Natalicio H. Serrano

About

Dr. Natalicio (Nat) Serrano is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. His research focuses on creating equitable and sustainable environment and policy strategies for physical activity promotion and chronic disease prevention. Dr. Serrano utilizes a systems approach to understand inter-related factors and sectors (e.g., Transportation, Planning, Housing) impacting or being impacted by environment and policy strategies for physical activity. He is particularly interested in understanding and addressing issues related to neighborhood development, racial and economic segregation, gentrification, and displacement. Prior to joining UNC, Dr. Serrano was a Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Illinois Chicago’s Institute for Health Research and Policy.

Research Activities

-Physical activity and public health

-Chronic disease prevention

-Spatial and place-based drivers of health behaviors

-Neighborhood environment and public health

-Health equity

-Public health policy

Key Publications

Healthy community design, displacement, and equity strategies in the US: a scoping review. . Serrano N, Realmuto L, Graff K, Hirsch J, Andress L, Sami M, Rose K, Smith A, Irani K, McMahon J, Devlin H. (2023). Journal of Urban Health, 100.
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Examining the associations of and interactions between intrapersonal and perceived environmental factors with objectively assessed physical activity among rural Midwestern adults, USA. Serrano N, Beck A, Salvo D, Eyler A, Reis R, Steensma J, Gilbert A, Brownson R. (2022). American Journal of Health Promotion.
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Building the capacity-examining the impact of evidence-based public health trainings in Europe: a mixed methods approach. Serrano N, Diem G, Grabauskas V, Shatchkute A, Stachenko S, Deshpande A, Gillespie KN, Baker EA, Vartininen E, Brownson RC. (2020). Global Health Promotion..
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Sub-population differences in the relationship between the neighborhood environment and Latinas’ daily walking and vehicle time. Serrano N, Perez LG, Carlson J, Patrick K, Kerr J, Holub C, Arredondo EM. (2024). Journal of Transport & Health., 8.
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Education