Danielle (Dani) R. Brittain, PhD, is a professor and associate dean for academic and student affairs in the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Brittain is dedicated to the successful development of current and future public health professionals and contributes this passion to the wonderful personal and professional mentors in her life. Her research concerns the: (a) identification of social-psychological factors impacting adherence to physical activity among marginalized populations of women (i.e., adult lesbians; women with non-cancer chronic pain) and (b) development of theoretically-driven interventions targeting social and behavior change processes that aid in the self-management and maintenance of physical activity. Most recently, Dr. Brittain has collaborated with colleagues at the University of Saskatchewan on the development of a training workshop to improve psychosocial outcomes among exercise professionals who work with adults living with chronic pain. Dr. Brittain received her PhD in Kinesiology from Kansas State University in 2005. She is an associate editor for Practice Notes in Health Promotion Practice.
Areas of Expertise
- Physical activity
- LGBTQ+
- Teaching scholarship
- Chronic pain
- Women's health
Education, Licensure & Certifications
- PhD, Human Nutrition/Kinesiology, Kansas State University
- MS, Kinesiology, Kansas State University
- BS, Occupational Safety and Health, Montana Tech of The University of Montana
Awards
- Steven P. Hooker Research Award, American Public Health Association, Physical Activity Section, 2018
- Exceptional Mentor Award, American Medical Women’s Association, 2018
- Outstanding Mentor Award, Women’s Resource Center, University of Northern Colorado, 2018
- Faculty Excellence in Research Award, Colorado School of Public Health, 2015
Publications and Presentations
- Gyurcsik, N.C., Tupper, S.M., Brittain, D.R., Brawley, L.R., Cary, M.A., Ratcliffe-Smith, D., *Blouin, J.E., *Marchant, M.G., Sessford, J.D., Hellsten, L.M., Arnold, B.E., & Downe, P. (2020). A proof-of-concept study on the impact of a chronic pain and physical activity training workshop for exercise professionals. Scandanavian Journal of Pain, published online October 8, 2020. (Saskatchewan Health Research Fund [SHRF], Collaborative Innovation Development Grant, SHRF 3969 and Community Initiatives Fund Grant, CIF 16:971). DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2020-0089
- Dinger, M.K., Brittain, D.R., Patten, L., *Hall, K.C., *Burton, S., Hydock, D.S., & Stellino, M.B. (2020). Gender identity and health-related outcomes in a national sample of college students. American Journal of Health Education, published online October 19, 2020. DOI: 10.1080/19325037.2020.1822242
- Kattari, S.K., Brittain, D.R., Markus, A.R., & Hall, K.C. (2020). Expanding women’s health practitioners and researchers’ understanding of transgender/nonbinary health issues. Women’s Health Issues, 30(1), 3-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2019.10.005
- *Blouin, J. E., *Cary, M. A., *Marchant, M. G., Gyurcsik, N. C., Brittain, D. R., & *Zapski, J. (2019). Understanding physiotherapists’ intention to counsel clients with chronic pain to exercise: A focus on psychosocial factors. Physiotherapy Canada 71(4), 319-326. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc-2018-38
- Brittain, D.R., Gyurcsik, N.C., Tupper, S.M., & Downe, P.J. (2018). Moving forward with physical activity: Self-management of chronic pain among women. Women’s Health Issues, 28(2), 113-116. http://www.whijournal.com/article/S1049-3867(17)30690-4/fulltext. Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation SHRF 3969 Community Initiatives Fund CIF:16:971