Semra A. Aytur, Associate Professor, Health Management and Policy

Semra Aytur

PROFESSOR
Phone: (603) 862-3415
Office: Health Management & Policy, Hewitt Hall Rm 335, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:

Prior to joining UNH, Aytur completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular epidemiology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her research interests focus on relationships between policy, environment, and systems change to promote healthy behaviors and prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. She is particularly interested in health disparities and in relationships between land use, transportation, and environmental policies which affect access to health- promoting resources. Aytur received a dissertation grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to examine the relationships between land use policies, transportation infrastructure investments, physical activity, and obesity. She also received an award in 2008 from the University of North Carolina Center for Urban and Regional Studies to conduct a community-based participatory research project in a rural African-American community, examining the impact of a local Farmer's Market on health behavior. Additionally, Aytur obtained practical public health experience by working in public health departments in several states, focusing on policies related to healthy eating, active living, and chronic disease prevention. She also has experience working in hospital settings, conducting patient-centered outcomes research. Aytur continues to be involved in collaborative, transdisciplinary projects to examine how policy, environment, and systems change can improve population health.

Courses Taught

  • BMS 799H: Senior Honors Thesis
  • HDS 890: HDS Independent Study
  • HMP 501: Epidemiology & Comm Med Lab
  • HMP 715: Environmental Health
  • HMP 746: Health Policy
  • HMP 796: Independent Study
  • HMP 798H: Honors Project/Research Design
  • HMP 799H: Honors Project/Research
  • INCO 590: Rsrch Exp/Health Man & Policy
  • INCO 790: Advanced Research Experience
  • PHP 900: Public Health Care Systems
  • PHP 901: Epidemiology
  • PHP 907: Public Health Policy
  • SUST 750: Sustainability Capstone

Education

  • Ph.D., Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • M.P.H., Health Services Administration, Boston University
  • B.A., Biology/Biological Sciences, Brown University

Selected Publications

  • Voyer, H., Aytur, S., & Tanda, N. (2023). Linking Adverse Childhood Experiences and Other Risk Factors to Subjective Cognitive Decline in an Aging Population.. Prev Chronic Dis, 20, E115. doi:10.5888/pcd20.230182

  • Lemon, S. C., Joseph, H. A., Williams, S., Brown, C., Aytur, S., Catalano, K., . . . Schramm, P. J. (2023). Reimagining the Role of Health Departments and Their Partners in Addressing Climate Change: Revising the Building Resilience against Climate Effects (BRACE) Framework.. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 20(15). doi:10.3390/ijerph20156447

  • Smith, S. L., Vaquerano, J., Humphreys, B. P., & Aytur, S. A. (2023). Parent Satisfaction With a Telehealth Parent Coaching Intervention to Support Family Participation.. OTJR (Thorofare N J), 43(3), 531-539. doi:10.1177/15394492231164942

  • Webster, D. G., Axelrod, M., & A. Aytur, S. (2023). Turbulence and transition to healthy governance. In Global Environmental Politics in a Turbulent Era (pp. 184-196). Edward Elgar Publishing. doi:10.4337/9781802207149.00023

  • Caron, R. M., Aytur, S., & Foster, H. (2023). The Institute of Medicine's call to action revisited: assuring access to public health education for U.S. college students.. Front Public Health, 11, 1185845. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1185845

  • Lyn, R., Aytur, S., Davis, T. A., Eyler, A. A., Evenson, K. R., Chriqui, J. F., . . . Brownson, R. C. (2013). Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches for Obesity Prevention: A Framework to Inform Local and State Action. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE, 19, S23-S33. doi:10.1097/PHH.0b013e3182841709

  • Evenson, K. R., Aytur, S. A., & Borodulin, K. (2009). Physical Activity Beliefs, Barriers, and Enablers among Postpartum Women. JOURNAL OF WOMENS HEALTH, 18(12), 1925-1934. doi:10.1089/jwh.2008.1309

  • Rodriguez, D. A., Aytur, S., Forsyth, A., Oakes, J. M., & Clifton, K. J. (2008). Relation of modifiable neighborhood attributes to walking. PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, 47(3), 260-264. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.02.028

  • Aytur, S. A., Rodriguez, D. A., Evenson, K. R., Catellier, D. J., & Rosamond, W. D. (2007). Promoting active community environments through land use and transportation planning. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH PROMOTION, 21(4), 397-407. doi:10.4278/0890-1171-21.4s.397

  • SADEH, A., ACEBO, C., SEIFER, R., AYTUR, S., & CARSKADON, M. A. (1995). ACTIVITY-BASED ASSESSMENT OF SLEEP-WAKE PATTERNS DURING THE 1ST YEAR OF LIFE. INFANT BEHAVIOR & DEVELOPMENT, 18(3), 329-337. doi:10.1016/0163-6383(95)90021-7

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  • Most Cited Publications