faculty profile

Chorong Park   PhD, RN

Assistant Professor

Bio

Dr. Park is an Assistant Professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Her program of research addresses cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction and lifestyle modifications in racial and ethnic minorities. Utilizing wrist and hip actigraphy, Dr. Park examines relationships among culturally relevant psychosocial factors (acculturative stress, discrimination) and 24-hour activity (sedentary behavior, physical activity and sleep) associated with cardiovascular risk in Asian immigrant populations.

Education

  • Postdoctoral fellowship, American Heart Association (AHA) Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN), New York University
  • PhD, Nursing, Yale University
  • MSN, Seoul National University
  • BSN, Seoul National University

Certifications

  • Registered nurse (TN and NY)

Current Research/Scholarly Interests

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • 24-hour activity (physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep)
  • Actigraphy monitoring
  • Ethnic minority health

Academic Interests

  • Research design
  • Statistical methods

Grants

Extramural

Reducing Sedentary Time in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial. The Moore Family Foundation, 2021-present (Role: PI)

Correlates of Behavioral and Anthropometric Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Asian American Women. AHA Strategically-Focused Research Network (SFRN) Go Red For Women Soter Collaborative Grant (16SFRN27810006), 2017-2020 (Role: PI) 

Cultural/environmental factors and body mass index in Korean immigrants. The Global Korean Foundation Grant, 2015 (Role: PI) 

Intramural

Technology Based Sedentary Reduction Intervention in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Vanderbilt Center for Diabetes Translational Research, 2022 (Role: PI)

Obesity-Risk Behaviors and Body Mass Index in Korean Immigrants. The Delta Mu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, 2015 (Role: PI)

Representative Publications

Journals

Park, C., Larsen, B., Kwon, S., Xia, Y., Dickson, V., Kim, S., Garcia-Dia, M., Reynolds, H., & Spruill, T. Acculturation, discrimination and 24-hour activity in Asian American immigrant women. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. (In Press)

*St-Onge, M., Aggarwal, B., Allison, A., Berger, J., Castañeda, Catov J, Hochman J, Hubel C, Jelic S, Kass D, Makarem N, Michos E, Mosca L, Ouyang P, Park C, Post W, Powers R, Reynolds H, Sears D, Shah S, Spruill TM, Talavera G, Vaidya D. Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network: Summary of Findings and Network Outcomes. JAHA. 2021;10:e019519.

*Park, C., Nam, S., Redeker, N., Shebl, F. , Dixon J., Jung, T., Whittemore, R. The effects of acculturation and environment on lifestyle behaviors in Korean immigrants: the medidating role of acculturative stress and body image discrepancy. Ethnicity & Health. 2019 [published Online First: 2019 Sep 19]. PubMed PMID: 31535571.

*Park, C., Spruill, T.M., Butler, M.J., Kwon, S., Redeker, N., Gharzeddine, R., Whittemore, R. Gender differences in acculturative stress and habitual sleep duration in Korean immigrants. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 2019 [published Online First: 2019 Aug 3]. PubMed PMID: 31377933. 

*Garcia, J., Schwartz, J., Booth, J., Hooker, S., Duran, A., Willey, J., Cheung, Y., Park, C., Williams, S., Sims, M., Shimbo, D., Diaz, K. Types of Sedentary Behavior and Risk of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in African-Americans: The Jackson Heart Study. JAHA: Journal of the American Heart Association. 2019;8(13). 

Spruill, T., Reynolds, H., Dickson, V., Shallcross, A., Visvanathan, P., Park, C., Kalinowski, J., Zhong, H., Berger, J., Hochman, J., Fishman, G., Ogedegbe,G. Telephone-based mindfulness training to reduce stress in women with myocardial infarction: Rationale and design of a multicenter randomized controlled trial. American Heart Journal, 2018;202, 61-67. 

Park, C., Jang, M., Nam, S., Grey, M., Whittemore, R. Church-based Recruitment to Reach Korean Immigrants: An Integrative Review. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 2018;40(9), 1396-1421. 

Schulman-Green, D., Jaser, S., Park, C., Whittemore, R. A metasynthesis of factors affecting self-management of chronic illness. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2016;72(7), 1469-89. 

*Chao, A., Minges, K., Park, C., Dumser, S., Murphy, K., Grey, M., Whittemore, R. General life and diabetes-related stressors in early adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Journal of Pediatric Health Care. 2016;30(2), 133-142. 

Park, C., Nam, S., Whittemore, R. Incorporating cultural perspectives into diabetes self-management programs for East Asian Immigrants: A mixed-study review. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 2016;18, 454-467. 

Minges, K. E., Chao, A. M., Irwin, M. L., Owen, N., Park, C., Whittemore, R., Salmon, J. Classroom Standing Desks and Sedentary Behavior: A Systematic Review. Pediatrics. 2016;137(2), 1-18. 

*Park, C., Jang H., Song, W., Im, J., Cho, B., Song., M., Park, Y.-H. Effects of a multi-disciplinary approached, empowerment theory based self-management intervention in older adults with chronic illness. Journal of Korean Acedemy of Nursing. 2015;45(2), 192-201.  

Representative Presentations

Spruill, T., Park, C., Kalinowski, J., Shallcross, A, Visvanathan, P, Arabadjian, M.,.. & Reynolds, H. Telephone-Based Stress Management in Women with Myocardial Infarction: Findings from the Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network. Circulation. 2021; 144 (Suppl_1), A10596 (Poster presentation)

Muchira, J. M., Mogos, M. F., Park, C., & Piano, M. Mother-Child Dyadic Assessment of Arterial Stiffness and COVID-19 Related Anxiety: A Feasibility Study. The 28th Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association Annual Symposium, Las Vegas, NV, March, 2022. (Poster presentation)

Gogniat, M. A., Omair A. Khan, O. A., Li, J., Park, C., Robb, H. W., Moore, E. E., Houston, M. L., Pechman, K. R., Liu, D., Hohman, T. J., Gifford K. A., Jefferson, A. L. Inactivity is associated with worse cognition and neurodegeneration in aging adults. The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), San Diego, CA, July, 2022. (Paper presentation)

Park, C. & Spruill, T. (2021). Acculturation, Discrimination, and 24-hour Activity in Asian American Women. International Conference for 50th Anniversary of Korean Society of Adult Nursing, Virtual, August 2021. (Paper presentation)

Park C, Larsen BA, Xia Y, Kwon S, Dickson VV, Reynolds H, Spruill TM. Effects of Reallocating Time in Different Physical Activity Intensities and Sleep on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Asian American Women: A Cross Sectional Modeling Study. Circulation. 2020 November 17; 142(Suppl_3). Available from: A14772. [abstract]

Park, C., Larsen, B., Kwon, S., Xia, Y., Dickson, V., & Spruill, T. (2020). Acculturation And 24-hour Behaviors In Asian American Women: 3723 Board# 40. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 52(7). 

Park, C., Larsen, B. A., Xia, Y., Reynolds, H. R., & Spruill, T. M. (2020). Abstract 289: Variation In 24-hour Physical Activity Patterns By Demographic And Psychological Factors In Women With Myocardial Infarction. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 13(Suppl_1), A289-A289. doi:doi:10.1161/hcq.13.suppl_1.289 

*Park, C., Duberstein, Z., Rutigliano, M., Kalinowski, J., Blanc, J., Shallcross, A. Park, K., Toma, C., Suppogu, N., et al. (2019) Psychological and Demographic Correlates of Objectively Measured Sleep Duration and Quality in Women with Myocardial Infarction. Circulation, 140(Suppl.1), A12980. (Poster presentation). 

*Park, C., Hausvater, A., Smilowitz, N., Kalinowski, J., Dickson, V., Hochman, J., Reynolds, H., & Spruill, T. (2018) Prevalence and Correlates of High Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk in Women With Acute Myocardial Infarction. Circulation,138(Suppl.1), 138:A15816 (Poster presentation). 

*Kalinowski, J, Park, C., Hausvater, A., Smilowitz, N., Pacheco, C., Herscovici, R., Wei, J., Toma, C., Mehta, L., Dickson, V., Hochman, J., Reynolds, H., & Spruill, T. (2018) Predictors of Perceived Stress in Women After Acute Recovery From Myocardial Infarction. Circulation, 138(Suppl.1), 138:A15115 (Poster presentation) 

Park, C., & Dickson, V. (2018). Acculturation clusters and body image characteristics in Korean Americans. The Eastern Nursing Research Society 30th Annual Scientific Sessions, Newark, NJ, April, 2017. (Paper presentation) 

Park, C., Nam, S., Whittemore, R. (2017). The Effects of Acculturation and Environment on Lifestyle Behaviors and Body Mass Index in Korean Immigrants. The Eastern Nursing Research Society 29th Annual Scientific Sessions, Philadelphia, PA, April, 2017. (Paper presentation) 

*Park, C., Nam, S., & Whittemore, R. (2016). Acculturation and Lifestyle Risk Behaviors in Korean Immigrants: Mediating Effects of Acculturative Stress and Body Image Discrepancy. Circulation, 134(Suppl. 1), 134:A15099. (Paper presentation) 

Park, C., Nam, S., Dixon J., Whittemore, R. (2016). The Association between Body Image Discrepancy and Body Mass Index in Middle-Aged Korean Immigrants. Diabetes, 65 (suppl.), 2527-PUB. (Publication only) 

Park, C., Jang, M., Whittemore, R. (2016). Church-based recruitment to reach Korean immigrants: A scoping review. The Eastern Nursing Research Society 28th Annual Scientific Sessions, Pittsburgh, PA, April, 2016. (Poster) 

Park, C., Whittemore, R., Song, M., Cho, B., Lim, J., Song, O., & Park, Y-H. (2015). Association between sarcopenic obesity, frailty, and quality of life in older adults. The 6th International Conference on Community Health Nursing Research, Seoul, South Korea. August 2015. (Poster) 

*Park, C., Dixon J., Chao, A., Minges, K.E., Jang, M., Grey, M., & Whittemore, R. (2015). Demographic, personal and behavioral correlates of dietary patterns in diverse adolescents. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 49 (Suppl), S107. (Poster)

Reviewer

  • Reviewer, Sleep Health, 2022-
  • Reviewer, Health Equity, 2021-
  • Reviewer, BMJ Open, 2021-
  • Reviewer, American Journal of Health Promotion, 2021-
  • Reviewer, Journal of the American Heart Association, 2021-
  • Reviewer, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2021-
  • Grant Reviewer, AHA Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine, 2020-
  • Reviewer, American Journal of Health Behavior, 2019-
  • Reviewer, Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 2017-
  • Reviewer, PLOS ONE, 2017-

Professional Organizations

  • Member, Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2013-
  • Member, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, 2007-
  • Member, American Heart Association, 2016-
  • Member, Eastern Nursing Research Society, 2013-2019

Honors/Awards

  • Vanderbilt University Provost Research Studio Award, 2019
  • American Heart Association (AHA) Research Leader Academy, 2017
  • McLeod-Blue-Skye Nursing Scholarship Travel Funds, 2014-2016
  • Yale University Fellowship, 2012-2016
  • Global Korean Nursing Foundation Scholarship (Korean branch), 2012    
  • Seoul National University Lecture & Research Scholarship, 2010-2012
  • Seoul National University Chancellor's Prize (summa cum laude), 2008
  • Seoul National University Superior Academic Performance Scholarship, 2005-2007

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