Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene & Exercise Science
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Personnel - Faculty

Faculty
Dr. Arthur Leon Arthur S. Leon, M.S., M.D., is the director of the laboratory and first Henry L. Taylor Professor in Exercise Science and Health Enhancement. He has joint appointments in Medicine (Cardiology), Physiology, Epidemiology, and Nutrition. His principal research interests for the past 37 years have been on the role of exercise in the prevention and management of coronary heart disease and its risk factors.

He served for over 20 years as Chief Cardiologist at the University Hospital’s Heart Disease Prevention Clinic. Dr. Leon has over 200 publications in professional journals and books. Dr. Leon has been at the University since 1973 with his original appointment in the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene when it was located under Memorial Stadium.

Dr. Leon is the PI of the following studies:

  1. The HERITAGE Family Exercise Study Phase III of a 12 year study was recently funded by the NHLBI).  The primary purpose of this study is to determine the interactive effects of genetics and a standardized exercise program on risk factors for coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The PIs and their staffs at the 5 collaborating universities are currently involved with analyzing and publication of previously collected data on about 800 men and women in 200 families, and in identifying genetic markers contributing to variability in baseline risk factors for coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes and their responses to exercise training. The study was recently awarded the International Olympic Committee’s Presidential Award in Exercise Science.
  2. Physical Activity Intervention in Primary Care Settings is a major 3-year American Heart Association funded research study in collaboration with the Park-Nicollet Clinics testing various strategies for helping physicians increase physical activity in patients with obesity, high blood pressure, and/or blood lipid disorders.
  3. The MURI Study is a 3 to 5 year Multidisciplinary Research Program funded by the U.S. Army: In this study the laboratory will seek to access the linkage between physical performance and cognitive functions in the laboratory and in the field during military training. Interventions will be tested for improving cognitive functioning during physical stress. Dr. Victor Koscheyev is the Project Director, and Aitor Coca, a Ph.D. graduate student, is assisting with the project.
  4. Dr. Leon is also a co-investigator on a number of NHLBI and American Heart Association funded research projects in the Medical School, School of Public Health, and the School of Nursing, including students on the contribution of exercise to obesity prevention and peripheral vascular disease management.

 
Robert C. Serfass, Ph.D., is the associate director of the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science and the associate dean of the College of Education and Human Development. His other duties include teaching exercise physiology and anatomy and supervising graduate students.
Moira Petit, Ph.D., is a newly appointed faculty member out of Penn State. Her research focus is pediatric bone health and the role of physical activity on bone development and body composition.
 

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