Research Interests

Applying epidemiologic methods to the evaluation of the economic, social, and health consequences of diabetes, violence, and injuries. Dr. Songer's current work focuses on examining the costs and benefits of interventions in childhood diabetes treatment and prevention, and in examining the relative contribution of health and disability to the development of motor vehicle crashes and injuries. Past projects have focused on investigating injuries related to the weather, identifying the medical costs related to child maltreatment and violence, and evaluating the influence of economic factors as risk factors in diabetes outcomes.

• Diabetes Epidemiology
• Diabetes Health Economics
• Injury Epidemiology
• Health Care Costs in Injury and Violence
• Diabetes and Motor Vehicle Crashes
• Injuries to Wheelchair Users in Motor Vehicle Transportation
• Selected Publications

Teaching

Courses at Pitt
• Injury Epidemiology
• Injury Prevention & Control
• Intro to Epidemiology
Web-based lectures
• Internet-based Education in Epidemiology
• Teaching on the Internet; Success and Failure
• Short Course in Disaster Epidemiology

Recent Research Support

Principal Investigator
• Wheelchair Transportation Accident Incidence Study (2001-2004) NIDDR, as part of RERC on Wheelchair Transportation Safety
• Automobile Crash Risks in Persons with Diabetes (2002-2005) NIDDK
Co-Investigator
• STOPP-T2D, Studies to Treat or Prevent Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes (2003-) NIDDK

Education & Training

• University of Notre Dame - B.S. PreProfessional Studies, 1983
• University of Pittsburgh - M.P.H. Epidemiology, 1986
• University of Pittsburgh - Ph.D. Epidemiology, 1990
• London School of Economics - M.Sc. Health Planning and Financing, 1991

Recent and Selected Publications

• Songer TJ, Lave JR, Kamlet MS, Frederick S, Ness RB. Preferences for Fertility in Women with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Fertility & Sterility 81(5):1344-50, 2004.
• Ettaro L, Berger RP, Songer T. Abusive Head Trauma in Young Children: Characteristics and Medical Charges in a Hospitalized Population. Child Abuse & Neglect 28:1099-1111, 2004
• Songer TJ, Fitzgerald SG, Rotko KA. The Injury Risk to Wheelchair Occupants using Motor Vehicle Transportation. Annu Proc Assoc Adv Automot Med 48:115-129, 2004.
• Ettaro L, Songer TJ, Zhang P, Engelgau MM. Cost of Illness Studies in Diabetes. PharmacoEconomics 22(3):149-164, 2004.
• Songer TJ, Barcelo A. The Economics of Diabetes Care: North America. In The International Textbook of Diabetes Mellitus, 3rd Edition. Alberti, DeFronzo, Zimmet, Williams (eds). London, John Wiley & Sons, 2004.
• Songer TJ. Diabetes and Discrimination at Work. Int J Clin Practice Supplement 138:58-63, November 2003
• Peele PB, Lave JR, Songer TJ. Expenditures for Diabetes in Employer-sponsored Health Insurance. Diabetes Care 25:1964-68, 2002.
• Songer T. Low blood sugar and motor vehicle crashes in persons with type 1 diabetes. Annu Proc Assoc Adv Automot Med 46:424-27, 2002.
• LaPorte RE, Songer TJ, Gower IF, Lave LB, Ekoe JM. Insulin-Using Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers. Federal Highway Administration, Office of Motor Carriers, Pub. No. FHWA-MC-92-012, Washington, DC, US Dept. of Transportation, May 1992. [Available online at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/research-technology/publications/medreports.htm.]

• Songer TJ, Coben JH, Ettaro L, Staren D. Health Care Costs Associated with Violence in Pennsylvania. Highmark, Inc., Camp Hill, PA, March 2000
• Songer TJ, LaPorte RE, Lave JR, Dorman JS, Becker DJ. Employment patterns among parents of children with IDDM. Work 9:121-128, 1997.
• Songer TJ, Ettaro L, and the Economics of Diabetes Project Panel. Studies on the Costs of Diabetes, Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 1998.
• Songer TJ, LaPorte RE, Lave JR, Dorman JS, Becker DJ. Health Insurance and the Financial Impact of IDDM in Families with a Child with IDDM. Diabetes Care 20(4):577-584, 1997
• Songer T, Caggiula A, Ettaro L, Olson M, Larsen D. Cost-Effectiveness of Nutrition Therapy in the MDRD Study.
• Songer TJ. Disability in Diabetes. In: Diabetes in America, 2nd Edition. National Diabetes Data Group. NIH Pub. No. 95-1468, Washington, DC, US Government Printing Office, 1995.