Dr. Antonio Gardner, CCHS associate professor in the Department of Community Medicine and Population Health, was elected president-elect of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) for the 2026-2027 Board of Trustees. In this leadership role, he will support the current president of SOPHE in guiding the organization’s initiatives, setting strategic direction and advancing goals that…
The College of Community Health Sciences is accepting applications for its master’s program in population health sciences, a 30‑credit‑hour degree designed to prepare students to improve health outcomes across diverse communities. The program, administered by the College’s Department of Community Medicine and Population Health, integrates clinical care and public health practices. Students learn to apply data‑driven approaches to…
The College of Community Health Sciences is now accepting applications for its new Master of Science in Translational Science and Medicine, with the first class beginning in fall 2026. Translational science bridges the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications, helping to turn scientific findings into real-world medical solutions. The new degree program, which will be…
Dr. Cecil Robinson, director of learning and evaluation at the College of Community Health Sciences, was appointed associate dean for curriculum and evaluation at CCHS. The appointment was effective March 1. In this role, he will oversee curriculum development, integration and evaluation across the College’s education programs and help ensure these programs meet accreditation standards while supporting student…
Dr. Andy Thomas, assistant professor in the Department of Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine at the College of Community Health Sciences, was appointed associate director of The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program, which is operated by CCHS. “Since joining the CCHS faculty in 2025, Thomas has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the College’s mission through his work at University Medical Center and…
Drs. Jane and Tom Weida, professors of family, internal and rural medicine at CCHS, and Dr. Alan Blum, the Gerald Leon Wallace, MD, Endowed Chair of Family Medicine at CCHS, were named Caste Connolly Top Doctors for 2026. Doctors on the Caste Connolly list represent the top 7% of U.S. practicing physicians. The list seeks to help patients find high-quality care by connecting them with premier…
Timberly Washington, a fourth-year medical student completing her clinical education at CCHS, wrote two articles, “Will future med students like me get the same chances I did?”, published in the Stat News and “What is a Doula”, published in the Rewire News Group. Washington is also a Rural Medical Scholar at the College. Her work as a doula, researcher and community-engaged advocate focuses on expanding access to care, particularly for…
Dr. Richard Rutland Jr., who was instrumental in the founding of the College of Community Health Sciences and who provided early leadership for its family medicine residency, died Jan. 12, 2026, at his home with his family by his side. Rutland grew up in Eufaula, Ala. He was an early faculty member at CCHS and practiced for years in…
Dr. M.N.V. Ravi Kumar, Distinguished University Research Professor with the College of Community Health Sciences, has received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Association of Indian Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAiPS). The award was presented at the AAiPS annual event in November in San Antonio, which was held alongside the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists annual meeting. Kumar, a professor in the College’s…
Dr. M.N.V. Ravi Kumar, Distinguished University Research Professor with the College of Community Health Sciences, has received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Association of Indian Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAiPS). The award was presented at the AAiPS annual event in November in San Antonio, which was held alongside the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists annual…
