VIRGINIA DODD, PH.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator
Ph.D. in public health, University of South Florida (2000)
M.P.H. in public health, University of South Florida (1994)
A.S. in dental hygiene, St. Petersburg Junior College (1990)
A.A. Hillsborough Community College (1986)
Curriculum Vitae

Office:		FLG 12
Address:		P.O. Box 118210 Gainesville, FL 32611-8210
Contact:		(352) 392-0583 ext. 1359 vdodd@hhp.ufl.edu

Biography:

Virginia J. Dodd, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Health, Education and Behavior at the University of Florida. Prior to her career in academia Dodd was a clinical dental hygienist and dental practice administrator. Dodd ’s research projects have focused on game day alcohol use, family violence, oral cancer awareness, predictors of intoxication among college students, adolescent sexuality, adolescent obesity and physical activity, and unintentional injury prevention topics such as bicycle helmet use, farm safety, and drowning prevention. Dodd has published numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts and regularly presents at national and state conferences. She is recognized by the media as a contact person for information in her areas of expertise.

Dodd’s research efforts have received funding from the United States Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the University of Florida Center for Aids Research. Dodd has served as a panel review member for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Dodd has received several teaching and research awards. She is an annual presenter for the Injury 101 training course offered by the Florida Department of Health Office of Injury Prevention and a member of the Alachua County Partners in the Prevention of Substance Abuse (PIPSA) coalition. Her professional affiliations include the American Academy of Health Behavior, American Public Health Association, American School Health Association and Society for Public Health Education.

Research Interests:

• • Designing effective health behavior change interventions including effective health message design and the use of social marketing
• • Addressing health risk behaviors in adolescents and young adults
• • The use of field research as a health behavior change strategy

Classes:
HSC 4950 Community Health Strategies in Injury Prevention and Control
PHC 6105 Organization and Administration of Public Health Programs
HSC 6637 Social Marketing in Health