Amanda Gabarda

Contributing Faculty
Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership
B.S. Child Development


Dr. Gabarda received her Doctorate (EdD) in Education in Health and Physical Activity at the University of Pittsburgh. She currently serves as an Adjunct Faculty - Ph.D. Health Education and Promotion. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist, a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. Dr. Gabarda is currently the Senior Director of Clinical Training & Development at UPMC Health Plan where she is responsible for designing, scaling, and evaluating evidence-based training, quality assurance, and health behavior change interventions for digital, telephonic, and in-person health coaching and care management. Dr. Gabarda’s work focuses on setting a standard of excellence to positively impact health and increase patient/member engagement and activation through coaching and use of Motivational Interviewing. She is passionate about combining coaching and behavior change science to empower individuals to live their best and healthiest lives. Her team provides training for coaches, clinicians and leadership through the Health Coach Academy by UPMC.

Education

EdD, University of Pittsburgh

MS, Walden University

MS, Walden University

BS, Slippery Rock University

Public Service

Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers MINT+ Mentor Committee, Committee Member -

National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching Program Approval Commission, Committee Member -

Central and Western PA Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group, Committee Member -

Publications

Gabarda, A., Butterworth, S., Liang, Q., Beckjord, E. (2023). Pilot Study of a Motivational Interviewing Training on Practitioners’ Skill Set for Patient Centered Communication. American Journal of Health Promotion

Serio, C., Gabarda, A., Uyar-Morency, F., Silfee, V., Ludwig, J., Szigethy, E., Butterworth, S. (2022). Strengthening the Impact of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Interventions Through a Dual Intervention: Proficient Motivational Interviewing–Based Health Coaching Plus In-Application Techniques. JMIR Formative Research

Gabarda, A., Butterworth, S. (2021). Using best practices to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: The case for the motivational interviewing approach. Health Promotion Practice

Potempa, K., Butterworth, S., Flaherty-Robb, M., Calarco, M., Marriott, D., Ghosh, B., Potempa, K., Gabarda, A., Furspan, P. (2023). The Impact of Nurse Health-Coaching Strategies on Cognitive—Behavioral Outcomes in Older Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Gabarda, A., Parkinson, M., Silfee, V. (2019). An evaluation of lifestyle health coaching programs using trained health coaches and evidence-based curricula at 6 months over 6 years. American Journal of Health Promotion

Presentations

Gabarda, A., Greenwald, R. (2021). A Taste of Motivational Interviewing in Health Education. Society for Public Health Education

Gabarda, A. (2019). Activating Change in Nurse Leadership using Motivational Interviewing and Coaching. Southwestern Pennsylvania Nurse Organization

Budzowski, A. (2019). An Evaluation of Lifestyle Health Coaching Programs Using Trained Health Coaches and Evidence-based Curricula. Society for Public Health Education

Gabarda, A., Brecker, R., Keating, A., Finneran, S., Silfee, V. (2021). Barriers and facilitators to Engaging in a Lifestyle Behavior App. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health Plan

Gabarda, A., Butterworth, S., Greenwald, R. (2023). Blending the Future of Learning: Creating Inclusive and Transformative Motivational Interviewing Training with Asynchronous and Blended Methods. Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers

Gabarda, A., Butterworth, S. (2022). Can Digital Health Coaching Evoke Change Talk From Clients. Society of Public Health Education

Gabarda, A. (2018). Connecting the dots in social determinants of health: Activating the frontline. Jewish healthcare Foundation

Greenwald, R., Beswick, N., Siegel, A., Gabarda, A., Butterworth, S. (2022). Developing a Scalable and Effective Message Library for a Motivational Interviewing-based Digital Health Coaching Intervention. Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers

Gabarda, A., Clark, C., Huber, S., Dickerson, K. (2020). Empowering Health Activists to Build a Movement Through a Fellowship Program. Society of Public Health Education

Gabarda, A., Connell, M., Greenwald, R., Keating, A., Valenza, J., Watson, D. (2021). Enhancing Patient Engagement in Public Health Through Training, Quality Assurance Review, and Mentoring Activities. Society of Public Health Education

Gabarda, A. (2019). Health Coaching: Success, Opportunity, and Challenges in the Field.

Gabarda, A. (2021). Improving Population Health Management Using Motivational Interviewing: Building Capacity and Maintenance of Person-Centered Care. Population Health Management Forum

Gabarda, A., Butterworth, S. (2022). Integration of Motivational Interviewing into Digital Health Coaching. Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers

Gabarda, A., Brecker, R., Williams, K., Silfee, V. (2021). Involving Health Coaches in Research and Evaluation Initiatives. Society of Public Health Education

Gabarda, A. (2020). Lessons Learned from Delivering a Faith-based Weight Loss Group Health Coaching Program in an Underserved Community. Society of Public Health Education

Gabarda, A., Lamb, J., Gordon, M. (2023). Mental Health First Aid Saves Lives. . University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Gabarda, A., Silfee, V. (2019). Monitoring Health Coach Quality of a Digitally Delivered Weight Management Program Paired with Telephonic Coaching. Institute of Coaching in Leadership & Healthcare

Gabarda, A., Butterworth, S. (2023). Motivational Interviewing 4th Edition August 2023: Changes and Implications for Health Coaches. National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching

Gabarda, A., Greenwald, R. (2021). Motivational Interviewing and Attending to the Language of Change in Health Education. Society for Public Health Education

Gabarda, A., Butterworth, S. (2023). Motivational Interviewing Edition 4 Updates. National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching,

Gabarda, A., Greenwald, R. (2021). Motivational Interviewing in Practice: A Case Study of Vaccine Hesitancy in Health Education. Society for Public Health Education

Gabarda, A., Watson, D., Valenza, J., Keating, A. (2020). Nurse Knowledge, Attitudes, Confidence, and Active Learning After Attending a 3-day Motivational Interviewing Training. UPMC Center for Nursing Excellence

Gabarda, A., Butterworth, S. (2022). Strengthening the Impact of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Interventions Through a Dual intervention: Proficient Motivational Interviewing-based Health Coaching Plus In-application Techniques. Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers

Gabarda, A., Hartzell, L., Seguiti, F., Silfee, V., Fowler, K., Doyle, S. (2021). Success of an On-line Worksite Wellness Campaign: Ten Year Results from the UPMC MyHealth Weight Race. Society of Public Health Education

Gabarda, A., Cline , T. (2014). The art and science of employee engagement through health coaching. National Wellness Institute. National Wellness Institute

Gabarda, A., Ross, S. (2020). The Community Action Poverty Simulation: A Powerful Learning Experience in Public Health to Improve Understanding of and Attitudes Towards Poverty. Society of Public Health Education

Gabarda, A., Brecker, R., Williams, K., Keating, A., Silfee, v. (2022). User Expectations and Experiences with Lifestyle Behavior Change Apps. Society of Public Health Education

Gabarda, A., Fennimore, L. (2019). Using a Poverty Simulation with Care Managers & Health Coaches. Southwestern Pennsylvania Nurse Organization

Gabarda, A., Ross, S. (2019). Using The Community Action Poverty Simulation to Improve Understanding of and Attitudes Towards Poverty, and Confidence Working with Individuals Experiencing Poverty in Lifestyle Health Coaching. Institute of Coaching in Leadership & Healthcare

Gabarda, A., Butterworth, S. (2021). Using Best Practices to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: The Case for the Motivational Interviewing Approach. American Public Health Association

Gabarda, A., Gabarda, C. (2020). Using Human Centered Design Methods in Public Health Training to Fully Engage Others: Empathy Maps and Journey Mapping. Society of Public Health Education

Gabarda, A., Reha, v. (2018). Using Medical Assistants as wellness guides in primary practice to improve lifestyle behaviors and reduce disease management risk. Society for Public Health Education

Gabarda, A. (2017). WQED: iQ: smartparent: Technology-health & fitness. WQED News Network