About

Eric Fisher joined the Carolina Law faculty in 2025 as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Law, where he teaches first-year writing. His research interests include legal writing and pedagogy. Prior to his academic career, Fisher worked for fourteen years in K-12 and higher education settings. He attended Carolina Law, serving as the Editor in Chief of the North Carolina Law Review, graduating with high honors, and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He was also the 2020 recipient of the Winston Crisp Leadership Award given by the law school's Student Bar Association. Before joining the faculty, Fisher interned for the Honorable James Wynn of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and clerked for the Honorable Loretta Biggs in the Middle District of North Carolina. He has experience working as a corporate associate at Smith Anderson, focusing on mergers and acquisitions representing private equity and financial institutions. Fisher holds an M.Ed. from Clemson University and a B.A. from Furman University.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Endocrinology
• Gerontology
• Family medicine
• Political Science
• Pharmacology
• Psychiatry
• Physical therapy
• Social psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Psychology
• Demography
• Oncology

Selected publications

• Complexity of Psychological and Behavioral Science in Diabetes: The 2025 Richard R. Rubin Award Lecture

  Diabetes Obesity and Cardiometabolic CARE · 2026-03-01

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Complexity was a strong and persistent theme in Richard Rubin’s work on psychology and behavior science in diabetes. That complexity began with his recognizing that, as challenging or horrible as diabetes may be, we can also manage to live good lives with it. With his many contributions along the way, this article will review the growth of our field to include 1) recognition of the psychological problems and challenges of diabetes; 2) developing ways both to raise up the very real challenges of diabetes and to promote leading good lives with it; 3) understanding how psychological problems may have roots in those challenges in the course and complications of diabetes; 4) addressing the many contexts affecting living with diabetes—families, organizations, communities; 5) the major roles among those contexts of social influence and social support; 6) community and peer approaches to creating environments and cultures that support management, enhance quality of life, reduce distress, and promote emotional well-being; 7) the importance of intentional variety of program features—many good practices, not one or a few best practices—in order to reach the millions at risk for and living with diabetes; and 8) to meet the needs of varied groups and settings, flexibility in implementation and evaluation with standardization according to key functions of interventions, not procedural details. In reflection, addressing the psychological and behavioral aspects of diabetes has provided opportunities for contributions amidst support and affection of colleagues.

  PublisherDOI

• Effects of a peer-support lifestyle intervention on diabetes incidence in India (K-DPP): 9-year follow-up of a cluster-randomised, controlled trial

  The Lancet Global Health · 2026-04-01

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Evidence on the long-term effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for diabetes prevention in low-income and middle-income countries is scarce. We aimed to evaluate the 9-year effect of a peer-support lifestyle intervention on the incidence of diabetes in India. METHODS: ] ≥6·5% [48 mmol/mol]). We considered both physician-diagnosed diabetes and individuals who were initiated on antidiabetic medications during the follow-up period in the calculation of diabetes incidence. The primary outcome of the follow-up study was the cumulative incidence of diabetes at 9 years. Long-term effects were assessed using generalised linear models and generalised estimating equations. The trial was registered with the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (updated from the original trial, number ACTRN12611000262909) and the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2021/10/037191), and follow-up is ongoing. FINDINGS: Between Jan 20 and Oct 27, 2013, 60 polling areas were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=30) or the control group (n=30). 500 participants were enrolled in the intervention group and 507 were enrolled in the control group. 475 (47%) participants were female and 532 (53%) were male. 863 (86%) participants were followed up at 9 years. The cumulative incidence of diabetes was 125 (30%) of 419 in the intervention group and 142 (34%) of 422 in the control group (relative risk [RR] 0·88 [95% CI 0·73-1·08]; p=0·24). When assessed using FPG criteria alone, the incidence of diabetes was 28% lower in the intervention group than in the control group (RR 0·72 [0·53-0·98]; p=0·036). No significant subgroup differences were observed in terms of age, sex, or baseline glycaemic status. INTERPRETATION: criteria was not statistically significant compared with the control group. The consistency of effects based on incidence of diabetes across subgroups supports the broad preventive potential of community-based, peer-led lifestyle interventions. FUNDING: The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. TRANSLATION: For the Malayalam translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

  PublisherDOI

• Learning from Peers: A Qualitative Study to Inform the Development of a Community Tailored Peer Support Intervention to Support Healthy Infant Growth

  UNC Libraries · 2026-01-07

  articleOpen access

  Background: Obesity is a chronic disease that has negative health consequences for children. Peer support models have been used to manage chronic diseases like diabetes; however, little is known about how a peer support intervention might promote healthy infant growth to prevent pediatric obesity. The aim of this project was to explore parental perspectives on how a peer support intervention might be developed to support healthy infant weight gain and nutrition. Methods: Data were collected from November 2022 to October 2023 at a single pediatric primary care clinic. Semi-structured interviews explored parents’ perspectives of how a peer parent coach could promote healthy infant nutrition and growth. Interviews focused on (1) common infant feeding and nutrition questions, (2) the role and importance of peer support during the newborn period, and (3) strategies for addressing and facilitating connections to food-related resources and addressing food insecurity. Results: A total of 18 interviews were conducted. Average parental age was 32.1 years (range 20–46 years). Thirty-three percent of the participants identified as Black, 28% identified as White, 11% identified as Asian, and the remaining identified as Other or preferred not to report. Half of the sample reported a household income of <$20,000, 67% reported having public insurance, and 11% reported household food insecurity. Themes that emerged included: peer parent coaches can (1) provide emotional support to families with young infants, (2) education focused on infant nutrition, and (3) facilitate connections with nutrition resources. Participants also noted the importance of understanding a family’s unique culture when counseling on infant growth and nutrition. Conclusions: Multiple themes were identified about how a peer support intervention could support healthy infant nutrition and growth. Future work should test the feasibility and acceptability of a peer support intervention to promote healthy infant weight gain.

  PublisherDOI

• Optimizing diabetes management interventions for Black and Hispanic adults using the multiphase optimization strategy: Protocol for a randomized mixed methods factorial trial

  Contemporary Clinical Trials · 2025-01-05 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Black and Hispanic adults with diabetes are more likely to experience diabetes complications and die from diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites. This disparity may be due to medication adherence being negatively affected by social determinants of health (SDOH) and negative beliefs about diabetes and diabetes medicines. Pharmacist delivered medication therapy management (MTM) improves clinical outcomes. However, pharmacists have limited capacity and expertise to address SDOH barriers and health misperceptions. Supplementing MTM with Community Health Workers (CHWs) to address these factors may be more effective with potential for implementation. AIM: To investigate what combination of two possible components, pharmacist delivered MTM and CHWs addressing SDOH barriers and health misperceptions, represents the optimized intervention for Black and Hispanic adults with uncontrolled diabetes. METHODS/DESIGN: We will use a 2 × 2 factorial design (MTM, CHW: ON vs. OFF) where participants will be randomized to one of four treatment conditions in a 6-month intervention delivered mostly by phone. We will recruit 376 Black or Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes and hemoglobin A1C of ≥8 %, a clinical indicator of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. The primary outcome is A1C measured at 6 months, and at 12 months for sustained change. The secondary outcome is medication adherence. Several psychosocial factors will be examined as potential mediators. An embedded experimental mixed methods approach will be used to obtain participant perspectives through qualitative interviews and integrated to assess intervention acceptability. DISCUSSION: Our findings will identify the optimized intervention, e.g., comprising MTM or CHW or both intervention components, that effectively and efficiently improves diabetes outcomes among Black and Hispanic adults with uncontrolled diabetes, informing dissemination.

  PublisherDOI

• Diabetes in China: epidemiology, pathophysiology and multi-omics

  Nature Metabolism · 2025-01-14 · 68 citations

  reviewSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Challenges for accessing and maintaining good quality of HIV care among men who have sex with men living with HIV in China: a qualitative study with key stakeholders

  UNC Libraries · 2025-07-09

  articleOpen access

  HIV care in China is shifting toward a community-based model involving a wide range of stakeholders. We aimed to understand key stakeholders' perceived challenges of providing high-quality care for men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. In-depth interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of stakeholders (<em>N</em>&thinsp;=&thinsp;17) in two Chinese cities, including providers, policymakers, and community workers. Interviews focused on stakeholders' challenges in HIV-related work and perceived barriers for MSM in accessing and maintaining HIV care. Thematic analysis strategies were used. Three cross-cutting themes related to accessibility and quality of care (QoC) emerged. First, MSM- and HIV-related stigma were perceived to increase the risk of MSM dropping out of care. While acknowledging stigma, some providers also expressed discriminatory views such as stereotypes of the MSM community. Second, stakeholders expressed concerns about QoC including healthcare workforce shortages, limited training opportunities, and high work stress while facing increasingly unmet needs from clients. Third, stakeholders shared challenges in mobilizing community resources to expand HIV care including unclear division of responsibility and strict auditing. Supportive policies and resources may be needed to bolster China's primary care workforce and MSM-competent care and, more broadly, high QoC for sexual and gender minority patients.

  PublisherDOI

• Application and prospect of artificial intellingence in diabetes care

  UNC Libraries · 2025-03-20

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing non-communicable diseases, becoming an important public health concern worldwide as well as in China. Currently, China has the largest population living with diabetes. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a fast-growing field and its applications to diabetes could enable the delivery of better management services for people with diabetes. This perspective summarized the latest findings of digital technologies and AI use in the following areas of diabetes care, mainly including screening and risk predictions of diabetes and diabetic complications, precise monitoring and intervention combined with new technologies, and mobile health application in self-management support for people with diabetes. Challenges to promote further use of AI in diabetes care included data standardization and integration, performance of AI-based medical devices, motivation of patients, and sensitivity to privacy. In summary, although the AI applications in clinical practice is still at an early stage, we are moving toward a new paradigm for diabetes care with the rapid development and emerging application of AI.

  PublisherDOI

• A Self-management SMS Text Messaging Intervention for People With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Feasibility and Acceptability Study

  UNC Libraries · 2025-11-11

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Mobile health technologies can be useful for providing disease self-management information and support to people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test a self-management SMS text messaging intervention for people with IBD. Our goal was to examine intervention feasibility, acceptability, and engagement and to preliminarily evaluate improvements in certain self-reported health outcomes among participants. METHODS: We developed an SMS text messaging program called Text4IBD. The program sent daily support messages and resources about disease self-management over the course of a 2-week, single-group, pretest-posttest intervention to participants (N=114) diagnosed with IBD. We examined intervention feasibility, acceptability, and engagement through Text4IBD message topic recall and use of resources (ie, visiting supplemental websites recommended by the Text4IBD program). We also assessed pretest-posttest measures of IBD-related distress, self-efficacy, perceived support, use of coping strategies, and medication adherence. Analyses examined participants' evaluations of the intervention and compared pretest-posttest changes in secondary outcomes using paired-samples statistics. RESULTS: Approximately all participants who completed the intervention (n=105) were receptive to Text4IBD and viewed the program as feasible and acceptable. In addition, most participants (103/105, 98.1%) recalled at least one of the message topics sent by the program, and 79% (83/105) of them self-reported engaging with at least one of the external self-management resources recommended by the Text4IBD program. Pretest-posttest results showed reduced IBD-related distress (mean 3.33, SD 0.68 vs mean 2.86, SD 0.73; P&lt;.001) and improvements in most other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study highlight the value of SMS text messaging as a useful digital medium for providing support to people with IBD, particularly to those who may struggle with disease-related distress. Text4IBD was highly feasible and acceptable and may help people self-manage their IBD. Future studies should aim to evaluate this program in a randomized controlled trial in clinical settings.

  PublisherDOI

• Community-Based Peer Support for Diabetes Management: 24-Month Changes Relative to Comparison Communities

  2025-03-31

  preprintOpen access

  &lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Objective Evaluate effectiveness of community-based peer support for diabetes self-management with HbA1c and other clinical and psychosocial outcomes over 24 months. Research design and methods Intervention comparison design with 12 Intervention communities and 4 Comparison communities matched according to location in urban or suburban areas. Community organization approach integrated standardization of key messages and patient education protocols, along with adaptation and innovation among multiple community partners. Primary outcome was HbA1c. Secondary outcomes included body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLc), depressive symptoms (PHQ-8), diabetes distress, and general quality of life (EQ-5D). Results Analyses included 967 participants completing both baseline and follow-up assessment. Intervention communities were older (mean: 66.43 vs. 63.45 years), included more women (57.1% vs. 45.5%), and had longer diabetes duration (mean: 7.95 vs. 6.40 years). Significant improvements were found for HbA1c (7.42%, 58 mmol/mol vs. 7.95%, 63 mmol/mol) as well as BMI (25.31 vs. 25.94 kg/m2), FPG (7.91 vs. 8.59 mmol/L), and PHQ-8 (1.39 vs. 1.41) favoring Intervention communities, adjusting for baseline values of outcome measures and confounders (p levels 0.028). No interactions were found with age (&lt;65, ≥ 65 years). Men showed modestly greater DBP reduction and women showed minor increase of LDLc in Intervention. Theses analyses by age or gender and sensitivity analyses with missing data imputation supported the robustness of findings. Conclusions Culturally adapted and appropriate community-based peer support for diabetes management may improve clinical and psychosocial outcomes at 24 months among those with diabetes.&lt;/p&gt;

  PublisherDOI

• Understanding How Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in China Cope With HIV Care-Related Stressors.

  UNC Libraries · 2025-05-24

  articleOpen access

  Understanding how Chinese gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) cope with HIV care-related stressors could improve their care engagement. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 GBMSM living with HIV recruited through clinics and a community-based organization (CBO) in Chengdu, China. Interviews focused on treatment-related stress, coping strategies, social support, and well-being. Half reported symptoms consistent with mild or moderate depression as measured by the PHQ-9 scale. HIV care-related stressors included side effects, difficulty with adherence, and fear of drug resistance. Challenges to coping include navigating contradictory information about HIV and treatment, experiencing stigma and discrimination within medical and nonmedical settings, and managing financial concerns. CBOs, peer groups, and providers were salient sources of social support benefitting coping. To improve sustained HIV care that meets the needs of Chinese GBMSM living with HIV, tailored interventions that address the above-mentioned stressors and coping challenges are likely needed.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R01HL043555

  NIH · $1.4M · 1993

• NIH Grant R01CA041703

  NIH · $873k · 1991

• NIH Grant T32HL007456

  NIH · $4.1M · 2017

• NIH Grant R01DP000098

  NIH · $1.3M · 2008

• NIH Grant R01HL045293

  NIH · $3.2M · 1996

Frequent coauthors

• Sarah D. Kowitt

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  45 shared

• Gretchen Youssef

  42 shared

• John D. Piette

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  41 shared

• Daniel Kent

  Harvard University

  37 shared

• Linda B. Haas

  34 shared

• Andrew S. Rhinehart

  Medtronic (United States)

  33 shared

• S. A. Sklaroff

  33 shared

• Lenita Hanson

  33 shared

Education

• B.A., Political Science

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  1995

• Other, Law

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  1998

• M.A., Public Policy

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  2000

• Ph.D., Public Policy

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  2003

Awards & honors

• 2020 Winston Crisp Leadership Award