Dr. Vallis is a registered health psychologist practicing in Halifax, Canada. He is a Health Behaviour Change Consultant and Associate Professor in Family Medicine at Dalhousie University. His main areas of expertise are diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular risk and gastroenterology. He has worked in the public health system for 35 years and is now working as a consultant and doing private practice. He regularly supervises clinical and academic students at Dalhousie and is active in research on motivation, behavioural change and psychosocial adaptation to chronic disease. He consults nationally as well as internationally and is heavily involved in journal editing, clinical practice guidelines and academic publications. He was recently awarded a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Government of Canada on the recommendation of Diabetes Canada.
Dr. Michael Vallis, PhD. R. Psych
Experience:
PhD 1983 – University of Western Ontario (M.A. 1979; B.Sc. 1977)
Health Psychologist in Toronto (1983 – 1988) and Halifax (1988 – present) with a clinical focus on chronic diseases; diabetes, obesity, gastroenterology, cardiology
Associate Professor, Family Medicine, Dalhousie University
Health Behaviour Change Consultant within Drs. Piccinini Vallis Inc (2104 – present)
Most Significant Contributions
1. Development of the Behaviour Change Counselling Training Program to Promote Health:
I have been successful in creating a training program to develop models of training that are based on
best practice evidence for the goals of knowledge translation regarding motivational enhancement,
behaviour modification, and emotion management. In this capacity I have developed training programs within organizations across Canada and have initiated international training programs. For instance, I lead an international program called IBD Connect, designed to train IBD specialists in communication and adherence skills and hold a CIHR Catalyst grant (Co-PI) to develop etechnology tools to support behaviour change for clinicians and individuals.
2. Research Program Regarding Behaviour Change Interventions to Manage Chronic Disease:
I have a research program examining methods for promoting health behaviour change and to understand the psychosocial issues in chronic disease. I was the Canadian lead of the Diabetes Attitudes Wishes and Needs Study, a 17 country survey study of psychosocial factors in diabetes. I have been a co-principle investigator in a research program on lifestyle change interventions to promote cardiovascular risk reduction in primary care settings. This program of research is titled ANCHOR: A Novel Approach to Cardiovascular Health by Optimizing Risk Management. We recently completed this program, which involved a 3 year intervention study, a 3 year minimal intervention follow up study with participants successful in reducing risk, and a 1 year intensive psychosocial intervention study for those not successful in reducing risk.
3. Advancing the Understanding of Living with and Managing Diabetes: Diabetes Distress, Psychological Insulin Resistance and Fear of Hypoglycemia:
I have been involved with identifying the existence of a psychological phenomenon previously not
recognized. Specifically, diabetes distress, psychological resistance to insulin in the treatment of type 2
diabetes, and fear of hypoglycemia. This has resulted from my work as Canadian Lead of the multinational Diabetes Attitudes Wishes and Needs (DAWN2) Study as well as my involvement on the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee for the Canadian Diabetes Association. I have been involved with the formation of a group of Canadian Psychologists with similar interests, called CanChange. As well, I have been involved in an international working group involving a psychologist from the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands. Together we have been writing papers to promote the understanding of psychosocial issues in diabetes internationally.
PUBLICATIONS
Journal Articles (2011-2018)
Vallis, M, Lee-Baggley, D, Sampalli, T, Ryer, A, Ryan-Carson, S, Kumanan, K., Edwards, L. (2108) Equipping Providers with Principles, Knowledge and Skills to Successfully Integrate Behaviour Change Counselling into Practice: A Primary Health Care Framework . Public Health;154:70-78.
Rand, K, Vallis, M, Aston, M, Piccinini-Vallis, H, Rehman, L, Kirk, S. (2017). “It is not the diet; it is the mental part we need help with.” A multilevel analysis of psychological, emotional, and social well-being in obesity. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Heatlh and Well-Being. 12:1.
Byrne, M, O’Connell, A, Egan, A, Dinneen, S, Hynes, L, O’Hara, M, Holt, R, Willaing, I, Vallis, M, Hendrieck, C and Coyne, I. (2017). A core outcomes set for clinical trials of interventions for young adults with type 1 diabetes: an international, multi-perspective Delphi consensus study. Trials;18:602- 670.
Jones A , Vallis M , Cooke D , Pouwer F. (2016). Review of research grant allocation to psychosocial studies in diabetes research. Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association.
Stuckey HL , Mullan-Jensen C , Kalra S , Reading J , Wens J , Vallis M , Kokoszka A , Malek R , Kovacs Burns K , Piana N , Skovlund SE , Peyrot M. (2016). Living with an adult who has diabetes: Qualitative insights from the second Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN2) study. Diabetes research and clinical practice. 116: 270-8.
Kovacs Burns K , Holt RI , Nicolucci A , Lucisano G , Skovlund SE , Comaschi M , Vallis M , Peyrot M. (2016). Correlates of psychological outcomes among family members of people with diabetes in the second Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN2(™) ) study.Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association. 33(9): 1184-93.
Jones A , Vallis M , Cooke D , Pouwer F. (2016). Working Together to Promote Diabetes Control: A
Practical Guide for Diabetes Health Care Providers in Establishing a Working Alliance to Achieve Self- Management Support. Journal of diabetes research. 2016: 2830910.
Imran SA , Tiemensma J , Kaiser SM , Vallis M , Doucette S , Abidi E , Yip CE , De Tugwell B , Siddiqi F , Clarke DB. (2016). Morphometric changes correlate with poor psychological outcomes in patients with acromegaly. European journal of endocrinology / European Federation of Endocrine Societies. 174(1): 41-50.
Jones, A Vallis, M Cooke, D Pouwer, F. (2016). Working together to promote diabetes control: A [practical guide for diabetes health care providers in establishing a working alliance to achieve self-management support. Journal of Diabetes Research. 2016: 1-6.
Vallis M. (2016). Quality of life and psychological well-being in obesity management: improving the odds of success by managing distress. International journal of clinical practice. 70(3): 196-205.
Vallis M. (2016). A Collaborative Approach to a Chronic Care Problem: An Academic Mentor's Point of View. Healthcare Papers. 15 Suppl: 74-9.
Vallis M , Burns KK , Hollahan D , Ross S , Hahn J. (2016). Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs Second Study (DAWN2): Understanding Diabetes-Related Psychosocial Outcomes for Canadians with Diabetes. Canadian journal of diabetes.
Vallis, M Kovacs Burns, K Hollahan, D Ross, S Hahn, J. (2016). Diabetes attitudes , wishes and needs second study (DAWN2): Understanding diabetes-related psychosocial outcomes for Canadians with diabetes. Canadian Journal of Diabetes. 40: 1-28.
Amar C , Verma J , King D , MacAusland D , Harper T , Vallis M. (2016). Self-Management Support
in Chronic Care: Practice Implementation Lessons for Healthcare Providers from an Atlantic Collaborative. Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.). 18(4): 49-54.
Stuckey HL , Vallis M , Kovacs Burns K , Mullan-Jensen CB , Reading JM , Kalra S , Wens J , Kokoszka A , Skovlund SE , Peyrot M. (2015). "I Do My Best To Listen to Patients": Qualitative Insights Into DAWN2 (Diabetes Psychosocial Care From the Perspective of Health Care Professionals in the Second Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs Study). Clinical therapeutics. 37: 1986-1998.
Jones A , Vallis M , Pouwer F. (2015). If it does not significantly change HbA1c levels why should we waste time on it? A plea for the prioritization of psychological well-being in people with diabetes. Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association. 32(2): 155-63.
Harman, K., MacRae, M., Vallis, M., & Bassett, R.(2015). Working with People to Make Changes: A Behavioural Change Approach Used in Chronic Low Back Pain Rehabilitation. Physiotherapy Canada. 66: 82-90.
Kovacs Burns, K Vallis, M Ross, S Hollahan, D Hahn, J. (2015). Psychosocial and management experiences of Canadian family members living with people with diabetes: The second diabetes attitudes, wishes and needs study (DAWN2). Diabetes Research and Treatment. 2(2): 125.
Campbell TS , Bacon SL , Corace K , Lavoie KL , Rash MSc JA , Vallis M , Canadian Network for Health Behaviour Change and Promotion. (2015). Comment on Pladevall et al, "A Randomized Controlled Trial to Provide Adherence Information and Motivational Interviewing to Improve Diabetes and Lipid Control". The Diabetes educator. 41: 625-626.
Hollahan, D Ross, S Vallis, M Kovacs Burns, K Hahn, J. (2015). Perspectives of Canadian healthcare professionals on diabetes self-management and care: Diabetes attitudes, wishes and needs 2 (DAWN2). Diabetes Research and Treatment. 2(2): 126-143.
Vallis M. (2015). Are Behavioural Interventions Doomed to Fail? Challenges to Self-Management Support in Chronic Diseases. Canadian journal of diabetes. 39(4): 330-4.
Vallis M , Jones A , Pouwer F. (2014). Managing hypoglycemia in diabetes may be more fear management than glucose management: a practical guide for diabetes care providers. Current diabetes reviews. 10(6): 364-70.
Stuckey HL , Mullan-Jensen CB , Reach G , Kovacs Burns K , Piana N , Vallis M , Wens J , Willaing I , Skovlund SE , Peyrot M. (2014). Personal accounts of the negative and adaptive psychosocial experiences of people with diabetes in the second Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN2) study. Diabetes care. 37(9): 2466-74.
Harman K , MacRae M , Vallis M. (2014). The Development and Testing of a Checklist to Study Behaviour Change Techniques used in a Treatment Programme for Canadian Armed Forces Members with Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain. Physiotherapy Canada. Physiothérapie Canada. 66(3): 313-21.
Stuckey HL, Mullan-Jensen CB, Reach G, Kovacs Burns K, Piana N, Vallis M, Wens J, Willaing I, Skovlund SE, Peyrot M. (2014). Personal Accounts of the Negative and Adaptive Psychosocial Experiences of People With Diabetes in the Second Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN2) Study. Diabetes Care.37(9): 2466-2474.
Goodwin PJ , Segal RJ , Vallis M , Ligibel JA , Pond GR , Robidoux A , Blackburn GL , Findlay B , Gralow JR , Mukherjee S , Levine M , Pritchard KI. (2014). Randomized trial of a telephone-based weight loss intervention in postmenopausal women with breast cancer receiving letrozole: the LISA trial. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 32(21): 2231-9.
Abidi S , Vallis M , Raza Abidi SS , Piccinini-Vallis H , Imran SA. (2014). D-WISE: Diabetes Web-Centric Information and Support Environment: conceptual specification and proposed evaluation. Canadian journal of diabetes. 38(3): 205-11.
Goodwin PJ, Segal RJ, Vallis M, Ligibel JA, Pond GR, Robidoux A, Blackburn GL, Findlay B, Gralow JR, Mukherjee S, Levine M, Pritchard KI.(2014). Randomized trial of a telephone-based weight loss intervention in postmenopausal women with breast cancer receiving letrozole: the LISA trial. J Clin Oncol. 20(32): 2231-2239.
Rueda-Clausen CF , Benterud E , Bond T , Olszowka R , Vallis MT , Sharma AM. (2014). Effect of implementing the 5As of obesity management framework on provider-patient interactions in primary care. Clinical obesity. 4(1): 39-44.
Kirk SF , Price SL , Penney TL , Rehman L , Lyons RF , Piccinini-Vallis H , Vallis TM , Curran J , Aston M. (2014). Blame, Shame, and Lack of Support: A Multilevel Study on Obesity Management. Qualitative health research. 24(6): 790-800.
Vallis M. (2013). We've Come a Long Way…Haven't We?. Canadian journal of diabetes. 37(1): 1.
Cox JL , Vallis TM , Pfammatter A , Szpilfogel C , Carr B , O'Neill BJ. (2013). A novel approach to cardiovascular health by optimizing risk management (ANCHOR): behavioural modification in primary care effectively reduces global risk.The Canadian journal of cardiology. 29(11): 1-8.
Vallis M. (2013). Behaviour Change Counselling-How Do I Know If I Am Doing It Well? The Development of the Behaviour Change Counselling Scale (BCCS).Canadian journal of diabetes. 37(1): 18-26.
Rueda-Clausen, C, Benterud, E, Olszowka, M, Vallis, M, & Sharma, A.(2013). Effect of implementing the 5As of obesity management framework on provider-patient interactions in primary care. Clinical Obesity. Published online Oct 29. 4(1): 39-44.
Vallis M , Piccinini-Vallis H , Sharma AM , Freedhoff Y. (2013). Six as model of counseling in obesity, responses. Canadian family physician Médecin de famille canadien. 59(4): 353.
Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee , Robinson DJ , Luthra M , Vallis M. (2013). Diabetes and mental health.Canadian journal of diabetes. 37 Suppl 1: S87-92.
Nicolucci A , Kovacs Burns K , Holt RI , Comaschi M , Hermanns N , Ishii H , Kokoszka A , Pouwer F , Skovlund SE , Stuckey H , Tarkun I , Vallis M , Wens J , Peyrot M ,. (2013). Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs second study (DAWN2™): cross-national benchmarking of diabetes-related psychosocial outcomes for people with diabetes.Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association. 30(7): 767-777.
Vallis M , Piccinini-Vallis H , Sharma AM , Freedhoff Y. (2013). Clinical review: modified 5 As: minimal intervention for obesity counseling in primary care.Canadian family physician Médecin de famille canadien. 59(1): 27-31.
Freedhoff, Y., Sharma, A., Kirk, S., Vallis, M., Poirer, P., Ball, G., Cash, S., & Christou, N.(2012). Realistic first steps in managing obesity in Canada.Clinical Obesity. 2(3-4): 78-82.
Vallis, T.M.(2012). A new DAWN for diabetes in Canada. Canadian Journal of Diabetes. 36: 210-213.
Cox JL , Carr B , Vallis TM , Szpilfogel C , O'Neill BJ. (2011). A novel approach to cardiovascular health by optimizing risk management (ANCHOR): a primary prevention initiative examining the impact of health risk factor assessment and management on cardiac wellness.The Canadian journal of cardiology. 27(6): 809-817.
Jones, H., Ruggiero, L., Edwards, L., Vallis, T.M., Rossi, S., Rossi, J., Green, G., Kelly, K., Prochaska, J., & Zinman, B.(2011). Diabetes stages of change (DiSC): evaluation methodology for a new approach to diabetes management. Canadian Journal of Diabetes. 25: 97-101.
Funnell, M.M. & Vallis, M.(2011). Diabetes HealthSense: Development of a Resource in Support of Behavior Change. Diabetes Spectrum. 24: 144-147.
Ferrier S , Blanchard CM , Vallis M , Giacomantonio N. (2011). Behavioural interventions to increase the physical activity of cardiac patients: a review.European journal of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation : official journal of the European Society of Cardiology, Working Groups on Epidemiology & Prevention and Cardiac Rehabilitation and Ex. 18(1): 15-32.
Vallis, M.(2011). Depression, Anxiety and Pain of COPD.A Focus in COPD. Fall: 4-7.
Sabourin, B., Vallis, M., & Currie, S.(2011). Development and Pilot-Testing of a Brief Psychosocial Group Intervention Protocol for Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management. Canadian Journal of Diabetes. 35: 287-294.
Funnell, M.M. & Vallis, M.(2011). Diabetes HealthSense: Development of a Resource in Support of Behavior Change. , 2011;24:144-147.Diabetes Spectrum. 24: 144-147.
Vallis, M., Dunbar, P., Tay, L., & Nash, A.(2011). Evaluation of a Nova Scotia Diabetes Assistance Program for People with Type 2 Diabetes.Canadian Journal of Diabetes. 35: 54-62.
Vallis, TM, Dunbar, P, Tay, L, Nash, A.(2011). Financial and Self Management Support for Those with Type 2 Diabetes: Evaluation of the Nova Scotia Diabetes Financial and Self Management Support Program. Canadian Journal of Diabetes. 35(1): 54-62.
Vallis, M.(2011). Bridging the Divide: Improving the Management of Psychosocial Issues for Atlantic Canadians with Diabetes.Diabetes Care in Nova Scotia: A Newsletter of the Diabetes Care Program of
Nova Scotia.21: 8-9.
Sabourin, B., Vallis, T.M., Currie, S.(2011). Development and Pilot-Testing of a Brief Psychosocial Group Intervention Protocol for Diabetes Self-Management.Canadian Journal of Diabetes. 35: 287-294.
Cox, J., Carr, B. Vallis, M., Szpilfogel, C., & O’Neil, B.(2011). A Novel Approach to Cardiovascular Health by Optimizing Risk Management (ANCHOR): A Primary Prevention Initiative Examining the Impact of Health Risk Factor Assessment and Management on Cardiac Wellness.Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 27: 809-817.
Clinical Practice Guidelines:
Executive Committee Member, 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Obesity in Adults in Canada.
Co-author. Psychological Factors in Diabetes/ Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Panel. (in preparation for 2018). Description / Contribution Value: Chapter Co-Author
Co-author. Psychological Factors in Diabetes/ Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Panel. (2013). Description / Contribution Value: Chapter Co-Author
Committee Member. Steering Committee, Canadian Obesity Network/Obesity Canada Clinical Practise Guideline Revision process (2011 – 2013). (2013). Description / Contribution Value: Steering Committee Member
Awards:
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubille Medal (2013). Awarded by the Givernment of Canada on the recommendation of the Canadian Diabetes Assocation for contributions.
Healthcare Professional of the Year (2011). Canadian Diabetes Association Regional Awards Committee
Clinical Community Recognition Award (2007). Presented by the graduate students in the Department of
Psychology, Dalhousie University, for outstanding contribution to the Clinical Psychology Program.
Brian Dufton Memorial Manuscript Award, Canadian Diabetes Association. 2007, 2006, and 2005
Clinical Community Recognition Award 1998. Presented by the graduate students in the Department of
Psychology, Dalhousie University, for outstanding contribution to the Clinical Psychology Program
This site is intended for the use of healthcare professionals with an interest in helping people make healthy lifestyle changes that are realistic and sustainable.
The principles presented on this site are derived from the academic literature and based on psychological theories of change.
Visitors to this site are encouraged to consider how the information contained can aid them in their work to promote healthy change, but must maintain professional responsibility and accountability for their actions.