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E
Committee Member 
biographical Sketches
Harold W. Kohl III, Ph.D., M.S.P.H. (Chair), is professor of epidemiology 
and kinesiology in the School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, 
Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, Michael & Susan Dell 
Center for Healthy Living at the University of Texas Health Science Center-
Houston and in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the 
University of Texas at Austin. He is founder and director of the University 
of Texas Physical Activity Epidemiology Program, where he is responsible 
for student training, research, and community service related to physical 
activity and public health. Previously, Dr. Kohl directed physical activity 
epidemiology and surveillance projects in the Division of Nutrition, Physical 
Activity, and Obesity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
His research focuses on epidemiology related to physical inactivity, physical 
activity and health in children and adults. Dr. Kohl also studies the effect 
of the built environment on physical activity and is currently researching a 
planned development that implements “smart growth” techniques designed 
to support physically active lifestyles. He was previously a member of the 
Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Accelerating Progress in Obesity 
Prevention and the IOM Committee on Fitness Measures and Health 
Outcomes in Youth. He received an M.S.P.H. in epidemiology and bio -
statistics from the University of South Carolina School of Public Health and 
a Ph.D. in community health studies from the University of Texas Health 
Science Center-Houston School of Public Health.