Sara Namazi (she/her)
Associate Professor College of Health & Wellness Department of Health Science Providence
Biography
Sara Namazi, M.S., Ph.D., has been teaching and doing research in the field of public health since she started her master’s degree at the University of Guam. As a former resident of the island of Guam, she worked on public health projects with the Guam Department of Public Health and Guam Environmental Protection Agency.
After finishing her master’s degree, Namazi was accepted as a doctoral student in the Public Health Program at the University of Connecticut. As a doctoral student, she was trained in the field of occupational and environmental health. She also completed a graduate certificate training in the field of Occupational Health Psychology. Namazi’s primary research focuses on addressing work and non-work conditions that impact employee health, safety, and well-being. Her research interests focus on work-life conflict, total worker health, community-based participatory research, the aging workforce, and correctional worker health.
Namazi uses her background in public health and research to design courses that help students master course content and develop public health skills and competencies that can be applied in various occupational settings and real-world situations.
Namazi’s research examines how both work and non-work conditions affect employee health, safety, and well-being. Her interests include work–life conflict, Total Worker Health, community-based participatory research, the aging workforce, and correctional worker health. She is also developing a new line of inquiry on neurodiversity and employment, her primary research focuses on addressing work and non-work conditions that impact employee health, safety, and well-being.
Education
PhD, University of Conneticut
Public Health
MS, University of Guam, Water Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific
Environmental Science
BA, University of Guam
Biology
Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health (Disability Certificate)
UCONN Health Master of Public Health Program Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health
Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health Psychology
University of Conneticut Department of Psychological Sciences
Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society
University of Connecticut
“Prison Stressors Study.” Namazi, S. (July 14, 2022)
https://www.council4.org/council-4-unplugged-podcast-1
Society for Total Worker Health
Rhode Island Public Health Association
Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society Connecticut Chapter
Connecticut Public Health Association
American Public Health Association
Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education
Gerontological Society of America
Namazi, S. (August, 2024). A Student-Oriented Guide to Applied & Integrative Learning: Strategies for Success and Key Relationship Building: No. (Book).
Pressbooks, 26.
https://jwu.pressbooks.pub/studentorientedguidetoappliedlearningjwumph/
Dugan, A. & Decker, R. & Austin, H. & Namazi, S. & Shaw, W. & Bellizzi, K. & Blank, T. & Cherniack, M. & Tannenbaum, S. & Swede, H. & Hundal, J. & Cavallari, J. (February 1, 2024). Work-health conflict among breast cancer survivors: Associations with cancer self-management, quality of life, and anticipated turnover: No. (Journal Article).
Occupational Health Science, 65(10), 868-879.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41542-024-00172-4
Cherniack, M. & Namazi, S. & Brennan, M. & Henning, R. & Dugan, A. & El Ghaziri, M. (January (1st Quarter/Winter) 24, 2024). A 16-Year Chronicle of Developing a Healthy Workplace Participatory Program for Total Worker Health® in the Connecticut Department of Correction: The Health Improvement through Employee Control (HITEC) Program.: No. (Journal Article).
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), 142.
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/2/142
Dugan, A. & Decker, R. & Austin, H. & Namazi, S. & Bellizzi, K. & Blank, T. & Shaw, W. & Swede, H. & Cherniack, M. & Tannenbaum, S. & Cavallari, J. (October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 1, 2023). Qualitative Assessment of Perceived Organizational Support for Employed Breast Cancer Survivors: No. (Journal Article).
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 65(10), 868-879.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37488771/
Gilmer, D. & Magley, V. & Dugan, A. & Namazi, S. & Cherniack, M. (February 9, 2023). Relative Importance of Incivility and Loneliness in Occupational Health Outcomes.: No. (Journal Article).
Occupational health science, 9, 1-25.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36789369/
Namazi, S. & Dugan, A. & Cavallari, J. & Rinker, R. & Preston, J. & Steele, V. & El Ghaziri, M. & Cherniack, M. (February 1, 2023). Participatory design of a sleep intervention with correctional supervisors using a root causes approach.: No. (Journal Article).
American journal of industrial medicine, 66(2), 167-177.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36537998/
Dugan, A. & Namazi, S. & Cavallari, J. & El Ghaziri, M. & Rinker, R. & Preston, J. & Cherniack, M. (July (3rd Quarter/Summer) 1, 2022). Participatory Assessment and Selection of Workforce Health Intervention Priorities for Correctional Supervisors. (Journal Article).
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 64(7), 578-592.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9301986/
Shaw, W. & McLellan, R. & Besen, E. & Namazi, S. & Nicholas, M. & Dugan, A. & Tveito, T. (March 1, 2022). A Worksite Self-management Program for Workers with Chronic Health Conditions Improves Worker Engagement and Retention, but not Workplace Function: No. (Journal Article).
Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 32(1), 77-86.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33983524/
Dugan, A. & Decker, R. & Zhang, Y. & Lombardi, C. & Garza, J. & Laguerre, R. & Suleiman, A. & Namazi, S. & Cavallari, J. (January (1st Quarter/Winter) 1, 2022). Precarious Work Schedules and Sleep: A Study of Unionized Full-Time Workers.: No. (Journal Article).
Occupational health science, 6(2), 247-277.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35372671/
Dugan, A. & Decker, R. & Namazi, S. & Cavallari, J. & Bellizzi, K. & Blank, T. & Dornelas, E. & Tannenbaum, S. & Shaw, W. & Swede, H. & Salner, A. (December 15, 2021). Perceptions of clinical support for employed breast cancer survivors managing work and health challenges.: No. (Journal Article).
Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 15(6), 890-905.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33405056/#full-view-affiliation-5
Namazi, S. & Dugan, A. & Fortinsky, R. & El Ghaziri, M. & Barnes-Farrell, J. & Noel, J. & Cavallari, J. & Shaw, W. & Cole, W. & Cherniack, M. (September 25, 2021). Traumatic Incidents at Work, Work-to-Family Conflict, and Depressive Symptoms Among Correctional Supervisors: The Moderating Role of Social Support.: No. (Journal Article).
Occupational Health Science, 5(4), 493-517.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41542-021-00098-1
Cavallari, J. & Suleiman, A. & Garza, J. & Namazi, S. & Dugan, A. & Henning, R. & Punnett, L. (September 10, 2021). Evaluation of the HearWell Pilot Program: A Participatory Total Worker Health(®) Approach to Hearing Conservation.: No. (Journal Article).
International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(18), 9529.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34574456/
Namazi, S. & Kotejoshyer, R. & Farr, D. & Henning, R. & Tubb, D. & Dugan, A. & El Ghaziri, M. & Cherniack, M. (August 18, 2021). Development and Implementation of a Total Worker Health® Mentoring Program in a Correctional Workforce: No. (Journal Article).
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8712.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8393198/
Kotejoshyer, R. & Gilmer, D. & Namazi, S. & Farr, D. & Henning, R. & Cherniack, M. (August 10, 2021). Impact of a Total Worker Health® Mentoring Program in a Correctional Workforce.: No. (Journal Article).
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8436.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34444186/
Dugan, A. & Namazi, S. & Cavallari, J. & Rinker, R. & Preston, J. & Steele, V. & Cherniack, M. (May 1, 2021). Participatory survey design of a workforce health needs assessment for correctional supervisors: No. (Journal Article).
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 64(5), 414-430.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33503677/
17th International Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology, “A United Front: Empowering Workers in the Correctional Workforce,” International Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology, Helsinki, Finland. (June 15, 2026).
17th International Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology, “Participatory Design and Implementation of a Workforce Needs Assessment Among US Correctional Workers,” International Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology, Helsinki, Finland. (June 15, 2026).
The 15th Annual Symposium on Human Factors/Ergonomics in Organizational Design and Management (ODAM) Organizational Design and Management, Storss, CT, United States. (June 9, 2026).
Western Massachusetts Elder Care Conference, “Confronting Ageism: Demystifying Myths and Stereotypes of Aging,” WMECC, Holyoke, MA, United States. (June 5, 2026).
Center for Teaching & Learning, “The Minds Behind the Mission: Neurodivergence in Higher Education,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (May 12, 2026).
Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace Total Worker Health® Trends Expert Webinar., “Total Worker Health® Trends Expert Webinar Series: Participatory Total Worker Health® Approaches to Workplace Stress: Case Study Insights.,” Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace, MA, United States. (May 7, 2026).
Student Research, Design, & Innovation Symposium, “Chronic Disease Burden & Public Health Needs in New York,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (April, 2026).
Student Research, Design, & Innovation Symposium, “Community Needs Assessment- Rhode Island,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (April, 2026).
Student Research, Design, & Innovation Symposium, “Depression diagnosis by pregnancy status by income,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (April, 2026).
Rhode Island Public Health Association Summit “Innovative Approaches to Advance Health Equity.”, “Examining the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (Sexual Abuse) and Depression among males and females in the United States using the 2022 BRFSS Dataset.,” Rhode Island Public Health Association, Warwick, RI, United States. (April 27, 2026).
The 2026 Connecticut Public Health Association Conference, “A Qualitative Examination of the Job Resources and Needs of Correctional Workers,” Connecticut Public Health Association, Hartford, CT, United States. (March 10, 2026).
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition, “Alcohol use associated with childcare and adult care responsibilities in corrections officers,” American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, United States. (2025).
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition, “Examining depressive disorders and COPD as occurring co-morbidities in veterans: A BRFSS analysis,” American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, United States. (2025).
Advancing Primary Care: Innovating for a Sustainable Future, Care Transformation Collaborative, Providence, Rhode Island, “Examining the Relationship Between Insurance And HIV/AIDs Screening Using the 2022 BRFSS Dataset.,” Care Transformation Collaborative, Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, RI, United States. (November 25, 2025).
The 4th International Symposium to Advance Total Worker Health, “A participatory approach to Correctional Workforce work and health equity,” National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Society for Total Worker Health, Bethesda, MD, United States. (October 21, 2025).
The 4th International Symposium to Advance Total Worker Health, “A review of evidence of workplace interventions designed to foster inclusion for neurodiverse employees: A systematic review.,” National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Society for Total Worker Health, Bethesda, MD, United States. (October 21, 2025).
The 4th International Symposium to Advance Total Worker Health, “By Workers, For Workers: Interventions for Improving Mental Well-being,” National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Society for Total Worker Health, Bethesda, MD, United States. (October 21, 2025).
The 2025 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Expo, “Examining depressive disorders and COPD as occurring comorbidities in veterans: A BRFSS analysis,” American Public Health Association, Washington DC, DC, United States. (October 21, 2025).
Work, Stress, and Health 2025, “Race, Gender and Age Discrimination at Work and its Effect on Sleep Quality in a Sample of Connecticut Correctional Officers,” American Psychological Association, Seattle, WA, United States. (July 8, 2025).
The 22nd European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology (EAWOP 2025), “Participatory Health Interventions in Corrections: An Effect Modifier Assessment of HITEC Project,” Czech Association of Work and Organizational Psychologists (ČAPPO) under the auspices of EAWOP, Prague, Czech Republic. (May 21, 2025).
Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace All Center Meeting, “Examining the Efficacy of a Facility Support Officer Program,” Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace, Sturbridge, MA, United States. (May 14, 2025).
Work Environment Symposium: UMASS Lowell, “Examining the Efficacy of a Facility Support Officer Program,” Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace, Sturbridge, MA, United States. (May 14, 2025).
Student Research, Design, & Innovation Symposium, “Discrimination and its Effect on Sleep Quality,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (April 1, 2025).
Student Research, Design, & Innovation Symposium, “Examining the association between depressive disorders and COPD in veterans,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (April 1, 2025).
University Scholarship and Best Practices Expo, “A Qualitative Examination of Factors Impacting Correctional Workers’ Sleep Hygiene,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (February 14, 2025).
University Scholarship and Best Practices Expo, “Neurodiverse, neurotypical, high-functioning, low-functioning, stimming, oh my!,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (February 14, 2025).
American Public Health Association Meeting and Conference, “Alcohol as a coping tool for job stress and burnout in correction officers,” American Public Health Association, Minneapolis, MN, United States. (2024).
American Public Health Association Meeting and Expo, “Perceived childhood safety and adult participation in HIV screening.,” American Public Health Association, Minneapolis, MN, United States. (November, 2024).
ASCO Quality Care Symposium 2024, “Receipt of Work-Accommodations in relation to Job Tenure among working Breast Cancer Survivors.,” Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, San Francisco, CA, United States. (September, 2024).
Rhode Island Public Health Association Summit “Innovative Approaches to Advance Health Equity.”, “Unveiling Injustice: Exploring the Link Between Workplace Discrimination and Unemployment Among Sexual and Gender Minorities.,” Rhode Island Public Health Association, Warwick, RI, United States. (April, 2024).
University Scholarship and Best Practices Expo, “Design and Implementation of Workforce Interventions For Correctional Workers,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (April 12, 2024).
Occupational Health and Safety Research Symposium, “Correctional employee discrimination, work-family conflict, and sleep,” Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace, Worcester, MA, United States. (January, 2024).
Occupational Health and Safety Research Symposium, “Examining Associations Between Depressive Disorders and COPD in Veterans,” Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace, Worcester, MA, United States. (January, 2024).
Work, Stress, and Health 2023 Virtual Conference, “Occupational prestige and psychological health: A study of correctional supervisors.,” American Psychological Association. (November, 2023).
Work, Stress, and Health 2023 Virtual Conference, “Positive Correctional Supervisor-Inmate Interaction Increases Supervisor Well-Being: A Positive Psychology Approach.,” American Psychological Association. (November, 2023).
Work, Stress, and Health 2023 Virtual Conference, “Promoting Total Worker Health® program sustainability through participatory design and evaluation of organizational leadership training: HITEC experiences.,” American Psychological Association. (November, 2023).
ASCO Quality Care Symposium 2023, “Receipt of Work-Accommodations among continuously working Breast Cancer Survivors associated with having Adult Dependents at Home.,” Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, San Francisco, CA, United States. (September, 2023).
UCONN Center for mHealth and Social Media’s 7th Annual Conference, “Planning a social media-based peer support intervention with breast cancer survivors to improve social connectedness,” University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States. (May, 2023).
Fun Size Scholarship Colloquium, “Using an Evidence-Based Tool to Address the Training Needs of Correctional Staff Caring for an Aging Incarcerated Population,” Springfield College, Springfield, MA, United States. (April 6, 2023).
3rd International Symposium to Advance Total Worker Health, “A qualitative examination of factors impacting correctional supervisors’ sleep quality and quantity,” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Bethesda, United States. (October, 2022).
3rd International Symposium to Advance Total Worker Health, “Customizing the IDEAS Tool for Use in Designing Total Worker Health Interventions by the Corrections Workforce.,” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Bethesda, United States. (October, 2022).
Work, Stress, and Health 2021 Virtual Conference, “Association of perceived discrimination at work and depressive symptoms among correctional employees: Assessing the moderating role of sex, race/ethnicity, and job tenure.,” American Psychological Association. (November, 2021).
Work, Stress, and Health 2021 Virtual Conference, “Comparing facility-based and multi-site Design Team functions: effectiveness and program content.,” American Psychological Association. (November, 2021).
Work, Stress, and Health 2021 Virtual Conference, “Impact and Evaluation of a Correctional Supervisors’ Design Team (DT) Intervention on Healthy Eating,” American Psychological Association. (November, 2021).
Work, Stress, and Health 2021 Virtual Conference, “Perceived Organizational Support for Employed Breast Cancer Survivors Coping with Work and Health Challenges.,” American Psychological Association. (November, 2021).
Work, Stress, and Health 2021 Virtual Conference, “The Intervention Design and Analysis Scorecard: A Total Worker Health Approach to Identifying Mental Health Stressors of Correctional Staff,” American Psychological Association. (November, 2021).
Work, Stress, and Health 2021 Virtual Conference, “Workplace Loneliness as an Explanatory Mechanism in Incivility Outcomes,” American Psychological Association. (November, 2021).