Ronald A. Ratliff, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Ratliff has an overriding professional interest to better understand and explain how exercise affects, or is related, to selective genres of health and performance. His primary interests are many and broad which makes his vocation a never ending challenge and forever exciting. However, probably most exciting over the years has been his study of the effects of acute and chronic exercise in the following four general areas: lipid metabolism, performance of demanding physical tasks by athletes and emergency service personnel, how altering body weight while ambulating affects physiological and biomechanical responses, and quantifying relative body movement acceleration patterns.

The high quality of both colleagues and students he has had the opportunity to work with at OU has made these efforts a most rewarding experience. He tries to connect theory with applications in the real world by pulling upon his on experiences in clinical, fitness and sport settings, and also by maintaining regular ties with successful practitioners in these arenas.

This is especially helpful when attempting to bridge the theory with the useful in order to help students learn about applying the sciences of exercise, fitness and health. In the past he has been active in various professional service activities on the OU campus, in the Norman community, and at the State and National level. More recently he has focused most of his service involvement with youth sports and public school programs in the Norman community, especially those associated with his children's programs.

What about me?

Professionally: I have an overriding professional interest as a college professor to better understand and explain how exercise affects, or is related, to selective genres of health and performance. My primary interests are many and broad which makes my vocation a never ending challenge and forever exciting. However, probably most exciting over the years has been my study of the effects of acute and chronic exercise in the following four general areas: lipid metabolism, performance of demanding physical tasks by athletes and emergency service personnel, how altering body weight while ambulating affects physiological and biomechanical responses, and quantifying relative body movement acceleration patterns. The high quality of both colleagues and students I have had the opportunity to work with at OU has made these efforts a most rewarding experience. Importantly, I try to connect theory with applications in the real world by pulling upon my on experiences in clinical, fitness and sport settings, and also by maintaining regular ties with successful practitioners in these arenas. This is especially helpful when attempting to bridge the theory with the useful toward helping students learn about applying the sciences of exercise, fitness and health. In the past I have been active in various professional service activities on the OU campus, in the Norman community, and at the State and National level. More recently I have focused most of my service involvement with youth sports and public school programs in the Norman community, especially those associated with my children's programs.

Personal/Family: I like all sports and have as far back as I can remember. Competition in sports is one of my favorite things in life. However, as the years have gone by I find that I now move in what I used to call slow motion and my power moves are as if all my fast twitch fibers are asleep. These days I enjoy most walking my dog, skiing with my family in the Rockies and reading about current events and issues related to health fitness. Finally, I have four children, Alex, Lucy and Virginia Nell who all still in the Norman public schools, and Ryan who recently graduated from OU with a graduate degree in Engineering. Finally, Cindy, my wife, is my dearest friend and confidant.

Academic Training

Work Experience

Courses Taught

Over the years at the University of Oklahoma I have taught more than 20 different courses. Most have focused on physiological aspects of health, exercise and human performance. Currently, my primary teaching assignments at the undergraduate and graduate levels are in biomechanics (HES 3843), health-fitness (HES 3813 and 3853), and in Scientific Investigations (HES 5953) and Senior Capstone (HES 4953). I also have taught laboratory based courses in exercise physiology (HES 4833 and 5833).

Research and Creative Interests

effects of exercise training and diet on coronary artery disease lipid risk factors performance of demanding physical tasks by athletes and emergency service personnel how altering body weight while ambulating affects physiological and biomechanical responses quantifying relative body movement acceleration patterns incorporating computer assistance technology in the human performance laboratory

Research Publications:

Reseach Grants and Contracts: (Externally Funded Only)

Past Professional Consulting Activities:

Contact Information

Ronald A. Ratliff, Ph.D., M.P.H. Associate Professor
Department of Health and Exercise Sciences ¶ Human Performance Laboratory
Huston Huffman Center • 1401 Asp, Norman, OK. 73019
Phone: (405) 325-5211 • Fax: (405) 325-0594
E-mail: raratliff@ou.edu