Faculty180 - Vita and Individual Profile Data Sheet

Steffany Moonaz, PhD, C-IAYT

Fall 1980 - Fall 2120

Professor I

[email protected]

Current Position

Position: Director, Health Services Research

Biography

Dr. Moonaz is the current Research Director at SCU. After completing a Master of Fine Arts in dance and studying the mind-body connection through the arts, she found the field of public health as an avenue to further explore the same topic. She earned her Ph.D. in public health from Johns Hopkins University, where she studied the effects of yoga for people with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Since then, she has served as subject matter expert, consultant, and investigator for research on yoga and other integrative health practices. Her research has been funded by NIH, the Arthritis Foundation, American College of Rheumatology, and Johns Hopkins University and she has received numerous awards for her research and scholarship. She has co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. In addition to research, Dr. Moonaz is a certified yoga therapist and trains yoga professionals in various contexts. She is especially passionate about fostering evidence-informed practice in yoga therapy. Dr. Moonaz has served on the board of the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health (ACIH) and active with their Research Working Group for several years. She recently joined their Executive Committee and helped to facilitate the ACIH merger with the Academy for Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM). She now serves as inaugural chair for the Traditional World Medicines/Emerging Professions AIHM Council. Dr. Moonaz is also actively involved with the International Association of Yoga Therapists and with the Accessible Yoga movement that aims to improve yoga safety, access, and equity.   

Degrees

2010

Ph.D., Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United StatesDissertation: Examining the safety, feasibility and efficacy of yoga for persons with arthritis

2003

M.F.A., Dance, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United StatesDissertation: Don't Just Sit There: Dancing Away the Mind-Body Problem

1999

B.A., Biology, Dance, Pre-Medicine, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, United StatesDissertation: Shall We Dance?: The Constructive and Destructive Effects of Dance on the Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Self

Certifications (Healthcare)

International Association of Yoga Therapists, C-IAYT, chronic pain, arthritis and rheumatic diseases, 20593287 , 2017-03-18, 2023-03-31, Yes

Yoga Alliance, e-RYT-500, 12608, 2003-08-16, 2024-10-05

Professional Licensures and Certifications (All other/non-healthcare)

Certified Movement Analyst, August 2003, Laban/Bartinieff Institute for Movement Studies, New York, United States

Work Experience

2022 - Ongoing

Adjunct Professor, Maryland University of Integrative Health, Laurel, Maryland, United States

Associate Research Director, Southern California University of Health Sciences, Whittier, California, United States

2017 - 2022

Director of Clinical and Academic Research, Maryland University of Integrative Health, Laurel, Maryland, United States

2016 - 2017

Assistant Director of Academic Research, Maryland University of Integrative Health, Laurel, Maryland, United States

2014 - 2016

Associate Director of Integrative Health Sciences, Maryland University of Integrative Health, Laurel, Maryland, United States

2013 - 2014

Adjunct Instructor, Maryland University of Integrative Health, Laurel, Maryland, United States

2010 - 2022

Director of Health Coaching, Corporate Health Solutions, Jamison, Pennsylvania, United States

2010 - Ongoing

Director, Yoga for Arthritis, BALTIMORE, Maryland, United States

2005 - 2008

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

2003 - 2006

Research Coordinator, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Rheumatology, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

2002 - 2022

Intern, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, BALTIMORE, Maryland, United States

2000 - 2003

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Towson University, Towson, Maryland, United States

1999 - 2000

Research Coordinator, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Oakland, California, United States

Scholarly Contributions and Creative Productions

Book

Completed/Published

Moonaz, Steffany. 2024. Driving Home: Cancer, Concussion, Mom and Me. FriesenPress.
Moonaz, Steffany, and Erin Byron. 2018. Yoga Therapy for Arthritis: A Whole Person Approach to Movement and Lifestyle. London, England: Singing Dragon Press.

Chapter

Completed/Published

Moonaz, Steffany, Daryl Nault, and Atiera Abatemarco. 2020. “Standards in Yoga Research and Reporting.” In Handbook of Research on Evidence-Based Perspectives on the Psychophysiology of Yoga and Its Applications. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Moonaz, Steffany. 2019. “Current Research in Yoga and Pain.” In Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain. London, England: Singing Dragon Press.
Moonaz, Steffany. 2018. “Yoga and Dis/Ability.” In Yoga, The Body, and Embodied Social Change. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
Cramer, Holger, Steffany Moonaz, and Susan Bartlett. 2016. “Yoga Therapy for Musculoskeletal and Neuromuscular Conditions.” In Principles and Practices of Yoga in Healthcare. Pencaitland, UK: Handspring Publishing.

Journal Article

Completed/Published

Teets, Raymond, Arya Nielsen, Steffany Moonaz, Belinda J. Anderson, Donna M. Mah, Eve Walter, Mirta Milanes, et al. 2023. “Group Acupuncture Therapy With Yoga Therapy for Chronic Neck, Low Back, and Osteoarthritis Pain in Safety Net Settings for an Underserved Population: A Feasibility Pilot Study” 12:27536130231202516.
Moonaz, Steffany, Tanisha Luthria, Alison M. Whitehead, Donna Mah, and Raymond Teets. 2023. “Development and Implementation of a Flexible Yoga Therapy Protocol in the Group Acupuncture Therapy and Modified Yoga (GAPYOGA) Pilot Study” 33.
Gliedt, Jord A., Maureen Reynolds, Steffany Moonaz, Cynthia R. Long, Robb Russell, and Michael J. Schneider. 2023. “Identifying and Addressing Patient Substance Use: A Survey of Chiropractic Clinicians” 31:18.
Ward, Lesley, Daryl Nault, Holger Cramer, and Steffany Moonaz. 2022. “Development of the CLARIFY (CheckList StAndardising the Reporting of Interventions For Yoga) Guidelines: A Delphi Study” 12:e054585.
Middleton, Kimbe R., Regina Andrade, Steffany H. Moonaz, Charlene Muhammad, and Gwenyth R. Wallen. 2015. “Yoga Research and Spirituality: A Case Study Discussion.” International Journal of Yoga Therapy 25 (Summer):33–35.
Moonaz, S, A M. Whitehead, L Lawrence, D Natividad, D Kindred, A Nielsen, and R Teets. n.d. “Yoga Therapy DYADS: A Novel Approach to Chronic Pain Management in Underserved Populations” 18:195–99.
Singh, Ambrish, Dawn Aitken, Steffany Moonaz, Andrew J. Palmer, Leigh Blizzard, Changhai Ding, Stan Drummen, Graeme Jones, Kim Bennell, and Benny Antony. 2022. “A Randomised Controlled Trial of a and Strengthening Exercise for Knee Osteorthritis: Protocol for a Comparative Effectiveness Trial (YOGA Trial)” 7.
Jyung, Hyowoun, Donna M. Mah, Steffany Moonaz, Manisha Rai, Anup Bhandiwad, Arya Nielsen, and Ray Teets. 2022. “‘The Pain Left, I Was Off and Running’: A Qualitative Analysis of Group Acupuncture and Yoga Therapy for Chronic Pain in a Low-Income and Ethnically Diverse Population” 28:328–38.
Moonaz, Steffany, Daryl Nault, Holger Cramer, and Lesley Ward. 2021. “Releasing CLARIFY: A New Guideline for Improving Yoga Research Transparency and Usefulness.” Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.) 27:807–9.
Moonaz, Steffany, Daryl Nault, Holger Cramer, and Lesley Ward. 2021. “CLARIFY 2021: Explanation and Elaboration of the Delphi-Based Guidelines for the Reporting of Yoga Research” 11:e045812.
Anderson, Belinda J., Paul Meissner, Donna M. Mah, Arya Nielsen, Steffany Moonaz, M D. McKee, Benjamin Kligler, Mirta Milanes, Hernidia Guerra, and Raymond Teets. 2021. “Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Bundled Acupuncture and Yoga Therapy to Treat Chronic Pain in Community Healthcare Settings: A Feasibility Pilot” 27:496–505.
Sullivan, Marlysa, Stephanie Lopez, Daryl Nault, Steffany Moonaz, and Richard Miller. 2021. “Yoga Meditation for Active Duty Military Members with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Results and Discussion of a Landmark Initial Study” 27:522–24.
Moonaz, Steffany, Marlysa Sullivan, Daryl Nault, Irene Bright-Dumm, and Ryan Bradley. 2021. “Characteristics of Clients Seeking Yoga Therapy in a University-Based Student Clinic” 31.
Marchand, Nicole, and Steffany Moonaz. 2020. “On the Alignment of Yoga Therapy with Palliative Care” 26:774–75.
Nielsen, Arya, Ray Teets, Steffany Moonaz, Belinda J. Anderson, Eve Walter, Mirta Milanes, Donna M. Mah, M Diane McKee, and Benjamin Kligler. 2020. “Group Acupuncture Therapy With Yoga Therapy for Chronic Neck, Low Back, and Osteoarthritis Pain in Safety Net Setting for an Underserved Population: Design and Rationale for a Feasibility Pilot” 9:2164956120964716.
Sullivan, Marlysa B., Matt Erb, Laura Schmalzl, Steffany Moonaz, Jessica Noggle Taylor, and Stephen W. Porges. 2018. “Yoga Therapy and Polyvagal Theory: The Convergence of Traditional Wisdom and Contemporary Neuroscience for Self-Regulation and Resilience” 12:67.
Middleton, Kimbe R., Steffany Haaz Moonaz, S A. Hasni, Miriam Magaña López, Gladys Tataw-Ayuketah, Nicole Farmer, and Gwenyth R. Wallen. 2018. “Yoga for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Clinician Experiences and Qualitative Perspectives from Students and Yoga Instructors Living with SLE.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine 41:111–17.
Middleton, Kimbe R., Michael M M. Ward, Steffany Haaz Moonaz, Miriam Magaña López, Gladys Tataw-Ayuketah, Li Yang, Ana T. Acevedo, Zavera Brandon, and Gwenyth R. Wallen. 2018. “Feasibility and Assessment of Outcome Measures for Yoga as Self-Care for Minorities with Arthritis: A Pilot Study” 4:53.
Sullivan, Marlysa B., Steffany Moonaz, Kristine Weber, Jessica N. Taylor, and Laura Schmalzl. 2018. “Toward an Explanatory Framework for Yoga Therapy Informed by Philosophical and Ethical Perspectives” 24:38–47.
Moonaz, Steffany, Pamela Jeter, and Laura Schmalzl. 2017. “The Importance of Research Literacy for Yoga Therapists” 27:131–33.
Sullivan, Marlysa, Matthew Leach, James Snow, and Steffany Moonaz. 2017. “Understanding North American Yoga Therapists’ Attitudes, Skills and Use of Evidence-Based Practice: A Cross-National Survey” 32:11–18.
Sullivan, Marlysa, Matthew Leach, James Snow, and Steffany Moonaz. 2017. “The North American Yoga Therapy Workforce Survey” 31:39–48.
Middleton, Kimbe R., Miriam Magaña López, Steffany Haaz Moonaz, Gladys Tataw-Ayuketah, Michael M M. Ward, and Gwenyth R. Wallen. 2017. “A Qualitative Approach Exploring the Acceptability of Yoga for Minorities Living with Arthritis: ‘Where Are the People Who Look like Me?’” 31:82–89.
Jeter, Pam E., Steffany Haaz Moonaz, Ava K. Bittner, and Gislin Dagnelie. 2015. “Ashtanga-Based Yoga Therapy Increases the Sensory Contribution to Postural Stability in Visually-Impaired Persons at Risk for Falls as Measured by the Wii Balance Board: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial” 10:e0129646.
Moonaz, Steffany H., Clift O. Bingham, Lawrence Wissow, and Susan J. Bartlett. 2015. “Yoga in Sedentary Adults with Arthritis: Effects of a Randomized Controlled Pragmatic Trial” 42:1194–1202.
Muhammad, Charlene M., and Steffany H. Moonaz. 2014. “Yoga as Therapy for Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Case Report of Therapeutic Yoga for Adrenomyeloneuropathy.” Integrative Medicine (Encinitas, Calif.) 13:33–39.
Jeter, Pam E., Amélie- F. Nkodo, Steffany H. Moonaz, and Gislin Dagnelie. 2014. “A Systematic Review of Yoga for Balance in a Healthy Population” 20:221–32.
Bartlett, Susan J., Steffany H. Moonaz, Christopher Mill, Sasha Bernatsky, and Clift O. Bingham. 2013. “Yoga in Rheumatic Diseases” 15:387.
Middleton, Kimbe R., Michael M M. Ward, Steffany Haaz, Sinthujah Velummylum, Alice Fike, Ana T. Acevedo, Gladys Tataw-Ayuketah, Laura Dietz, Barbara B B. Mittleman, and Gwenyth R. Wallen. 2013. “A Pilot Study of Yoga as Self-Care for Arthritis in Minority Communities” 11:55.
McCauley, Jeanne, Steffany Haaz, Margaret J. Tarpley, Harold G. Koenig, and Susan J. Bartlett. 2011. “A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess Effectiveness of a Spiritually-Based Intervention to Help Chronically Ill Adults” 41:91–105.
Haaz, Steffany, and Susan J. Bartlett. 2011. “Yoga for Arthritis: A Scoping Review” 37:33–46.
McCauley, Jeanne, Margaret J. Tarpley, Steffany Haaz, and Susan J. Bartlett. 2008. “Daily Spiritual Experiences of Older Adults with and without Arthritis and the Relationship to Health Outcomes” 59:122–28.
Fontaine, Kevin R., Steffany Haaz, and Moonseong Heo. 2007. “Projected Prevalence of US Adults with Self-Reported Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis, 2005 to 2050” 26:772–74.
Fontaine, Kevin R., Steffany Haaz, and Susan J. Bartlett. 2007. “Are Overweight and Obese Adults with Arthritis Being Advised to Lose Weight?” 13:12–15.
Fontaine, Kevin R., and Steffany Haaz. 2006. “Risk Factors for Lack of Recent Exercise in Adults with Self-Reported, Professionally Diagnosed Arthritis” 12:66–69.
Haaz, S, K R. Fontaine, G Cutter, N Limdi, S Perumean-Chaney, and D B. Allison. 2006. “Citrus Aurantium and Synephrine Alkaloids in the Treatment of Overweight and Obesity: An Update” 7:79–88.
Reed, William, Renée Smith, Florinna Dekovic, Joanna Y. Lee, Julie D. Saba, Elizabeth Trachtenberg, Joanna Epstein, Steffany Haaz, Mark C. Walters, and Bertram H. Lubin. 2003. “Comprehensive Banking of Sibling Donor Cord Blood for Children with Malignant and Nonmalignant Disease” 101:351–57.

Grants

Completed

Group Acupuncture Therapy with Modified Yoga for chronic neck, low back and OA pain in safety net setting for an underserved population (GAPYOGA), Funded by Blavatnik Family Foundation (August 1, 2019 - July 31, 2022), Completed, Summer 2023, CoInvestigator Steffany Moonaz (7.5%)

Yoga as Self-Care for Underrepresented Communities, Funded by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) (May 31, 2012 - March 1, 2017), Completed, Summer 2023, CoInvestigator Steffany Moonaz (12%)

Yoga for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Funded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders (August 1, 2006 - August 1, 2010) ($183,986.00), Completed, Summer 2023, PI Steffany Moonaz (100%)

Health Professional Graduate Student Research Preceptorship, Funded by American College of Rheumatology / Research and Education Fund (June 1, 2007 - August 31, 2007) ($12,000.00), Completed, Summer 2023, PI Steffany Moonaz (20%)

Funded - In Progress

Integrated Care for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder: The IMPOWR Research Center at Montefiore/Einstein (IMPOWR-ME), Funded by National Institute for Drug Abuse (September 30, 2021 - July 31, 2023), awarded September 24, 2021 ($21,477.00), Funded - In Progress, Summer 2023, CoInvestigator Steffany Moonaz (7.5%)

Spinal Manipulative Therapy vs. Prescription Drug Therapy for Care of Aged Medicare Beneficiaries with Neck Pain, Funded by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2024), awarded August 29, 2022 ($465,700.00), Funded - In Progress, Summer 2022, CoInvestigator Steffany Moonaz (12.5%) with PI James Whedon (20%), Other Anupama Kizhakkeveettil (3%)

Submitted - Not Funded

Yoga for JIA: Stakeholder Survey and Protocol Development, Funded by CARRA (June 15, 2023 - June 14, 2025) ($50,000.00), Submitted - Not Funded, Summer 2023, PI Steffany Moonaz (10%)

Evidence Based Practice Attitudes, Skills and Use Among Students and Faculty in Clinical Health Sciences, Funded by Burg Foundation (August 1, 2023 - August 31, 2025) ($69,458.00), Submitted - Not Funded, Summer 2023, PI Steffany Moonaz (10%) with Other Robb Russell (5%)

Acupuncture for Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Low Back Pain: Access, Utilization, and Value, Funded by NIH/NCCIH (September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2026) ($1,776,078.00), Submitted - Not Funded, Summer 2023, CoInvestigator Steffany Moonaz (20%) with PI James Whedon (40%), CoInvestigator Prasad Vinjamury (15%)

Submitted for Review

The Role and Influence of Religion and Spirituality on Yoga Professions in the United States, Funded by John Templeton Foundation (September 1, 2024 - August 31, 2026), Submitted for Review, Summer 2023, PI Steffany Moonaz

Utilization of Non-pharmacological Therapies for Management of Low Back Pain under US Medicaid Plans, Funded by NIH/NCCIH (May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2026) ($439,555.00), Submitted for Review, Summer 2023, CoInvestigator Steffany Moonaz (12%) with PI James Whedon (20.5%)

Honors and Awards

Fall 2023 - Summer 2024

SCU Health Justice Award, 2023, Southern California University of Health Sciences, Any member of the SCU community may nominate someone (full-time staff, faculty, or student) for the award. Self-nominations will be accepted.


Applicants for this award must write a statement of no more than 250 words on how they or the person they are nominating have contributed to the advancement of Health Justice through clinical health care, public health work, advocacy, activism, scholarship, or community service.

Health Justice is the imperative that all people have the right to the highest attainable health. Systems and institutions should support the right to health by providing equal access to compassionate, affordable healthcare. Integrative health and medicine must include Health Justice as a central mission and diversity, equity, and inclusion as core principles.

Spring 2020 - Summer 2020

Faculty Poster Award, 2020, Maryland University of Integrative Health, Research poster selected as highest scoring by a panel of judges at the 2020 annual MUIH research symposium.

Spring 2016 - Summer 2016

Excellence in Faculty Research and Scholarship, 2016, Maryland University of Integrative Health, A panel of expert integrative health researchers evaluated the submitted portfolio of MUIH faculty after nomination. A rubric is used to score each candidate on their merits. The award goes to the candidate with the strongest research portfolio based on a body of work from the current year.

Fall 2013 - Summer 2014

Research Abstract Award, 2013, International Association of Yoga Therapists, Of all research posters presented at the annual Symposium on Yoga Research, the poster conferred with this award was scored highest by the selection committee of the IAYT.

Fall 2008 - Summer 2010

Distinguished Research Award, 2008, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, This award with monetary stipend is awarded annual to students who demonstrate mastery and promise in research activity. Dr. Moonaz received this award in 2008, 2009 and 2010. This encompassed all 3 years of her dissertation research.

Spring 2010 - Summer 2010

Delta Omega Honor Society Induction, 2010, Johns Hopkins University, This honor society welcomes students based on GPA in a school of public health.

Fall 2007 - Summer 2008

Graduate Student Award, 2007, Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, This award is conferred to a graduate student in a rheumatology-related field based on research submitted to the American College of Rheumatology annual research conference.

Fall 2007 - Spring 2008

Graduate Student Research Preceptorship, 2007, American College of Rheumatology, This award is conferred along with research funding for a rheumatology-based project proposed by a graduate student and evaluated on its merits.

Spring 2006 - Summer 2008

Doctoral Dissertation Award, 2006, National Arthritis Foundation, The Arthritis Foundation funds research conducted by doctoral students through this award.

Fall 2006 - Spring 2010

National Research Service Award, Individual Fellowship, 2006, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Funding from NIH for doctoral research on yoga for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Fall 2004 - Spring 2005

Graduate/Medical Student Achievement Award, 2004, American College of Rheumatology, Awarded with monetary stipend for student excellence in research presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual research conference.

Spring 2003 - Summer 2003

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Induction, 2003, University of Maryland, College Park, Induction based on GPA.

Spring 1999 - Summer 1999

Helen Ward Memorial Prize in Theater and Dance, 1999, Oberlin College, Award and financial prize conferred based on excellence by a graduating undergraduate student.

Interests

yoga therapy, research literacy, evidence-informed practice, research design and methods, yoga, clinical trials, surveys, qualitative, chronic pain, arthritis, rheumatic diseases, substance use disorder