By Kaylee Alivo 

Garrett Steinbrink, a doctoral student in the Department of Health, Sport, and Human Physiology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from the American Heart Association to support his dissertation research focused on improving how healthcare providers identify and address gaps in patient physical activity.  

The fellowship, which funds approximately 20–25% of applicants annually, will provide two years of support for Steinbrink’s work. His proposal ranked among the top 7% of submissions.  

“I was honestly shocked at first,” Steinbrink said. “These fellowships are very competitive, so you go in expecting it might not get funded. After that initial reaction, it turned into relief. This support gives me the ability to fully focus on my dissertation in a time when funding can feel uncertain.”  

Addressing a critical gap in physical activity 

Steinbrink’s research centers on developing a clinical screening tool that evaluates both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity levels in patients. National guidelines recommend that adults complete at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity each week and engage in muscle-strengthening activities at least two days per week. However, only about 25% of U.S. adults meet both recommendations.

Muscle-strengthening activity, in particular, has historically received less attention in both research and clinical practice.  

“There currently isn’t a tool that effectively assesses both components of the guidelines in a way that is accurate, reliable, and practical for healthcare settings,” Steinbrink said. “Our goal is to create something that can be used consistently to identify patients who may benefit from additional support.”  

The tool will be developed with input from patients, healthcare providers, and research experts and will be tested for its accuracy, consistency, and overall usability in clinical environments.  

Why muscle health matters 

While cardiorespiratory fitness has long been recognized as a key indicator of health, growing research highlights the importance of skeletal muscle health in overall well-being.  

Maintaining muscle strength, power, and endurance plays a major role in physical function, especially with aging. Beyond mobility, healthy muscle tissue is also linked to improved metabolic health, stronger bones, and even better cognitive and mental health outcomes.  

“Healthy skeletal muscle is critical for a wide range of functions in the body, but its role in disease prevention has been underappreciated,” Steinbrink said.  

Because physical activity, especially muscle strengthening exercise, is one of the most effective ways to improve muscle health, identifying patients who are not meeting guidelines is an important step in prevention.  

From research to real-world impact 

A key goal of Steinbrink’s work is to help bridge the gap between research and clinical practice.  

Healthcare systems serve a large portion of the population each year, yet only about one-third of patients report discussing physical activity with their providers. Barriers such as limited time, lack of reimbursement, and low confidence in counseling contribute to this gap.  

The screening tool aims to reduce those barriers by providing a quick, standardized way to assess patient activity levels and connect them with appropriate resources, such as health coaching or community-based programs.  

“This project has the potential to improve patient care and outcomes in a meaningful way,” Steinbrink said. “If we can make it easier for providers to identify and support patients, we can increase physical activity and ultimately improve quality of life.”  

The research is already contributing to changes in local clinical practice. Within University of Iowa Health Care clinics, existing processes that identify patients who do not meet aerobic activity guidelines are being expanded to include additional populations, and eventually, muscle-strengthening activity as well. 

Support from mentors and collaborators 

Steinbrink emphasized that the project reflects a strong collaborative effort across departments and areas of expertise.  

He credits his advisor, Luc Carr, along with collaborators in family medicine and HSHP, for helping shape and advance the research. Additional faculty support has contributed expertise in physical activity measurement, epidemiology, and qualitative research methods.  

“This project would not be possible without the support from my mentors and the department,” Steinbrink said. “It’s been a truly collaborative process from the beginning.”  

Advice for future researchers 

For students interested in research, Steinbrink emphasized the importance of collaboration, humility, and mentorship.  

“Being a successful researcher is about finding a balance between independence and collaboration,” he said. “You have to be honest about what you don’t know and be willing to ask for help. Surrounding yourself with people who support your goals makes all the difference.”