Ronald T. Ackermann, MD, MPH, FACP
Ronald T. AckermannRonald T. Ackermann, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P. is an expert in the development and evaluation of policies and other interventions at the interface of healthcare systems and communities, particularly relating to health promotion, disease prevention, and chronic illness management. He has advanced training in health policy, public health, and health services research and strives to develop new methods and strategies for practical yet scientifically rigorous research that can guide decision making by public officials, health system administrators, professionals, and individuals. In this capacity, he has served as an advisor to several national groups, including the AHRQ, CDC, NIH, NCQA, the American Diabetes Association, and the Center for Health Care Strategies. During the past 8 years, he has designed and directed a series of research studies focused on the translation, implementation, and evaluation of DPP and Look AHEAD lifestyle interventions in partnership with leading community organizations such as the YMCA. As Director of the Community Engaged Research Center of the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, he also has considerable experience with initiatives that involve public-private partnerships to evaluate emergent policy questions, translate clinical trials, and address community health priorities.
Current Research Projects
1U58DP002718-01 10/01/2010 – 09/30/2015
CDC
Effectiveness of a National Health Care Community Partnership to Prevent Diabetes
The major goals of this proposed project are to evaluate the costs and effectiveness of national health plan policies to provide coverage for early diabetes screening and prevention programming for adults with pre-diabetes.
Role: Principal Investigator
1R18DK083941-01 06/01/2010 – 05/31/2015
NIH/NIDDK
Community Translation of a Lifestyle Intervention to Improve Health in Diabetes
The major goals of this proposed project are to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a strategy to improve cardiovascular risk and quality of life for adults with diabetes by linking primary care-based management with a formal lifestyle diabetes prevention intervention implemented at community-based YMCAs
Role: Principal Investigator
1R18DK079855-03 09/24/2007 – 06/30/2012
NIH/NIDDK
Primary Care-Community Partnerships to Prevent Diabetes
This large randomized trial will evaluate the reach, adoption, implementation, cost-effectiveness, and maintenance of a strategy to implement clinic-based services for diabetes risk-testing & brief counseling in partnership with community resources to prevent diabetes through lifestyle-based weight management programs.
Role: Principal Investigator
UnitedHealth Group 09/01/2010 – 4/30/2012
UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform and Modernization
To evaluate a staged national rollout of coverage policies to offer the Diabetes Control Program, a care coordination and disease management intervention offered by community pharmacists, to several thousand adults with type 2 diabetes living in more than 44 metropolitan areas in the U.S.
Role: Principal Investigator
Highlighted Articles
Ackermann RT, Marrero DG, Hoerger TJ, Hicks K, Sorensen S, Zhang P, Engelgau MM, Ratner RE, Herman WH. An Evaluation of Cost-sharing to Finance a Diet and Physical Activity Intervention to Prevent Diabetes. Diab Care. 2006;29(6):1237-41.
Ackermann RT, Finch EA, Brizendine E, Zhou H, Marrero DG. Translating the Diabetes Prevention Program into the Community: The DEPLOY Study. Am J Prev Med. 2008 Oct;35(4):357-63.
Ackermann RT, Williams B, Nguyen HQ, Berke EM, Maciejewksi ML, Diehr PH, LoGerfo, JP. Healthcare cost differences with participation in a community-based group physical activity benefit for Medicare managed care health plan members. JAGS. 2008 Aug;56(8):1459-65.
Finch EA, Kelly MS, Marrero DG, Ackermann RT. Training YMCA Wellness Instructors to Deliver an Adapted Version of the Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Intervention. Diabetes Educ. 2009 Mar-Apr;35(2):224-8,232.
Ackermann RT, Edelstein SL, Herman WH, Engelgau MM, Narayan KM, Zhang P, Marrero DG. Changes in Health State Utilities with Changes in Body Mass in the Diabetes Prevention Program. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 Dec;17(12):2176-81. Epub 2009 Apr 23.
Ackermann RT. Description of an Integrated Framework for Building Linkages among Primary Care Clinics and Community Organizations for the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes: Emerging Themes from the CC-Link Study. Chronic Illn. 2010 Jun;6(2):89-100. Epub 2010 May 19.
Ackermann RT, Cheng YJ, Williamson DF, Gregg EW. Identifying Adults at High Risk for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease using Hemoglobin A1c: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006. Am J Prev Med. 2011 Jan;40(1):11-7. PMID: 21146762
Ackermann RT, Finch EA, Caffrey HM, Lipscomb ER, Lipscomb LM, Saha CK. Long-term Effects of a Community-based Lifestyle Intervention to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: The DEPLOY Extension Pilot Study. Chronic Illn. 2011 Aug 12. [Epub ahead of print]
