Associate Professor
Unit: Health Outcomes Research and Policy
Auburn University
Harrison College of Pharmacy
4306c Walker Building
Auburn, AL 36849
Email: kavooja@auburn.edu
Phone: 334-844-8301
Fax: 334-844-8307
Dr. Jan Kavookjian joined the faculty of the Harrison College of Pharmacy in June 2006 and currently serves as an associate professor in the Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy. Dr. Kavookjian has been named a Fellow of APhA (2018) and ADCES (2020). In addition to her faculty role, she also is a National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Lifestyle Coach and was elected as the 2022 President of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists.
Dr. Kavookjian’s research areas include behavior sciences and outcomes research in chronic disease management and prevention (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and others). She studies patient-reported psycho/social variables, health behaviors, and humanistic outcomes (satisfaction and quality of life) in adults and youth with diabetes. She also studies behavior change interventions and their impact on patient outcomes, with a particular expertise in evidence-based Motivational Interviewing training (has trained over 3,400 interprofessional health care professionals (HCPs)); she also has a central focus on behavioral intervention research assessing patient as well as HCP outcomes from MI-based behavioral intervention strategies including MI-based academic detailing training to influence professional behaviors, including prescribing, in work with CDC-funded State initiatives aimed at fighting the opioid and substance use crises through provider-based abuse prevention.
Dr. Kavookjian’s expertise in Motivational Interviewing training as an intervention has been applied in various projects to impact patient behavior changes (MI-trained pharmacists talking with persons with diabetes about medication taking), and provider behavior changes (recent projects focused on provider-based opioid abuse prevention strategies). In 2025, her motivational interviewing training expertise was recognized by CDC in selection as motivational interviewing training subject matter expert for their $20 million, five-year, national grant (77 sites) in the diabetes management, diabetes prevention, and weight management realms.
(underline = student author; * = senior author, methods lead)
Kavookjian J. Theoretical and Behavioral Approaches to the Self-Management of Health, Ch5, in Cornell S, Halstenson C, Miller DK, The Art and Science of Diabetes Care and Education. 7th ed Chicago: Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists;2026: 97-129.
Kavookjian J. Motivational Interviewing. (Invited Chapter). In Richardson M, Chant C, Chessman KH, Finks SW, Hemstreet BA, Hume AL, et al, eds. Pharmacotherapy Self-Assessment Program, 7th ed. Book 8: Science and Practice of Pharmacotherapy. Lenexa, KS: American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), 2011:1-18.
McDaniel CC, Kavookjian JS, Whitley HP. Telehealth delivery of motivational interviewing for diabetes management: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Patient Education and Counseling 2022; 105 (4): 805-820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2021.07.036
Davidson T, LaManna J, Davis J, Blanchette J, Whitehouse C, Hammons T, Ojeda M, McDaniel C, Fahim S, Kavookjian JS. Diabetes education impact on quality of life in type 1 diabetes: A systematic review of RCTs. The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care 2022; 48(2): 111-135. doi.org/10.1177/26350106211070266
Jones C, Kavookjian JS, Winkler D, Wadsworth DD. Motivational interviewing and physical activity outcomes in African American adults: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Physical Activity Research 2022; 7(1): 18-26. DOI: 10.12691/jpar-7-1-4.
Suire K, Peart A, Kavookjian J, Wadsworth D. Impact of motivational interviewing as a follow-up to an exercise intervention among women with or at risk for metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. SAGE Open Medicine 2022; 10(1):1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121211073434
Spring K, Kavookjian JS, Carroll A, Wadsworth DD. Benefits of motivational interviewing on adolescent physical activity: A systematic review. Journal of Physical Activity Research 2022; 8(2): 89-97. doi: 10.12691/jpar-7-2-3
Winkler DJ, Suire KB, Kavookjian JS, Wadsworth DD. Motivational interviewing impact on cardiac rehabilitation program outcomes: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation 2022; 6(3):164.
Novak JR, August KJ, Kavookjian J, Whitley HP, Burnett D. Exploring typologies of appraisals, involvement, and distress in type 2 diabetes family members. Journal of Health Psychology 2022; 1-16. doi.org/10.1177/13591053221115326
Kavookjian JS (corresponding author), Cox C, LaManna J, Davidson P, Ekong G, McDaniel CC, Fahim SM, et al. Diabetes education impact on quality of life outcomes in youth with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care 2022; 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1177/26350106221115450.
Kavookjian JS, Bzowyckyj A, DiNardo M, Kocurek B, Kolb LE, Noe D, Ryan D, Saunders MM, See M, Uelmen S. Current and emerging trends in diabetes care and education: A national practice and workforce survey. The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care 2022; 48(5):307-323. doi.org/10.1177/26350106221120787Crosby ES, Spitzer EG, Kavookjian JS (corresponding author). Motivational interviewing effects on positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy adherence: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Behavioral Sleep Medicine 2022; 1-28. doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2022.2108033
Suire K, Kavookjian JS, Wadsworth D. Motivational interviewing impact on overweight children: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Pediatrics 2020; 146(5) e20200193; DOI: https//doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-0193
Suire K, Kavookjian J, Feiss R, Wadsworth D. Motivational interviewing for weight management among women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Int J Behavioral Medicine 2021; 28(4): 403-416.
McDaniel CC, Kavookjian JS, Whitley HP. Telehealth delivery of motivational interviewing for diabetes management: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Patient Education and Counseling 2021;in press.
Echeverri M, Unni E, Harpe SE, Kavookjian J, Alkhateeb F, Ekong G, Law A, Moorman K, Radhakrishnan R. Student-reported cultural competence in pharmacy education: A multi-school study. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning 2021; in press.
Poudel N, Kavookjian JS (corresponding author), Scalese M. Motivational Interviewing as a strategy to impact outcomes in heart failure patients: A systematic review. The Patient- Patient Centered Outcomes Research 2020; 13(1): 43-55. DOI: 10.1007/s40271-019-00387-6
Ekong G, Chou C, Lakin J, Hardin A, Fox B, Hunt C, Kavookjian JS. Pharmacist-led motivational interviewing for diabetes medication adherence in a worksite wellness program. Journal of American Pharmacists Association 2020; 60(6): e224 – e229.
LaManna J, Lichtman ML, Dickinson JK, Todd A, Julius MM, Whitehouse CR, Hyer S, Kavookjian JS (corresponding author and methods lead). Diabetes education impact on hypoglycemia outcomes: A systematic review of evidence and gaps in the literature. The Diabetes Educator 2019; 45(4): 349-369.
Schaefer MR, Wagoner ST, Young ME, Kavookjian JS, Shapiro SK, Gray WN. Parent perceptions of their college student’s self-management of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Adolescent Health 2018; 63(5): 636-642.
Schaefer MR, Kavookjian JS. The impact of motivational interviewing on adherence and symptom severity in adolescents and young adults with chronic illness: A systematic review. Patient Education and Counseling 2017; 100(12): 2190-2199.
Schaefer MR, Resmini-Rawlinson A, Wagoner ST, Shapiro SK, Kavookjian JS, Gray WN. Adherence to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder medication during the transition to college. J Adolescent Health 2017; 60(6): 706-713.
Ekong G, Kavookjian J. Motivational interviewing and outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of the literature. Patient Education and Counseling 2016; 99(6):944-52.
Alatawi Y, Kavookjian J, Ekong G. A pilot study of medication adherence beliefs in patients with type 2 diabetes. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy 2016; 12(6):914-925.
Teeter BS, Kavookjian J. Telephone-based motivational interviewing for medication adherence: A systematic review. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 2014. 4(4): 372-381.
Hill S, Kavookjian J. Motivational interviewing as a behavioral intervention to increase HAART adherence in patients who are HIV+: A systematic review of the literature. Aids Care 2012.1-10.
Sundaram M, Kavookjian J, Patrick JH, Madhavan SS, Miller LA & Scott V. Quality of Life, Health Status, and Clinical Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Patients. Quality of Life Research 2007.16(2):165-177.
PharmD Professional Curriculum:
Person-Centered Skills for first year students
Motivational Interviewing advanced elective course for third year students
Motivational Interviewing skills training labs coordinator
Health Literacy Communication curricular content
Cultural Competence curricular content
Graduate Program in Health Outcomes Research and Policy:
Advanced Motivational Interviewing Elective course coordinator and instructor
Social and Behavioral Theory core course content instructor
Graduate Students Advised (Auburn University – AU; West Virginia University – WVU)
PhD Students:
Gladys Ekong (AU, Chair)
Tatjana Petrova (AU, Chair)
Michelle Breland (AU, Co-Chair)
Linda Byrd (AU, Chair)
Cassidi McDaniel (AU, Committee Member)
Yi Zhao (AU, Committee Member)
Eric Crosby (Clinical Psychology) (AU, Outside Reader)
Melissa Miller (Clinical Psychology) (AU, Outside Reader)
Margaret Young (Clinical Psychology) (AU, Committee Member)
Kameron Suire (Kinesiology) (AU, Committee Member)
Darby Winkler (Kinesiology) (AU, Committee Member)
Scott Wagoner (Clinical Psychology) (AU, Outside Reader)
Megan Schaefer (Clinical Psychology) (AU, Outside Reader)
Abhishek Krishna Pillai (AU, Committee Member)
Andrea Pfalzgraf (WVU, Committee Member)
Vivek Pawar (WVU, Committee Member)
Mariam Hassan (WVU, Committee Member)
Khalid Kamal (WVU, Committee Member)
MS Students:
Robert Alongi (AU, Chair)
Amie Hardin (Nutrition and Dietetics) (AU, Committee Member)
Seth Hill (AU, Chair)
Rahul Khanna (WVU, Chair)
Murali Sundaram (WVU, Chair)
Siddhesh Kamat (WVU, Chair)
Abhishek Krishna Pillai (AU, Committee Member)
Honors College Senior Thesis:
Patrick Llewellyn (AU, Chair)