Nancy Amby Gallagher

Biography

Prior to receiving her doctorate in 2010, Dr. Gallagher worked as a public health nurse and as an adult nurse practitioner. In her work in family practice and with underserved populations she gained an interest in the role of physical activity in self-management of chronic disease and in the prevention of mobility disability. Her research uses Social Cognitive Theory and the Disablement Process Model to examine the influence of psychosocial factors and neighborhood physical environment on physical activity and walking in older adults. She is particularly interested in how self-efficacy, mobility disability, and physical characteristics in the neighborhood influence each other as well as physical activity, and how neighborhood factors may influence disparities in disability prevalence and progression. Dr. Gallagher’s research methods have included both survey research and the combination of participatory photography and focus groups.

Research Interest

Community health Mobility and disability Neighborhood environment Care transitions Chronic disease self-management