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Samantha F. Ehrlich, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor
Physical Activity Epidemiology
HPER 330
865-974-4663
sehrlic1@utk.edu



Biography

Samantha F. Ehrlich, PhD, MPH is a physical activity epidemiologist whose research focuses on pregnancy and the postpartum period, particularly exposures, behaviors, and outcomes related to the development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Ehrlich received her MPH in Maternal and Child Health and doctoral degree in Epidemiology from the University of California Berkeley. Prior to coming to UT, she was a postdoctoral research fellow in the Women’s and Children’s Health Section at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research. Dr. Ehrlich serves on the Editorial Boards for PLOS One and BMC Pregnancy And Childbirth.



Research

Current Research Support:

The Timing of Physical Activity for Pregnancy Hyperglycemia, a Randomized Crossover Trial, American Diabetes Association grant #11-22-ICTSN-29

PI: Ehrlich

This randomized crossover trial is examining the potential effects of the timing of physical activity (i.e., after breakfast vs. after dinner) on glucose across the 24-cycle in pregnant individuals with gestational diabetes or gestational glucose intolerance.

Effect of time-based energy intake goals on weight loss during obesity treatment, NIH/NIDDK – R01 DK137752

PI: Raynor, Co-I: Ehrlich

Trial to determine the influence of time-based energy intake goals in adults during obesity treatment on longer-term weight loss, eating temporal patterns, sleep regularity, and appetite regulation.



Education

  • BS  – Biology and Women’s Studies,  College of Literature, Science and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI – 2002
  • MPH – Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA – 2005
  • PhD – Epidemiology,  School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA – 2011


Publications

Recent publications include (but not limited to):

  1. Ehrlich SF, Ferrara A, Hedderson MM, Feng J, Neugebauer R. Exercise during the First Trimester and its Association with the Risks of Abnormal Screening and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care. 2021 Feb;44(2):425-432. PMID: 33355301.
  2. Onaade O, Maples JM, Rand BG, Fortner KB, Zite NB, Ehrlich SF. Physical activity for blood glucose control in gestational diabetes mellitus: Rationale and recommendations for translational behavioral interventions.Clin Diabetes Endocrinol. 2021 Apr 25;7(1):7. PMID: 33896420.
  3. Barroso CS, Yockey A, Degon E, Poudel P, Brown SD, Hedderson MM, Moreno-Hunt C, Ehrlich SF. Efficacious Lifestyle Interventions for Appropriate Gestational Weight gain in Women with Overweight or Obesity Set in the Health Care System: A Scoping Review. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021 May 25;1-14. PMID: 34034608.
  4. Ehrlich SF. Maternal Diabetes and Infant Sex Ratio. Curr Diab Rep. 2021 Jun 10;21(8):24. PMID: 34110514.
  1. Ehrlich SF, Maples JM, Barroso CS, Brown KC, Bassett DR, Zite NB, Fortner KB. Using a consumer-based wearable activity tracker for physical activity goal setting and measuring steps in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: exploring acceptance and validity. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021 Jun 8;21(1):420. PMID: 34103002.
  1. Rand BG, Ehrlich SF, Johnson TM, Churilla JR. Diabetes risk status and meeting the United States physical activity recommendations in reproductive-age women: 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Diabet Med. 2022 Aug;39(8):e14889. PMID: 35593657.
  2. Ehrlich SF, Rand BG, Zite, NB, Fortner KB, Paudel A, Peterson C, Maples J. Exploring the Relationship between Regular Physical Activity and the 24-hour Glucose Cycle in Gestational Glucose Intolerance or Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Am J Obstet Gynecol.2023 Jan;228(1):100-102. PMID: 36088987.