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Robert H. Wood, PhD

Dr. Wood Headshot

Robert H. Wood, PhD

Associate Dean for Research, 
College of Health Sciences 

The Associate Dean for Research Advocates on behalf of the faculty, staff, students, the College of Health Sciences (COHS) and Boise State University to advance the scholarly productivity of the college. The Associate Dean reports to the Dean of the COHS and works closely with the Director of the COHS Office of Research. Together, the Associate Dean and the Director of the Office of Research co-chair the College of Health Science Research Committee.

Dr. Wood’s CV

Education

  • 1984: BS, Physical Education; State University of New York, Cortland; Cum Laude.
  • 1987: MS, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
  • 1996: PhD, Kinesiology: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

Dissertation: Chronic Aerobic Exercise and Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease.

LSU Distinguished Dissertation Award Finalist.

Academic Appointments

July, 2018 – present: Boise State University, Boise, ID.

  • 01/20-present. Professor and Acting Associate Dean for Research, College of Health Sciences
  •  07/18-present. Professor and Director, School of Allied Health Sciences

July, 2009 – July 2018: New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM.

  • 07/09 – 06/17: Professor and Academic Head, Department of Kinesiology & Dance
  • 11/15 – 06/17: Professor and Interim Head, Special Ed and Communication Disorders
  •  08/14 – 01/16: Interim Associate Dean of Research, College of Education

August, 2006 – August, 2009: Husson University, Bangor, ME.

  • 08/06 – 08/09: Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy

August, 1992 – August, 2006: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.

  • 08/03 – 08/06: Associate Professor, Department fo Kinesiology
  • 08/97 – 08/03: Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology
  • 08/96 – 08/97: Instructor, Department of Kinesiology
  • 08/92 – 08/96: Pre-doctoral Fellow, Department of Kinesiology

Courses Taught

Boise State University School of Allied Health Sciences
  • RESP CARE 221 Introduction to Electrocardiography
  • KINES 430 Exercise for Special Populations
  • KINES 443 Medical Aspects of Exercise
New Mexico State University Department of Kinesiology & Dance
  • SP M 608: Cardiovascular Physiology
  • PE P 185: Introduction & Foundations
  • SP M 307: Pathophysiology & Human Function
  • SP M 330: Exercise Testiing & Prescription
  • SP M 456: Exercise for Special Populations
  • SP M 458: Physical Dimensions of Aging
Husson University Department of Physical Therapy
  • PT 425: Exercise Physiology
  • PT 560: Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation I
  • PT 606: Research Methods VI
  • PT 620: Primary Care (team teach)
  • PT 650: Patient Care Seminar (team teach)
  • PT 660: Cardioplumonary Rehabilitation II
  • PT 661: Exercise for Special Populations
  • PT 664: Geriatric Physical Therapy
LSU Department / School of Kinesiology
  • KIN 7999: Selected Topics in Exercise Physiology
  • KIN 7505: Seminar in Grant Writing
  • KIN 7503: Physical Dimensions of Aging
  • KIN 7551: Introduction to Electrocardiography
  • KIN 7538: Practicum in Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • KIN 7534: Exercise in Health & Disease
  • KIN 7533: Exercise Testing in Health & Disease
  • KIN 7530: Graduate Exercise Physiology
  • KIN 4538: Undergraduate Practicum in Adult Fitness
  • KIN 4525: Advanced Anatomy and Functional Impairment
  • KIN 3534: Exercise and Fitness
  • KIN 3533: Scientific Basis for Exercise Testing and Prescription
  • KIN 3515: Physiology of Exercise
  • KIN 2504: Principles of Conditioning

Courses Developed

Boise State University School of Allied Health Sciences
  • KINES 443 Medical Apsects of Exercise (F2F and asynchtonous online)
  • AHS 221 Introduction to Electrocardiography (asynchronous online)
New Mexico State University Department of KIND:
  • SP M 608: Cardiovascular Physiology
  • SP M 458: Physical Dimensions of Aging
  • SP M 307: Pathophysiology & Physical Function
Husson University Department of Physical Therapy:
  • PT 561: Pathophysiology
  • PT 661: Exercise for Special Populations
  • PT 664: Geriatric Physical Therapy
LSU Department/School of Kinesiology:
  • KIN 7503: Physical Dimensions of Aging
  • KIN 4525: Advanced Anatomy and Pathophysiology

Relevant Professional and Community Service.

2022-present: Member, Board of Directors, Idaho Veterans Research and Education Foundation (IVREF)

Scholarly Works (Last 10 years)

Book chapters

  • R Wood. Evalaution of Falls Risks in Older Adults. In Prevencao De Quedas Em Idosos, 1st ed. (C. Santos, E.
    Dantas, and L. Costa, eds.), Dykinson, pp. 192-210. (2020)
  • Chow D, Grandenetti A, Wood RH. Autonomic complications of AIDS and other infectious disorders, In Clinical Autonomic Disorders, 3 rd ed.(Philip Low, ed.). Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. pp. 455-467 (2008).

Peer-reviewed manuscripts

(*denotes corporate authorship)

  1. EN Murphy, YW An, S-R Lee, RH Wood (In press) Postural Change, Gait, and Physical Function in Older
    Adults.  Gait an dPOsture
  2.  Minto, L.R., Ellis, R., Cherry, K.E., Wood, R.H., Barber, S.J., Carter, S., & Dotson, V.M. (2023). Impact of
    cardiovascular risk factors on the relationships of physical activity with mood and cognitive function in a
    diverse sample. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 30(4), 654-667.
    doi:  10.1080/13825585.2022.2071414
  3. RG deSouza Valle, AC Guimaraes, SA Cader, R Wood, HIO Viana Andre, JBP deCastro, EHM Dantas.
    (2022). Balance, physical conditioning, and health perception in elderly women submitted to a 32-week
    physical exercise program. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 14, 33-40.
  4.  J Gabaldon, RH Wood, E Murphy, DW Keeley (2020). Medication status and Gait Mechanics in Older
    adults: A multivariate analysis. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy 43(2):55-6. doi:
    10.1519/JPT.0000000000000253.
  5. Alomari, H Khalil, Omar F. Khabour, R Wood. (2017). Cardiovascular Function is related to muscular
    strength in Parkinson’s Disease. Clinical Neurophysiology, 128(9):e246-e247 .
    DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2017.07.221.
  6.  L Zhang, O Ma, JM Fabre, RH Wood, SU Garcia, KM Ivey, ED McCann. (2015). Classification of older
    adults with/without a falls history using machine learning methods. Proceedings of the 37 th International
    Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. August 25-29, 2015; Milano, Italy.
    DOI:  10.1109/EMBC.2015.7319945
  7.  L Zhang, O Ma, JM Fabre, R Wood. (2015). The motion center of mass during walking reveals differences
    between older adults with and without a fall history. International Journal of Aging and Society, 5(3): 1-14.
  8.  R Ellis, ME Cress, RH Wood, M Schenkman. (2015). Exploring the relationship between activity and
    physical participation in older adults with Parkinson’s Disease. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 31(2),
    145-151. doi: 10.1097/TGR.0000000000000061.

Dissertations and Theses, directed or co-directed:

9. Eryn N. Murphy (2020). Postural Change and Active Propulsion: Implications for Cardio-Postural Control in Older Adults. New Mexico State Doctoral Dissertation.

10. Tiina Tulia Garrison (2008). Physical Function and Mental Health Following Total Knee Arthroplasty. LSU Doctoral Dissertation. (co-directed with Rebecca Ellis)

11. Jennifer M. Fabre (2007). Development and Validation of the Comprehensive Falls Risk Screening Instrument. LSU Doctoral Dissertation. (co-directed with Rebecca Ellis)

12. Madlyn I. Frisard (2005). Health and Lifestyle Profiles Across the Lifespan: Results from the Louisiana
Healthy Aging Study. http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-11152005-183139/ LSU Doctoral Dissertation.

13. Melissa J. Deveer (2005) Hemodynamic and Ocular Responses to Caloric Stimulation and Age-Related Disparities http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-09012005-145941/ . LSU Masters Thesis.

14. Calynn D. Bunol (2005). Autonomic Nervous System Modulation of the Heart Following a High Carbohydrate Liquid Meal. http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-09082005-165133/ . LSU Masters Thesis.

15. Robyn Bossier (2005). Physical Function and Health Related Quality of Life in Culturally Diverse Elders: Evidence of Environmental Press http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-09082005-141156/ . LSU Masters Thesis.

16. Scott E. Fuller (2004). Measuring oxygen uptake efficiency during physical function testing in older adults.
http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-01242005-175732/ (LSU Masters Thesis)

17. Rafael Reyes. (2004). Hemodynamic responses following dynamic exercise in young and older adult women. http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-04082004-110028/ (LSU Doctoral Dissertation)

18. Christina M. King. (2004). Brachial artery dimensions, flow-mediated reactivity and physical function in older adults. http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-04142004-111444/ (LSU Masters Thesis)

19. Kellye A. Ferachi (2003). Physical function and quality of life in the very- and oldest-old: Gender differences. http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-0709103-132756/ (LSU Masters Thesis)

20. Kathryn O. Wilson. (2002). Leg-extensor strength and continuous-scale physical function performance in independent-living older adults. http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-0731102-120443/ (LSU Masters Thesis)

21. Amy Elizabeth Dunbar. (2002). A Comparison of self-report and performance based measures of physical function in older adults. http://etd.lsu.edu:8085/docs/available/etd-1214101-190232/(LSU Masters Thesis)

22. Jennifer Pitre Ortego. (2002). One-week stability of venous outflow measures as assessed by forearm venous occlusion plethysmography. http://etd.lsu.edu:8085/docs/available/etd-0402102-135533/ (LSU Masters Thesis)

23. Jusonda Derouen (2002). Comparison of wavelet vs. spectral analysis of heart rate variability in patients with chronic heart failure and age-matched controls. http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-1112102- 210446/ (LSU Masters Thesis)

24. Deborah Stone. (2002). Reliability of the discrete wavelet transformation in assessing heart rate variability. http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-1113102-212109/ (LSU Masters Thesis)

25. Heidi A. Kluess. (2002). Vagal modulation of the heart and central hemodynamics during dynamic
handgrip exercise and forearm occlusion following forearm exercise training
http://etd.lsu.edu:8085/docs/available/etd-0415102-154118/ (LSU Doctoral Dissertation)

26. C. Matthew Lee.(2001). Influence of short-term endurance exercise training on heart rate variability. http://etd.lsu.edu:8085/docs/available/etd-1108101-143050/ (LSU Doctoral Dissertation)

27. Manning Sabatier. (2001). Age-related changes in the isokinetic knee extension force-velocity curve. (LSU Masters Thesis)

28. Sara Leleux. (1999). Effects of 5 weeks of reduced training volume on heart rate variability in collegiate swimmers. (LSU Masters Thesis)

Grant Activity

Pending

Jorcyk, C. et al. NIH CTR-D application. ($7.5 million).

Funded

  • R Wood. New Mexico Falls Coalition
    Contract with NM DoH ($9,000 per yer)
    Status: Funded/Closed
    Role: PI
    Dates: 04/01/2016- Present
  • A Kammerdiner, et al. BRIGE: ASPIRE-DATA: Advancing Science Participation through Innovation, Research
    and Education towards Data Association that Transforms Aging.
    National Science Foundation BRIDGE program ($174,999)
    Status: Funded/Closed
    Role: Collaborating Investigator
    Dates: 01/01/2014-12/31/2015
  • R Wood and O Ma. New Mexico State University Initiative for the Prevention of Falls in Older Adults.
    New Mexico State Unviersity Interdisciplinary Research Grant ($40,000)
    Status: Funded/Closed
    Role: PI
    Dates: 5/01/2011-4/30/2012.
  • Sauda V. Eastern Agency on Aging. A Matter of Balance and¨Falls Prevention Program.
    Subcontract to Wood, R. Husson Department of Physical Therapy:
    United Way: ($5,500)
    Status: Funded/Closed
    Role: Co-PI
    Dates: 7/01/2009-7/01/2010
  • J Garrison, D Pope, T Garrison, RH Wood. Functional improvement in Unilateral vs. Bilateral Total Knee
    Arthroplasty Patients.
    Stryker Corporation: ($185,000)
    Status: Funded/Closed
    Role on Project: Co-investigator
    Dates: 9/01/07- 09/01/10
  • RH Wood , G Tudor.
    Husson College Graduate Committee Research Council ($1,500)
    Status: Funded/complete
    Role: PI
    Dates: 07/01/07- 06/30/08.
  • RH Wood
    Planning Grant: Community Based Falls Prevention Program.
    Husson College School of Health Dean’s Council ($1,500)
    Status; Funded/ Closed
    Role: PI
    Dates: 10/01/06-06/30/07.
  • KE Cherry, SM Jazwinski, M Batzer, J Mountz, D Scott, E Ravussin, L Su, R Wood. Impact of Disaster on Elderly in Louisiana: Added Vulnerability.
    National Institute on Aging: P01 Supplement (1-P01 AG022064-01 ) ($150,000)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role: Co-investigator
  • D Chow, S Souza, RH Wood, C Shikuma. Autonomic Function in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease
    Hawaii Community Foundation, Proposal ID#20051293, $24,318.
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role: Consultant
    Dates: 01/01/06-12/31/06.
  • ME Cress et al.
    Treatment of Sarcopenia in Post Hip Fracture Patients
    Merck Pharmaceutical: MK-0677 ($2,500 + travel for R Wood)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role on Project: Technical Assistant
    Dates: 09/01/05-09/01/06
  • SM Jazwinski, M Batzer, K Cherry, J Mountz, D Scott, E Ravussin, L Su, R Wood. Determinants of Longevity
    and Healthy Aging.
    National Institute on Aging: 1-P01 AG022064-01 ($7,200,000)
    Project for R. Wood: Vascular status, physical function, and healthy aging ($774,402)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Roles on Project: Project Leader 2004-2007; consultant 2007-2009
    Dates: 07/01/04-06/30/09
  • J Garrison, D Pope, T Garrison, RH Wood. Measuing Physical Function in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients.
    Smith & Nephew Seed Grant: ($37,000)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role on Project: Consultant
    Dates: 11/1/04- 10/30/05
  • C O’Neil, K Cherry, R Wood, P Monroe, P Allen. Increasing Healthy Behavior among Culturally Diverse Elders
    in Baton Rouge.
    LSU Graduate Faculty Research Program: ($40,000)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role on Project: Co-investigator
    Dates 7/1/04-6/30/05
  • R Ellis Gardner, R Wood. Increasing Physical Activity among Culturally Diverse Elders in Baton Rouge.
    LSU Graduate Faculty Summer Stipend: ($5,000) Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role on Project: Mentor
    Dates 7/1/04-8/31/04
  • J Hondzinski, M Klumpp, R Wood. Vestibulocardiac Reflexes and Human Aging.
    LSU Graduate Faculty Research Program: ($10,000)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role on Project: Mentor
    Dates 7/1/03-6/30/04
  • R Ellis Gardner, R Wood. Increasing Physical Activity among Culturally Diverse Elders in Baton Rouge.
    LSU Graduate Faculty Research Program: ($10,000)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role on Project: Mentor
    Dates 7/1/03-6/30/04
  • SM Jazwinski, M Batzer, D Scott, E Ravussin, R Wood, K Cherry. Multidisciplinary study of longevity and
    healthy aging in a Louisiana population.
    Louisiana State Board of Regents: HEF (2001-06)-02 ($4,100,000).
    Project for R. Wood: Physical Function in Louisiana Elders ($222,997)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role on Project: Project Leader
    Dates: 01/01/2002- 12/31/2006.
  • P Monroe, K Cherry, J Oetting, L Pechionni, J Suitor, R Wood. Life Course and Aging Initiative.
    U.S. Department of Agriculture: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Food and
    Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants Program-Human Sciences ($69,000)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role on Project: Co-author
    Dates: 9/01/2002 – 8/31/2005
  • D Chow, S Souza, RH Wood, C Shikuma. Autonomic Function in HIV-1 Infected Individuals Receiving Highly
    Active Anti-retroviral Therapy With Abdominal Adiposity.
    NIH / HARC: Grant# 2G12 RR03061-16. ($ 247,256)
    (K23 mechanism)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
    Role on Project: Mentor
    Dates: 09/01/2001 – 08/31/2005.
  • D Kalb, MA Welsch, R Wood. (1999). A heart failure care managed program in family medicine.
    Center for Disease Control and Prevention Grant# T357-15/15 ($213,610).
    Status: Funded/ Closed
  • MA Welsch, RH Wood, A Nelson (1999). Expanding the role of the Kinesiologist: from Theoretical principles to
    clinical practice.
    Louisiana State Board of Regents: LEQSF LSU # 11218 / BoR # 015ED ($96,705).
    Status: Funded/ Closed
  • R. Wood, M. Welsch, J. Zachwieja (1998). Physical activity and functional ability in the elderly.
    Louisiana State University Office of Sponsored Programs: Research Stipend ($5,000)
    Status: Funded/ Closed
  • RH Wood, M. Welsch (1998). Moving into the 21st century: Preparing for delivery of preventive Care:
    Louisiana State University: Student Technology Fee ($86,400).
    Status: Funded/ Closed

Awards/Honors:

  • 2024: Boise State Student Org Advisor of the Year Nominee
  • 2021: Boise State Golden Apple Nominee
  • 2004: LSU Tiger Athletic Club Outstanding Teacher Award
  • 2003: Finalist: LSU Distinguished Faculty Service Award
  • 2000: Tiger Athletic Club Outstanding Teacher Award
  • 1999: Finalist: College of Education Teacher of the Year
  • 1996: Finalist: LSU Distinguished Dissertation Award
  • 1991-1995: Four-year Alumni Fellowship, LSU