Christopher Sciamanna, MD, MPH - Penn State Cancer Institute
Researcher Profile
Christopher Sciamanna, MD, MPH
Professor, Department of Medicine
Division of General Internal Medicine
Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences
Division of General Internal Medicine
Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences
Scientific Program:Cancer Control
Recent Publications
2026
Dandekar, S, Kurth, J, Shang, Y, Stine, JG, Ladwig, MA, Conroy, DE, Schmitz, KH, Rovniak, LS, Silvis, M, Danilovich, M, Ballentine, N, Pierwola-Gawin, N, Zhou, S & Sciamanna, C 2026, 'Brief daily functional strength training to improve functional performance in older adults with mobility disability: A randomized trial', PloS one, vol. 21, no. 3 March, e0336748. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0336748
Rubin, DS, Glynn, NW, Straczkiewicz, M, Danilovich, MK, Sciamanna, C & Brach, JS 2026, 'Change in walking cadence as a digital outcome measure of clinically meaningful improvement in gait speed and 6-minute walk test distance after a mobility intervention in older adults', PloS one, vol. 21, no. 5 May, e0337414. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0337414
Sciamanna, CN, Ballentine, N, Bopp, MJ, Chinchilli, V, Ciccolo, JT, Delauter, G, Fisher, A, Fox, E, De Beur, SMJ, Kearcher, K, Kraschnewski, JL, Lehman, E, McTigue, KM, McAuley, E, Paranjape, A, Rodriguez-Colon, S, Rovniak, LS, Rutt, K, Smyth, JM, Stewart, KJ, Stuckey, H & Tsay, A 2026, 'Correction: Working to Increase Stability through Exercise (WISE): screening, recruitment, and baseline characteristics (Trials, (2021), 22, 1, (809), 10.1186/s13063-021-05761-0)', Trials, vol. 27, no. 1, 399. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-026-09811-3
Power, JM, Hurley, L, O’Shea, NG, Nezami, BT, Sciamanna, C & Tate, DF 2026, 'Examining latent trajectories of participant engagement in a 12-month eHealth weight management intervention', Digital Health, vol. 12. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261434062
West, SM, Meyer, MRU, Patterson, C, Ruffin, MT, Calo, W, Pagoto, S, Conroy, D, Doerksen, S, Sciamanna, CN, Gordon, B, Garrow, G, Werts-Pelter, SJ & Schmitz, KH 2026, 'Increasing physical activity in rural Pennsylvanians: The PA moves trial study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial', Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 166, 108348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2026.108348
Yingst, JM, Krebs, NM, Dahal, S, Allen, SI, Livelsberger, C, Peters, V, Salkin, A, Bordner, C, Mazhar, L, Reinhart, L, Trushin, N, Zimmerman, C, Hassan, K, Bitzer, Z, Sciamanna, C, Zhu, J & Foulds, J 2026, 'Toxicant Exposures After Switching From Cigarettes to a Pod-Based Electronic Cigarette: A Randomized Clinical Trial', JAMA network open, vol. 9, no. 5, e2613292. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.13292
2025
Johnson, JA, Zawadzki, MJ, Sliwinski, MJ, Almeida, DM, Buxton, OM, Conroy, DE, Marcusson-Clavertz, D, Kim, J, Stawski, RS, Scott, SB, Sciamanna, CN, Green, PA, Repka, EM, Toledo, MJL, Sturges, NL & Smyth, JM 2025, 'Adaptive Just-in-Time Intervention to Reduce Everyday Stress Responses: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial', JMIR Research Protocols, vol. 14, e58546. https://doi.org/10.2196/58985
Creath, RA, Venezia, V, Hinkley, B, Sharp, N & Sciamanna, C 2025, 'Antiphase Trunk Motion Reduces Sway Velocity and Ankle Torque During Quiet Stance', Journal of applied biomechanics, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 87-94. https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.2024-0110
Vemuri, AK, Hejazian, SS, Sadr, AV, Chandrasekaran, A, Bahrami, S, Zhou, S, Hakun, J, Sciamanna, C, Abedi, V & Zand, R 2025, 'Association Between Physical Activity Dose and Mental Health Among Stroke Survivors', Journal of the American Heart Association, vol. 14, no. 13, e041189. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.124.041189
Kurth, JD, Casper, J, Sciamanna, CN, Conroy, DE, Silvis, M, Hawkley, L, Sciamanna, M, Pierwola-Gawin, N, Gordon, BR, Troiano, A & Kavanaugh, Q 2025, 'Association of Pickleball Participation With Decreased Perceived Loneliness and Social Isolation: Results of a National Survey', Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, vol. 16, 21501319251385855. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251385855
Hurley, L, O’Shea, NG, Sciamanna, C & Tate, DF 2026, 'Considering depression as a risk factor for early disengagement in a 12-month eHealth weight loss intervention', Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1378-1388. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053251348987
Mama, SK, Bhatia, M, Shi, J, Schmitz, KH, Rogers, LQ, Davis, T, Selman, J, Murley, B, Haas, B, Smyth, JM, Sciamanna, CN, Lanza, ST & McNeill, LH 2025, 'Integrating and adapting three evidence-based interventions to enhance physical activity and reduce psychosocial distress among rural breast cancer survivors: The Mind Your BEAT study', Translational behavioral medicine, vol. 15, no. 1, ibaf078. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaf078
Kurth, JD, Sciamanna, CN, Danilovich, MK, Conroy, DE, Schmitz, KH, Silvis, M, Rovniak, LS, Creath, R & Karakoleva, EV 2025, 'Interest in brief resistance training workouts among older US adults with and without mobility disability', PloS one, vol. 20, no. 8 August, e0329684. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329684
Hurley, L, O’Shea, NG, Power, J, Sciamanna, C & Tate, DF 2025, 'Measuring the influence of depressive symptoms on engagement, adherence, and weight loss in an eHealth intervention', PLOS Digital Health, vol. 4, no. 3 March, e0000766. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000766
Martinez, CE, Nezami, BT, Gorin, AA, Mayer-Davis, E, Willis, EA, Sciamanna, CN & Tate, DF 2025, 'Motivation, accountability, and outcomes in a randomized controlled trial of internet weight-loss programs in primary care', Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 30, no. 13, pp. 3757-3769. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053241309178
Veldheer, S, Scartozzi, C, Watt, B, Thomas, OW, Hrabovsky, S & Sciamanna, CN 2025, 'Participant Preferences to Inform the Development of Theory-Driven, Digitally Delivered Cooking Interventions Using the Behavior Change Wheel', Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, vol. 57, no. 8, pp. 724-733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2025.03.014
2024
Stine, JG, Hummer, B, Smith, N, Tressler, H, Westley Heinle, J, VanKirk, K, Harris, S, Moeller, M, Luzier, G, DiJoseph, K, Hussaini, Z, Jackson, R, Rodgers, B, Schreibman, I, Stonesifer, E, Tondt, J, Sica, CT, Nighot, P, Chinchilli, VM, Loomba, R, Sciamanna, C, Schmitz, K & Kimball, S 2024, 'AMPED study: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of different doses of aerobic exercise training', Hepatology Communications, vol. 8, no. 7, e0464. https://doi.org/10.1097/HC9.0000000000000464
Vemuri, AK, Hejazian, SS, Sadr, AV, Zhou, S, Decker, K, Hakun, J, Sciamanna, C, Abedi, V & Zand, R 2025, 'Adherence to Physical Activity Recommendations among Stroke Survivors in the United States', Stroke, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 113-121. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.124.048429
Kurth, JD, Sciamanna, CN, Herrell, C, Moeller, M & Stine, JG 2024, 'Comparing preferences to evaluations of barrier self-efficacy for two strength training programs in US older adults', PloS one, vol. 19, no. 5 May, e0302892. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302892
Kuzmik, A, Liu, Y, Cuffee, Y, Kong, L, Sciamanna, CN & Rovniak, LS 2024, 'Friend Social Network Size Moderates the Association Between Age and Physical Activity Across Adulthood', International Journal of Exercise Science, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 1068-1082. https://doi.org/10.70252/UIET7593
Hurley, L, Nezami, BT, Sciamanna, C & Tate, DF 2024, 'Personal goal setting eHealth component associated with improved weight loss at 6 months: A mixed methods secondary analysis', Digital Health, vol. 10. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241277351
Randomized Control Trial Methods Workgroup of the Center for the Study of Tobacco Products: Member List 2024, 'Predictors of attrition in a randomized controlled trial of an electronic nicotine delivery system among people interested in cigarette smoking reduction', Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 145, 107662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2024.107662
Agans, JP, Ma, F, Schade, S & Sciamanna, C 2025, 'Supporting physical activity adoption through recommender system technology: A pilot study', Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 1319-1333. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053241242541
Sciamanna, CN, Kurth, JD, Luzier, W, Conroy, DE, Calo, WA, Schmitz, K, Silvis, ML, Ballentine, NH, Zhou, S, Danilovich, M, Rovniak, LS, Moeller, M, Pierwola-Gawin, N, Kraschnewski, JL, Poger, J & Herrell, C 2024, 'Testing Interventions for Mobility through Exercise (TIME): Study protocol for a randomized trial comparing a novel, brief home-based exercise program and a standard home-based group exercise for older adults with mobility disability', Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 147, 107709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2024.107709
2023
Rao, P, Kazak, AE, Doerksen, SE, Koehly, LM, Verdery, AM, Heitzenrater, J, Harding, BA, Byrnes, CL, Costigan, HJ, Rovniak, LS, Sciamanna, CN, Van Scoy, LJ & Schmitz, KH 2023, 'AYA-UNITE: Lessons Learned on Intervention Development Promoting Social and Physical Health of Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Survivors', Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, vol. 12, no. 6, pp. 929-934. https://doi.org/10.1089/jayao.2023.0093
Sciamanna, CN, Lemaster, KA, Danilovich, MK, Conroy, DE, Schmitz, KH, Silvis, M, Ladwig, M & Ballentine, N 2023, 'Accuracy of Self-Reported Physical Capacities as a Clinical Screening Test for Older Adults With Mobility Disability', Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, vol. 9. https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214231167979
Bluethmann, SM, Flores, E, Grotte, M, Heitzenrater, J, Truica, CI, Olsen, NJ, Sciamanna, C & Schmitz, KH 2023, 'Adapting an Evidence-Based Exercise and Education Program for Older Breast Cancer Survivors for the REJOIN Trial', Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 59-67. https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2022-0013
Rovniak, LS, Cho, JAY, Freivalds, A, Kong, LAN, De Araujo-Greecher, M, Bopp, M, Sciamanna, CN & Rothrock, L 2023, 'Effects of Desk Pedaling Work Rate on Concurrent Work Performance among Physically Inactive Adults: A Randomized Experiment', Medicine and science in sports and exercise, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 20-31. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003026
Harris, SJ, Smith, N, Hummer, B, Schreibman, IR, Faust, AJ, Geyer, NR, Chinchilli, VM, Sciamanna, C, Loomba, R & Stine, JG 2024, 'Exercise training improves serum biomarkers of liver fibroinflammation in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis', Liver International, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 532-540. https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.15769
Ladwig, MA, Sciamanna, CN, Luzier, G, Blaker, JM, Agans, JP & Visek, AJ 2023, 'Improving reflective evaluations of sport through repeated experiences of fun—rationale, design, feasibility, and acceptability of the PlayFit Youth Sport Program', Pilot and Feasibility Studies, vol. 9, no. 1, 118. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-023-01350-x
Veldheer, S, Whitehead-Zimmers, M, Bordner, C, Watt, B, Conroy, DE, Schmitz, KH & Sciamanna, C 2023, 'Participant Preferences for the Development of a Digitally Delivered Gardening Intervention to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Cardiovascular Health: Cross-sectional Study', JMIR Formative Research, vol. 7, e41498. https://doi.org/10.2196/41498
2022
Tate, DF, Kraschnewski, JL, Martinez, C, Diamond, M, Veldheer, S, Hwang, KO, Lehman, EB, Yang, C & Sciamanna, CN 2022, 'A cluster-randomized controlled trial of automated internet weight-loss programs in primary care: Role of automated provider feedback', Obesity, vol. 30, no. 12, pp. 2363-2375. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23506
Olson, JL, Mama, SK, Brunke-Reese, D, Lagoa, CM, Sciamanna, CN & Conroy, DE 2024, 'Broad versus narrow bandwidth measures of experienced automaticity for physical activity', Psychology and Health, vol. 39, no. 10, pp. 1371-1387. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2022.2146690
Sciamanna, CN, Ballentine, NH, Bopp, M, Chinchilli, VM, Ciccolo, JT, Delauter, G, Fisher, A, Fox, EJ, Jan De Beur, SM, Kearcher, K, Kraschnewski, JL, Lehman, E, McTigue, KM, McAuley, E, Paranjape, A, Rodriguez-Colon, S, Rovniak, LS, Rutt, K, Smyth, JM, Stewart, KJ, Stuckey, HL & Tsay, A 2022, 'Correction to: Working to increase stability through exercise (WISE): screening, recruitment, and baseline characteristics (Trials, (2021), 22, 1, (809), 10.1186/s13063-021-05761-0)', Trials, vol. 23, no. 1, 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06018-0
Foulds, J, Cobb, CO, Yen, MS, Veldheer, S, Brosnan, P, Yingst, J, Hrabovsky, S, Lopez, AA, Allen, SI, Bullen, C, Wang, X, Sciamanna, C, Hammett, E, Hummer, BL, Lester, C, Richie, JP, Chowdhury, N, Graham, JT, Kang, L, Sun, S & Eissenberg, T 2022, 'Effect of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems on Cigarette Abstinence in Smokers With No Plans to Quit: Exploratory Analysis of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial', Nicotine and Tobacco Research, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 955-961. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntab247
Zaorsky, NG, Garrett, S, Spratt, DE, Nguyen, PL, Sciamanna, C & Schmitz, K 2022, 'Exercise: A Treatment That Should Be Prescribed With Radiation Therapy', International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, vol. 112, no. 1, pp. 96-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.08.005
Veldheer, S, Tuan, WJ, Al-Shaar, L, Wadsworth, M, Sinoway, L, Schmitz, KH, Sciamanna, C & Gao, X 2023, 'Gardening Is Associated With Better Cardiovascular Health Status Among Older Adults in the United States: Analysis of the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey', Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vol. 123, no. 5, pp. 761-769.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2022.10.018
Ghahramani, N, Chinchilli, VM, Kraschnewski, JL, Lengerich, EJ & Sciamanna, CN 2022, 'Improving Caregiver Burden by a Peer-Led Mentoring Program for Caregivers of Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial', Journal of Patient Experience, vol. 9. https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735221076314
Gordon, BR, Caru, M, Blair, CK, Bluethmann, SM, Conroy, DE, Doerksen, SE, Hakun, JG, Sturgeon, KM, Potiaumpai, M, Sciamanna, CN & Schmitz, KH 2022, 'Light-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity among older adult breast cancer survivors with obesity: A narrative review', Cancer medicine, vol. 11, no. 23, pp. 4602-4611. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.4841
Stine, JG, Schreibman, IR, Faust, AJ, Dahmus, J, Stern, B, Soriano, C, Rivas, G, Hummer, B, Kimball, SR, Geyer, NR, Chinchilli, VM, Loomba, R, Schmitz, K, Sciamanna, C, Strine, C, Wentzel, R, Marlin, S, Sica, C, Vesek, J, Eyster, E, Sinoway, L, Bentz, K, Handley, N, Hershey Fell, B, Mottilla, S, Christ, C, George, S, Novchich, T, Beyer, M, Clarke, K, Myers, T, Glading-Steinruck, M, Krok, K, Ma, T, Riley, T, Thompson, E, Tressler, H, Broach, J, Doan, T, Patrick, S, Reed, S, Hamilton, C, Slavoski, K & Tregea, D 2022, 'NASHFit: A randomized controlled trial of an exercise training program to reduce clotting risk in patients with NASH', Hepatology, vol. 76, no. 1, pp. 172-185. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.32274
Yingst, JM, Lester, C, Livelsberger, C, Allen, SI, Hammett, E, Veldheer, S, Hummer, B, Bordner, C, Zhu, J, Sciamanna, CN, Trushin, N, Tan, HS, Wilson, SJ, Twining, RC, Foulds, J & Grigson, PS 2022, 'Pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of random nicotine delivery on cigarettes per day and smoke exposure', Brain Research Bulletin, vol. 188, pp. 30-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.07.017
Stine, JG, Schreibman, IR, Faust, AJ, Dahmus, J, Stern, B, Soriano, C, Rivas, G, Hummer, B, Kimball, SR, Geyer, NR, Chinchilli, VM, Schmitz, K & Sciamanna, C 2022, 'Reply', Hepatology, vol. 76, no. 1, pp. E18-E19. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.32390
Butzner, M, Leslie, D, Cuffee, Y, Hollenbeak, CS, Sciamanna, C & Abraham, TP 2022, 'Sex differences in clinical outcomes for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the USA: A retrospective observational study of administrative claims data', BMJ open, vol. 12, no. 3, e058151. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058151
Kuzmik, A, Liu, Y, Cuffee, Y, Kong, L, Sciamanna, CN & Rovniak, LS 2022, 'The Association between Gender and Physical Activity Was Partially Mediated by Social Network Size during COVID-19', International journal of environmental research and public health, vol. 19, no. 5, 2495. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052495