Mary Whipple, PhD, RN, PHN, FSVM

Dr. Whipple’s research focuses on understanding the effects of sedentary behavior and physical activity on cardiovascular health among older adults, with a particular focus on individuals with type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease. Her primary goal is to understand both the causes and consequences of sedentary behavior to help older adults develop strategies to manage their chronic conditions and improve/preserve their physical function and quality of life.

The SRSB is designed to evaluate an individual’s confidence in their ability to reduce
their sedentary behavior time.  To request permission to use the SRSB, please complete
the user agreement: z.umn.edu/SRSB.

Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity; Cardiovascular Disease; Diabetes; Peripheral artery disease; Vascular disease; Gerontology; Women's Health; Sex and Gender Differences; Nursing Research; Grant Writing and Development

Society for Vascular Nursing
Society for Vascular Medicine
Midwest Nursing Research Society
American Heart Association
Gerontological Society of America
Sigma Theta Tau International

My philosophy of teaching and advising is centered around the art and science of nursing. As a teacher, advisor, and mentor, I believe it is my responsibility to:

• Facilitate the development of supportive and trusting relationships with students
• Support student learning and foster a sense of curiosity
• Provide students with opportunities to develop and expand critical thinking and nursing skills using innovative and accessible methods
• Give timely feedback and be receptive to constructive criticism of my own teaching approaches/abilities

This philosophy is shaped by:

• My 15 years of experience in clinical research
• Experience as a student at the University of Minnesota as a BSN and PhD student
• Mentorship by interdisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists

I expect my students and advisees to:

• Be accountable for their own learning through attending class sessions and meetings
• To communicate with me when challenges arise so that together we can identify solutions that will facilitate the student’s ability to succeed at their educational and professional goals
• Treat their peers, staff, and faculty in a way that reflects respect and responsibility

Sex Differences in the Effects of Breaking Up Sedentary Behavior on Vascular Function Among Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Funding Source: Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health

(BIRCWH) K12 Scholar Training Program (K12AR084223)

Principal Investigators: Berge, Jerica M., Allen, Sharon, Thyagarajan, Bharat

Role: Scholar/Project PI

Project Period: 07/16/2023-07/15/2026

Participation and Outcomes of Supervised Exercise Therapy for Peripheral Artery Disease: 2017-2023

Funding Source: Building the Evidence Base for Vascular Medicine, Society for Vascular

Medicine

Principal Investigator: Whipple, Mary O.

Project Period: 06/21/2023-08/25/2023

Associations between WEARable fITness trackers, physical activity, and sedentary behavior across the lifespan: The WEAR IT! Study

Funding Source: School of Nursing Foundation, University of Minnesota

Principal Investigators: Martin, Christie, Whipple, Mary O.

Project Period: 03/01/2023-04/30/2024

Prolonged Sedentary Behavior in Older Women with Type 2 Diabetes: A Program of Research to Understand Knowledge, Engagement, and Relationship to Cardiometabolic Risk

Funding Source: Loan Repayment Program, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health (L30NRO19425)

Principal Investigator: Whipple, Mary O.

Project Period: 07/01/2020 - 06/30/2022

Understanding the Role of Knowledge, Mood, and Sense of Meaning in Sedentary Behavior Engagement Among Older Women with Type 2 Diabetes

Funding Source: Ludeman Family Center for Women's Health Research Junior Faculty Research Development Award, University of Colorado Anschultz Medical Campus

Principal Investigator: Whipple, Mary O.

Project Period: 09/01/2020 - 12/31/2021

Relationship Between Sedentary Behavior, Glucose Tolerance, and Microvascular Function in older Women with Type 2 Diabetes

Funding Source: Small Grants Program, Division of General Internal Medicine, School of

Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Principal Investigator: Whipple, Mary Olivia

Project Period: 12/01/2019 - 11/30/2021

Physiologic Effects of Prolonged Sedentary Bouts Among Older Women with and without Type 2 Diabetes

Funding Source: Integrative Physiology of Aging T32, Division of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Funded through National Institute of Aging, National Institutes of Health (T32AG000279)

Principal Investigator: Schwartz, Robert

Role: Postdoctoral Fellow/Project PI

Project Period: 09/01/2019 - 08/31/2021

Role of Diabetes and Sedentary Time in Outcomes of Structured Exercise Therapy for Peripheral Artery Disease

Funding Source: NIH NINR Natl Inst of Nursing

Principal Investigator: Whipple, Mary O.

Award Dates: 2017 - 2019

Diabetes and Sedentary Time in Outcomes of Exercise in PAD

Funding Source: Midwest Nursing Research Society

Principal Investigator: Whipple, Mary O.

Award Dates: 2017 - 2019

Barriers to Physical Activity and Association with Geriatric Syndromes in Older Adults with Peripheral Artery Disease 

Principal Investigator: Whipple, Mary O.

Funding Source: Nat’l Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing Excel

Award Dates: 2015 – 2018

Whipple, M. O., Bergouignan, A., Hooker, S. A (2023). Development and initial Validation of a measure to assess self-efficacy to reduce sedentary behavior. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. doi:  https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000003215

Whipple MO, Pinto AJ, Abushamat LA, Bergouignan A, Chapman K, Huebschmann AG, Masters KS, Nadeau KJ, Scalzo RL, Schauer IE, Rafferty D, Reusch JEB, Regensteiner JG (2022). Sex differences in physical activity among individuals with type 2 diabetes across the lifespan: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Care, 45(9), 2163-2177. doi:  https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-0576

Whipple MO, Masters KS, Huebschmann AG, Scalzo RL, Reusch JEB, Bergouignan A, Regensteiner JG (2021). Acute effects of sedentary breaks on vascular health in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes: A systematic review. Vascular Medicine, 26(4), 448-458. doi:  PMCID: PMC9074004https://doi.org/10.1177/1358863x211009307

Whipple, M. O., Henkin, S., Chaudhury, P., Clark, V., Gornik, H. L (2023). Strengthening the VMJ pipeline: Initial experience of the Next Generation Editorial Board. Vascular Medicine, 28(1), 3-5. doi:  https://doi.org/10.1177/1358863x231152026

Scalzo RL, Schauer IE, Rafferty D, Knaub LA, Kvaratskhelia N, Johnson K, Pott GB, Abushamat LA, Whipple MO, Huebschmann AG, Cree-Green M, Reusch JEB, Regensteiner JG (2022). Single-leg exercise training augments in vivo skeletal muscle oxidative flux via greater vascular content and function in adults with type 2 diabetes. The Journal of Physiology, 600(4), 963-978. doi:  PMCID: PMC9006339https://doi.org/10.1113/jp280603

Whipple MO, Schorr EN, Talley KMC, Lindquist R, Wolfson J, Bronas UG, Treat-Jacobson D (2021). Individual differences in response to supervised exercise therapy for peripheral artery disease. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 43(8), 770-784 doi:   PMCID: PMC8209120.https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945920977479

Whipple MO, Regensteiner JG, Bergouignan A (2021). Is being physically active enough to be metabolically healthy?: The key role of sedentary behavior. Diabetes Care, 44(1), 17-19. doi:   PMCID: PMC8441549.https://doi.org/10.2337%2Fdci20-0064

Whipple MO, Schorr EN, Talley KMC, Wolfson J, Lindquist R, Bronas UG, Treat-Jacobson D (2020). Influence of changes in sedentary time on outcomes of supervised exercise therapy in individuals with comorbid peripheral artery disease and type 2 diabetes. Annals of Vascular Surgery, 68, 369-383. doi:   PMCID: PMC7529715.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avsg.2020.03.040

Whipple MO, Schorr E, Talley KMC, Lindquist R, Bronas UG, Treat-Jacobson, D (2019). A mixed methods study of perceived barriers to physical activity, geriatric syndromes, and physical activity levels among older adults with peripheral artery disease and diabetes. Journal of Vascular Nursing, 37(2), 91-105. doi: PMCID: PMC6556121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvn.2019.02.001

Whipple MO, Schorr EN, Talley KMC, Lindquist R, Bronas UG, Treat-Jacobson D (2018). Variability in individual response to aerobic exercise interventions among older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 26(4), 655-670. doi:  PMCID: PMC5871585.https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2017-0054