Christine Garver-Apgar, PhD

Professional Titles

• Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry
• Director of Research and Evaluation, Behavioral Health and Wellness Program

Research Interests

My research portfolio spans both basic psychological science and applied community-based research and evaluation. I work across multiple states to oversee strategic development of sustainable research and program evaluation initiatives. In my work as a behavioral scientist, I apply principles of evolutionary medicine, psychology, and psychiatry to the study of individual differences in human health and development. Areas of interest include developmental psychobiology, behavioral endocrinology, behavioral health, addiction, and biometrical genetics. In particular, I am interested in effects of early childhood adversity on physical and neuropsychological development, how developmental trajectories in response to early adversity differ across individuals (including sex-specific effects), and how a better understanding of stress-mediated development may inform intervention efforts with children and families. I also direct community-based research and evaluation projects with the goal of implementing, testing, and evaluating innovative and evidence-based strategies to support healthy behavior change. Projects are implemented both locally and nationally within behavioral health and integrated care clinics, hospitals, criminal justice systems, and other organizations or agencies serving vulnerable populations. Areas of focus include tobacco cessation, chronic disease prevention, health disparities, nutrition and physical activity, healthy sleep strategies, stress management, and family interventions.

Publications

• Mescher, T., Hacker, R. L., Martinez, L. A., Morris, C. D., Mishkind, M. C., & Garver-Apgar, C. E. (2024). Mobile Health Apps: Guidance for Evaluation and Implementation by Healthcare Workers. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-024-00441-7
• Mescher, T.*, Hacker, R. L., Morris, C. D., & Garver-Apgar, C. E. (2023). CO-CARES Mobile Health Evaluation Toolkit
• Morris C.D., Morris C.W., Noland D., Pavlik J., Garver-Apgar C., Moreira K., Hacker R.L., Kayser A. (2024). DIMENSIONS: Nicotine-Free Toolkit. Behavioral Health & Wellness Program
• Noland, D. H., Morris, C. D., Kayser, A. K., & Garver-Apgar, C. E. (2023). Results of a peer navigator program to address chronic illness among persons experiencing homelessness. Journal of Community Health, 48, 606-615. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-023-01194-9
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Morris, C. D., Pavlik, J., Lenartz, T., & Hamm, M. (2023). Peer-facilitated tobacco cessation in a prison setting: A proof of concept study. Tobacco Use Insights, 16, 1-8.
• Mescher, T.*, Goldstrom, D., Martinez, L. A., Morris, C. W., Morris, C. D., Kayser, A. M., & Garver-Apgar, C. E. (2023). Integrated Addiction and Whole Health Treatment: Evaluation Report.
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Mescher, T., Kayser, A., Rajesh Kumar, L., Moreira, K., Martinez, L. A., Morris, C. W., Morris, C. D. (2023). Community Alliance Work & Wellbeing Initiative: 2023 Snapshot and Outcomes Report.
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Mescher, T., Kayser, A., Rajesh Kumar, L., Moreira, K., Martinez, L. A., Morris, C. W., Morris, C. D. (2023). Egyptian Health Department Work & Wellbeing Initiative: 2023 Snapshot and Outcomes Report.
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Mescher, T., Kayser, A., Rajesh Kumar, L., Moreira, K., Martinez, L. A., Morris, C. W., Morris, C. D. (2023). Texas Panhandle Centers Work & Wellbeing Initiative: 2023 Snapshot and Outcomes Report.
• Mescher, T. Hacker, R. L., Morris, C. D., & Garver-Apgar, C. E. (2023). CO-CARES Mobile Health Evaluation Toolkit.
• Garver-Apgar, C., Pavlik, J., Mescher, T., Kayser, A., Morris, C. (2022). An evaluation of RAISE Families for Health: A program to support intergenerational health and wellness.
• Noland, D.*, Garver-Apgar, C.E., Morris, C. D. (2022). RAISE Families for Health in Larimer County: Final Grant Report
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Morris, C. W., Moreira, K., Mescher, T., Kayser, A. M., Martinez, L. A., Pavlik, J. & Morris, C. D. (2022). Community Alliance Work & Wellbeing Evaluation Report
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Morris, C. W., Moreira, K., Mescher, T., Kayser, A. M., Martinez, L. A., Pavlik, J. & Morris, C. D. (2022). Chestnut Health Systems Work & Wellbeing Evaluation Report
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Morris, C. W., Moreira, K., Mescher, T., Kayser, A. M., Martinez, L. A., Pavlik, J. & Morris, C. D. (2022). Egyptian Health Department Work & Wellbeing Evaluation Report
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Morris, C. W., Moreira, K., Mescher, T., Kayser, A. M., Martinez, L. A., Pavlik, J. & Morris, C. D. (2022). Texas Panhandle Centers Work & Wellbeing Evaluation Report
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Kayser, A. M. (2022). Work & Wellbeing Evaluation: Supplementary Analyses
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Martinez, L. A., Kayser, A. M., Mescher, T. (2022). Vaccine Hesitancy Training: Evaluation Report
• Morris, C., Mescher, T.*, Morris, C., Martinez, L. A.*, Cisneros N.*, Noland, D.* Pavlik, J.*, Kayser, A., Garver-Apgar, C. E. (2022, June). Tobacco treatment from a whole-health perspective: Multiple pathways to change. Scientific exhibit presented at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health, New Orleans, LA.
• Noland, D.*, Morris, C., Ylioja, T., Garver-Apgar, C. E. (2022, June). Evaluating the efficacy and reach of state tobacco quitlines among rural populations. Scientific exhibit presented at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health, New Orleans, LA.
• Mescher, T.*, Martinez, L. S.*, Cisneros, N.*, Noland, D., Pavlik, J.*, Kayser, A., Garver-Apgar, C. E. (2022, March). Participant outcomes following pilot implementation of a caregiver-focused whole health and tobacco cessation program: RAISE Families for Health. Scientific exhibit presented at the Department of Psychiatry Poster Session, Aurora, CO.
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Mescher, T.*, Martinez, L. S.*, Cisneros, N.*, Noland, D., Pavlik, J.*, Kayser, A., Morris, C. (2022, September). Tobacco treatment from a whole-health perspective: Multiple pathways to change. Scientific exhibit presented at the CU-CSU Summit: Research in Health Equity and Social Determinants, Aurora, CO.
• An Evaluation of RAISE Families for Health: A program to support intergenerational health and wellness. Presentation for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, STEPP Tobacco Review Committee, March 2022
• Garver-Apgar, C., Morris, C., Pavlik, J. Lenartz, T., Hamm, M. Effects of peer-facilitated tobacco cessation among individuals in a pre-release program at Arizona Department of Corrections. Virtual E-poster presented at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 2021 Annual Meeting, virtual conference, February 24-27.
• Martinez, L. A.*, Davis, V., & Garver-Apgar, C. Relationships between early life experiences and health risk behaviors in adulthood. Virtual E-poster presented at The Psychiatry Undergraduate Research Program and Learning Experience (PURPLE) 2021 Symposium, August 13, 2021, Aurora, CO.
• Morris, C. D. & Garver-Apgar, C. E. Nicotine and Opioids: A call for co-treatment as the standard of care. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. 2020; 47, 601-613.
• Morris, C. D., Pavlik, J. L., & Garver-Apgar, C. E. Criminal Justice Tobacco Cessation Equity Project: A Community of Practice. 2020.
• Noland, D., Garver-Apgar, C. E., Kayser, A., Morris, C. D. National Jewish Health Project: Rural Quitline Evaluation. 2020.
• Lenartz, T., Hamm, M., & Garver-Apgar, C. E. Justice-Involved Tobacco Cessation: Evaluation. 2020.
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Morris, C. W., Garrett, K. M., Noland, D. H., Hansen, A. L., Kayser, A. M., & Morris, C. D. (2019). RAISE Families for Health, Trainer Manual.
• Morris, C. W., Garrett, K. M, Garver-Apgar, C. E., Hansen, A. L., Kayser, A. M., Noland, D. H., & Morris, C. D. (2019). RAISE Families for Heatlh, Group Facilitator Manual.
• Garver-Apgar, CE. (2019, October).Tobacco fundamentals: Prevalence, contributing factors, and treatment to reduce tobacco-related health disparities. Oral presentation at the National Association of Social Workers ND Chapter Annual Conference, Mandan, ND.
• Nguyen, K., Anderson, M., & Garver-Apgar C. Healthy You, Healthy Baby: Hospital Maternity Unit Tobacco Cessation Intervention Playbook. 2018
• Garver-Apgar, C. E., Pavlik, J. & Morris, C. Recovery Support Services: Summary Report and Playbook. 2018
• Nolan, D., Garver-Apgar C., Morris, C. Collective Impact for High Public Service Utilizers Project: Project Playbook. 2018
• Garver-Apgar, C., Morris, C., Young, S. Effects of a statewide tobacco cessation program among individuals involved with the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Poster presented at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Psychiatry Department Poster Session; March 2018; Aurora, CO.
• Garver-Apgar, C. E. The Program was a Success! (But did it Work)? Teaching session presented at the inaugural Evaluating Better Together Conference; September 2018; Denver, CO.

Professional Memberships

• Developmental Psychobiology Research Group, Member

Practice Locations

Department of Psychiatry - Faculty and Staff Mental Health
1890 N Revere Ct
Anschutz Health Sciences Bldg, Suite 5242
Aurora, CO 80045
303-724-4987

Specialty Information

Specialties

• Preventive Medicine
• Psychology
• Addiction Psychiatry
• Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Specialized Training (2017)