People
Research Interests
O’Connor’s interdisciplinary research agenda includes evaluating the effectiveness of health-related interventions, explaining individual variation in health outcomes and investigating the effects of physical activity on health and risk factors. He has collaborated in research across many diverse fields and topics, including obesity, health and wellness, public health, kinesiology, exercise science, rehabilitation, movement disorders, physiology, and surgery.
Recent Publications and Research Activity
Active Externally Funded Research
Principal Investigator:
United Health Foundation. A Community Collaborative for Preventing and Treating Obesity in Underserved Communities in Houston. (Co-Principal Investigator with Ezemenari Obasi).
Co-Investigator:
William T. Grant Foundation. Can Food Scholarships Reduce Inequality by Improving College Persistence Among Community College Students? (Principal Investigator Daphne Hernandez).
NIH/National Cancer Institute. U-HAND (University of Houston/MD Anderson) Program to Reduce Cancer Disparities. (Co-Principal Investigators Lorraine Reitzel and Lorna McNeill).
Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Taking Texas Tobacco Free: Increasing Tobacco Cessation in Substance Use Treatment Centers via an Evidence-Based, Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Workplace Program. (Principal Investigator Lorraine Reitzel).
PUBLICATIONS
Kunz H, Spielmann, G, Agha N, O’Connor DP, Bollard CM, Simpson RJ. A single exercise bout augments adenovirus-specific T-cell mobilization and function. Physiology & Behavior. 2018;194:56-65.
Cunningham B, O’Connor DP, Brinker MR. High rate of union for aseptic distal tibial nonunions in adults treated with slow gradual compression via circular external fixation. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. 2018;32:301-305.
Kilian CM, Morris BJ, Sochacki KR, Gombera MM, Haigler RE, O'Connor DP, Edwards TB. Radiographic comparison of finned, cementless central pegged glenoid component and conventional cemented pegged glenoid component in total shoulder arthroplasty: a prospective randomized study. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2018;27(6S):S10-S16.
Paluch AE, Hand GA, O’Connor DP, Wilcox S, Shook RP, Drenowatz C, Baruth M, Burgess S, Blair SN. The influence of life events and psychological stress on objectively measured physical activity: A 12-month longitudinal study. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2018;15:374-382.
Ledoux TA, Robinson J, Baranowski T, O’Connor DP. Teaching parents about responsive feeding through a vicarious learning video: a randomized controlled trial. Health Education & Behavior. 2018;45:229-237.
Shook RP, Hand GA, O’Connor DP, Thomas DM, Hurley TG, Hebert JR, Drenowatz C, Welk GJ, Carriquiry AL, Blair SN. Energy intake derived from an energy balance equation, validated activity monitors, and dual x-ray absorptiometry can provide acceptable caloric intake data among young adults. Journal of Nutrition. 2018;148:490-496.
Warner SJ, O’Connor DP, Brinker MR. Sub-tubercle osteotomy for medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee using an Ilizarov technique: survival analysis and clinical outcomes. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2018;100:e1.
Pourmoghaddam A, Dettmer M, Malanka SJK, Veverka M, O'Connor DP, Paloski WH, Layne CS. Assessing multiple muscle activation during squat movements with different loading conditions - an EMG study. Biomedizinische Technik. 2017; 20160226, https://doi.org/10.1515/bmt-2016-0226.
Kilian CM, Press CM, Smith KM, O’Connor DP, Morris BJ, Elkousy HA, Gartsman GM, Edwards TB. Radiographic and clinical comparison of pegged and keeled glenoid components using modern cement techniques: midterm results of a prospective randomized study. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2017;26:2078-2085.
Daundasekara S, Beasley AD, O’Connor DP, Sampson M, Hernandez, D, Ledoux TA. Validation of the Intuitive Eating Scale for pregnant women. Appetite. 2017;112:201-209.
Meng H, O’Connor DP, Lee BC, Layne CS, Gorniak SL. Alterations in over-ground walking patterns in obese and overweight adults. Gait and Posture. 2017;53:145-150.
Brinker MR, Trivedi A, O’Connor DP. The debilitating effects of femoral nonunion on health-related quality of life. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. 2017;31:e37-e42.
Darouiche RO, Green DM, Harrington MA, Ehni BI, Kouglas P, Bechara CF, O’Connor DP. Association of airborne microorganisms in the operating room with implant infections: a randomized controlled trial. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. 2017;38:3-10.
Gartsman GM, Waggenspack WN, O’Connor DP, Elkousy HA, Edwards TB. Immediate and early complications of the open Latarjet procedure: a retrospective review of a large consecutive case series. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2017;26:68-72.
Parker N, O’Connor DP, Kao D, Lee RE. Do neighborhood physical activity resources and land-use influence physical activity among public housing residents? Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 2016;27:1330-1344.
Education
B.A. in Human Performance and Health Sciences at Rice University, 1991
M.S. in Physical Therapy at Texas Woman's University, 1993
Ph.D. in Kinesiology at University of Houston, 2002