Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health
The Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health (CBCH) is a leader in cutting-edge behavioral medicine research, comprised of an interdisciplinary team of scientists dedicated to understanding how and why behaviors, psychological factors, and societal forces influence hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Our innovative interdisciplinary approach means that CBCH is part of the Division of Cardiology as well as the Department of General Medicine. At CBCH we conduct basic, translational, and clinical research; we apply scientific principles to questions that are fundamentally important to patients, their doctors, and their hospitals; and we train the next set of professionals to carry on our research mission.
More than 81 million individuals in the United States currently have one or more type of cardiovascular disease. This is a health care crisis of immense proportions, both in terms of the quality of life for the individual and the enormous financial burden it places on our society. At CBCH, we believe that scientific investigation, understanding of the mechanisms involved in this condition, and management of cardiovascular disease can be greatly improved by testing integrated models of cardiovascular disease development and by diagnosis and care that recognize the importance of behavioral, psychological, societal, and lifestyle factors in reducing the risks for hypertension and heart disease.
Our Mission
To understand the role of behavioral, psychological, genetic and lifestyle factors in the development and effective treatment of chronic illnesses, in particular cardiovascular diseases.
Our Approach
To achieve our mission through research and training. We are uncovering the pathways by which psychological disorders influence the cardiovascular system, and ways that hospitals can promote recovery after acute life threatening illness. We do our utmost to improve communication between patients and their healthcare providers, facilitate patients’ involvements in their own health care, and motivate them to change their behavior and lifestyle patterns. In these and other activities, we mentor junior scientists toward creative, independent contributions to our science.
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