B.S., Kinesiology Indiana University 1989
M.S., RPTS Indiana University 1998
Ph.D., Leisure Behavior, Minor: Law Indiana University 2012

Scholarly Interest

Dr. Ramos' research agenda focuses on how the aquatic environment impacts the human experience through recreational delivery systems. Examining factors including water safety, drowning prevention, recreational water illnesses, and affordance/access, physical activity, and program design are hallmarks of the work.

Roles and Reach to School, Campus, State, Nation and Global Community

• Council Member - Scientific Advisory Council, National American Red Cross
• ECA Sports United: Int. Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI) - YES Africa Grant, U.S. Department of State
• Outstanding Advisor - IU Recreational Sports, 2022
• Outstanding Contributions to Research - Diversity in Aquatics, 2017
• Executive Board Member - WeBloom, Non-Profit Public Health Organization

Media Outlets

Ramos, W.D.(2023). Drowning is the no. 1 killer of young children. US effort to fix it are lagging. New York Times, NY. July. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/08/health/children-drowning-deaths.html

Cohn, K., & Ramos, W.D.(2023). Children are dying because US has no drowning prevention plan. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/02/opinions/children-are-dying-because-us-has-no-drowning-prevention-plan-cohn-ramos/index.html

Ramos, W.D.(2023). Why adults should learn to swim. TV interview. The Weather Channel. May.

Capital News Service (2023). New bill looks to establish water safety swimming elective for upper-grade students. CityBiz. March 10. https://www.citybiz.co/article/391155/new-bill-looks-to-establish-water-safety-swimming-elective-for-upper-grade-students/

Ramos, W. D. (2023). Creating a culture of safety in lifeguarding. Parks and Recreation Magazine. April. https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2023/may/creating-a-culture-of-safety-in-lifeguarding/

Ramos, W. D. (2023). Ask an expert: Staying safe in the water. IU Today. May.https://news.iu.edu/live/news/28237-ask-the-expert-staying-safe-in-the-water

Selected Publications

Ryan, K., Bui, M. D., Johnson, B., Eddens, K. S., Schmidt, A., & Ramos, W. D.Drowning in the United States: Patient and Scene Characteristics using the novel CARES Drowning Variables. . Resuscitation, 109788.

Schwebel, D. C., Ramos, W. D.Gilchrist, J., & Dixon, C A. (2023) Expanding the Concept of Caregiver Supervision to Prevent Child Drowning. . Pediatrics , 2023; e2022060240. 10.1542/peds.2022-060240

Miller, A. Ramos, W. D (2023).Lay rescuer equipment preferences and efficacy during a simulated drowning event. . International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education. In-Press.

Anderson, A. R., Anderson, K. R., Ramos, W. D , & Beale-Tawfeeq, A. K. (2022). Examining youth conceptualizations of water safety behaviors among participants in a learn-to-swim program. International journal of aquatic research and education, 13(4).

Anderson, K. R., Ramos, W. D & Schuman, J. T. (2021). The Role of Permission, Supervision, and Precipitating Events in Childhood Pool/Spa Submersion Incidents, United States, 2000–2017. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8776.

Anderson, A. R., Knee, E. K., & Ramos, W. D , (2021). Impact of an LGBTQ campus recreation student employee training initiative on professional competencies. Recreational Sports Journal, April.https://doi.org/10.1177/15588661211010185

Anderson, A. R., Knee, E., & Ramos, W. D (2020). “I'm not an expert, but... ”: Perspectives on aquatic management for LGBTQ participants. Recreational Sports Journal, 1558866120909449.

Ramos, W. D ., Fielding, R., Anderson, K. A., & Wernicki, P. (2021). The lifeguard rescue reporting system: Survey results from a collaborative data collection method. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 12(2).

Crume, C. A., & Ramos, W. D .(2019). A Competency Analysis of Waterpark Aquatic Professionals. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 12(1), 9.

Saunders, M. V., Piatt, J. A., Ramos, W. D & McCormick, B. P. (2018). Addressing osteoarthritis pain among older adult women through aquatic therapy: A new look at shallow-water movement. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 17(4), 37-44.

Ramos, W. D ., Greenshields, J. T., Knee, E. N., Kreitl, B. K., & Espirito, K. J. (2018). Drowning prevention: assessment of a classroom-based water safety education program in Vietnam. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, DOI: 1010539518784396.

Ramos, W.D., & Anderson, A. R. (2018). College club swimming: An analysis of leisure motivations. Recreational Sports Journal. https://doi.org/10.1123/rsj.2016-0025

Anderson, A. R., Knee, E., Ramos, W. D ., & Quash, T. M. (2018). “We Just Treat Everyone the Same ”: LGBTQ Aquatic Management Strategies, Barriers and Implementation. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education11(1), 2.

Ramos, W.D.., & Anderson, A. R. (2017). A Reasoned Action Approach Assessment of Instructional Youth Swim Safety. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education http://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol10/iss2/7

Ramos, W.D., Chen, Y.*, & Kang, S.* (2017). Physical Activity Levels and Pattern of Use for Youth Participants at a Traditional Aquatic Venue. Preventative Medicine Reports 6, 178-181.

Ramos, W. D., Young, S. J., & Lee, D*. (2017). Youth Enrichment through Sport: The YES Ghana Model, Journal of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism in Public Health. 1.1, 103-114.

Tobin, J., Quan, L., Ramos, W. D., Pu, Y., Wernicki, P. G., Quan, L., & Rossano, J. W. (2017). Bystander CPR is Associated with Improved Neurologically Favorable Survival in Cardiac Arrest Following Drowning. Resuscitation. 115, 39-42

Ramos, W. D., & Fletcher, A. L.* (2017). Adoption Process for the Model Aquatic Health Code: An Example. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education. Accepted, In-Review

Ramos, W. D.Beale, A., Chambers, P., Dalke, S., Fielding, R. R., Kublick, L., Langendorfer, S. J., Lees, T. A., Quan, L. & Wernicki, P.G. (2015). Primary and secondary drowning interventions: The American Red Cross circle of drowning prevention and chain of drowning survival. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education. Accepted, 9, 89-101.

Quan, L., Ramos, W. D., Harvey, C., Kublick, L., Langendorfer, S. J., Lees, T. A., Fielding, R. R., Dalke, S.; Barry, C., Shook, S., Wernicki, P. G. (2015). Toward defining water competency: an American Red Cross definition. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 9 (1), 12-23.

Middlestadt, S. E. Anderson, A. R., Ramos, W. D. (2015). Beliefs about Using an Outdoor Pool: Understanding Perceptions of Place in the Context of a Recreational Environment to Promote Health. Health and Place, 34, 1-8.

Anderson, A. R., Ramos, W. D., Middlestadt, S. E. (2015). A Narrative investigation into dimensions of experience at an outdoor aquatic facility: A pool is more than a place to swim, International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 8, 143- 156.