Professor and Endowed Community Chair         In Activity, Nutrition, & Obesity Prevention
      College of Public Health 
     University of Nebraska Medical Center 

Buffett Early Childhood Institute
​     University of Nebraska System

Professor Emeritus
      Kansas State University

​​"We started rigorous community research in 1999 as part of a National Institutes of Health school randomized trial of how to build healthy youth places.  We formed www.healthyplaces.org as a place-based approach to improve the health (physical activity and nutrition) and development of youth.  Now we are leading innovation on whole-of-community systems research with new strategy, fostering locally lead efforts to build equitable community opportunities or wellness landscapes (www.wellscapes.org) for youth. This work is funded by the NIH National Cancer Institute."

Research Coordinator
College of Public Health
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Wellscapes Coordinator
College of Public Health
University of Nebraska Medical Center​

"Our laboratory is investigating community, organization and group processes that drive structural opportunities for improved youth health behavior.  We study community-driven practices through rigorous research methods using video observation and objective measurement of health behavior, such as using accelerometers to measure physical activity.  By pairing measures of community, organization, and group structures and processes with measures of health behavior, we can establish how community social ecological systems impact the lives of youth, how structures in opportunities impact youth,  and what communities can do to provide more opportunities for all children."

"Wellscapes is a method for community-driven efforts to build a community landscape of healthy places. A community with a patchwork of different places providing healthy opportunities where children and families go, such as school, after school programs, clubs, faith groups, and youth sport, can provide a local environment to support healthy development and behavior. By using data to drive decision making, embedding community systems change, and providing professional development, communities can combine efforts to create a mosaic of healthy places to live, work, learn, and play.  Click on wellscapes.org to signup for the community population health improvement method for children"

Dzewaltowski Interview on Community Wellness

    Wellness Landscape Communities

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Current Projects

2018-2023

• Whole of Community Systems Intervention for Youth Population Physical Activity
  • 1RO1 CA215420-01A1, NIH, National Cancer Institute
  • Dzewaltowski, David A. (PI)​

2019-2022

• Indigenous Qualitative Inquiry in Implementation Science Community Hub Coalitions in Whole-of-Community Systems Interventions
  • 3R01CA21542002S1, NIH, National Cancer Institute
  • Dzewaltowski, David A. (PI, Mentor)
  • Idoate, Regina (Mentee)

2020-2021

• Smart and connected childcare communities
  • ​​1952231 National Science Foundation
  • Raikes, Abbie (PI)
  • Ryherd, E (Co-PI)
  • Dinkel, D (Co-PI)
  • Dzewaltowski, D.A. (Co-PI)

2019-2023

• Patient-Clinic-Community Integration to Prevent Obesity among Rural Preschool Children
  • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
  • Bailey-Davis, Lisa (PI), Gessinger Health System
  • Dzewaltowski, D.A. (Co-I)

2017-2020

• Evaluating a Systems-Based Health Intervention for Middle School Wellness
  • 1 R21 HD090513-01A1, NIH, NICHD
  • Chen, Senlin (PI), Louisiana State University
  • Dzewaltowski (Co-I)

​2018-Ongoing

• Meal Time Quality and Healthy Eating in Early Child Care
  • USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Dev, Dipti (PI), University of Nebraska, Lincoln
  • Dzewaltowski (Co-I, Mentor)

2015-Ongoing

• Iowa SWITCH - Dissemination of the Evidence-Based SWITCH® Program for Childhood Obesity Prevention
  • 2015-68001-23242, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA)
  • Welk, Greg (PI), Iowa State University

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SELECTED AWARDS

​Distinguished Scientist Award
​
The Distinguished Scientist Award -- which is sponsored by the chancellor and recognizes researchers who have been among the most productive scientists at the University of Nebraska Medical Center during the past five years -- was awarded to Dr. David Dzewaltowski.

​Outstanding MPH Capstone Award
​
Research Assistant Ann Essay receives the UNMC College of Public Health Outstanding Capstone Award from Dean Ali Khan for  her research with Children's Hospital Center for the Child & Community on geographic variability in childhood obesity in Omaha.