Sherry Pagoto Inducted As Society of Behavioral Medicine President
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April 14, 2018
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Sherry Pagoto inducted as Society of Behavioral Medicine president
NEW ORLEANS – University of Connecticut Center for mHealth and Social Media Director Sherry L. Pagoto, PhD, began her term as president of the Society of Behavioral Medicine on Saturday.
The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) is a 2,400-member organization of scientific researchers, clinicians and educators. They study how behavior, biology and the environment interact, and they turn their findings into health interventions that improve the well-being of individuals, families and communities.
Pagoto is a licensed clinical psychologist and an international leader in digital health with more than 20,000 Twitter followers and more than 160 published articles on topics related to the prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Pagoto's work has been federally funded for 14 years.
As director of UConn’s Center for mHealth and Social Media, Pagoto and her staff help researchers design and perform mHealth and online social networking studies, including developing mHealth apps and online interventions. The center is part of UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy. Pagoto is also a professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences in College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.
Pagoto was inducted as SBM president during the Society’s 39th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions, held Wednesday through Saturday in New Orleans. She officially began her one-year term during the society’s business meeting Saturday morning. Pagoto was selected as president through a vote by SBM members.
Pagoto has been an actively engaged member of SBM for 18 years, holding numerous professional roles in SBM including Program chair, Civic and Public Engagement Committee chair, member delegate, Health Policy Council member, and Evidence-Based Behavioral Medicine Committee member. She became an SBM fellow in 2009 and has earned several awards from SBM including the Early Career/Young Investigator Award, Paper Citations, and Distinguished Service Awards.
As president, Pagoto will focus on building partnerships with stakeholders who are positioned to help SBM members have an unprecedented impact on public health.
“Behavioral science has an enormous knowledge base that is ready for implementation in so many contexts,” Pagoto said. “The next step for us is creating partnerships that will facilitate that implementation. I’d like to send the message to industry, patients and advocates, legislators, the media, and scientists in other disciplines: Let’s connect!”
Pagoto views SBM’s key partners to be the technology industry, policymakers, the media, and the patient. Her vision for SBM is to bring these partners together to improve health for all.
Pagoto has received several awards for her work including the UMass Medical School Women in Science and Health Achievement Award in 2015, The Obesity Society Pioneer in mHealth/eHealth Award in 2014, and the Western Michigan University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011. Devoted to science communication she is a frequent contributor to US News and World Report, Psychology Today, and KevinMD.com.
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