research

Areas of Expertise

Obesity

Clinical and Health Psychology

Contact Information

805.756.2087

Email

Website

Biography

Suzanne Phelan is a professor in the Kinesiology and Public Health Department and director of the Center for Health Research. Over the past decade, Phelan has secured National Institutes of Health funding of more than $12 million. Her recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that an online weight loss program led to significant weight loss in low-income, postpartum mothers. Phelan’s other research projects include gestational diabetes prevention, a couples-based approaches to weight management during pregnancy, understanding maternal and toddler feeding interactions, and identifying strategies among long-term weight loss maintainers. Phelan is also spearheading a new program to provide free women's healthcare to underserved populations in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The Cal Poly Women and Infants’ Mobile Health Unit contains a medical clinic that travels to underserved populations, providing free access to health care and opportunities for Cal Poly students to get hands-on experience in clinical research. 

Education

• Ph.D., MCP Hahnemann University, Clinical Psychology
• M.A., MCP Hahnemann University, Clinical Psychology 
• B.A., University of Colorado, French
• B.S., University of Colorado, Journalism

Research Interests

• Promoting weight loss
• Weight gain prevention
• Preventing pregnancy-associated weight gain and obesity