Semra Aytur

PROFESSOR
Phone: (603) 862-3415
Office: Health Management & Policy, Hewitt Hall Rm 335, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:

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<p><a title><strong>Semra Aytur, PhD, MPH is a Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management.&nbsp;Dr. Aytur is an epidemiologist whose research focuses on socio-ecological resilience and the relationships between the built, natural, and social environment in keeping people well. She is deeply committed to collaborative learning and research that supports innovative ways to improve health behavior and planetary health.</strong></a></p><a title>
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<p><strong>She has published over 75 scientific manuscripts and three books on public health and environmental health.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Dr. Aytur earned a&nbsp;PhD in Epidemiology from the&nbsp;University&nbsp;of North Carolina&nbsp;(UNC)&nbsp;Chapel Hill followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular epidemiology. She also holds a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from Boston University and a BA in human biology from Brown University.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>In 2022, Dr. Aytur received the Climate and Health Leadership Award from the American Public Health Association (APHA) Center for Climate, Health, and Equity.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Dr. Aytur is deeply committed to collaborative learning and research that supports innovative ways to promote well-being and planetary health.</strong> <strong>She is a Co-PI on the $6 million ENACTS study, focusing on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for community resilience.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>ENACTS is a multi-institutional collaborative research project supported by the National Science Foundation. The research focuses on harnessing the power of NbS to address issues&nbsp; like flooding,&nbsp; heat island effects,&nbsp; lack of access to safe spaces to exercise/recreate, and food insecurity. Supported by local knowledge and integrated social/natural sciences, engineering, art and design, ENACTS is co-creating an ecosystem of partners to support more informed NbS decision-making and implementation.</strong></p>
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Courses Taught

  • BMS 799H: Senior Honors Thesis
  • HDS 890: HDS Independent Study
  • HMP 501: Epidemiology & Comm Med Lab
  • HMP 669: Human Behavior & Public Health
  • HMP 715: Environmental Health
  • HMP 796: Independent Study
  • HMP 798H: Honors Project/Research Design
  • HMP 799H: Honors Project/Research
  • INCO 790: Advanced Research Experience
  • PHP 900: Public Health Care Systems
  • PHP 901: Epidemiology
  • PHP 907: Public Health Policy
  • SUST 750: Sustainability Capstone

Education

  • Ph.D., Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • M.P.H., Health Services Administration, Boston University
  • B.A., Biology/Biological Sciences, Brown University

Selected Publications

  • Powers, S. L., Ferguson, L. A., Ferguson, M. D., Aytur, S., Gorman, M. B., Bennett, J. L., & Feldbaum, E. (2025). Fostering equity: How welcomeness, safety, and representation influence visitor coping and intention-to-return to parks and protected areas. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 50, 100868. doi:10.1016/j.jort.2025.100868

  • Tang, X., Wang, J., Wu, B., Navarra, A. -M., Cui, X., Sharp, E., . . . Wang, J. (2024). Navigating Both Roles: A Photovoice Exploration of the Young Adult Balancing Daughterhood and Caregiving for a Mother With Young-Onset Dementia.. Qual Health Res, 34(14), 1398-1411. doi:10.1177/10497323241244986

  • Voyer, H., Aytur, S., & Tanda, N. (2023). Linking Adverse Childhood Experiences and Other Risk Factors to Subjective Cognitive Decline in an Aging Population.. Prev Chronic Dis, 20, E115. doi:10.5888/pcd20.230182

  • Lemon, S. C., Joseph, H. A., Williams, S., Brown, C., Aytur, S., Catalano, K., . . . Schramm, P. J. (2023). Reimagining the Role of Health Departments and Their Partners in Addressing Climate Change: Revising the Building Resilience against Climate Effects (BRACE) Framework.. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 20(15). doi:10.3390/ijerph20156447

  • Smith, S. L., Vaquerano, J., Humphreys, B. P., & Aytur, S. A. (2023). Parent Satisfaction With a Telehealth Parent Coaching Intervention to Support Family Participation.. OTJR (Thorofare N J), 43(3), 531-539. doi:10.1177/15394492231164942

  • John, D. H., Andress, L., Aytur, S., Dodge, T., Gustat, J., Schuchardt-Vogt, C. E., & Lee, R. E. (2023). Scoping Conceptions of Equity: Reviewing a Decade of Physical Activity Research.. J Healthy Eat Act Living, 3(1), 7-18. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37794922

  • Lyn, R., Aytur, S., Davis, T. A., Eyler, A. A., Evenson, K. R., Chriqui, J. F., . . . Brownson, R. C. (2013). Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches for Obesity Prevention: A Framework to Inform Local and State Action. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE, 19, S23-S33. doi:10.1097/PHH.0b013e3182841709

  • Evenson, K. R., Aytur, S. A., & Borodulin, K. (2009). Physical Activity Beliefs, Barriers, and Enablers among Postpartum Women. JOURNAL OF WOMENS HEALTH, 18(12), 1925-1934. doi:10.1089/jwh.2008.1309

  • Rodriguez, D. A., Aytur, S., Forsyth, A., Oakes, J. M., & Clifton, K. J. (2008). Relation of modifiable neighborhood attributes to walking. PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, 47(3), 260-264. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.02.028

  • SADEH, A., ACEBO, C., SEIFER, R., AYTUR, S., & CARSKADON, M. A. (1995). ACTIVITY-BASED ASSESSMENT OF SLEEP-WAKE PATTERNS DURING THE 1ST YEAR OF LIFE. INFANT BEHAVIOR & DEVELOPMENT, 18(3), 329-337. doi:10.1016/0163-6383(95)90021-7

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  • Most Cited Publications