Yunsheng Ma MD, PHD, MPH
Title Associate Professor
Institution University of Massachusetts Medical School
Department Medicine
Division Preventive And Behavioral Medicine
Address University of Massachusetts Medical School
419 Belmont Street
Worcester MA 01605
Telephone 508-856-1008
Email
Other Positions
Institution UMMS - Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Department Clinical Population Health Research
Narrative

Academic Background

1997-2002           University of Massachusetts            Ph.D., Epidemiology/Biostatistics
                         Amherst, Massachusetts

1994-1996           University of Massachusetts            M.P.H, Epidemiology/Biostatistics
                         Amherst, Massachusetts

1993-1995           Preventive Cardiology Program         Preventive Cardiology Fellow 
                         University of Massachusetts Medical School
                         Worcester, MA

1987-1990           Kunming Medical College                  M.S., Infectious Diseases
                         Yunnan, P.R.China

1980-1985           Kunming Medical College                  M.D., Medicine
                         Yunnan, P.R.China


Honors

National Institutes of Health/Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Fellow, Summer Institute on Randomized Clinical Trials involving Behavioral and Social Interventions (2004).

Biography

Yunsheng Ma, Ph.D.,M.D., MPH

Dr. Yunsheng Ma is an Associate Professor of Medicine and an epidemiologist with a documented record of research in the areas of nutrition, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. He has contributed to over 90 original publications in the biomedical literatures and two medical textbook chapters. He continues to serve as Principal Investigator or co-investigator of NIH-sponsored projects investigating nutritional and biochemical predictors of chronic diseases in human populations.

Research Interests

  • Effect of diet and other lifestyle factors on obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and heart disease 
  • Cardiovascular disease epidemiology
  • Characteristics, health trends, and health care utilization of Medicaid insured individuals
  • Applied statistical methods in clinical research

Currently Funded Research

  • Principal Investigator, R01 HL094575, NIH/NHLBI, A Simple Dietary Message to Improve Dietary Quality for Metabolic Syndrome, April 2009 - March 2013.
  • Principal Investigator, R21 DK083700, NIH/NIDDK, Depression, Antidepressant Use and Risk of Diabetes in the WHI.  February 2010 - March 2012.
  • Principal Investigator, Global Health Pilot Project Grant and Travel Award, UMMS and Tongji Medical Schools Preventive and Behavioral Medicine Research Collaboration Initiative.  2009 - 2012.
  • Co-Investigator, R01 MH078012, NIH/NIMH, Treating Co-Morbid Obesity and Major Depressive Disorder, April 2007 – March 2012.
  • Co-Investigator, Global Health Pilot Project Grant and Travel Award, Cultural Translation of a Mind/Body Wellness Program for Diabetes Prevention in China, May 2011 – May 2012.
  • Co-Investigator, R34 MH085578, NIH/NIMH, Behavioral Activation Enhanced Exercise Intervention for Diabetes and Depression, July 2009 - June 2012.

Click here to see Dr. Ma's curriculum vitae.

Publications
1. Culver AL, Ockene IS, Balasubramanian R, Olendzki BC, Sepavich DM, Wactawski-Wende J, Manson JE, Qiao Y, Liu S, Merriam PA, Rahilly-Tierny C, Thomas F, Berger JS, Ockene JK, Curb JD, Ma Y. Statin Use and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative. Arch Intern Med. 2012 Jan 23; 172(2):144-52.
  View in: PubMed
 
2. Ockene IS, Tellez TL, Rosal MC, Reed GW, Mordes J, Merriam PA, Olendzki BC, Handelman G, Nicolosi R, Ma Y. Outcomes of a Latino community-based intervention for the prevention of diabetes: the Lawrence Latino Diabetes Prevention Project. Am J Public Health. 2012 Feb; 102(2):336-42.
  View in: PubMed
 
3. Pagoto SL, Schneider KL, Bodenlos JS, Appelhans BM, Whited MC, Ma Y, Lemon SC. Association of post-traumatic stress disorder and obesity in a nationally representative sample. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2012 Jan; 20(1):200-5.
  View in: PubMed
 
4. Ma Y, Balasubramanian R, Pagoto SL, Schneider KL, Culver AL, Olendzki B, Tinker L, Liu S, Safford M, Sepavich DM, Rosal MC, Ockene JK, Carnethon M, Zorn M, Hébert JR. Elevated depressive symptoms, antidepressant use, and diabetes in a large multiethnic national sample of postmenopausal women. Diabetes Care. 2011 Nov; 34(11):2390-2.
  View in: PubMed
 
5. Ma Y, Chiriboga DE, Pagoto SL, Rosal MC, Li W, Merriam PA, Hébert JR, Whited MC, Ockene IS. Association between Depression and C-Reactive Protein. Cardiol Res Pract. 2010; 2011:286509.
  View in: PubMed
 
6. Ma Y, Olendzki BC, Pagoto SL, Merriam PA, Ockene IS. What are patients actually eating: the dietary practices of cardiovascular disease patients. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2010 Sep; 25(5):518-21.
  View in: PubMed
 
7. Pagoto SL, Schneider KL, Oleski J, Bodenlos JS, Ma Y. The sunless study: a beach randomized trial of a skin cancer prevention intervention promoting sunless tanning. Arch Dermatol. 2010 Sep; 146(9):979-84.
  View in: PubMed
 
8. Pagoto SL, Curtin C, Bandini LG, Anderson SE, Schneider KL, Bodenlos JS, Ma Y. Weight loss following a clinic-based weight loss program among adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms. Eat Weight Disord. 2010 Sep; 15(3):e166-72.
  View in: PubMed
 
9. Ma Y, Ockene IS, Rosal MC, Merriam PA, Ockene JK, Gandhi PJ. Randomized Trial of a Pharmacist-Delivered Intervention for Improving Lipid-Lowering Medication Adherence among Patients with Coronary Heart Disease. Cholesterol. 2010; 2010:383281.
  View in: PubMed
 
10. Merriam PA, Ma Y, Olendzki BC, Schneider KL, Li W, Ockene IS, Pagoto SL. Design and methods for testing a simple dietary message to improve weight loss and dietary quality. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2009; 9:87.
  View in: PubMed
 
11. Ma Y, Olendzki BC, Pagoto SL, Hurley TG, Magner RP, Ockene IS, Schneider KL, Merriam PA, Hébert JR. Number of 24-hour diet recalls needed to estimate energy intake. Ann Epidemiol. 2009 Aug; 19(8):553-9.
  View in: PubMed
 
12. Pagoto SL, Ma Y, Bodenlos JS, Olendzki B, Rosal MC, Tellez T, Merriam P, Ockene IS. Association of depressive symptoms and lifestyle behaviors among Latinos at risk of type 2 diabetes. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Jul; 109(7):1246-50.
  View in: PubMed
 
13. Olendzki BC, Ma Y, Schneider KL, Merriam P, Culver AL, Ockene IS, Pagoto S. A simple dietary message to improve dietary quality: Results from a pilot investigation. Nutrition. 2009 Jul-Aug; 25(7-8):736-44.
  View in: PubMed
 
14. Merriam PA, Tellez TL, Rosal MC, Olendzki BC, Ma Y, Pagoto SL, Ockene IS. Methodology of a diabetes prevention translational research project utilizing a community-academic partnership for implementation in an underserved Latino community. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2009; 9:20.
  View in: PubMed
 
15. Pagoto SL, Schneider KL, Oleski J, Bodenlos JS, Merriam P, Ma Y. Design and methods for a cluster randomized trial of the Sunless Study: a skin cancer prevention intervention promoting sunless tanning among beach visitors. BMC Public Health. 2009; 9:50.
  View in: PubMed
 
16. Chiriboga DE, Ma Y, Li W, Stanek EJ, Hébert JR, Merriam PA, Rawson ES, Ockene IS. Seasonal and sex variation of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in healthy adults: a longitudinal study. Clin Chem. 2009 Feb; 55(2):313-21.
  View in: PubMed
 
17. Pagoto SL, Curtin C, Lemon SC, Bandini LG, Schneider KL, Bodenlos JS, Ma Y. Association between adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obesity in the US population. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 Mar; 17(3):539-44.
  View in: PubMed
 
18. Schneider KL, Bodenlos JS, Ma Y, Olendzki B, Oleski J, Merriam P, Crawford S, Ockene IS, Pagoto SL. Design and methods for a randomized clinical trial treating comorbid obesity and major depressive disorder. BMC Psychiatry. 2008; 8:77.
  View in: PubMed
 
19. Pagoto S, Bodenlos JS, Schneider KL, Olendzki B, Spates CR, Ma Y. Initial investigation of behavioral activation therapy for co-morbid major depressive disorder and obesity. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2008 Sep; 45(3):410-5.
  View in: PubMed
 
20. Ma Y, Hébert JR, Li W, Bertone-Johnson ER, Olendzki B, Pagoto SL, Tinker L, Rosal MC, Ockene IS, Ockene JK, Griffith JA, Liu S. Association between dietary fiber and markers of systemic inflammation in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Nutrition. 2008 Oct; 24(10):941-9.
  View in: PubMed
 
21. Olendzki BC, Ma Y, Hébert JR, Pagoto SL, Merriam PA, Rosal MC, Ockene IS. Underreporting of energy intake and associated factors in a Latino population at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Jun; 108(6):1003-8.
  View in: PubMed
 
22. Griffith JA, Ma Y, Chasan-Taber L, Olendzki BC, Chiriboga DE, Stanek EJ, Merriam PA, Ockene IS. Association between dietary glycemic index, glycemic load, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Nutrition. 2008 May; 24(5):401-6.
  View in: PubMed
 
23. Ma Y, Li W, Olendzki BC, Pagoto SL, Merriam PA, Chiriboga DE, Griffith JA, Bodenlos J, Wang Y, Ockene IS. Dietary quality 1 year after diagnosis of coronary heart disease. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Feb; 108(2):240-6; discussion 246-7.
  View in: PubMed
 
24. Pagoto SL, Kantor L, Bodenlos JS, Gitkind M, Ma Y. Translating the diabetes prevention program into a hospital-based weight loss program. Health Psychol. 2008 Jan; 27(1 Suppl):S91-8.
  View in: PubMed
 
25. Ma Y, Olendzki BC, Merriam PA, Chiriboga DE, Culver AL, Li W, Hébert JR, Ockene IS, Griffith JA, Pagoto SL. A randomized clinical trial comparing low-glycemic index versus ADA dietary education among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Nutrition. 2008 Jan; 24(1):45-56.
  View in: PubMed
 
26. Chiriboga DE, Ma Y, Li W, Olendzki BC, Pagoto SL, Merriam PA, Matthews CE, Hebert JR, Ockene IS. Gender differences in predictors of body weight and body weight change in healthy adults. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Jan; 16(1):137-45.
  View in: PubMed
 
27. Pagoto S, Bodenlos JS, Kantor L, Gitkind M, Curtin C, Ma Y. Association of major depression and binge eating disorder with weight loss in a clinical setting. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Nov; 15(11):2557-9.
  View in: PubMed
 
28. Ma Y, Pagoto SL, Griffith JA, Merriam PA, Ockene IS, Hafner AR, Olendzki BC. A dietary quality comparison of popular weight-loss plans. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Oct; 107(10):1786-91.
  View in: PubMed
 
29. Olendzki BC, Ma Y, Culver AL, Ockene IS, Griffith JA, Hafner AR, Hebert JR. Methodology for adding glycemic index and glycemic load values to 24-hour dietary recall database. Nutrition. 2006 Nov-Dec; 22(11-12):1087-95.
  View in: PubMed
 
30. Ma Y, Olendzki BC, Hafner AR, Chiriboga DE, Culver AL, Andersen VA, Merriam PA, Pagoto SL. Low-carbohydrate and high-fat intake among adult patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nutrition. 2006 Nov-Dec; 22(11-12):1129-36.
  View in: PubMed
 
31. Ma Y, Pagoto SL, Olendzki BC, Hafner AR, Perugini RA, Mason R, Kelly JJ. Predictors of weight status following laparoscopic gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2006 Sep; 16(9):1227-31.
  View in: PubMed
 
32. Ma Y, Olendzki BC, Chiriboga D, Rosal M, Sinagra E, Crawford S, Hafner AR, Pagoto SL, Magner RP, Ockene IS. PDA-assisted low glycemic index dietary intervention for type II diabetes: a pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Oct; 60(10):1235-43.
  View in: PubMed
 
33. Ma Y, Olendzki BC, Li W, Hafner AR, Chiriboga D, Hebert JR, Campbell M, Sarnie M, Ockene IS. Seasonal variation in food intake, physical activity, and body weight in a predominantly overweight population. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Apr; 60(4):519-28.
  View in: PubMed
 
34. Ma Y, Li Y, Chiriboga DE, Olendzki BC, Hebert JR, Li W, Leung K, Hafner AR, Ockene IS. Association between carbohydrate intake and serum lipids. J Am Coll Nutr. 2006 Apr; 25(2):155-63.
  View in: PubMed
 
35. Ma Y, Griffith JA, Chasan-Taber L, Olendzki BC, Jackson E, Stanek EJ, Li W, Pagoto SL, Hafner AR, Ockene IS. Association between dietary fiber and serum C-reactive protein. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Apr; 83(4):760-6.
  View in: PubMed
 
36. Ma Y, Goins KV, Pbert L, Ockene JK. Predictors of smoking cessation in pregnancy and maintenance postpartum in low-income women. Matern Child Health J. 2005 Dec; 9(4):393-402.
  View in: PubMed
 
37. Ma Y, Chiriboga D, Olendzki BC, Nicolosi R, Merriam PA, Ockene IS. Effect of soy protein containing isoflavones on blood lipids in moderately hypercholesterolemic adults: a randomized controlled trial. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005 Aug; 24(4):275-85.
  View in: PubMed
 
38. King JA, Rosal MC, Ma Y, Reed GW. Association of stress, hostility and plasma testosterone levels. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2005 Aug; 26(4):355-60.
  View in: PubMed
 
39. Ma Y, Olendzki B, Chiriboga D, Hebert JR, Li Y, Li W, Campbell M, Gendreau K, Ockene IS. Association between dietary carbohydrates and body weight. Am J Epidemiol. 2005 Feb 15; 161(4):359-67.
  View in: PubMed
 
40. Pbert L, Ockene JK, Zapka J, Ma Y, Goins KV, Oncken C, Stoddard AM. A community health center smoking-cessation intervention for pregnant and postpartum women. Am J Prev Med. 2004 Jun; 26(5):377-85.
  View in: PubMed
 
41. Ockene IS, Chiriboga DE, Stanek EJ, Harmatz MG, Nicolosi R, Saperia G, Well AD, Freedson P, Merriam PA, Reed G, Ma Y, Matthews CE, Hebert JR. Seasonal variation in serum cholesterol levels: treatment implications and possible mechanisms. Arch Intern Med. 2004 Apr 26; 164(8):863-70.
  View in: PubMed
 
42. Rosal MC, King J, Ma Y, Reed GW. Stress, social support, and cortisol: inverse associations? Behav Med. 2004; 30(1):11-21.
  View in: PubMed
 
43. Schwartz C, Meisenhelder JB, Ma Y, Reed G. Altruistic social interest behaviors are associated with better mental health. Psychosom Med. 2003 Sep-Oct; 65(5):778-85.
  View in: PubMed
 
44. Schwartz CE, Mazor K, Rogers J, Ma Y, Reed G. Validation of a new measure of concept of a good death. J Palliat Med. 2003 Aug; 6(4):575-84.
  View in: PubMed
 
45. Schwartz C, Lennes I, Hammes B, Lapham C, Bottner W, Ma Y. Honing an advance care planning intervention using qualitative analysis: the Living Well interview. J Palliat Med. 2003 Aug; 6(4):593-603.
  View in: PubMed
 
46. Ma Y, Bertone ER, Stanek EJ, Reed GW, Hebert JR, Cohen NL, Merriam PA, Ockene IS. Association between eating patterns and obesity in a free-living US adult population. Am J Epidemiol. 2003 Jul 1; 158(1):85-92.
  View in: PubMed
 
47. Bonollo DP, Zapka JG, Stoddard AM, Ma Y, Pbert L, Ockene JK. Treating nicotine dependence during pregnancy and postpartum: understanding clinician knowledge and performance. Patient Educ Couns. 2002 Dec; 48(3):265-74.
  View in: PubMed
 
48. Ockene J, Ma Y, Zapka J, Pbert L, Valentine Goins K, Stoddard A. Spontaneous cessation of smoking and alcohol use among low-income pregnant women. Am J Prev Med. 2002 Oct; 23(3):150-9.
  View in: PubMed
 
49. Schwartz CE, Wheeler HB, Hammes B, Basque N, Edmunds J, Reed G, Ma Y, Li L, Tabloski P, Yanko J. Early intervention in planning end-of-life care with ambulatory geriatric patients: results of a pilot trial. Arch Intern Med. 2002 Jul 22; 162(14):1611-8.
  View in: PubMed
 
50. Rosal MC, Ockene JK, Ma Y, Hebert JR, Merriam PA, Matthews CE, Ockene IS. Behavioral risk factors among members of a health maintenance organization. Prev Med. 2001 Dec; 33(6):586-94.
  View in: PubMed
 
51. King JA, Rosal MC, Ma Y, Reed G, Kelly TA, Stanek EJ, Ockene IS. Sequence and seasonal effects of salivary cortisol. Behav Med. 2000; 26(2):67-73.
  View in: PubMed
 
52. Becker RC, Spencer FA, Li Y, Ball SP, Ma Y, Hurley T, Hebert J. Thrombin generation after the abrupt cessation of intravenous unfractionated heparin among patients with acute coronary syndromes: potential mechanisms for heightened prothrombotic potential. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1999 Oct; 34(4):1020-7.
  View in: PubMed
 
53. Hebert JR, Ebbeling CB, Ockene IS, Ma Y, Rider L, Merriam PA, Ockene JK, Saperia GM. A dietitian-delivered group nutrition program leads to reductions in dietary fat, serum cholesterol, and body weight: the Worcester Area Trial for Counseling in Hyperlipidemia (WATCH). J Am Diet Assoc. 1999 May; 99(5):544-52.
  View in: PubMed
 
54. Becker RC, Ball SP, Eisenberg P, Borzak S, Held AC, Spencer F, Voyce SJ, Jesse R, Hendel R, Ma Y, Hurley T, Hebert J. A randomized, multicenter trial of weight-adjusted intravenous heparin dose titration and point-of-care coagulation monitoring in hospitalized patients with active thromboembolic disease. Antithrombotic Therapy Consortium Investigators. Am Heart J. 1999 Jan; 137(1):59-71.
  View in: PubMed
 
55. Hebert JR, Hurley TG, Olendzki BC, Teas J, Ma Y, Hampl JS. Nutritional and socioeconomic factors in relation to prostate cancer mortality: a cross-national study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1998 Nov 4; 90(21):1637-47.
  View in: PubMed
 
56. Hebert JR, Hurley TG, Ma Y. The effect of dietary exposures on recurrence and mortality in early stage breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 1998 Sep; 51(1):17-28.
  View in: PubMed
 
57. Rosal MC, Ockene JK, Ma Y, Hebert JR, Ockene IS, Merriam P, Hurley TG. Coronary Artery Smoking Intervention Study (CASIS): 5-year follow-up. Health Psychol. 1998 Sep; 17(5):476-8.
  View in: PubMed
 
58. Hebert JR, Ma Y, Clemow L, Ockene IS, Saperia G, Stanek EJ, Merriam PA, Ockene JK. Gender differences in social desirability and social approval bias in dietary self-report. Am J Epidemiol. 1997 Dec 15; 146(12):1046-55.
  View in: PubMed
 
59. Zapka JG, Fletcher KE, Ma Y, Pbert L. Physicians and smoking cessation. Development of survey measures. Eval Health Prof. 1997 Dec; 20(4):407-27.
  View in: PubMed
 
60. Merriam PA, Ockene IS, Hebert JR, Ma Y. A lipid trial tracking system. J Public Health Manag Pract. 1997 Nov; 3(6):74-8.
  View in: PubMed
 
61. Connor DF, Ozbayrak KR, Benjamin S, Ma Y, Fletcher KE. A pilot study of nadolol for overt aggression in developmentally delayed individuals. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1997 Jun; 36(6):826-34.
  View in: PubMed
 
62. Rosal MC, Ockene IS, Ockene JK, Barrett SV, Ma Y, Hebert JR. A longitudinal study of students' depression at one medical school. Acad Med. 1997 Jun; 72(6):542-6.
  View in: PubMed
 
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Keyword
Last Name
Institution
    
 
 
 
Keywords   
Diet
Weight Loss
Obesity
Dietary Carbohydrates
Health Promotion
See all (281) keywords
Co-Authors  
Merriam, Philip
Ockene, Ira
Olendzki, Barbara
Pagoto, Sherry
Rosal, Milagros
See all (25) people
Physical Neighbors  
Olendzki, Barbara
Reed, George
Carmody, James
Merriam, Philip
Santorelli, Saki

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