Nancy Adler | |
---|---|
Born |
New York City, U.S. | July 26, 1946
Died | January 4, 2024 | (aged 77)
Alma mater |
Wellesley College Harvard University |
Known for |
Health behavior Social determinants of health |
Awards |
|
Scientific career | |
Fields | Health psychology |
Institutions | University of California, San Francisco |
Thesis | Reactions of women to therapeutic abortion: a social psychological analysis (1974) |
Nancy Elinor Adler (July 26, 1946 – January 4, 2024) was an American health psychologist. She was the Lisa and John Pritzker Professor of Medical Psychology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and director of UCSF's Center for Health and Community Sciences. [1] Adler was known for her research on health behaviors, health disparities, and social determinants of health. [2] [3] [4]
Adler was the director of the MacArthur Foundation's Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health from its foundation to December 1996. [5] She was the director of the Evidence for Action (E4A), a UCSF health program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. [6]
Adler was born in Manhattan on July 26, 1946. [7] Her father was a salesman and clothing manufacturer and her mother was a teacher. The family later moved to Denver. [7]
Adler completed her undergraduate studies at Wellesley College, where she conducted research with Claire Zimmerman. [8] She entered the PhD Program in Social Relations at Harvard University in 1968 and was mentored by Herbert Kelman, an expert on social influence and cognitive dissonance. [8] For her 1974 PhD thesis titled "Reactions of Women to Therapeutic Abortion: A Social Psychological Analysis" [9] Adler interviewed women before and after having an abortion. She found that women's reactions were generally positive and reflective of healthy coping strategies. [8]
Adler taught at the University of California, Santa Cruz prior to joining the faculty of UCSF. In 1980, she served a term as the President of Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology (APA Division 34). [10] Adler has chaired multiple NAM committees and workshops on subjects including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, [11] sexually transmitted diseases, [12] psychosocial treatments for cancer patients, and women's health. [13]
Adler was a fellow of the American Psychological Society (APS) and the American Psychological Association (APA), as well as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences [14] and the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). [15]
Adler received the APA Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology in 2009. [16] The award cited her "research on reproductive health examining adolescent decision-making with regard to contraception, conscious and preconscious motivations for pregnancy, and perception of risk for sexually transmitted diseases, and for her groundbreaking insights into the importance of psychological processes in explaining why socioeconomic status is associated with physical health." [8] Other awards include:
In 1975, Adler married Arnold Milstein. [22] They collaborated on research [23] [24] and had two daughters together. [8]
Adler died of pancreatic cancer on January 4, 2024, at age 77. [7]
Nancy Adler | |
---|---|
Born |
New York City, U.S. | July 26, 1946
Died | January 4, 2024 | (aged 77)
Alma mater |
Wellesley College Harvard University |
Known for |
Health behavior Social determinants of health |
Awards |
|
Scientific career | |
Fields | Health psychology |
Institutions | University of California, San Francisco |
Thesis | Reactions of women to therapeutic abortion: a social psychological analysis (1974) |
Nancy Elinor Adler (July 26, 1946 – January 4, 2024) was an American health psychologist. She was the Lisa and John Pritzker Professor of Medical Psychology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and director of UCSF's Center for Health and Community Sciences. [1] Adler was known for her research on health behaviors, health disparities, and social determinants of health. [2] [3] [4]
Adler was the director of the MacArthur Foundation's Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health from its foundation to December 1996. [5] She was the director of the Evidence for Action (E4A), a UCSF health program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. [6]
Adler was born in Manhattan on July 26, 1946. [7] Her father was a salesman and clothing manufacturer and her mother was a teacher. The family later moved to Denver. [7]
Adler completed her undergraduate studies at Wellesley College, where she conducted research with Claire Zimmerman. [8] She entered the PhD Program in Social Relations at Harvard University in 1968 and was mentored by Herbert Kelman, an expert on social influence and cognitive dissonance. [8] For her 1974 PhD thesis titled "Reactions of Women to Therapeutic Abortion: A Social Psychological Analysis" [9] Adler interviewed women before and after having an abortion. She found that women's reactions were generally positive and reflective of healthy coping strategies. [8]
Adler taught at the University of California, Santa Cruz prior to joining the faculty of UCSF. In 1980, she served a term as the President of Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology (APA Division 34). [10] Adler has chaired multiple NAM committees and workshops on subjects including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, [11] sexually transmitted diseases, [12] psychosocial treatments for cancer patients, and women's health. [13]
Adler was a fellow of the American Psychological Society (APS) and the American Psychological Association (APA), as well as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences [14] and the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). [15]
Adler received the APA Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology in 2009. [16] The award cited her "research on reproductive health examining adolescent decision-making with regard to contraception, conscious and preconscious motivations for pregnancy, and perception of risk for sexually transmitted diseases, and for her groundbreaking insights into the importance of psychological processes in explaining why socioeconomic status is associated with physical health." [8] Other awards include:
In 1975, Adler married Arnold Milstein. [22] They collaborated on research [23] [24] and had two daughters together. [8]
Adler died of pancreatic cancer on January 4, 2024, at age 77. [7]