Colleen Spees, PhD, MEd, RDN, FAND

Associate Professor
HRS-Health & Rehab Sciences
College of Medicine
View professional website
(614) 266-9234
spees.11@osu.edu
Full Member
Primary Food Innovation Center Area: Foods for Health, Food Security
Areas of Expertise: nutrigenomics, chemoprevention, public health nutrition interventions, Li Fraumeni Syndrome/p53 mutations
As a registered dietitian specializing in nutritional genomics and health promotion, Dr. Spees is keenly aware of the growing issues related to food insecurity and health disparities that are currently plaguing our disparate communities. Her research focuses on evaluating predictive risk factors of disease and targets interventions aimed at providing optimal healthcare for disparate populations. As an Assistant Professor in Health Sciences and Medical Dietetics, Dr. Spees possesses over twenty years of nutrition and health education and clinical training in medical nutrition therapy, health promotion, and dietetics. Dr. Spees' professional experience is highly transdisciplinary and compliments her NIH-funded translational research training. While studying at Vanderbilt, she served as a bionutritionist in the CRC and expanded her role to include global health outreach at local community-based organizations, non-profits, and industry. Since, she has authored and facilitated the launch of tailored e-health messages for at-risk and low socioeconomic populations. This project led to a national award for innovation in education (American Dietetic Association, 2009). Most recently, Dr. Spees is serving as PI on several grants targeting health prevention and nutritional interventions in food insecure populations.
Related Articles

Benefits of a plant-based diet: Why experts say you should eat more fruits, veggies
Efforts to introduce people to vegetable-based eating can be found at Ohio State University’s 3-acre Garden of Hope. Read more

FIC Member Colleen Spees Receives 2016 Distinguished Practice Award
Dr. Colleen Spees serves as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Medical Dietetics & Health Sciences at The Ohio State University College of Medicine Read more

Family Predisposition to Cancer Inspires Spees to Research Nutritional Solutions
FIC Faculty Member Colleen Spees was recently featured on newswise.com discussing her personal and career journey toward researching nutritional and dietary interventions to cancer. Read more