معرفی
Traci L. Thompson serves as Clinical Associate Professor in the University of Utah's College of Health, Department of Health and Kinesiology, with concurrent appointments as Adjunct Instructor in Nutrition & Integrative Physiology. She directs PEAK Health and Fitness and the Osher Center for Integrative Health's education programs, driving hands-on learning that bridges academic theory with community health practice.
Her educational foundation includes a BS in Exercise and Sport Science (University of Utah, 1998) and MS in Health and Exercise Science (Colorado State University, 2000), complemented by certifications as Certified Health Fitness Director (ACSM), Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA), and Cancer Exercise Trainer.
Thompson's research pioneers integrative health models, focusing on wellness coaching efficacy, community-engaged learning frameworks, and exercise physiology applications. Her work emphasizes translating academic concepts into real-world health solutions through interprofessional collaboration, with recent studies examining virtual fitness interventions during pandemics and metabolic adaptations in human physiology.
Her publication trajectory reveals evolving expertise from foundational exercise physiology (2002 skeletal muscle gene expression study) to contemporary digital health interventions (2023 virtual exercise classes research), consistently addressing population health challenges through practical, evidence-based approaches.
Accolades highlight her exceptional impact:
- 2024 NUIP Preceptor of the Year
- Distinguished Mentor Award (2023)
- UPSTEM Faculty Fellowship (2022)
- Career Champion Impact Award (2022)
- Higher Education Teaching Specialist Designation
Thompson mentors 40-50 undergraduates and 11-14 graduate students annually through PEAK Health and Fitness, where they deliver nutrition consultations, wellness coaching, and community health programs. She engineered the PEAK-KINES 2500 partnership engaging 600+ students yearly and secures TA positions providing financial support and professional development, significantly enhancing graduate recruitment for the College of Health.
Leading PEAK Health and Fitness since 2001 and the Osher Center's education initiatives since 2023, she cultivates environments where students gain certified experience in wellness services while serving the university community. Her dual leadership extends to coaching the Salt Lake Center for Science Education's mountain bike teams, demonstrating unwavering commitment to health promotion across academic and community settings.
