Research InterestsAs a clinical nutrition epidemiologist, Dr. Van Horn's research focuses on the benefits of a fat-modified diet, rich in fruit, vegetable-protein and whole grain fiber, to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer and other chronic diseases. Dr. Van Horn's research includes the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of a low-fat, nutrient-dense diet in growing children; biomarkers of dietary adherence in premenopausal women (the Diet and Hormone Study); impact of a low-fat, high-fiber diet on breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis outcomes in postmenopausal women (Women's Health Initiative); and cross-cultural comparison of diet and blood pressure in China, Japan, The United Kingdom, and The United States (INTERMAP). Dr. Van Horn has many years of experience in multi-center, collaborative trials including the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention (MRFIT), the Diet Intervention Study in Children (DISC), the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the study of Coronary Artery Risk Reduction in Young Adults (CARDIA) and the international study on macro and micronutrients that affect blood pressure in adults (INTERMAP). She has also conducted several dietary intervention studies on lipid response to oat fiber and soy intake. Recently she was involved in several NCI-funded ancillary studies within WHI using doubly-labeled water in postmenopausal women to validate dietary assessment methodology. She is also participating in a follow up study among the DISC girls comparing diet, hormone levels and breast density levels between the intervention and control groups ten years after the initial intervention. Dr. Van Horn was a recipient of the Nutrition Academic Award (NAA) funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The purpose of the NAA was to improve and expand nutrition education in twenty one medical schools across the country at NUFSM, Dr. Van Horn and her colleagues are integrating nutrition education and training as part of the undergraduate curriculum as well as providing continuing education for residents, graduate students and medical faculty. Dr. Van Horn is committed to providing nutrition education outreach to underserved populations. She launched a nutrition education program involving dietitian-supervised medical students for low income pregnant patients who attend the Prentice Ambulatory Clinic (PAC). These patients would otherwise not be exposed to good nutrition practices and the medical students who are eager to learn how to counsel patients have the opportunity to develop these skills while learning the basics of nutrition assessment and intervention. In 2006, Dr. Van Horn became Associate Dean for Faculty Development in the Feinberg School of Medicine part time. She is involved in mentorship development and meets with medical faculty on matters of promotion and tenure. In 2007, she became Interim-Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine. In 2008, she was invited to serve as Chair of the US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, jointly sponsored by the USDA and HHS with the next report due in 2010. Dr. Van Horn is also the Editor in Chief of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. |
