Dr. Black's research has emphasized service delivery and women's health in the areas of eating disorders and weight management, and the development of tests to screen athletes for eating disorders. Over two decades devoted to applied research, Dr. Black developed the Stepped Approach Model (SAM), a framework based on three basic tenets: (1) availability of low cost, yet high quality, efficacious interventions; (2) implementation of the appropriate level and amount of intervention to produce clinically and medically important lifestyle changes to prevent or reduce, mortality, morbidity, or disability; and (3) increased access to treatment. Consequently, in much of his work, Dr. Black has employed the Stepped Approach Model to study community services related to multiple health areas, including positive nutritional practices, tobacco use prevention, responsible alcohol use, stress reduction, blood pressure control, and promotion of physical activity.

The sum of his scholarly activity has, to date, produced 2 books, 9 book chapters, and close to 90 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. These publications reflect both depth and diversity in focus, with subject areas ranging from specific health issues to model development, theory testing, and social marketing. He has made more than 140 professional presentations, including many invited and keynote speeches, and to audiences in numerous countries around the globe. His nearly 20 grants and contracts for which he has served as principal investigator, co-investigator, or project evaluator approach $2 million in total funding.

In addition to holding the credential of Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), Dr. Black is a Fellow of the American Academy of Health Behavior, the American School Health Association, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the Research Consortium of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. In addition, he has been named the American Association for Health Education Scholar (AAHE Scholar) for 2001. Moreover, he has demonstrated his valuable leadership as a Founding Member of the American Academy of Health Behavior, and as Chair of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc., to name only a few examples.

Dr. Black also is known for his contributions as Editor of The Peer Facilitator Quarterly, and co-editor of the CHES Bulletin. Among numerous other editorial related services he performs, Dr. Black serves as Associate Editor of Education & Treatment of Children, Contributing Editor to the Journal of Health Education, Consulting Editor for Health Psychology, and member of the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Health Behavior. Furthermore, he serves as a manuscript reviewer for at least 10 diverse professional publications transcending the fields of medicine, sports psychology, addictive behavior, health behavior, and research in education.

Dr. Black possesses a meritorious record and profoundly demonstrates a scholarship that is multidimensional. This brief synopsis of his career achievements and professional distinctions is reported with respect and great personal regard by his colleagues Inside the Academy.

Am J Health Behav 2000;25(1):78