Childhood obesity is a major health threat to Pacific populations, fueling diabetes and other health problems. In this hybrid Pau Hana talk, Rachel Novotny (PhD, RD) describes how an innovative approach using culturally sensitive and community based interventions is improving the health of Pacific children and their families.

Attend in person at AgSci 219 — light refreshments and social time beginning at 4:30 p.m.
OR tune in on line when the program begins at 5 p.m.

ARCS Honolulu's 2022 Scientist of the Year, Dr. Novotny is principal investigator of the Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Program for Remote Underserved Minority Populations of the Pacific Center of Excellence. CHL's multi-level intervention trial, training and outreach program has decreased the prevalence of young child overweight and obesity throughout the US Affiliated Pacific, including the Marshall Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia.

Trained in maternal-child health, global nutrition, epidemiology, anthropology and environmental biology, Dr. Novotny has published more than 155 scientific papers related to maternal, infant and child nutrition and health, with particular focus on remote regions of the world and culturally diverse populations. She is a professor in the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and co-director of the Children’s Healthy Living Dietetics Scholarship Program.