April D Davis, PhD, RDN, ACSM-CEP

• Washington State University Pullman, Doctor of Philosophy, Prevention Science
• Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, Master of Science, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology
• Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, Bachelor of Science, Exercise Physiology and Metabolism, Coordinated Program in Dietetics
• Washington State University Pullman, Bachelors of Science, Psychology; Biological Sciences

• Associate Professor: Dept. of Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, ESFCOM, WSU Health Sciences Spokane (current)
• Director: Master of Science Coordinated Program in Dietetics, Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, ESFCOM, WSU Health Sciences Spokane (current)
• Director: Nutrition Thread of Medical Education, Dept. of Medical Education, ESFCOM, WSU Health Sciences Spokane
• Assistant Professor: Dept. of Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, ESFCOM, WSU Health Sciences Spokane
• Instructor: Nutrition, Mukogawa Women’s University, Nishinomiya, Japan, Spokane Falls Campus
• Instructor: Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, Washington State University Spokane
• Clinical Dietitian & Preceptor: Cancer Care Northwest, Spokane, WA
• Nutrition Consultant: People to People Ambassador Program, Spokane, WA
• Graduate Assistant: Washington State University Spokane, College of Pharmacy
• Clinical Dietitian: St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane, WA
• Lecturer I: Washington State University Spokane, College of Pharmacy
• Clinical Pediatric Dietitian: Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital, Spokane, WA
• Research Assistant: Policy Legislation and Nutrition, Center for Public Health Nutrition, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• Counselor; Program Coordinator: Spokane Resource Center
• Family Education Advocate: Federal Even Start Program

GRANT ACTIVITY

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Spokane Teaching Health Center Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Student Training. Barbara A. Richardson – principal investigator. April D. Davis, co-investigator. $779,993. Awarded. 8/19/15 – 9/30/2018.
• Using Interprofessional Education (IPE) to Improve Care for Patients with MCC Initiative. Cynthia Fitzgerald, Ph.D. – principal investigator. April D. Davis, Consultant for Nutrition (3% contribution). $1,102,818. Awarded. 7/1/2013 – 6/30/2016.

• The Founding Dean’s Award for Contribution to the ESFCOM Culture, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, WSU Health Sciences Spokane, 2020
• Emerging Dietetic Leader of the Year, Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2016
• WSU Research Exchange, Academic Showcase Collection Recipient, 2012           
• College of Pharmacy Commencement Ceremony Speaker, Faculty-Nominated, 2012       
• Outstanding Student of the Year, Faculty-Elected, WSU Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, 2012
• Magna Cum Laude, 2012; Cum Laude, 2009                        
• Commission on Dietetic Registration Foundation Gala, Honored Guest, 2011             
• Dean C Fletcher Graduate Fellowship in Clinical Nutrition, 2011                                      
• American Dietetic Association Foundation Scholarship Recipient, 2011

Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Kobayashi R, Schwartz CR, Wilson MN, Clauser JM, Mann DP, Purath J, Davis AD, Ododm-Maryon TL, Bray BS, Richardson BB. Interprofessional Student Training Program: An Evaluation of Teaching, Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for Substance Use. J Soc Work Pract Addict. 2019; 19:1-2, 26-36. DOI: 10.1080/1533256X.2019.1589882
• Weeks DL, French BF, Davis AD, Towle LA. Development and validation of the Diabetes Knowledge Assessment Test for use in medical rehabilitation Disabil Rehabil. 2015; 37(9): 802-811.
• Weeks DL, Davis AD, Towle LA. The Diabetes Knowledge Assessment Test in Medical Rehabilitation: Reliability, Validity, and Utility. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013; 94(10): e57-e58.

Other Published Scholarly Works (books, book chapters, monographs)

• Danko M., Holbrook RK., Davis AD, Beach K., Lee CM. Living & Thriving with Pancreatic Cancer. Greenacres, WA: Provenir Publishing; 2013.
• Davis, AD, Madsen, M. Nutrition for HIPEC Treatment. Patient Handbook for Cancer Care Northwest, Spokane, WA; 2013.

As a combined Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN), Certified Dietitian (CD), and American College of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP), April immensely enjoys working with students in the Nutrition and Exercise Physiology program at Washington State University Spokane.

April is a PhD Candidate in Prevention Science with a focus on stigma surrounding substance use and nutrition status associated with substance use disorder, and has a Master of Science in Nutrition & Exercise Physiology and Bachelors of Science in Psychology, Biological Sciences, and Exercise Physiology & Metabolism. Prior to joining NEP as a full-time faculty member, April worked as an oncology dietitian, supporting surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists and helping patients manage and prevent treatment side effects, while implementing lifestyle changes for improved overall health.  Additionally, she has experience as a clinical pediatric dietitian, global nutrition and exercise consultant, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation exercise physiologist, and international keynote speaker. 

Currently, April’s research interests surround integrative and functional medicine, and she has completed the Certificate of Training Program in Integrative and Functional Nutrition through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. As a co-investigator on the Spokane Teaching Health Center Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Student Training grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), she is proactively teaching dietetic students about the fundamental and functional role nutrition plays in substance abuse and throughout the recovery process.  Students then attend an interprofessional education workshop where they learn how to screen, intervene, and refer patients who are at-risk for substance abuse through standardized patient cases.

Some of the past research April has focused on explored people’s awareness of diabetes and how this information can be used as a guide for prevention and education programs.  Information collected from this research was used to validate a diabetes assessment tool, identify strengths and weaknesses in domains of knowledge among patients at risk for or diagnosed with diabetes, encourage individuals at high diabetes risk to be more watchful for symptoms and pursue formal medical screening, and identify beliefs and attitudes surrounding misinformation.  April has also developed a nutrition screening and intervention tool that has been implemented at an outpatient cancer treatment center. 

April has given numerous lectures, seminars, and workshops on a wide range of topics at local, state, regional, and international professional conferences, including: Food and Mental Health; High Intensity Interval Training for People with Type 2 Diabetes; Nutritional Issues Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment; Malnutrition Screening and Intervention for Patients with Cancer; Exercise Post Breast Cancer Treatment; Vitamin Diabetes?;  Misinformation and Knowledge Gaps Related to Diabetes in Medical Rehabilitation Patients; Skeletal Muscle Plasticity with High Altitude Training; Effect of Aerobic Training on Cardiac Autonomic Regulation in Young Adults; Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Exercise in Children; Effects of Postoperative Exercise Therapy Following Lumbar Discectomy; and Ethnic Food Practices and Type 2 Diabetes in the United States.   

Volunteer work plays a vital role in April's professional and personal growth, serving in multiple positions on the Boards of Directors for Local and State Dietetic Associations, and donating time to facilitate health workshops for community organizations. April is grateful to have had many unique opportunities in her career. It encourages her to spread her wings and delve into all possibilities with an open, creative mindset.