Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of STD Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd, MS E-44
Atlanta,
GA
USA
30333
Email:
pdittus@cdc.gov
Biographical Sketch:
7/2007 – present: Behavioral Scientist, Behavioral Interventions and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Project Officer: Project Connect
1999 – 2007: Health Scientist, Surveillance and Evaluation Research Branch, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Project Officer: Linking Lives: Building Quality Parent Components for School-Based Health Programs in Middle Schools
1995- 1999: Senior Research Scientist, Center for Applied Psychological Research,
University at Albany, State University of New York
Project Director: Parent Education in Adolescent Drunk Driving
1994 – 1995: Research Scientist, Center for Applied Psychological Research, University at Albany, State University of New York
Project Manager: Validity of Self Reports of Sexual Risk Behaviors
Currently serving as the adolescent health lead for the Division of STD Prevention at CDC. Responsible for designing and evaluating interventions to prevent STD and pregnancy among adolescents and to reduce adolescent risk behaviors. Conduct research on parental influences on adolescent risk behaviors and develop and evaluate parent-based interventions.
Author or coauthor of over 30 scientific publications, books, or book chapters primarily related to adolescent health and parental influences on adolescent health.
Numerous presentations at scientific meetings.