Category Newsletter


The Relationship Between Chronic Pain and Substance Abuse

The relationship between chronic pain and substance abuse is a complex data set to understand and analyze to gather useful and applicable information to help reduce the number of people struggling with addiction and the number of overdoses in America. Dr. Mark Ilgen from the Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research in the Department…


New Faculty to the College

Dr. Lisle Hites joined the College of Community Health Sciences as an associate professor of community medicine and population health. He is also affiliated with the Institute for Rural Health Research, which is operated by the College. Hites received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and a bachelor’s…


Osteoporosis Mini Med School at Capstone Village

More than 12 million individuals in the US age 50 and older are expected to have osteoporosis by 2020. Osteoporosis is a disease in which the density and quality of bones are reduced. As bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture increases. “Osteoporosis is a really serious issue,” said Dr. Anne Halli-Tierney,…


Rural Medical Scholars Hold Orientation

Seventeen students studying to become rural physicians or considering other health careers attended a rural programs orientation session August 20 hosted by the College of Community Health Sciences. The students are participating in the College’s Rural Medical Scholars Program and Rural Community Health Scholars Program. The orientation at Lake Lurleen State Park in Coker, Alabama,…


TORCH Infections and Infant Mortality

TORCH infections cover a range of infectious disease that can affect newborns and fetuses. However, there are conditions that share symptoms with TORCH infections that fall outside of its sphere. Drs. Karen Burgess and Sara Phillips, physicians in the pediatrics department at University Medical Center, which is run by the College of Community Health Sciences,…


Accolades July 2019

Drs. Anne Halli-Tierney and Dana Carroll authored “Polypharmacy: Evaluating Risks and Deprescribing,” published in the July 2019 issue of American Family Physician. Halli-Tierney is assistant professor of family, internal, and rural medicine for the College and a practicing geriatrician at University Medical Center, which the College operates. Carroll is clinical assistant professor of pharmacy for…


FMR Recruits at the American Academy of Family Physicians National Conference

The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences sent representatives from the UA Family Medicine Residency to the American Academy of Family Physicians National Conference for Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students. This event is the largest recruiting opportunity in America for medical students and residents. The event, held in Kansas City, Missouri, has…


Dr. Tamer Elsayed Named Director of Family Medicine Residency

Dr. Tamer Elsayed was named director of The University of Alabama Family Medicine Residency, which is operated by the College of Community Health Sciences. In the role, he will be responsible for the overall operation of the residency, including resident recruitment and selection, residency teaching and scholarly activities, supervision of residents, resident education in the…


New CCHS Faculty – July 2019

Dr. Dale Dickinson joined the College of Community Health Sciences as director of the Office of Medical Student Affairs and associate professor of community medicine and population health. In the director role, Dickinson will provide strategic leadership and oversight for programs that support the education of medical students at the College. CCHS is a regional…


Friend Named Dean of CCHS

Dr. Richard Friend, a physician with extensive administrative experience in family medicine at two universities and who also spent 10 years in private practice, has been named dean of the College of Community Health Sciences. Friend, who has served as interim dean and professor in the College for the past year, was named dean effective…