Paul Steven Visich, Ph.D., M.P.H., ACSM C-CEP
Professor, Chair of Exercise and Sport Performance Department
Location
Education
Dr. Visich is a Professor and the Chair of the Exercise and Sport Performance Department located in the Harold Alfond Forum. He received his Bachelors in Health Education from Pennsylvania State University and Masters in Clinical Exercise Physiology from George Williams College and his Doctorate in Exercise Physiology along with his Masters in Public Health in Epidemiology from University of Pittsburgh. He is also certified as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist by the American College of Sports Medicine. Prior to his appointment at 91AV he was at Central Michigan University for 17 years where he went from Assistant to Full Professor and was responsible for overseeing the Human Performance Laboratory. In 2015 Dr. Visich received the Debra Summers Teacher of the Year Award at 91AV.
Research
Dr. Visich has a research experiences that includes multiple years of NIH funding looking at the genetic relationship to changes in muscle size and strength following resistance training. In addition he has a past and current research focus looking at cardiovascular disease risk factors in children (Cardiovascular Health Intervention Program; CHIP) and how it is influenced by physical activity, obesity, sleep, diurnal variations in cortisol and carotid intima media thickness. Funding for this project from 2013-2017 was provided from the Clark Charitable Foundation through the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC and SUNY Binghamton, NY.
Expertise
After completing his Masters in Clinical Exercise Physiology Dr. Visich worked the Institute for Cardiovascular Health at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, MI for 6 years. His primary teaching is related to cardiac and pulmonary disease in respect to disease prevention and rehabilitation. Courses in the curriculum he is responsible for include 12 lead ECG interruption, graded exercise testing and exercise prescription for chronic disease patients. He also has expertise in altitude physiology and is responsible for overseeing a class that includes traveling to CO where students live at approximately 12,000 feet where they design and carry out projects that compare sea level to altitude. Outside the classroom he played ice hockey at Pennsylvania State University, coached his two sons for many years and now volunteers his time as an Assistant Ice Hockey Coach/Academic Advisor for the Women’s 91AV Hockey team. Outside the hockey rink he enjoys cycling and sailing in the Saco Bay.
Credentials
Research
Current research
Pediatric Cardiovascular Disease Risk factors
Influence of obesity and physical inactivity on CV health
Selected publications
Peterson, M., Gordon, P., Smeding,S. and P. Visich. Grip strength is associated with longitudinal maintenance and improvements in adolescents. J Pediatr 2018, Nov;202:226-230
White, D., Place, R., Michael, T., Hoffman, E., Gordon, P., and Visich. P. The relationship between coronary artery disease risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness in children. J Pediatr 2017;190:38-42.
Yeung, E., Place, R., Gordish-Dressman, H. Visich, P., Hoffman, E., Walker, S. and Granger, D. Salivary latent trait cortisol (LTC: relation to lipids, blood pressure, and body composition in middle childhood. Psychoneuroendorinoloty 71(2016) 110-118.
Rosene, J., Raksnis, B., Silva, B., Woefel, T., Visich, P., Dompier, T., and Kerr, Z. Comparison of concussion rates between NCAA divison I and division III men's and women's ice hockey players. Am J of Sports Med. 45 (11), 2622:2629, 2017
Kostek, M., Lee, H., Angelopoulos, T., Clarkson, P., Gordon, P., Moyna, N, Visich, P., Zoeller, R., Price, T., Davaney, J., Gordish-Dressman, H., Thompson, P., Hoffman, E., Pescatello, L. Glucoocrticoid receptor (NR3C1) variants associate with the muscle strength and size response to resistance training. January 2016 PloS ONE
Peterson, M., Zhang, P., Saltarelli, W., Visich, P., Gordon, P. Low muscle strength thresholds for the detection of cardiometabolic risk in adolescents. Am J Prev Med 2016;50(5):593-599
Sprouse, C., Gordish-Dressman, H., Orkunoglu-Suer, E., Lipof, J., Moeckel-Cole, S., Patel, R., Adham, K., Larkin, J., Hubal, M., Kearns, A., Thompson, P., Angelopoulos, T., Gordon, P., Moyna, N., Pescatello, L, Visich, P., Zoeller, R., Hoffman, E., Tosi, L., Devaney, J. SLC30A* Nonsynonymous variant is associated with recovery following exercise and skeletal muscle size and strength. Diabetes 2014; 63:363-368.
Peterson, M.D., Saltarelli, W.A, Visich, P.S. and P.M. Gordon. Strength capacity and cardiometabolic risk clustering in adolescents. Pediatrics March 31, 2014; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-3169
Visich, P. Commentary, “The Value of Completing an Exercise Science Undergraduate Degree Prior to Exercise Physiology Graduate School, Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology, March, 2014
Lowndes, J., Zoeller, R.R., Kyriazis, G.E., Miles, M.P., Seip, R.L., Moyna, N.M., Visich, P.S., Pescatello, L., Gordon, P., Thompson, P.D., Angelopoulos, T.J. Hyperleptinemia is associated with CRP, but not apolipoprotein E, and is reduced by exercise training. Int. J of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 2014; DOI:10.1123/ijsnem.2013-0200.
Visich, P. Heart Sounds, Part III. American College of Sports Medicine, Certified News, October-December, 2013, Volume 22, Issue 3.
Hoffman EP, Gordish-Dressman H, Devaney JM, Thompson PD, Zambraski E, Visich PS, Gordon PM, Pescatello L, Zoeller R, Moyna N, Angelopoulos TA, Pegoraro E, Clarkson P. Alterations in osteopontin modify muscle size in females in both humans and mice. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013 Jun;45(6): 1060-8
Peterson, MD, Liu, D, IglayReger HB, Saltarelli WA, Visich PS, Gordon PM. Principal Component Analysis Reveals Gender-Specific Predictors of Cardiometabolic Risk in 6th Graders. Cardiovascular Diabetology 2012 11:146. Doi:10.1186/1475-2840-11-146.
Visich, P. Heart Sounds, Part II. American College of Sports Medicine, Certified News, April-Une, 2012, Volume 22, Issue2.
Guidry M, Kostel M, Angelopoulos TA, Clarkson PM, Gordon PM, Moyna M, Visich PS, Zoeller R, Thompson PD, Devaney J, Gordish-Dressman H, Hoffman EP, Pescatello LS. Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS3) +894 G>T associates with physical activity and muscle performance among young adults, J Vasc. Med. Volume 2012, Article ID 901801, 7 pages
Walsh S, Haddad CJ, Kostek MA, Angelopoulos TJ, Clarkson PM, Gordon PM, Moyna NM, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Seip RL, Bilbie S, Thompson PD, Devaney J, Gordish-Dressman, Hoffman EP, Price TB, Pescatello LS. L Leptin and Leptin Receptor Genetic Variants Associate with Habitual Physical Activity and the Arm Body Composition Response to Resistance Training. Gene. 2012 Sep 5. pii: S0378- 1119(12)01004-9. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.08.020.
Van Deveire KN, Scranton BS, Kostek MA, Angelopoulos TJ, Clarkson PM, Gordon PM, Moyna NM, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Thompson PD, Devaney JM, Gordish-Dressman H, Hoffman EP, Maresh CM, Pescatello LS. Variants of the Ankyrin Repeat Domain 6 Gene (ANKRD6) Influence Muscle and Physical Activity Phenotypes among European derived American Adults. Accepted for publication in the J Strength Cond Res. 2012. 26(7):1740-1748
Seip, R. L., Zoeller, R. F., Angelopoulos, T. J., Salonia, J., Bilbie, C., Moyna, N. M. Miles, M. P., Visich, P. S., Pescatello, L. S., Gordon, P. M., Tsongalis, G. J., Bausserman, L. Thompson, P. D. Interactive Effects of APOE Haplotype, Gender, and Exercise on Post Heparin Plasma Lipase Activities J Appl Physiol 110 (4) 1021- 1028, 2011.PMCID 3075133
Devaney JM, Visich PS, Thompson PD, Saltarelli WA, Gordon PM, Orkunoglu- Suer F, Gordish-Dressman H, Harmon BT, Bradbury MK, Panchapakesan K, Khianey R, Hubal MJ, Clarkson PM, Pescatello LS, Zoeller RF, Moyna NM, Angelopoulos TJ, Kraus WE, Hoffman EP. The 1p13.3 LDL (C)-Associated Locus Shows Large Effect Sizes in Young Populations. Pediatric Research, (2011), 69(6):538-543
Orkunoglu-Suer FE, Harmon BT, Gordish-Dressman H, Clarkson PM, Thompson PD, Angelopoulos TJ, Gordon PM, Hubal MJ, Moyna NM, Pescatello LS, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Hoffman EP, Devaney JM. MC4R variant is associated with BMI but not response to resistance training in young females. Obesity 19(3): 662-666, 2011.
Peterson MD, Liu D, Gordish-Dressman H, Hubal MJ, Pistilli E, Angelopoulos TJ, Clarkson PM, Moyna NM, Pescatello LS, Seip RL, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Thompson PD, Devaney JM, Hoffman EP, and Gordon PM. Adiposity attenuates muscle quality and the adaptive response to resistance exercise in non-obese, healthy adults. Int. J Obesity 35(8): 1095-1103, 2011.
Funda E. Orkunoglu-Suer, Brennan T. Haromon, Heather Gordish-Dressman, Priscilla M. Clarkson, Paul D. Thompson, Theodore J. Angelopoulos, Paul M. Gordon, Monica J. Hubal, Niall M. Moyna, Linda S. Pescatello, Paul S. Visich, Robert F. Zoeller, Eric P. Hoffman, Joseph M. Devaney. MC4R variant is associated with BMI but not response to resistance training in young females. Obesity 19, 662-666 (March 2011)
Devaney JM, Gordish-Dressman H, Harmon BT, Bradbury MK, Devaney SA, Harris TB, Thompson PD, Clarkson PM, Price TB, Angelopoulos TJ, Gordon PM, Moyna NM, Pescatello LS, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Seip RL, Seo J, Kim BH, Tosi LL, Garcia M, Li R, Zmuda JM, Delmonico MJ, Lindsay RS, Howard BV, Kraus WE, Hoffman EP. AKT1 polymorphisms are associated with risk for metabolic syndrome. Human Genet 129(2): 129-139, 2011. PMCID 3020305
Harmon BT, Orkunoglu-Suer EF, AdhamK, Larkin JS, Gordish-DressmanH, Clarkson PM, Thompson PD, Angelopoulos TJ, Gordon PM, Moyna NM, Pescatello LS, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Hubal MJ, Tosi LL, Hoffman EP, Devaney JM. CCL2 and CCR2 Variants are Associated with Skeletal Muscle Strength and Change in Strength with Resistance Training. J. Appl Physiol 109(6): 1779-1785, 2010. PMCID 3006412
Kostek, M.C., Devaney JM, Gordish-Dressman H, Harris TB, Thompson PD, Clarkson PM, Angelopoulos TJ, Gordon PM, Moyna NM, Pescatello LS, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Seip RL, Garcia M, Li R, Zmuda JM, Delmonico MJ, Kanaya A., Hoffman EP. A polymorphism near IGF1 is associated with body composition and muscle function in women from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study Eur J Appl Physiol. 110(2): 315-324, 2010.
Other scholarly activity
Ehrman J, Gordon P, Visich P, Keteyian S. Textbook of Clinical Exercise Physiology, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IN., 4th Ed. 2019
Ehrman J, Gordon P, Visich P, Keteyian S. Textbook of Clinical Exercise Physiology, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IN., 3rd Ed. July, 2013
Ehrman J, Gordon P, Visich P, Keteyian S. Textbook of Clinical Exercise Physiology, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IN., 2nd Ed. October, 2009.
Ehrman J, Gordon P, Visich P, Keteyian S. Textbook of Clinical Exercise Physiology, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IN., 1st Ed. May, 2003
Invited plenary presentation
Visich, P. Pediatric Cardiovascular Health. Utah State University, Logan, Utah, November 2014.
Visich, P. and W. Saltarelli. Pediatric Obesity and Cardiovascular Health: What we learned from the Cardiovascular Health Intervention Program (CHIP), New England American College of Sports Medicine Annual Fall Conference, Providence, RI, November, 2013
Visich, P. and W. Saltarelli. Pediatric Cardiovascular Health and Obesity. Distinguished Speaker Series, Maine General Medical Center, Waterville, ME
November, 2012
Visich, P. and W. Saltarelli. ÒThe Obesity Epidemic, Lessons Learned from the Cardiovascular Health Intervention Program (CHIP), What can we do as Health Care ProfessionalsÓ, Michigan Physical Therapy Student Conclave, Lansing, MI April, 2011
Visich, P. and W. Saltarelli. ÒCardiovascular Health Intervention ProgramÓ, Vision 2020, Mt. Pleasant, MI, December, 2008.
Visich, P. and W. Saltarelli. ÒCardiovascular Health Intervention ProgramÓ, Saginaw Indian Health Council, MI, November, 2008. Approved by the Health Council and Tribal Council.
Visich, P. and W. Saltarelli. ÒCardiovascular Health Intervention ProgramÓ, Beaumont Hospital, Birmingham, MI, November, 2008.
Visich, P. ÒCardiovascular Health Intervention ProgramÓ, Optimist Club, Mt. Pleasant, MI, October, 2008.
Visich, P. and W. Saltarelli. ÒAssessing Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children. A University Approach: From Science to Community ServiceÓ, College of Health Professions; Bringing Life to Scholarship, Symposia Series, Mt. Pleasant, MI, January, 2007
Visich, P. W. Saltarelli, E. Fletcher and M. Wenta. ÒAssessing Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children. A University Approach: From Science to Community ServiceÓ. Midwest ACSM meeting, Mt. Pleasant, MI, October, 20006
Research interests
Cardiovascular Physiology
Clinical Exercise Physiology
Cardiovascular Disease
Metabolic syndrome
Pediatrics
Altitude Physiology
Ice Hockey