Faculty Expert Directory
The College of Community Health Sciences Faculty Expert Directory is a guide to selected faculty, staff, physicians and other health care professionals who are willing to be interviewed and who can provide comments, quotes and expert insight about a wide variety of health and medical news stories and topics.
Contact CCHS External Relations to setup an interview with one of our experts today.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use
Alan Blum, MD Gerald Leon Wallace Endowed Chair Professor — FIRM & The Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society
- Tobacco Cessation
- Tobacco Policy
- Obesity
- Literature and Art in the Context of Medicine
- Alcohol
- Marketing
- Tanning Bed Usage
Bioscience and Medicine
Meenakshi Arora, PhDAssociate Professor – Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine
- Chemistry
- Formulation Development
- Bioanalysis
Raghu Ganugula, PhDAssistant Professor – Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine
- In vitro, ex vivo models
- Pharmacodynamics
- Diabetes
M.N.V. Ravi Kumar, PhDDistinguished University of Alabama Research Professor – Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine
- Experimental therapeutics
- Drug delivery
- Nanomedicine
- Immuno-inflammatory diseases
- The Kumar Lab
Children and Adolescents
Caroline Boxmeyer, PhD Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Mental Health
- Mindfulness
- Child Social and Emotional Coping
- Positive Parenting Practices
- Effective Prevention and Intervention Strategies
- School-based and Community Mental Health
- Children’s Nature Play and Experiential Learning
Brian Gannon, MD Assistant Professor — Pediatrics
- Adoption
- ADHD
- Developmental Delays
- Foster Children
- Pediatric Care
- University Medical Center
- Vaccine Champion
Marisa Giggie, MD, MAPff Fellowship Director & Associate Professor — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Rural Mental Health Care
- Mental Health Care in Prisons
Bob McKinney, PhD, MSW, LICSW, C-IAYT Director of Social Services & Associate Professor — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine & Social Work
- Social Work Services
- Social Determinants of Health and Mental Health
- Childhood Interpersonal Victimization
- Inter-Professional Education
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- ADHD
- Mindfulness
- Yoga as Medicine
- Meditation
Mercedes Morales-Aleman, PhD Associate Professor — Community Medicine and Population Health & Institute for Rural Health Research
- Health Disparities in Adolescent Latinas
Thaddeus Ulzen, MD, FRCP(C), DFAPA Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine — Medical Student Affairs & Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Disruptive Behavior Disorders
- Incarcerated Adolescents
- Paranoid Spectrum Disorders
- Mental Health Pharmacology
- Use of Telemedicine in Education and Clinical Service
Children and Parenting
Caroline Boxmeyer, PhD Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Mental Health
- Mindfulness
- Child Social and Emotional Coping
- Positive Parenting Practices
- Effective Prevention and Intervention Strategies
- School-based and Community Mental Health
- Children’s Nature Play and Experiential Learning
Nancy Rubin, PsyD Clinical Psychologist & Professor — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Family Systems Therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Tapping
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Emergency Medicine
Richard Friend, MD Dean & Professor — FIRM
- Emergency Medicine
- Residency Education and Training
- Endoscopy
- Advanced Orthopedics
- Graded Exercise Testing
- Vasectomies
Geriatrics
Anne Halli-Tierney, MD Assistant Professor — FIRM & Geriatrics
- Geriatrics
- Alzheimer’s
- Dementia
Pamela Payne Foster, MD, MPH Deputy Director & Professor — Community Medicine and Population Health & Institute for Rural Health Research
- Health Disparities in African Americans
- Cultural Competency in Health Care Providers
- HIV/AIDS Stigma
- Bioethics
- Research
Grier Stewart, MD, CMD, FACP Associate Professor & Internal Medicine Clerkship Director — FIRM & Geriatrics
- Geriatrics
- Long-term Care
- Internal Medicine
- Colon Care
- Prostate Care
Thomas Weida, MD Professor & Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer — FIRM
- Family Medicine
- Primary Care
- Insurance and Policy
Health and Medicine
John C Higginbotham, PhD, MPH Professor of Community Medicine and Population Health & Director of the Institute for Rural Health Research —
Epidemiology and Preventive medicine as applied to::
- Health Disparities
- Rural
- Health Issues
- Obesity
- EMS
- Child Death
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Syndrome X
Jane Weida, MD, FAAFP Associate Director of the Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program & Professor — FIRM
- Adult Immunizations
- Patient-centered Medical Home
- Family Medicine
- Primary Care
Thomas Weida, MD Professor & Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer — FIRM
- Family Medicine
- Primary Care
- Insurance and Policy
John R. Wheat, MD, MPH Professor — Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine
- Community Health
- Rural Medical Education
- Agricultural Medicine/Agromedicine
- Occupational Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Research Methods
Health Care Policy
John C Higginbotham, PhD, MPH Professor of Community Medicine and Population Health & Director of the Institute for Rural Health Research —
Epidemiology and Preventive medicine as applied to::
- Health Disparities
- Rural
- Health Issues
- Obesity
- EMS
- Child Death
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Syndrome X
Thomas Weida, MD Professor & Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer — FIRM
- Family Medicine
- Primary Care
- Insurance and Policy
Lea Yerby, PhD Assistant Professor — Community Medicine and Population Health
- Health Care Policy
- Health Disparities in Rural Children
- Medicaid Innovation
Infectious Disease
Brian Gannon, MD Assistant Professor — Pediatrics
- Adoption
- ADHD
- Developmental Delays
- Foster Children
- Pediatric Care
- University Medical Center Vaccine Champion
Pamela Payne Foster, MD, MPH Deputy Director & Professor — Community Medicine and Population Health & Institute for Rural Health Research
- Health Disparities in African Americans
- Cultural Competency in Health Care Providers
- HIV/AIDS Stigma
- Bioethics
- Research
Learning Disorders
Caroline Boxmeyer, PhD Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Mental Health
- Mindfulness
- Child Social and Emotional Coping
- Positive Parenting Practices
- Effective Prevention and Intervention Strategies
- School-based and Community Mental Health
- Children’s Nature Play and Experiential Learning
Brian Gannon, MD Assistant Professor — Pediatrics
- Adoption
- ADHD
- Development Delays
- Foster Children
- Pediatric Care
- University Medical Center Vaccine Champion
Medical Education
John E. Burkhardt II, PsyD, NRHSP Clinical Psychologist & Assistant Professor — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Depression
- Mental Health
- Suicide
- Mood Disorders
- Medical and Health Psychology
- Integrative Care in Medicine
- Medical Student and Resident Education
- Psychological Assessment
- Doctor-Patient Relationship
- Workplace Wellness
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
Nathan Culmer, PhD Director of Academic Technologies and Faculty Development & Assistant Professor — Medical Education
- Telemedicine for Clinical Care and Education
- Academic Technology
- Education
- Medical Faculty Development
- Simulation
- Wellness and Burnout
Richard Friend, MD Dean & Professor — FIRM
- Emergency Medicine
- Residency Education and Training
- Endoscopy
- Advanced
- Orthopedics
- Graded Exercise Testing
- Vasectomies
Heather Taylor, MD Associate Professor — Pediatrics
- Pediatric Care
- Medical Student Education
Thaddeus Ulzen, MD, FRCP(C), DFAPA Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine — Medical Student Affairs & Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Disruptive Behavior Disorders
- Incarcerated Adolescents
- Paranoid Spectrum Disorders
- Mental Health Pharmacology
- Use of Telemedicine in Education andClinical Service
Medical Insurance
Thomas Weida, MD Professor & Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer — FIRM
- Family Medicine
- Primary Care
- Insurance and Policy
Neurology
Catherine Ikard, MD Neurology Clerkship Director & Assistant Professor — FIRM & Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Neurological Disorders and Care
Psychology and Mental Health
Caroline Boxmeyer, PhD Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Mental Health
- Mindfulness
- Child Social and Emotional Coping
- Positive Parenting Practices
- Effective Prevention and Intervention Strategies
- School-based and Community Mental Health
- Children’s Nature Play and Experiential Learning
John E. Burkhardt II, PsyD, NRHSP Clinical Psychologist & Assistant Professor — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Depression
- Mental Health
- Suicide
- Mood Disorders
- Medical and Health Psychology
- Integrative Care in Medicine
- Medical Student and Resident Education
- Psychological Assessment
- Doctor-Patient Relationship
- Workplace Wellness
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
Marisa Giggie, MD, MAPff Fellowship Director & Associate Professor — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Rural Mental Health Care
- Mental Health Care in Prisons
Catherine Ikard, MD Neurology Clerkship Director & Assistant Professor — FIRM & Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Neurological Disorders and Care
Bob McKinney, PhD, MSW, LICSW, C-IAYT Director of Social Services & Associate Professor — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine & Social Work
- Social Work Services
- Social Determinants of Health and Mental Health
- Childhood Interpersonal Victimization
- Inter-Professional Education
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- ADHD
- Mindfulness
- Yoga as Medicine
- Meditation
Nancy Rubin, PsyD Clinical Psychologist & Professor — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Family Systems Therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Tapping
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Thaddeus Ulzen, MD, FRCP(C), DFAPA Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine — Medical Student Affairs & Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Disruptive Behavior Disorders
- Incarcerated Adolescents
- Paranoid Spectrum Disorders
- Mental Health Pharmacology
- Use of Telemedicine in Education and Clinical Service
Rural Health
Marisa Giggie, MD, MAPff Fellowship Director & Associate Professor — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Rural Mental Health Care
- Mental Health Care in Prisons
John C Higginbotham, PhD, MPH Professor of Community Medicine and Population Health & Director of the Institute for Rural Health Research —
Epidemiology and Preventive medicine as applied to:
- Health Disparities
- Rural Health Issues
- Obesity
- EMS
- Child Death
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Syndrome X
Mercedes Morales-Aleman, PhD Associate Professor — Community Medicine and Population Health & Institute for Rural Health Research
- Health Disparities in Adolescent Latinas
Pamela Payne Foster, MD, MPH Deputy Director & Professor — Community Medicine and Population Health & Institute for Rural Health Research
- Health Disparities in African Americans
- Cultural Competency in Health Care
- Providers
- HIV/AIDS Stigma
- Bioethics
- Research
Catherine Lavender, MD Professor — FIRM
- Community and Rural Medical Practice
- Contraception
- Prenatal Care
- Women’s
- Health
John R. Wheat, MD, MPH Professor — Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine
- Community Health
- Rural Medical Education
- Agricultural Medicine/Agromedicine
- Occupational Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Research Methods
Lea Yerby, PhD Assistant Professor — Community Medicine and Population Health
- Health Care Policy
- Health Disparities in Rural Children
- Medicaid Innovation
Sports Medicine
Brett Bentley, MD Associate Professor — Sports Medicine Physician — Sports Medicine
- Sports Medicine
- Athletic Injuries
- Concussion
- Heat-Related Illnesses
- Exercise Prescription
- Sports Nutrition
- Overuse Injuries
Ray Stewart, MD Assistant Professor — Sports Medicine Physician — Sports Medicine
- Sports Medicine
- Athletic Injuries
- Fellowship
Telehealth
Nathan Culmer, PhD Director of Academic Technologies and Faculty Development & Assistant Professor — Medical Education
- Telemedicine for Clinical Care and Education
- Academic Technology
- Education
- Medical Faculty Development
- Simulation
- Wellness and Burnout
Thaddeus Ulzen, MD, FRCP(C), DFAPA Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine — Medical Student Affairs & Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Disruptive Behavior Disorders
- Incarcerated Adolescents
- Paranoid Spectrum Disorders
- Mental Health Pharmacology
- Use of Telemedicine in Education and Clinical Service
Vaccinations
Brian Gannon, MD Assistant Professor — Pediatrics
- Adoption
- ADHD
- Development Delays
- Foster Children
- Pediatric Care
- UMC
- Vaccine Champion
Wellness
Alan Blum, MD Gerald Leon Wallace Endowed Chair Professor — FIRM &The Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society
- Tobacco Cessation
- Tobacco Policy
- Obesity
- Literature and Art Medicine
- Alcohol
- Marketing
- Tanning Bed Usage
Karen Burgess, MD Chair & Associate Professor — Pediatrics
- Pediatric Care
- Pediatric Obesity
- Asthma
John E. Burkhardt II, PsyD, NRHSP Clinical Psychologist & Assistant Professor — Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Depression
- Mental Health
- Suicide
- Mood Disorders
- Medical and Health
- Psychology
- Integrative Care in Medicine
- Medical Student and Resident
- Education
- Psychological Assessment
- Doctor-Patient Relationship
- Workplace Wellness
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
Nathan Culmer, PhD Director of Academic Technologies and Faculty Development & Assistant Professor — Medical Education
- Telemedicine for Clinical Care and Education
- Academic Technology
- Education
- Medical Faculty Development
- Simulation
- Wellness and Burnout
Suzanne Henson, RD Assistant Professor — FIRM
John C Higginbotham, PhD, MPH Professor of Community Medicine and Population Health & Director of the Institute for Rural Health Research —
Epidemiology and Preventive medicine as applied to::
- Health Disparities
- Rural
- Health Issues
- Obesity
- EMS
- Child Death
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Syndrome X
Lea Yerby, PhD Assistant Professor — Community Medicine and Population Health
- Health Care Policy
- Health Disparities in Rural Children
- Medicaid Innovation
Women’s Health
John McDonald, MD Associate Professor — Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Women’s Health
- Breast Cancer