James Dearing

Endowed Professors College of Communication Arts and Sciences

• Brandt Endowed Professor
• Established through a gift from alumnus Ellis N. Brandt

• Communication

Bio

Jim Dearing is the Brandt Endowed Professor and former Chairperson of the Department of Communication. His research focuses on the diffusion of innovations, including the adoption and implementation of new evidence-based practices, programs, technologies and policies by health care and public health professionals.

Dr. Dearing received his Ph.D. in Communication Theory and Research from the University of Southern California. Dr. Dearing has held several positions, including Senior Scientist with Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest nongovernmental nonprofit integrated healthcare system.

He has been PI for research grants from NSF, EPA, NCI, AHQR, and numerous private foundations. He is a fellow of the International Communication Association.

Most recently, Dearing has worked as a co-investigator on a large Canadian research team with researchers at nine Canadian universities and decision makers in a number of provincial health authorities that studies interventions to improve care in nursing homes. The team is now planning to test methods for diffusing these evidence-based interventions across Canada. Dearing also leads a study concerning climate change innovations for communities, and co-leads a study assessing the implementation of Project ECHO at 40 sites in North America.  Most recently, he has begun working with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff to diffuse innovations in opioid prevention.