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Pamela Rothpletz-Puglia, Ed.D.

Pamela Rothpletz-Puglia, Ed.D.
Professor
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
Program: Nutrition and Dietetics
Administrative Title: Program Director
Joint Appointment Title: Associate Professor
School: School of Nursing
Email: pr.puglia@shp.rutgers.edu
Office location:
675 Hoes Lane West
Research Tower, 836B
Piscataway, NJ 08854

About

My academic reputation is based on my expertise in qualitative and mixed methods research for generating knowledge about the biopsychosocial impacts on health. My expertise in research methods comes from the deliberate practice of learning, testing, and teaching research methodologies. The drive to master qualitative and mixed methods research stems from an epistemological belief in constructivism, when adult learners, study participants, and team members actively construct knowledge and meaning in learning and addressing health issues.
My belief in constructivism stems from studying epistemology and health behavior change theory and from my 20 years of experience as a pediatric HIV nutrition practitioner witnessing success when families co-produced solutions that fit their context. Hence, I often state that “Context is the Mother of Everything.”

Education

Ed.D., Columbia University

Certification

Reg Certificate Type Reg Certificate Number
R 800446

Professional Achievements

Research

My scholarly interest is related to generating new knowledge about biopsychosocial impacts on health. For example, I am interested in studying influences ranging from how biological embedding in childhood trauma impacts health — to understanding intergenerational foodways, culture, trauma, and poverty on parenting and childhood feeding practices — to shifting ingrained social norms that contribute to systemic barriers to health. Since my epistemology lies with constructivism, my research is framed in participatory methods that bridge positivist and interpretivist research paradigms. Hence, my work is mainly mixed methods research.
Complete list of my research publications: https://www.researchwithrutgers.com/en/persons/pamela-rothpletz-puglia
Qualitative Research and Mixed Methods Lab: https://sites.google.com/scarletmail.rutgers.edu/bps/home

Publications

Title   Authors   Where and When
Functional Status and Engagement in Physical Activity among Maintenance Dialysis Patients: A Mixed Methods Study
 
Rothpletz-Puglia, P. Brown, T, Peters, E., Thomas-Hawkins, C., Kaplan, J, Myslinksi, MJ, Parrot, JS, Byham-Gray, L.,
 
Kidney Medicine. April 25, 2022 https://www.kidneymedicinejournal.org/article/S2590-0595(22)00083-8/fulltext
Family Systems Cultural and Resilience Dimensions to Consider in Nutrition Interventions: A Qualitative Study Exploring Preschoolers’ Eating and Physical Activity Routines During COVID-19.
 
Rothpletz-Puglia, P. Ryan, E, Jones, V, Eubanks, R, Ziegler, J, Sackey, J, Nabi A, Jia J, Byham-Gray, L.
 
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, April 6, 2022. https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(22)00001-X/fulltext
Position of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior: Healthful Food for Children is the Same as Adults
 
Rothpletz-Puglia, P, Fredericks, L, Patusco, R., Dreker, M, Ziegler, J.,
 
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Volume 54, Issue 1, 2022, Pages 4-11,ISSN 1499-4046, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2021.09.007. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S14994046210081