SRPH Robert Wood Johnson Foundation article cited among the most influential of the year

(COLLEGE STATION, TX) — An article highlighting the successes of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded Active for Life® program has been cited as one of the 10 most influential foundation articles of the year. The national program office was established in 2001 at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health by Regents Professor Marcia Ory, Ph.D., M.P.H., with Diane Dowdy, Ph.D., as deputy director.

Active for Life® funded nine community organizations representing a variety of settings nationwide to deliver physical activity programs to more than 8,000 adults age 50 and older. The goal was to increase physical activity, one of the strongest predictors of health and functioning throughout life.

“Active for Life® has influenced our thinking about the delivery of community-based programs for seniors,” Dr. Ory said. “Our research has demonstrated that evidence-based programs developed in research settings can be disseminated successfully in community settings, reaching more diverse populations, increasing physical activity levels associated with positive health outcome and showing the potential for sustainability over time. It is wonderful to be recognized by the RWJF community for this accomplishment.”

The top 10 articles were chosen from 25 nominated articles by 1,400 RWJF email subscribers casting votes from 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The largest percentages of voters were from California, Massachusetts and New York, and 38 percent were academia.