Biographical note

Manoj Sharma, MBBS, Ph.D., MCHES® is a public health physician with a medical degree from the University of Delhi and a doctorate in Preventive Medicine (Public Health) from The Ohio State University. He is licensed to practice medicine and surgery anywhere in India by the Medical Council of India. He is also a master certified health education specialist certified from the National Commission on Health Education Credentialing. He has recently accepted a position as a tenured professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the School of Public Health. In his career, spanning over 30 years, he has trained/taught over 6,000 health professionals that include physicians, health education specialists, dietitians, community health nurses, health care administrators, epidemiologists, sanitarians, health and development workers, allied health professionals and others. He has designed and taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in health behavior, health education, and health promotion at twelve national and international universities working full time or part-time (Jackson State University, University of Cincinnati, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Central Michigan University, Walden University, National University, The Ohio State University, Saint Mary's College of Minnesota and Minnesota State University, Mankato). He has worked for local health departments (City of Columbus, OH; Douglas County Health Department, NE; City of Cincinnati Health Department, OH, etc.); state health departments/agencies (OH, MS, NE, Ohio Commission on Minority Health, etc.); federal government agencies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- CDC, United States Environmental Protection Agency – USEPA, etc.); invited keynote presenter at universities (Chongqing Medical University, China; Lincoln Memorial University; University of Arkansas, University of Oklahoma); non-profit agencies (American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Charles Drew Health Center, Indian Chicano Health Center, Voluntary Health Association of India, etc.); professional organizations (American Public Health Association, American School Health Association); and international agencies including governments of other nations (European Union, World Health Organization, Swiss Development Corporation, Government of Mongolia, Government of India, Associazione Italiana Amici di Raoul Follereau (Italy), etc.). He is a prolific researcher and as of January 2020 had published ten books, over 250 peer-reviewed research articles, and over 450 other publications and secured funding for over $4 million. He has been awarded several prestigious honors including the American Public Health Association’s Mentoring Award, ICTHP Impact Award, William R. Gemma Distinguished Alumnus Award from College of Public Health Alumni Society at the Ohio State University and others. His research interests are in developing and evaluating theory-based health behavior change interventions, obesity prevention, stress-coping, community-based participatory research, and integrative mind-body-spirit interventions. John A. Romas, MPH, PhD, is a professor and chair in the Department of Health Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Dr. Romas has been a public school teacher, public health administrator and educator, state health consultant, and small business owner. He is a well-known speaker, presenter and health consultant for educational organizations, government, healthcare, business, and industry in the areas of personal performance stress reduction, managing change, and health promotion. As a personal and career counselor, he is an associate fellow of the Albert Ellis Institute, New York City.