Patty Freedson, PhD
Dr. Freedson earned her PhD in Exercise Physiology at the University of Michigan. She joined the faculty of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1981, where she has taught courses in Human Physiology, Exercise Physiology, Pediatric Exercise Physiology, Physical Activity and Health. Dr. Freedson’s primary research focus is on the assessment of physical activity using wearable monitors, a field in which she is an internationally recognized authority. Dr. Freedson has published over 95 papers and is currently principal investigator for three NIH grants. She is a former president of the New England Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine and former vice-president of American College of Sports Medicine, as well as a fellow of the Research Consortium, American College of Sports Medicine, and the National Academy of Kinesiology.
Jorge Mota, PhD
Dr. Mota earned his PhD in Sports Sciences at the Faculty of Sports Science at the University of Porto in Portugal. He joined the faculty of the University of Porto as a Professor of Sports Recreation and Leisure, serving as the Dean of Faculty during a two year appointment from 1996-1998. Currently Dr. Mota is Director of Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure and Faculty’s President of General Assembly. A visiting Professor at several Brazilian institutions, Dr. Mota is adviser for the National Program for the Promotion of Physical Activity (MEXA-SE) and is involved in physical activity promotion networks including HEPA Europe and IPEN. His primary area of work is in issues relating to physical activity, its health related effects, and specifically its relationship with non- communicable diseases. Dr. Mota is also involved in the development and implementation of programmes related to physical activity and health promotion, and he has authored numerous peer reviewed publications.
Bonnie Spring, PhD
Dr. Spring earned her PhD in Psychology at Harvard University. Her research program on changing unhealthy lifestyle behaviors has been funded continuously since 1976 by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart and American Cancer Societies, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Spring is a Past President of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM), an elected Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, and the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, and she holds the American Board of Professional Psychology’s Diplomate in Clinical Health Psychology. Dr. Spring founded and Chairs the NIH-sponsored multidisciplinary Council for Training in Evidence-Based Behavioral Practice, and she is founding editor of the journal, Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy, Research and an advisory editor for the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, and Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.
Stewart G. Trost, PhD
Dr. Trost earned his PhD in Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina. An internationally recognized expert in the field of physical activity and obesity prevention in children, Dr. Trost has published 95 primary research papers and 8 book chapters on the topic and has served as a consultant on matters related to measurement of physical activity and obesity prevention to numerous organizations including the National Institutes of Health, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Australian Federal Government. Dr. Trost headed the scientific committee responsible for drafting children’s physical activity recommendations for Australian youth and was a member of the CDC panel to establish evidence-based guidelines for physical activity in school aged youth in the United States. Dr Trost has specific expertise in assessment of physical activity in children and adolescents, psychosocial and environmental correlates of youth physical activity behavior, and interventions to promote physical activity and healthy eating in children and youth.