Food is Medicine and Implementation Science: A Recipe for Health Equity

Part of the BCTR's Talks at Twelve series. This talk will make the argument that, in order to reduce the rates of Type 2 diabetes, cardiometabolic diseases, and cancer, among others; we prioritize Food Is Medicine (FIM) as a way to prevent and address the impact of these outcomes. Food is Medicine (FIM) is a cascade of programs with an emphasis on promoting access to nutritious foods for health promotion. We use a framework from the field of implementation science and equity-centered guiding ideas to propose FIM programs that can equitably reach every community. Dr. Roger Figueroa is the director and founder of the Figueroa Interdisciplinary Group (FIG) Lab, and an assistant professor in Social and Behavioral Science in Nutrition in the Division of Nutritional Sciences (DNS), Cornell Human Ecology. In the FIG Lab, the research team designs testable conceptual frameworks, measures, and multi-faceted research studies to understand how policy, systems, and environmental factors influence diet- and health-related outcomes. Figueroa is a transdisciplinary scientist with public health, nutrition, implementation, participatory, and team science expertise. Currently, Figueroa’s research examines the role of social services and policies (such as childcare, and food assistance), as well as sustainable food systems in preventing diet-related chronic diseases in low-income and minoritized communities. To date, Figueroa has developed a comprehensive skill foundation in research methods, including training in a broad range of quantitative (i.e., advanced linear modeling, structural equation modeling, psychometrics), qualitative methods (i.e., grounded theory, ethnography, qualitative GIS), and mixed method research. Figueroa has received training and research funding support from the USDA, NIH, and other institutional-level grant programs.