Matt McAllister, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor,
Department of Health and Human Performance
Metabolic & Applied Physiology (MAP) Lab Community Resilience Collaboration: Improving Firefighter Health and Performance
Research Area:
- Methods to mitigate physiological effects of stressors in high-stress occupations (e.g., firefighters, law enforcement).
- Impact of nutraceuticals and dietary modification on markers of health and performance.
- Impact of dietary or exercise interventions on metabolic/oxidative stress induced by caloric dense feedings.
Faculty Fellows Project:
Dr. Matt McAllister investigated the relationship between markers of stress and cardiovascular disease in professional firefighters. His Faculty Fellows project supported biomarker analysis as well as an extensive outreach campaign to fire stations across Texas and a well-attended webinar to disseminate his findings about the importance of fitness testing in this community.
Background:
Dr. McAllister leads the Metabolic and Applied Physiology (MAP) Lab, where he researches the physiological effects of stressors and ways to mitigate these effects in high stress occupations, such as firefighters and law enforcement.
Dr. McAllister received his BS in Health and Human Performance from the University of Memphis, an MS in Exercise Science from the University of Memphis, and a PhD in Nutrition from Mississippi State University.
Project Outcomes
Webinar: Improving Firefighter Health and Performance
On March 8, 2023, THRC hosted a webinar to share Dr. McAllister's research and recommendations to improve the health and performance of firefighters. The webinar presented a collaboration between THRC, the MAP Lab, and the Huffines Institute at Texas A&M.
The webinar drew participation from across Texas, with attendees joining from San Antonio, Austin, San Marcos, Midland, Longview, Houston, Lewisville, College Station, Hutto, Abilene, Arlington, Waco, Denton, and El Paso.
Health+Resilience Research Network
Dr. McAllister participated in the first campus-wide Health+Resilience Research Network meeting to share his research with the TXST community.
McAllister, M. (2022). A holistic approach to health, immunity, and post COVID-19 rehabilitation. Health+ Resilience Research Network, San Marcos, Texas.
Firefighter Resilience Research Network
THRC is developing a telementoring program for firefighters in collaboration with Dr. McAllister to engage and expand the firefighter network identified as a result of the webinar.