David O Garcia, PhD

Cancer Prevention and Control Program

Biography

Dr. Garcia is an Assistant Professor in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. He has extensive experience in short and long-term intervention trials in the areas of physical activity, diet, and weight management. He received his training from leading institutions and mentors in the field. Since 2006, Dr. Garcia has worked on numerous funded research projects, including research funded by industry, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and foundations. This includes working as a lifestyle interventionist/exercise physiologist in several clinical trials with overweight and obese adults, morbidly obese adults (Class II and III obesity), and individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Cancer Focus

Dr. Garcia is the Assistant Director for Community Outreach & Engagement for the University of Arizona Cancer Center. His current research focuses on the development of gender and culturally-sensitive weight loss interventions for Hispanic males. Evidence from his preliminary research with this population group suggests that targeted, tailored behavioral programs are acceptable, sustainable and potentially efficacious. He is currently testing these approaches through on-going mixed method research among Hispanic males to burden of obesity-related disease and cancers, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatoceullar carcinoma.