Zach Cooper

Dr. Cooper is an assistant professor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University. He is also a core faculty member for Project ECHO Diabetes within the Diabetes Institute at the University of Florida. Dr. Cooper’s research focuses on developing behavioral interventions for integration in healthcare settings to better address the management of chronic and co-occurring conditions, including diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disorders, and anxiety. His work is grounded in advanced quantitative methodologies and implementation science, particularly within clinical trials targeting behavioral health interventions. His research has been funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association.

Areas of Focus

• Clinical Research Methods
• Behavioral Health Interventions
• Chronic and Cardiometabolic Disease
• Implementation Science
• Diabetes
• Integrated Behavioral Healthcare
• Collaborative Care Models
• Primary Care Behavioral Health

Education

• PhD, 2026, University of Georgia, Social Work
• MSW, 2018, University of South Carolina, Health/Mental Health Concentration
• BS, 2015, Augusta University, Psychology

Selected Publications

Cooper, Z., Johnson, L.C.M., Patel, S. A., Aravind, S., Tandon, N., Anjana, R.M., Poongothai, S., Sridhar, G.R., Mohan, V., Chwastiak, L., Ali, M. (2025). The influence of depression, positive health behaviors, and weight status on glycated hemoglobin: A sequential mediation analysis of the INDEPENDENT trial. Journal of General Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-025-09810-1

Cooper, Z., O’Shields, J., Ali, M., Chwastiak, L., Johnson, L. (2024). Effects of integrated care approaches to addressing co-occurring depression and diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. doi: 10.2337/dc24-1334

Cooper. Z., Mowbray, O., Ali, M., Johnson, L. (2024). Addressing depression and comorbid health conditions through solution-focused brief therapy in an integrated care setting: A randomized control trial. BMC Primary Care. doi:10.1186/s12875-024-02561-8.

Selected Grants

A process evaluation and analysis of change mechanisms of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to promote mental health
among adults with Type 1 diabetes
NIH/NIDDK FDK141239-01A1      Cooper (PI)                $87,656                        2025-2026     
Study Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the change mechanisms of an integrated care model adapted for patients with Type 1 diabetes. In addition, the study will utilize implementation science methods to analyze the acceptability, fidelity, and potential scalability of the care model in primary care settings. Findings from this study will provide information regarding the active ingredients of the integrated care model and how these impact patient outcomes while identifying methods to enhance patient and provider acceptability.
Role: Principal Investigator (PI)
Sponsor team: Drs. Orion Mowbray, Mohammed Ali, Leslie Johnson                                   

Addressing Depression through Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Integrated Care Settings
The SFBT Association                      Cooper (PI)                $2,000                         2022-2023
Study Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) intervention for patients with co-occurring depressive symptoms. In addition, the study utilized innovative implementation methods to assess intervention fidelity and acceptability. Patients were randomized to either treatment as usual or to receive the SFBT intervention. Then, I compared outcomes regarding depression, anxiety, well-being, and healthcare outcomes (i.e., blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C, weight change).
Role: Principal Investigator