Edwin Fisher

Dr. Fisher is Global Director of Peers for Progress, a program of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation that promotes peer support in health, health care and prevention around the world. With projects in 9 countries and over 60 collaborating groups, Peers for Progress is building the evidence base for peer support interventions, disseminating resources for program development and quality improvement, and promoting the integration of peer support in health care and preventive services. This work also draws upon Dr. Fisher’s research on Nondirective and Directive types of social support in health and quality of life. From 2002-2009, he served as National Program Director of the Diabetes Initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation showing the contributions of diabetes self management programs in Federally Qualified Health Centers and community based programs. Dr. Fisher has published widely in prevention, chronic disease management and quality of life addressing asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, smoking, and weight management. He is a past-president of the Society of Behavioral Medicine and has served on the boards of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine and the American Lung Association.

President, Society of Behavioral Medicine (President-elect, 2005-2006; Past-President, 2007- 2008)

Phi Beta Kappa and the Society of the Sigma Xi

NIMH pre-doctoral research fellow, 1969 - 1972

National Program Director, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Diabetes Initiative, 2002-2009

Fellow, American Psychological Association (Division of Clinical Psychology), Society of Behavioral Medicine, American Psychological Society

Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society

Fellow, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill