Bill Reger-Nash, EdD

Specialize in population-based health and wellness.

Professor Emeritus

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Public Health

Department:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Classification:

Faculty

Social Marketing

• Reger-Nash B, Bauman A, Abildso CG, Zullig K, Cottrell L. Wheeling Walks:  A targeted mass-media-led physical activity campaign.  In Using Mass Media to Promote the National Physical Activity Plan.  Human Kinetics Publishers. B. Marcus, Ed.  2014.

• Gebel K, Bauman AE, Reger-Nash B, Leyden KM.  Does the Environment Moderate the Impact of a Mass Media Campaign to Promote Walking?  American Journal of Health Promotion, 2011;26(1): 45-48.

• Craig CL, Bauman A, Reger-Nash. Testing the hierarchy of effects model: ParticipACTION’s serial mass communication campaigns on physical activity in Canada.  Health Promotion International.  2009.

• Reger-Nash B, Bauman A, Cooper L, Chey T, Simon KJ, Brann M, Leyden KM. WV Walks: replication with expanded reach. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2008;5:19-27.

• Bauman A, Bowles HR, Huhman M, Heitzler CD, Owen N, Smith BJ, and Reger-Nash B. Testing a Hierarchy-of-Effects Model: Pathways from Awareness to Outcomes in the VERB Campaign 2002-6. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2008;34(6S):S249-S256. 

• Maddock JE, Silbanuz A, Reger-Nash W.  Formative Research to Develop a Mass Media Campaign to Increase Physical Activity and Nutrition in a Multiethnic State. Journal of Health Communication 2008;13:208-215. 

• Leyden KM, Reger-Nash B, Bauman A, Bias T. Changing the Hearts and Minds of Policy Makers: An Exploratory Study Associated With the West Virginia Walks Campaign. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2008;22[3]:204–207.

• Maddock J, Maglione C, Barnett JD, Cabot C. Jackson S, Reger-Nash B. Statewide Implementation of the 1% Or Less Campaign.  Health Education and Behavior, 2006;34:953-963. 

• Reger-Nash B, Fell P, Spicer D, Fisher BD, Cooper L, Chey T, et al. BC Walks: replication of a communitywide physical activity campaign. Preventing Chronic Disease [serial online] 2006 Jul [date cited].

• Wootan MG, Reger-Nash B, Booth-Butterfield S, Cooper L. The Cost-Effectiveness of 1% Or Less Media Campaigns Promoting Low-Fat Milk Consumption. Preventing Chronic Disease 2005 October.

• Reger-Nash B, Cooper L, Orren J, Cook D. Marketing Used to Promote Walking in McDowell County. West Virginia Medical Journal 2005 May/June; 101(3): 106.

• Reger-Nash B, Bauman A, Booth-Butterfield S, Cooper L, Smith H, Chey T, Simon K. Wheeling Walks: Evaluation of a Media-Based Community Intervention. Family & Community Health 2005 Jan/Mar; 28(1): 64-78.

• Schwarts B, Reger W, Niblett G, Nevin JR. ISM Conference Proceedings: "Wheeling Walks" - A Mass Media-Based Community Campaign to Encourage Walking Among Sedentary Older Adults. Social Marketing Quarterly 2004 Fall-Winter; 10(3-4): 14-16.

• Booth-Butterfield S, Reger B. The message changes belief and the rest is theory: the "1% or Less" milk campaign and reasoned action. Preventive Medicine 2004 Sept; 39(3): 581-8.

• Reger-Nash B, Simon K, Cooper L, Bauman A. Wheeling Walks: A Media Based Intervention to Increase Walking. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Walking in the 21st Century, Walk 21 Portland. Portland, OR; 2003 May 13: 313-24.

• Reger B, Cooper L, Booth-Butterfield, Smith H, Bauman A, Wootan M, Middlestadt S, Marcus B, Greer F. Wheeling Walks: A Community Campaign Using Paid Media to Encourage Walking Among Sedentary Older Adults. Preventive Medicine 2002; 35: 285-92.

• Reger-Nash B, Simon K, Cooper L. Walking Program Creates Positive Results, National Attention. Letter to Editor. West Virginia Medical Journal 2002 Nov/Dec; 98: 245. *

• Reger B, Wootan MG, Booth-Butterfield S. A Comparison of Different Approaches to Promote Community-Wide Dietary Change. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2000; 18(4): 271-5.

• Reger B, Wootan MG, Booth-Butterfield S. Using Mass Media to Promote Health Eating: A Community-Based Demonstration Project. Preventive Medicine 1999; 29: 414-21.

• Reger B, Wootan MG, Booth-Butterfield S, Smith H. 1% or Less: A Community-Based Nutrition Campaign. Public Health Reports 1998 Sept/Oct; 113(5): 410-9

Participatory Planning

• Reger-Nash B, Bauman A, Smith BJ, Craig CL, Abildso CG, Leyden KM.  Organizing an Effective Community-wide Campaign: A Step-by-Step Guide.  ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal 2011;15(5): 21-27. 

• Reger-Nash B. Cooper L, Smith H, and Simon K. Training Manual for Community Health Participation Planning Programs. Training manual to identify, mobilize, organize, and build community resources to address population-based issues. May 2003. 

• Reger B, Ghosh T, Hall J. Health Risk Appraisals in the Community: The Bayer Wellness Program. In: Health Risks and Reductions: The Science and Applications. Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Meeting, the Society of Prospective Medicine, 1996. 

• Reger, B. How to Implement a Community Wellness Program - the Bayer Wellness Program Model. Wellness Management 1992 Summer; 8(2): 3,5

Health Promotion and Wellness

• Zullig K, Valois R, and Reger-Nash B. Health educator believability and college student self-rated health. Journal of American College Health 2012

• Oja P, Titse S, Bauman A, de Geus B, Reger-Nash B, Kohlberger T. Health benefits of cycling; a systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 2011;21: 496-509.

• Bias TK, Leyden KM, Abildso CG, Reger-Nash B, Bauman A. The importance of being parsimonious: Reliability of a brief community walkability assessment instrument. Health and Place. 2010. 16:755-758.

• Abildso C, Zizzi S, Reger-Nash B. Evaluating an Insurance-Sponsored Weight Management Program Using the RE-AIM Model, West Virginia, 2004-2008. Preventing Chronic Disease. 2010;7(3), 1-15.

• Nuss MA, Reger-Nash B, Williams K, Yasek V, Juckett G, Richards T. Medical Student Perceptions of Healthy Lifestyles: A Qualitative Study. California Journal of Health Promotion 2004; 2(1): 127-34.

• Williams KA, Kolar MM, Reger BE, Pearson JC. Evaluation of a Wellness-based Mindfulness Stress Reduction Intervention: A Controlled Trial. American Journal of Health Promotion 2001; 15(6): 422-32

• Reger WE, Allison TG, Kurucz RL. Exercise, Postexercise Metabolic Rate, and Appetite. In: Katch FI, editor. The 1984 Olympic Scientific Congress Proceedings, Vol. 2: Sport, Health, and Nutrition. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc; 1986. p. 115-23.

• Reger WE, Allison TG, Kurucz RL. Exercise, Postexercise Metabolic Rate, and Appetite. In: Katch FI, editor. The 1984 Olympic Scientific Congress Proceedings, Vol. 2: Sport, Health, and Nutrition. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc; 1984. p. 115-23.

Hot Tub Use

• Allison TG & Reger WE. Comparison of Responses of Men to Immersion in Circulating Water at 40.0 and 41.5ºC. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 1998 Sept; 69(9): 845-50.

• Allison TG & Reger WE. Thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and psychophysical response to alcohol in men in 40ºC water. Journal of Applied Physiology 1992 Jun; 72(6): 2099-107.

Distinctions

• 2010 Dr. Reger-Nash’s 1% Or Less low-fat milk, Wheeling Walks, and BC Walks campaigns were included in the World Health Organization’s list of “Interventions on Diet and Physical Activity: What Works.” His Wheeling Walks intervention model continues to be available on the Research-Tested Intervention Programs of the Cancer Control PLANET of the National Cancer Institute.
   
• 2008 Publication in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Roux et al, Am J Prev Med 2008;35(6):578–588) examined the cost effectiveness of community-based physical activity interventions. Data presented in Table 4 (p 583) show Wheeling Walks as the most cost-effective intervention in the US for quality-adjusted life years (QALY).
   
• 2006. He was recognized for outstanding service to West Virginia with receipt of the WV 2006 Ethel and Gerry Heebink Award for Distinguished and Extended State Service for his exceptional dedication to the State of West Virginia and to West Virginia University. Dr. Reger-Nash has promoted public health in different regions of the State through community-wide physical activity and nutrition campaigns.
   
• April 2006. Dr Reger-Nash was named one of Morgantown’s 100 Most Influential 2006 by The Dominion Post for his campaigns for more walkers and more walkable areas.
   
• July 2005.  Listing of Wheeling Walks on Cancer Control PLANET’s Research-Tested Intervention Program website (a part of National Cancer Institute’s SAMHSA program) 
• InSport, an athletic performance apparel company, noted me as one of their Local Legends on www.insport.com in the Summer of 2005.
   
• February 2004. The success of the Wheeling Walks social marketing campaign earned Dr. Reger-Nash the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Community Service, West Virginia University Health Science Center, Morgantown, WV.
   
• April 2004. Named one of Morgantown’s 100 Most Influential 2004 by The Dominion Post for his efforts to reduce obesity in Morgantown and throughout the state of West Virginia.   
   
• The U.S. News & World Report recognized me in their December/January 2003/2004 issue. The Special Double Issue had a segment titled "Best Minds - People to Watch". Amanda Spake, Senior Writer, visited WVU to interview me for the piece called 'A Market for Wellness'.
   
• December 2003. Named one of 10 Best Minds by U.S. News & World Report Outlook 2004
   
• May 2003. The Health Advocate Award was given by the State Health Education Council of West Virginia to Wheeling Walks and I% Or Less in recognition of distinguished service. Bill Reger, Principal Investigator.
   
• April l996. Health Advocate of the Year award was presented to Dr. Bill Reger by the State Health Education Council of West Virginia in recognition leadership in advancing a healthy state.
   
• October l996. National Health Information Awards for I% Or Lesslow-fat milk advertising campaign honoring the Nation’s Best Consumer Health Information: Silver Award Programs and Materials for I% Or Less Television Ad: “Heart;” Silver Award--I% Or Less Television Ad: “Supermarket;” and Bronze Award-I% Or Less Radio Ad: “Revolutionary”.
   
• February l993.  Hats Off to Leaders in West Virginia from the National Council of Jewish Women, West Virginia Section, Inc. Award given to Dr. Reger “In appreciation of contributions to the people of West Virginia.”
   
• November 1986. Dr. Bill Reger was elected to West Virginia House of Delegates, representing Wheeling/Ohio County. Served on Finance, Agriculture, and Human Resources Committees. 
   

My doctoral degree is in Exercise Physiology, and I earned my degree from WVU in 1984. I have two master's degrees from the University of Hawaii (everyone has to be somewhere), one in educational psychology (1973) and one in political science (1974). I was an undergraduate French major (Marist College, 1965).

My public health experience includes serving as the research coordinator and interim director of the Cardiac and Wellness Center of the Wheeling Hospital, the Executive Director of the Bayer Community Wellness Program in Wellsburg, WV, the Director of Wellness for Ohio Valley Medical Center, the founder and Director of the WVU Wellness Program, and now professor of Community Medicine at West Virginia University.

I also worked as a guidance counselor and teacher (French, Spanish, physical science, theology), athletic coach (football, basketball, track, and soccer) in elementary and secondary education in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and West Virginia for fifteen years. Most importantly, I taught sailing at a yacht club in Hawaii for ten years while living on my 36’ sailboat.

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