Robert L Crocker
- Director, Strategic Clinical Planning and Implementation
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine - (Clinical Series Track)
- (520) 626-2433
- Alvernon Admin Offices, Rm. 140D
- Tucson, AZ 85724
- crocker@arizona.edu
Biography
Robert Crocker joined the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine in 2012. His first task was to work toward the opening of the UA Integrative Health Center in Phoenix and is to be involved in the opening of future health centers. He has been involved in the development of the Integrative health and lifestyle program, has been a key leader for the development and oversight of AzCIM’s Integrative Health Coaching Program, and is deeply involved in the IMPACT study for clinical outcomes.
Prior to coming to AzCIM, Dr. Crocker was with American Specialty Health (ASH) as its chief medical officer. He was involved in the management and ongoing development of the company's medical management programs and products, as well as oversight of ASH's clinical service operations.
Dr. Crocker had a distinguished career in private practice and as national medical director for both UNICARE/Cost Care and WellPoint Health Networks. He also previously served as chief of staff at River Oaks Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, and as a part-time clinical instructor in the University of Mississippi's family medicine program.
Dr. Crocker is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice and has held leadership positions in many industry organizations, including America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO). In addition, Dr. Crocker served on the board of directors of URAC from 2001 through 2010 including serving as chairman of URAC's board of directors.
Dr. Crocker holds a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Mississippi College, he later graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and he is a graduate of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. He has served as a health consultant, provided oversight of previous humanitarian relief efforts in Central Asia, and more recently has been working with aboriginal communities in Australia.
Degrees
- M.D. (AOA; Phi Beta Phi)
- University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
- B.S. BS in Chemistry (with Special Distinction)
- Mississippi College, Clinton, Mississippi, United States
- A.A. AA in Liberal Arts (with Highest Honors)
- Clarke College, Newton, Mississippi, United States
- H.S. (Salutatorian)
- Cleveland High School, Cleveland, Mississippi, United States
Work Experience
- Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona (2012 - Ongoing)
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona (2009 - Ongoing)
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona (2009 - Ongoing)
- American Speciality Health (2007 - 2010)
- American Speciality Health (2006 - 2007)
- Paradigm Solutions, LLC (consulting firm) (2005 - Ongoing)
- WellPoint Health Networks (2003 - 2005)
- WellPoint Health Networks (2001 - 2003)
- WellPoint Health Networks (2000 - 2001)
- WellPoint Health Networks (1999 - 2000)
- UNICARE/Cost Care Inc. (1997 - 1999)
- Cost Care, Inc. (1996 - 1997)
- Cost Care, Inc. (1994 - 1996)
- Crosslink International (1991 - 1999)
- Brookwood/Parkside Lodge of Misssissippi (1985 - 1987)
- Reservoir Family Clinic (1982 - 1993)
- University of Mississippi (1982 - 1993)
Awards
- American Medical Association's Physician Recognition Award
- Spring 1989
- Who's Who in Greater Jackson
- Spring 1989
- Became a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice
- Spring 1985
- Nominated for Mead-Johnson Family Practice Award
- from the UT Family Practice Program, Chattanooga, TN, Spring 1982
- Winner of Merck Book Award
- University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Spring 1979
- Winner of the Ware Scholarship
- University of Mississippi, School of Medicine, Spring 1979
- Chemistry Award
- Mississippi College, Spring 1975
- Member
- Alpha Epsilon Delta, Spring 1975
- President
- Alpha Epsilon Delta, Spring 1975
- Science Award
- Clarke College, Spring 1973
Licensure & Certification
- Licensed to practice medicine, Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure (1982)
- Board Certified, American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (2008)
- Re-certified in Family Practice, American Board of Family Practice (2018)
- Board Certified in Family Practice, American Board of Family Practice (1982)
Interests
No activities entered.
Courses
2019-20 Courses
-
Integ Mnd-Bdy-Sprt Mental Hlth
IHM 401 (Spring 2020) -
Integ Mnd-Bdy-Sprt Mental Hlth
IHM 501 (Spring 2020)
Scholarly Contributions
Chapters
- Crocker, R. L. (2020). University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine: Lifestyle Medicine Approaches in an Integrative Primary Care Model.. In "Building and Implementing a Lifestyle Medicine Program: From Concept to Clinical Practice"(pp 335-344). print: Springer.More info14. Robert L Crocker. University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine: Lifestyle Medicine Approaches in an Integrative Primary Care Model. [book chapter] Creating a Lifestyle Medicine Center. Jeffrey I. Mechanick, Robert F. Kushner. Springer, 2020, pp 335-344.
Journals/Publications
- Crocker, R. L. (2022). Mobile App Intervention on Reducing the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Burden: Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Study. JMIR Formative Research, Volume 6 - issue #(e33581). doi:https://formative.jmir.org/2022/3/e33581
- Crocker, R. L. (2022). My Wellness Coach: Evaluation of a Mobile App Designed to Promote Integrative Health among Underserved Populations. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 12, 752-760. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibac015
- Crocker, R. L., Engineer, A., Gualano, R. J., Smith, J. L., Maizes, V., Weil, A., & Sternberg, E. (2021). An integrative health framework for wellbeing in the built environment. Building and Environment, 205 (2021)(108253), 15. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108253
- Alschuler, L. N., Weil, A. T., Maizes, V., Horwitz, R. J., Chiasson, A. M., Crocker, R. L., & Sternberg, E. M. (2022). Integrative medicine considerations for convalescence from mild-to- moderate COVID-19 disease. Explore (NY), 18(2), 140-148.More infoThe majority of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. Convalescence from mild-to-moderate (MtoM) COVID-19 disease may be supported by integrative medicine strategies. Integrative Medicine (IM) is defined as healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. Integrative medicine strategies that may support recovery from MtoM COVID-19 are proposed given their clinically studied effects in related conditions. Adoption of an anti-inflammatory diet, supplementation with vitamin D, glutathione, melatonin, Cordyceps, Astragalus and garlic have potential utility. Osteopathic manipulation, Qigong, breathing exercises and aerobic exercise may support pulmonary recovery. Stress reduction, environmental optimization, creative expression and aromatherapy can provide healing support and minimize enduring trauma. These modalities would benefit from clinical trials in people recovering from COVID-19 infection.
- Maizes, V., Crocker, R. L., Chiasson, A. M., Stamets, P., Horwitz, R. J., Weil, A. T., & Alschuler, L. (2020). Integrative considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 16(6), 354-356. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.03.007More infoThere is a high level of interest in integrative strategies to augment public health measures to prevent COVID-19 infection and associated pneumonia. Unfortunately, no integrative measures have been validated in human trials as effective specifically for COVID-19. Notwithstanding, this is an opportune time to be proactive. Using available in-vitro evidence, an understanding of the virulence of COVID-19, as well as data from similar, but different, viruses, we offer the following strategies to consider. Again, we stress that these are supplemental considerations to the current recommendations that emphasize regular hand washing, physical distancing, stopping non-essential travel, and obtaining testing in the presence of symptoms.
- Sternberg, E. M., Sternberg, E. M., Crocker, R. L., Crocker, R. L., Chiasson, A. M., Chiasson, A. M., Horwitz, R. J., Horwitz, R. J., Maizes, V., Maizes, V., Weil, A. T., Weil, A. T., Alschuler, L. N., & Alschuler, L. N. (2020). Integrative medicine considerations for convalescence from mild-to- moderate COVID-19 disease. Explore, 1-9. doi:doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.12.005More infoThe majority of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. Convalescence from mild-to-moderate (MtoM) COVID-19 disease may be supported by integrative medicine strategies. Integrative Medicine (IM) is defined as healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. Integrative medicine strategies that may support recovery from MtoM COVID-19 are proposed given their clinically studied effects in related conditions. Adoption of an anti-inflammatory diet, supplementation with vitamin D, glutathione, melatonin, Cordyceps, Astragalus and garlic have potential utility. Osteopathic manipulation, Qigong, breathing exercises and aerobic exercise may support pulmonary recovery. Stress reduction, environmental optimization, creative expression and aromatherapy can provide healing support and minimize enduring trauma. These modalities would benefit from clinical trials in people recovering from COVID-19 infection.
- Crocker, R. L. (2019). Real-World Evidence from the Integrative Medicine Primary Care Trial (IMPACT): Assessing Patient-Reported Outcomes at Baseline and 12-Month Follow-Up. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019(Article ID 8595409), 9. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8595409
- Crocker, R. L. (2017). Integrative medicine primary care: assessing the practice model through patients' experiences. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, (2017) 17:490, online, open access journal. doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1996-5
- Crocker, R. L., Grizzle, A. J., Rehfeld, R. A., Abraham, I., Horwitz, R., & Maizes, V. H. (2016). Integrative Medicine Primary Care: Assessing Patient-Reported Outcomes at Baseline and 12-Month Follow-Up. Abstract accepted for poster session at ICIHM.
- Crocker, R. L., Hurwitz, J. T., Grizzle, A. J., Rehfeld, R. A., Abraham, I., Horwitz, R., & Maizes, V. H. (2016). Integrative Medicine Primary Care: Assessing the Practice Model through Patients' Experiences. Abstract accepted for poster session at ICIHM.
- Crocker, R. L. (2015). Integrative Health Coaching: Professional Standards. Online course module, University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.
- Crocker, R. L. (2015). Introduction to Integrative Health Coaching. Online course module, University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.More infoIntroduction was originally developed in 2015, and updated 2020 summer to reflect changes in the field of health coaching.
- Crocker, R. L. (2015). Models in Practice. Online course module, University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine Fellowship.
- Herman, P. M., Dodds, S. E., Logue, M. D., Abraham, I., Rehfeld, R. A., Grizzle, A. J., Urbine, T. F., Horwitz, R., Crocker, R. L., & Maizes, V. H. (2014). IMPACT--Integrative Medicine PrimAry Care Trial: protocol for a comparative effectiveness study of the clinical and cost outcomes of an integrative primary care clinic model. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 14, 132.More infoIntegrative medicine (IM) is a patient-centered, healing-oriented clinical paradigm that explicitly includes all appropriate therapeutic approaches whether they originate in conventional or complementary medicine (CM). While there is some evidence for the clinical and cost-effectiveness of IM practice models, the existing evidence base for IM depends largely on studies of individual CM therapies. This may in part be due to the methodological challenges inherent in evaluating a complex intervention (i.e., many interacting components applied flexibly and with tailoring) such as IM.
- Dodds, S. E., Herman, P. M., Sechrest, L., Abraham, I., Logue, M. D., Grizzle, A. L., Rehfeld, R. A., Urbine, T. J., Horwitz, R., Crocker, R. L., & Maizes, V. H. (2013). When a whole practice model is the intervention: developing fidelity evaluation components using program theory-driven science for an integrative medicine primary care clinic. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2013, 652047.More infoIntegrative medicine (IM) is a clinical paradigm of whole person healthcare that combines appropriate conventional and complementary medicine (CM) treatments. Studies of integrative healthcare systems and theory-driven evaluations of IM practice models need to be undertaken. Two health services research methods can strengthen the validity of IM healthcare studies, practice theory, and fidelity evaluation. The University of Arizona Integrative Health Center (UAIHC) is a membership-supported integrative primary care clinic in Phoenix, AZ. A comparative effectiveness evaluation is being conducted to assess its clinical and cost outcomes. A process evaluation of the clinic's practice theory components assesses model fidelity for four purposes: (1) as a measure of intervention integrity to determine whether the practice model was delivered as intended; (2) to describe an integrative primary care clinic model as it is being developed and refined; (3) as potential covariates in the outcomes analyses, to assist in interpretation of findings, and for external validity and replication; and (4) to provide feedback for needed corrections and improvements of clinic operations over time. This paper provides a rationale for the use of practice theory and fidelity evaluation in studies of integrative practices and describes the approach and protocol used in fidelity evaluation of the UAIHC.
- Crocker, R. L. (2011). Business in Practice. Online course module, University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine Fellowship.
- Crocker, R. L. (2011). The Business of Healing. Online course module, University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine Fellowship.
- Crocker, R. L., & Mangotich, M. (2001). Development of patient stratification technologies and customized interventions to achieve optimal program outcomes. Disease Management and Health Outcomes, 9, 5-11.
Presentations
- Crocker, R. L. (2022, February). Healing for the Wounded Healer. Invited Presenter. Texas Osteopathic Medical Association: Mid-Winter Conference. Dallas, TX: Texas Osteopathic Medical Association.
- Crocker, R. L., & Sternberg, E. (2022, November). De-Stress Your Environment and Your Life. Invited, Innovations in Healthy Aging Lecture Series. UA HSIB building, Tucson, AZ: UA Innovations in Healthy Aging.
- Crocker, R., & Sternberg, E. (2022, March). De-Stress Your Environment and Your Life. Invited, SXSW Arizona Wonder House. Austin, TX: University of Arizona.
- Crocker, R. L. (2016, April 24, 2016). Integrative Medicine and Mind-Body Techniques for the Underserved. Invited, FQHC CEO Retreat. Santa Fe, NM.
- Crocker, R. L. (2015, May 3, 2015). Leading a Successful Integrative Health Practice (3-hour workshop). Invited, Nutrition and Health Conference.
- Crocker, R. L. (2014, October 31, 2014). The Development and Testing of a New Business Model for Integrative Primary Care. Invited - Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine.
- Crocker, R. L. (2014, September 15, 2014). The Impact of Transgenerational Trauma and Woundedness on Social and Emotional Wellbeing, Physical and Mental Health. Invited, Aboriginal Employment in Health Network. West Gippsland, Warragul, Victoria, Australia.
- Crocker, R. L. (2013, February 13, 2013). Integrative Medicine: Changing the Face of Medicine. Invited, Canadian Health and Wellness Innovations Conference.
- Crocker, R. L. (2013, November 25, 2013). Integrative Medicine: Changing the Face of Medicine - the Future of Medicine?. Invited, 46th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference.
Poster Presentations
- Crocker, R. L. (2020, April). Battling Burnout and Building Bridges: Evaluation of an Interprofessional integrative Health Education. International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health.. Virtual Poster Presentation: ICIMH.More infoAudrey J Brooks, Molly Burke, Robert Crocker, Victoria Maizes. Battling Burnout and Building Bridges: Evaluation of an Interprofessional integrative Health Education. International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health. Virtual poster session April 28, 2020.
- Crocker, R. L. (2020, November). My Wellness Coach: Evaluating an Integrative Health Mobile App for Behavior Change in Underserved. Integrative Medicine Network Forum. Virtual Poster Presentation: Harvard-Osher.More infoAudrey J. Brooks, Molly K. Burke, Rocky Crocker, Nicole P. Yuan, Paula Cook, Victoria Maizes. My Wellness Coach: Evaluating an Integrative Health Mobile App for Behavior Change in Underserved. Harvard-Osher Integrative Medicine Network Forum. Virtual poster session with brief video intro, November 6, 2020.