Research Interests

Applying epidemiologic methods to the evaluation of the economic, social, and health consequences of diabetes, obesity, 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 diabetes, the costs associated with child maltreatment, 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
• Injuries arising from Thunderstorms
• Selected Publications

Teaching

Courses at Pitt
• EPIDEM 2110; Principles of Epidemiology
• EPIDEM 2670; Injury Epidemiology
• EPIDEM 2640; Injury Prevention & Control
• HRS 1017; Intro to Epidemiology
Web-based lectures
• Internet-based Education in Epidemiology
• Teaching on the Internet; Success and Failure

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
• CIRCL, Center for Injury Research & Control (2003-2009), CDC

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, Dorsey RR. High risk characteristics for motor vehicle crashes in persons with diabetes by age. Annu Proc Assoc Adv Automot Med 50:335-351, 2006.
• Songer TJ, Glazner J, Zhang P, and the TODAY Study Group. Examining the economic costs related to lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions in youth with Type 2 diabetes. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research 6(3):315-324, 2006.
• Dorsey RR, Songer TJ, Zgibor JC, Orchard TJ. Influences on Screening for Chronic Diabetes Complications in Type 1 Diabetes. Disease Management 9(2):93-101, 2006.
• 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.
• 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.]



PDF documents

• 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.

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This page was last modified on 30 June 2008

For further information, contact me at tjs+@pitt.edu