Monica Wang

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Biography

Dr. Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her work focuses on addressing racial/ethnic and social inequities in obesity and chronic diseases through community-engaged interventions and pursuing cross-sector collaborations to implement and disseminate programs and policies that promote healthy eating and physical activity. One of her recent studies focuses on empowering youth to reduce sugary drink intake and obesity risk in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She has generated over $4 million in federal and foundation funding for her program of research and published over 50 manuscripts, book chapters, and policy documents. As an expert in curriculum development and online education, Dr. Wang has developed and taught graduate courses (traditional and hybrid) at Harvard and Boston University since 2010. She has received numerous awards for her research, teaching, and service, including the Society of Behavioral Medicine Early Investigator Award and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Award. At the national level, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Behavioral Medicine and as the Society's Chair of the Civic and Public Engagement Committee.

Education and Training

• BA, Community Health; Child Development
  Tufts University
• MS, Social and Behavioral Sciences
  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• ScD, Social and Behavioral Sciences
  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Awards and Honors

• Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Award, 2018
  Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
• Early Career Investigator Award, 2016
  Society of Behavioral Medicine
• Excellence in Teaching Award, 2016
  Boston University School of Public Health
• Junior Faculty Research Poster Award, 1st Place, 2014
  Boston University School of Public Health
• Dissertation Award, 2012
  Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders, Boston Children's Hospital
• Teaching Assistance Award, 2010
  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Doctoral Student Award, 2009 - 2010
  Glickenhaus Fund, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Publications

• Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Age-Varying Association Between Adherence to 8-5-2-1-0 Guidelines in Adolescents with High BMI.

  Narcisse MR, Wang ML, Stanford FC, Schwarz AG, McElfish PA. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024 Sep 03

• Randomized non-inferiority trial comparing an asynchronous remotely-delivered versus clinic-delivered lifestyle intervention.

  Pagoto SL, Goetz JM, Xu R, Wang ML, Palmer L, Lemon SC. Int J Obes (Lond) 2025

• Shifts in Child Health Behaviors and Obesity After COVID-19.

  Wang ML, Gago CM. JAMA Pediatr 2024 May 01

• Digital Redlining-The Invisible Structural Determinant of Health.

  Wang ML, Gago CM, Rodriguez K. JAMA 2024 04 16

• Job Flexibility, Job Security, and Mental Health Among US Working Adults.

  Wang ML, Narcisse MR, Togher K, McElfish PA. JAMA Netw Open 2024 03 04