Dirk de Heer, MPH, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Health Sciences
Building 60, Room 448
Hendrik.deHeer@nau.edu
Professional interests
Dr. de Heer has a background in public health and health psychology. His primary research and teaching interests are in community based physical activity and health promotion programs for high-risk underserved populations, and how to integrate these programs into healthcare systems. Currently, he is further involved in research addressing whether physical therapy utilization is associated with downstream health outcomes in large national databases. He is currently funded by the National Cancer Institute and the John and Sophie Ottens Foundation, and has previously received funding from the American Physical Therapy Association among others.
Education and certifications
Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Institutes of Health, Social and Behavioral Research Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, 2011
Doctor of Philosophy, Health Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso, 2009
Master of Public Health, University of Texas at Houston health Science Center, 2009
Master of Science, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands, 2005
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso, 2004
Teaching areas / courses taught
PT 599 Health and Wellness for Physical Therapy
PT 550 Pathophysiology
PT 685 Evidence-based Practice for Physical Therapy
PT 603 Life Cycle II
Select publications / professional presentations
Balcazar HG, de Heer HD. Community Health Workers as legitimate partners in global management of non-communicable diseases. The Lancet Global Health. 2015;3(9):e508-e509.
de Heer HD, Balcazar HG, Wise S, Redelfs A, Rosenthal EL, Duarte MO. Improved cardiovascular risk among Hispanic border participants of the HEART II Mi Corazón Mi Comunidad Promotores de Salud Model: the cohort intervention study 2009-2013. Frontiers in Public Health, section Public Health Education and Promotion.2015; 3(149):1-7.
McNeill DK, Kline JR, de Heer HD, Coast RJ. Oxygen consumption of elite distance runners on an Anti-gravity treadmill®. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2015;14(2):333-339.
Kline JR, Raab S, Coast JR, Bounds RG, McNeill DKP, de Heer HD. A conversion table for running on a Lower Body Positive Pressure treadmill. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2014;29(3):854-862.
Persky S, de Heer HD, McBride C, Reid R. The Role of Weight, Race, and Health Care Experiences in Care Use among Young Men and Women. Obesity. 2014;22(4):1194-200.
de la Haye K, de Heer HD, Wilkinson A, Koehly L. Predictors of Parent-Child Relationships that Support Physical Activity in Mexican American Families. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 2014;37(2):234-44.
de Heer HD, Balcazar HG, Salinas JJ, Morera OF, Heyman J, Lapeyrouse L, Zambrana R. Access to care and comorbidities along the U.S.-Mexico border. Public Health Reports. 2013; 128(6).
de Heer HD, Wilkinson AV, Strong LL, Bondy ML, Koehly L. Sitting time and health outcomes among Mexican origin adults: obesity as a mediator. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:896.
de Heer HD, Koehly L, Pederson R, Morera O. Everyone gets healthier: Effectiveness and spillover of an after-school health promotion program for Hispanic elementary school children. American Journal of Public Health. 2011;101(10):1907-1913.
Kong PW, de Heer H. Anthropometric, gait and strength characteristics of Kenyan distance runners. Journal of Sport Science and Medicine. 2008;7(4):499-504.