michele polacsek

Michele Polacsek, Ph.D., M.H.S.

Professor of Public Health
Department of Health Promotion Studies
Director of the Centers for Public Health
Center for Public Health Practice

Location

1075 Forest Avenue
Portland Campus for the Health Sciences

I am professor of public health and director of the Centers for Public Health in the Institute for Public and Planetary Health at the University of New England based in Portland, Maine. I am trained as a social and behavioral scientist and over the past 15 years have focused my research efforts in two key areas: the promotion of healthy food choices in the supermarket setting; and promoting healthy environments for students in the educational setting including food and beverage marketing to students and universal school meals. I was principal investigator on two randomized controlled trials studying financial incentives to promote fruit and vegetable purchases in the supermarket demonstrating significant increases in fruit and vegetable purchases among participants in the intervention groups with greatest improvement among Supplemental Assistance Program (SNAP) users. I have been principal investigator on several recent studies of school food marketing including the study of digital food and beverage marketing in the educational-technology space. I also recently led a Department of Health and Human Services Administration-funded study to promote nutrition and socialization among low-income seniors in Westbrook, Maine which demonstrated improvements in Healthy Eating Index scores among participants. I am currently leading a USDA-funded study testing a healthy food prescription tied to supermarket purchases among low income primary care patients and participate in several other studies seeking to promote a healthy diet through the retail setting as co-investigator. 

 

Credentials

Education

M.H.S.
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
1989
Ph.D.
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
1993

Awards and Accolades

  • High Impact Author award Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2020
  • Best Paper 2019 award, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2019
  • Delta Omega honorary public health society for teaching excellence -elected member of the Gamma Chi chapter, July 24, 2015

Expertise

  • Public health

Research

Current research

  • School-based food and beverage marketing to youth
  • Grocery store healthy food incentives

Selected publications

  1. Orta-Aleman D, Zuercher MD, Pulido T, Cohen JFW, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Schwartz MB, Patel AI, Polacsek M, French CD, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Health Aff Sch. 2026 Mar;4(3):qxag048. doi: 10.1093/haschl/qxag048. eCollection 2026 Mar. PubMed PMID: 41878002; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC13008016.
  2. Kesack A, Polacsek M, Schneider A, Cohen JFW. Nutrients. 2026 Feb 6;18(3). doi: 10.3390/nu18030540. PubMed PMID: 41683361; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12899353.
  3. Zuercher MD, Orta-Aleman D, French CD, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Cohen JFW, Polacsek M, Schwartz MB, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2026 Jan 30;. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2025.12.012. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 41615357.
  4. Cohen JFW, Zuercher MD, Orta-Aleman D, Chapman LE, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Olarte DA, Patel AI, Polacsek M, Schwartz MB, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2025 Oct;57(10):902-908. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2025.06.001. Epub 2025 Aug 12. PubMed PMID: 40794006.
  5. Olarte DA, Gosliner W, Chapman LE, Hecht C, Hecht K, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Patel AI, Read M, Ritchie LD, Schwartz MB, Zuercher MD, Orta-Aleman D, Polacsek M, Cohen JFW. J Sch Health. 2025 Aug;95(8):575-586. doi: 10.1111/josh.70019. Epub 2025 Jun 16. PubMed PMID: 40524480.
  6. Orta-Aleman D, Schwartz MB, Patel AI, Polacsek M, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Zuercher MD, Ritchie LD, Cohen JFW, Gosliner W. Am J Prev Med. 2026 Jan;70(1):107942. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2025.107942. Epub 2025 Jun 11. PubMed PMID: 40513914.
  7. Chapman LE, Gosliner W, Schwartz MB, Zuercher MD, Ritchie LD, Orta-Aleman D, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Polacsek M, Patel AI, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Read M, Olarte DA, Cohen JFW. J Sch Health. 2025 Jun;95(6):389-399. doi: 10.1111/josh.70004. Epub 2025 Apr 1. PubMed PMID: 40169385.
  8. Chapman LE, Gosliner W, Olarte DA, Zuercher MD, Ritchie LD, Orta-Aleman D, Schwartz MB, Polacsek M, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Patel AI, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Read M, Cohen JF. Public Health Nutr. 2025 Feb 4;28(1):e55. doi: 10.1017/S1368980024002349. PubMed PMID: 39901560; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11983997.
  9. Polacsek M, DeSilva MB, Meuser T, Gamble M. Inquiry.2025 Jan-Dec;62:469580251382387. doi: 10.1177/00469580251382387. Epub 2025 Oct 20. PubMed PMID: 41116715; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12553881.
  10. Orta-Aleman D, Zuercher MD, Hecht C, Hecht K, Poudel I, Olarte DA, Patel A, Polacsek M, Ritchie LD, Cohen JFW, Gosliner W. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2025 Jun;125(6):751-760.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.11.002. Epub 2024 Nov 9. PubMed PMID: 39522748.
  11. Cohen JFW, Chapman LE, Olarte DA, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Minc L, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Orta-Aleman D, Patel AI, Polacsek M, Ritchie LD, Zuercher MD, Gosliner W. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2025 Oct;125(10):1425-1433.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.10.001. Epub 2024 Oct 9. PubMed PMID: 39383945.
  12. Zuercher MD, Orta-Aleman D, Cohen JFW, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Polacsek M, Patel AI, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Nutrients. 2024 Jun 8;16(12). doi: 10.3390/nu16121812. PubMed PMID: 38931167; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11206622.
  13. Chapman LE, Gosliner W, Olarte DA, Ritchie LD, Schwartz MB, Polacsek M, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Turner L, Patel AI, Zuercher MD, Read M, Daly TP, Cohen JFW. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024 Dec;124(12):1561-1579.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.05.005. Epub 2024 May 11. PubMed PMID: 38735530.
  14. Hecht AA, Gosliner W, Turner L, Hecht K, Hecht CE, Ritchie LD, Polacsek M, Cohen JFW. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024 Dec;124(12):1580-1589. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.04.018. Epub 2024 May 6. PubMed PMID: 38718858.
  15. Cohen JFW, Kesack A, Daly TP, Elnakib SA, Hager E, Hahn S, Hamlin D, Hill A, Lehmann A, Lurie P, Maroney M, Means J, Mueller MP, Olarte DA, Polacsek M, Schwartz MB, Sonneville KR, Spruance LA, Woodward AR, Chapman LE. Nutrients. 2024 Jan 17;16(2). doi: 10.3390/nu16020275. PubMed PMID: 38257169; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10818474.
  16. Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Polacsek M, Olarte DA, Read M, Patel AI, Schwartz MB, Chapman LE, Orta-Aleman D, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Health Aff Sch. 2024 Jan;2(1):qxad092. doi: 10.1093/haschl/qxad092. eCollection 2024 Jan. PubMed PMID: 38756406; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10986222.
  17. C, Moukalled S, Polacsek M. J Sch Health. 2023 Mar 2;. doi: 10.1111/josh.13315. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36861751.
  18. Cohen JFW, Polacsek M, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Read M, Olarte DA, Patel AI, Schwartz MB, Turner L, Zuercher M, Gosliner W, Ritchie LD. Nutrients. 2022 Sep 28;14(19). doi: 10.3390/nu14194031. PubMed PMID: 36235683; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9571988.
  19. Petimar J, Grummon AH, Zhang F, Gortmaker SL, Moran AJ, Polacsek M, Rimm EB, Roberto CA, Rao A, Cleveland LP, Simon D, Franckle RL, Till S, Greene J, Block JP. JAMA Intern Med. 2022 Sep 1;182(9):965-973. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.3065. PubMed PMID: 35913728; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9344388.
  20. Franckle RL, Boulos RJ, Thorndike AN, Moran AJ, Khandpur N, Blue D, Greene J, Block JP, Rimm EB, Polacsek M. Health Promot Pract. 2022 Apr 13;:15248399221086880. doi: 10.1177/15248399221086880. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 35414293.
  21. Utter H, Polacsek M, Emond JA. J Sch Health. 2022 Jan;92(1):99-108. doi: 10.1111/josh.13107. Epub 2021 Nov 21. PubMed PMID: 34806187; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8702464.
  22. Zatz LY, Moran AJ, Franckle RL, Block JP, Hou T, Blue D, Greene JC, Gortmaker S, Bleich SN, Polacsek M, Thorndike AN, Mande JR, Rimm EB. Public Health Nutr. 2021 Oct;24(15):5127-5132. doi: 10.1017/S1368980021002238. Epub 2021 May 25. PubMed PMID: 34030759.
  23. Grummon AH, Petimar J, Zhang F, Rao A, Gortmaker SL, Rimm EB, Bleich SN, Moran AJ, Franckle RL, Polacsek M, Simon D, Greene JC, Till S, Block JP. Am J Prev Med. 2021 Sep;61(3):377-385. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.03.013. Epub 2021 Jun 5. PubMed PMID: 34103209; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8384707.
  24. Baquero B, Anderson Steeves E, Polacsek M, De Marco M, Chapman L, Leone LA, Simon C. Public Health Nutr. 2021 Aug;24(11):3520-3529. doi: 10.1017/S1368980021001488. Epub 2021 Apr 6. PubMed PMID: 33820587.
  25. Petimar J, Zhang F, Rimm EB, Simon D, Cleveland LP, Gortmaker SL, Bleich SN, Polacsek M, Roberto CA, Block JP. PLoS Med. 2021 Jul;18(7):e1003714. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003714. eCollection 2021 Jul. PubMed PMID: 34252088; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8312920.
  26. Zatz LY, Moran AJ, Franckle RL, Block JP, Hou T, Blue D, Greene JC, Gortmaker S, Bleich SN, Polacsek M, Thorndike AN, Rimm EB. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2021 Jun;53(6):471-479. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.03.001. PubMed PMID: 34116742.
  27. Emond JA, Fleming-Milici F, McCarthy J, Ribakove S, Chester J, Golin J, Sargent JD, Gilbert-Diamond D, Polacsek M. Am J Prev Med. 2021 Apr;60(4):587-591. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.10.008. Epub 2020 Dec 10. PubMed PMID: 33309448; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9092224.
  28. Hecht AA, Perez CL, Polacsek M, Thorndike AN, France RL, Moran AJ. Influence of Food and Beverage Companies on Retailer Marketing Strategies and Consumer Behavior. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(20):7381.
  29. Petimar J, Zhang F, Simon D, Cleveland L, Gortmaker S, Bleich S, Polacsek M, Rimm E, Roberto C, Block J.Changes in Nutrient Content of Meal Purchases After Calorie Menu Labeling. Obesity. 2020; 28:65.
  30. Grummon A, Petimar J, Zhang F, Simon D, Rao A, Gortmaker S, Rimm E, Moran A, Polacsek M, Block J.Calorie Labeling of Supermarket Prepared Foods: A Longitudinal Analysis of Reformulation. Obesity. 2020; 28:11.
  31. Franckle RL, Thorndike AN, Moran AJ, Hou T, Blue D, Greene JC, Bleich SN, Block JP, Polacsek M, Rimm EB.Am J Prev Med. 2019 Dec;57(6):800-807. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.07.025. PubMed PMID: 31753261; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6876700.
  32. Long MW, Polacsek M, Bruno P, Giles CM, Ward ZJ, Cradock AL, Gortmaker SL. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2019 Nov - Dec;51(10):1177-1187. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.07.005. Epub 2019 Aug 8. PubMed PMID: 31402290.
  33. Petimar J, Zhang F, Cleveland LP, Simon D, Gortmaker SL, Polacsek M, Bleich SN, Rimm EB, Roberto CA, Block JP. BMJ. 2019 Oct 30;367:l5837. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l5837. PubMed PMID: 31666218; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6818731.
  34. Polacsek M, Boninger F, Molnar A, O'Brien LM. J Sch Health. 2019 Sep;89(9):739-751. doi: 10.1111/josh.12813. Epub 2019 Jul 3. PubMed PMID: 31269537.
  35. Moran A, Thorndike A, Franckle R, Boulos R, Doran H, Fulay A, Greene J, Blue D, Block JP, Rimm EB, Polacsek M. Health Aff (Millwood). 2019 Sep;38(9):1557-1566. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05420. PubMed PMID: 31479362.
  36. Franckle RL, Polacsek M, Bleich SN, Thorndike AN, Findling MTG, Moran AJ, Rimm EB. Am J Public Health. 2019 Jul;109(7):993-995. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305112. PubMed PMID: 31166725; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6603470.
  37. Moran AJ, Khandpur N, Polacsek M, Thorndike AN, Franckle RL, Boulos R, Sampson S, Greene JC, Blue DG, Rimm EB. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2019 Apr;51(4):400-408. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.01.012. Epub 2019 Feb 12. PubMed PMID: 30765298; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6461501.
  38. Moran AJ, Khandpur N, Polacsek M, Rimm EB. Appetite. 2019 Mar 1;134:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.12.009. Epub 2018 Dec 11. PubMed PMID: 30550893.
  39. Polacsek M, Moran A, Thorndike AN, Boulos R, Franckle RL, Greene JC, Blue DJ, Block JP, Rimm EB. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2018 Mar;50(3):217-228.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2017.09.013. Epub 2017 Nov 7. PubMed PMID: 29126661; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6247420.
  40. Polacsek M, Dana-Sacco G. CBPR Interactive Role-Plays: Three Scenarios. In: Wallerstein N, Duran B, Oetzel J, Minkler M, editors. in Community-Based Participatory Research for Health Third Edition ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 2018. Chapter Appendix 13; p.411-416. 419p.
  41. Franckle RL, Moran A, Hou T, Blue D, Greene J, Thorndike AN, Polacsek M, Rimm EB. Am J Prev Med. 2017 Oct;53(4):e131-e138. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.06.019. Epub 2017 Aug 14. PubMed PMID: 28818413; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5657566.
  42. Polacsek M, O'Brien LM, Pratt E, Whatley-Blum J, Adler S. J Sch Health. 2017 Mar;87(3):167-173. doi: 10.1111/josh.12488. PubMed PMID: 28147461.
  43. Gortmaker SL, Polacsek M, Letourneau L, Rogers VW, Holmberg R, Lombard KA, Fanburg J, Ware J, Orr J.Child Obes. 2015 Apr;11(2):187-93. doi: 10.1089/chi.2014.0132. Epub 2015 Feb 26. PubMed PMID: 25719624; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4382710.
  44. Polacsek M, Orr J, O'Brien LM, Rogers VW, Fanburg J, Gortmaker SL. Child Obes. 2014 Aug;10(4):326-33. doi: 10.1089/chi.2014.0036. Epub 2014 Jul 21. PubMed PMID: 25046206; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4120928.
  45. Polacsek M, O'Rourke K, O'Brien L, Blum JW, Donahue S. Public Health Rep. 2012 Mar-Apr;127(2):216-23. doi: 10.1177/003335491212700211. PubMed PMID: 22379223; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3268808.
  46. Harris DE, Blum JW, Bampton M, O'Brien LM, Beaudoin CM, Polacsek M, O'Rourke KA. J Nutr Educ Behav.2011 Jul-Aug;43(4):274-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2010.08.008. PubMed PMID: 21683275.
  47. Whatley Blum JE, Beaudoin CM, O'Brien LM, Polacsek M, Harris DE, O'Rourke KA. Prev Chronic Dis. 2011 Jan;8(1):A19. Epub 2010 Dec 15. PubMed PMID: 21159231; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3044030.
  48. O'Brien LM, Polacsek M, Macdonald PB, Ellis J, Berry S, Martin M. J Sch Health. 2010 Apr;80(4):176-85. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2009.00484.x. PubMed PMID: 20433643.
  49. Polacsek M, Orr J, Letourneau L, Rogers V, Holmberg R, O'Rourke K, Hannon C, Lombard KA, Gortmaker SL. Pediatrics. 2009 Jun;123 Suppl 5:S258-66. doi: 10.1542/peds.2008-2780C. PubMed PMID: 19470601.
  50. Martin SL, Maines D, Martin MW, MacDonald PB, Polacsek M, Wigand D, Ronan L, Andrade M, Dufresne R.Prev Chronic Dis. 2009 Apr;6(2):A63. Epub 2009 Mar 16. PubMed PMID: 19289006; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2687869.
  51. Polacsek M, O'Brien LM, Lagasse W, Hammar N. Prev Chronic Dis. 2006 Jul;3(3):A101. Epub 2006 Jun 15. PubMed PMID: 16776862; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1637789.
  52. Wallerstein N, Polacsek M, Maltrud K. Participatory Evaluation Model for Coalitions: The Development of Systems Indicators. Health promotion practice. 2002; 3(3):361-373. doi: 10.1177/152483990200300306.
  53. Polacsek M, Rogers EM, Woodall WG, Delaney H, Wheeler D, Rao N. J Stud Alcohol. 2001 May;62(3):344-50. doi: 10.15288/jsa.2001.62.344. PubMed PMID: 11414344.
  54. Polacsek M, Celentano DD, O'Campo P, Santelli J. AIDS Educ Prev. 1999 Feb;11(1):38-52. PubMed PMID: 10070588.
  55. Maltrud K, Polacsek M, Wallerstein N. Participatory Evaluation Workbook for Community Initiatives. [Print]. New Mexico: New Mexico Department of Health, Public health Division, Community Systems Bureau; 1997. 114 pages
  56. Santelli JS, Kouzis AC, Hoover DR, Polacsek M, Burwell LG, Celentano DD. Fam Plann Perspect. 1996 May-Jun;28(3):101-7. PubMed PMID: 8827145.
  57. Santelli JS, Celentano DD, Rozsenich C, Crump AD, Davis MV, Polacsek M, Augustyn M, Rolf J, McAlister AL, Burwell L. AIDS Educ Prev. 1995 Jun;7(3):210-20. PubMed PMID: 7646945.
  58. Nebot M, Celentano DD, Burwell L, Davis A, Davis M, Polacsek M, Santelli J. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1994 Aug;48(4):412-8. doi: 10.1136/jech.48.4.412. PubMed PMID: 7964343; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1059993.