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

Real World Use of Anti-Obesity Medications and Weight Change in Veterans.
(2023 Nov 14)
J Gen Intern Med
Hung A, Wong ES, Dennis PA, Stechuchak KM, Blalock DV, Smith VA, Hoerster K, Vimalananda VG, Raffa SD, Maciejewski ML
Protocol for a pragmatic trial testing a self-directed lifestyle program targeting weight loss among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (POWER Trial).
(2023 Dec)
Contemp Clin Trials 135(): 107378
Donovan LM, McDowell JA, Pannick AP, Pai J, Bais AF, Plumley R, Wai TH, Grunwald GK, Josey K, Sayre GG, Helfrich CD, Zeliadt SB, Hoerster KD, Ma J, Au DH
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
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