Katherine Hoerster, PhD, MPH

Faculty Appointment(s)

Associate Professor

hoerster@uw.edu

206-277-4203

Personal Statement

My research focuses on understanding and addressing the contextual factors like social support and policy that affect health and health behavior. I recently completed a 5-year VA HSR&D Career Development Award.  During the award our team engaged Veterans to develop a behavioral weight loss program for Veterans with PTSD called MOVE!+UP. We recently launched a VA Merit-funded study to test MOVE!+UP in a hybrid effectiveness and implementation randomized controlled trial. I am also PI on a VA Merit pragmatic clinical trial to test a remote behavioral weight loss intervention among 500 Veterans with obesity. I am Principal Investigator for an HSR&D- and MIRECC-funded survey study that examines the role of social and neighborhood factors in prevention and management of chronic disease among Veterans. I am fortunate to work with Veterans with PTSD as a staff psychologist in the VA Puget Sound-Seattle PTSD Outpatient Clinic. Lastly, I have an interest in maximizing research impact by communicating about science to the public and policymakers.

Education

PhD, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 2010
MPH, San Diego State University, School of Public Health, 2009
BA, Connecticut College, 2001

Department Affiliations

Centers/Programs
Training Programs

VA Puget Sound, Seattle Division Psychology Internship and Fellowship Program

Other Affiliations

VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care.

Scholarly Expertise

Clinical Expertise

Teaching Philosophy

I believe in competency-based training that capitalizes on trainees’ unique strengths and skillsets.  I believe that experiential learning is a powerful tool, providing the opportunity for direct observation and feedback, modeling, and bidirectional learning.

Recent Publications

Effect of a Remotely Delivered Self-directed Behavioral Intervention on Body Weight and Physical Health Status Among Adults With Obesity: The D-ELITE Randomized Clinical Trial.
(2022 Dec 13)
JAMA 328(22): 2230-2241
Hoerster KD, Hunter-Merrill R, Nguyen T, Rise P, Barón AE, McDowell J, Donovan LM, Gleason E, Lane A, Plumley R, Schooler M, Schuttner L, Collins M, Au DH, Ma J
BMI Trends for Veterans Up to 10 Years After VA Enrollment Following Military Discharge.
(2023 May)
J Gen Intern Med 38(6): 1423-1430
Blalock DV, Pura JA, Stechuchak KM, Dennis PA, Maciejewski ML, Smith VA, Hung A, Hoerster KD, Wong ES
"No One Should Feel Like They're Unsafe": Mobility Justice Photovoice as a Youth Advocacy Tool for Equitable Community Mobility.
(2022 Oct-Dec 01)
Fam Community Health 45(4): 272-282
Romano EFT, Baquero B, Hicks O, Gardner VA, Shannon KL, Hoerster KD
Climate to COVID, global to local, policies to people: a biopsychosocial ecological framework for syndemic prevention and response in behavioral medicine.
(2022 May 25)
Transl Behav Med 12(4): 516-525
Persad-Clem R, Hoerster KD, Romano EFT, Huizar N, Maier KJ
National Veterans Health Administration MOVE! Weight Management Program Participation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
(2022 Mar 10)
Prev Chronic Dis 19(): E11
Gray KE, Hoerster KD, Spohr SA, Breland JY, Raffa SD
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