Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Susan Veldheer’s research broadly focuses on behavioral health interventions for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Using an interdisciplinary and community-engaged research approach, Dr. Veldheer has designed and tested interventions related to improving dietary intake of fruits and vegetables; assessing barriers to treatment for both smoking cessation and obesity; and understanding perceptions of public health interventions among patients, providers and community members.
Dr. Veldheer recently led a gardening intervention at the Hershey Community garden to improve dietary intake of fruits and vegetables among patients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In addition, she has conducted randomized trials to assess the effectiveness and potential health effects of tobacco cessation interventions and novel tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes and reduced-nicotine-content cigarettes.
Finally, using qualitative research methods and supported by a Clinical and Translational Science Institute Bridges to Translation award, she is conducting studies to understand the perceptions of screening for social determinants of health among both patients and clinical care team members.
Dr. Susan Veldheer is a Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute KL2 Scholar (2022-2024).
Professional information
Registered Dietitian, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Communications, BA, Marquette University
Adult Education, DEd, The Pennsylvania State University
Human Nutrition, BS, University of Illinois at Chicago
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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The Effects of Diet and Exercise Interventions in Peripheral Artery Disease
Gardner, A. & Veldheer, S.
9/1/22 → 5/31/23
Project: Research project
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Does switching to nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes reduce health risk markers?
2/1/19 → 2/1/21
Project: Research project
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Gardening Is Associated With Better Cardiovascular Health Status Among Older Adults in the United States: Analysis of the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey
Veldheer, S., Tuan, W. J., Al-Shaar, L., Wadsworth, M., Sinoway, L., Schmitz, K. H., Sciamanna, C. & Gao, X., May 2023, In: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 123, 5, p. 761-769.e3Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
3 Scopus citations -
Growing Healthy Hearts: a single-arm feasibility study of a digitally delivered gardening, cooking, and nutrition intervention for adults with risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Veldheer, S., Whitehead-Zimmers, M., Bordner, C., Weinstein, O., Choi, H., Spreenberg-Bronsoms, K., Davis, J., Conroy, D. E., Schmitz, K. H. & Sciamanna, C., Dec 2023, In: Pilot and Feasibility Studies. 9, 1, 152.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Influence of social and behavioral determinants on health-related quality of life among cancer survivors in the USA
Burse, N. R., Weng, X., Wang, L., Cuffee, Y. L. & Veldheer, S., Jan 2023, In: Supportive Care in Cancer. 31, 1, 67.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Scopus citations -
Participant Preferences for the Development of a Digitally Delivered Gardening Intervention to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Cardiovascular Health: Cross-sectional Study
Veldheer, S., Whitehead-Zimmers, M., Bordner, C., Watt, B., Conroy, D. E., Schmitz, K. H. & Sciamanna, C., 2023, In: JMIR Formative Research. 7, e41498.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A cluster-randomized controlled trial of automated internet weight-loss programs in primary care: Role of automated provider feedback
Tate, D. F., Kraschnewski, J. L., Martinez, C., Diamond, M., Veldheer, S., Hwang, K. O., Lehman, E. B., Yang, C. & Sciamanna, C. N., Dec 2022, In: Obesity. 30, 12, p. 2363-2375 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Prizes
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Outstanding Collaborative Research Team
Schmitz, Kathryn (Recipient), Bluethmann, Shirley (Recipient), Calo, William (Recipient), Stine, Jonathan (Recipient), Sturgeon, Kathleen (Recipient), Zaorsky, Nicholas (Recipient), Conroy, David E. (Recipient), Mohamed, Ali (Recipient), Pameijer, Colette R. (Recipient), Raja-Khan, Nazia (Recipient), Rao, Pooja (Recipient), Rogers, Connie Jo (Recipient), Thomas, Gwendolyn (Recipient), Veldheer, Susan (Recipient) & Vidt, Meghan (Recipient), 2021
Prize