Kevin Heffernan

Kevin Heffernan, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Movement Science and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Director of the Applied Neurovascular Physiology Lab. He holds affiliations with the Biobehavioral Sciences, Applied (Exercise) Physiology, and Health Studies programs. His work bridges exercise science, vascular aging, and neurocognitive health with a focus on health disparities.

Education: B.S. in Exercise Science from The University of Scranton; M.S. in Applied Physiology and Nutrition from Teachers College; Ph.D. in Kinesiology (Exercise Physiology) from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center’s Molecular Cardiology Research Institute and serves as an Adjunct Research Scientist at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging.

Research Interests: His work examines the impact of exercise on vascular and neurocognitive aging, disparities in cardiovascular disease outcomes across sex and race, and the interplay between mental health, sociodemographics, and chronic conditions like obesity and diabetes. His lab investigates biomarkers and non-invasive techniques to assess physiological changes in diverse populations.

Publications: Recent work highlights acute resistance exercise’s vascular effects, the role of gut microbiota in cardiovascular health, and sociocultural factors influencing refugee obesity. Studies also address hypertension in veterans, dementia risk linked to vascular health, and the influence of work discrimination on aging biomarkers.

• Awards: Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM)

Advising & Grants: While specific grant details are not listed here, his lab’s projects suggest involvement in NIH-funded or collaborative research programs addressing health disparities and exercise interventions. He mentors students in translational research bridging physiology, education, and public health.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Applied Neurovascular Physiology Lab, focusing on translational research in cardiovascular and neurocognitive physiology, with collaborations across biomedical engineering and clinical nutrition.