The 2021 CCTS Bioethics Forum panelists have diverse backgrounds and interests that will bring a range of perspectives to this annual forum. Learn more about the panelists below and register for the virtual event here.
Mercedes Morales-Aléman, PhD | Assistant Professor
Department of Community Medicine and Population Health | University of Alabama
Background: Graduate of the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and Michigan State University.
Fun Fact: She serves as the chair of the College of Community Health Sciences Committee for Academic Diversity and Inclusion.
Research Focus: Sexual health and health care access among ethnic minority women in the US South.
Department of Community Medicine and Population Health | University of Alabama
Background: Graduate of the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and Michigan State University.
Fun Fact: She serves as the chair of the College of Community Health Sciences Committee for Academic Diversity and Inclusion.
Research Focus: Sexual health and health care access among ethnic minority women in the US South.
Thomas Beavers, DMin | Pastor
New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church
Background: Graduate of Kentucky State University and Beeson Divinity School of Samford University
Fun Fact: He succeeded his grandfather, who served as the pastor of his church for 35 years.
Ministry Focus: Efforts that impact the community in education, financial literacy, workforce development, housing, and recreation as well as developing a better quality of life on earth.
New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church
Background: Graduate of Kentucky State University and Beeson Divinity School of Samford University
Fun Fact: He succeeded his grandfather, who served as the pastor of his church for 35 years.
Ministry Focus: Efforts that impact the community in education, financial literacy, workforce development, housing, and recreation as well as developing a better quality of life on earth.
Latesha Elopre, MD | Epidemiologist
Assistant Professor of Medicine | University of Alabama at Birmingham
Background: Graduate of the University of Florida. She then underwent Internal Medicine Residency and Infectious Diseases’ Fellowship training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During this time, she also received her MSPH in Applied Epidemiology.
Fun Fact: She has won both the Dean’s Excellence Award in Diversity and the Unsung Hero Award at UAB.
Research Focus: Social determinants of health for STDs, including HIV.
Assistant Professor of Medicine | University of Alabama at Birmingham
Background: Graduate of the University of Florida. She then underwent Internal Medicine Residency and Infectious Diseases’ Fellowship training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During this time, she also received her MSPH in Applied Epidemiology.
Fun Fact: She has won both the Dean’s Excellence Award in Diversity and the Unsung Hero Award at UAB.
Research Focus: Social determinants of health for STDs, including HIV.
Richard Goldsby, PhD | Professor Emeritus
Biology | Amherst College
Background: Graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and has served as professor of biology at Amherst College since 1982.
Fun Fact: He has an interest in the biology of race, which arose from efforts to understand the biological roots of the debates about a relationship between race and behavior and has published work on the subject.
Research Focus: He is an immunologist, interested in the cellular and molecular biology of the immune response.
Biology | Amherst College
Background: Graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and has served as professor of biology at Amherst College since 1982.
Fun Fact: He has an interest in the biology of race, which arose from efforts to understand the biological roots of the debates about a relationship between race and behavior and has published work on the subject.
Research Focus: He is an immunologist, interested in the cellular and molecular biology of the immune response.
Lillie Head | President
Voices for our Fathers
Background: Lillie Head’s father, Freddie Lee Tyson, is one of more than 600 men who were enrolled in the Tuskegee Institute Syphilis Study. She founded Voices for our Fathers as a way to connect other relatives of the study’s victims across generations, to provide annual scholarships to descendants of participants, and to participate in the Research Project: “The Untold Story”.
Fun Fact: She leads efforts to offer support and guidance to the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care, while pursuing all other strategic plans.
Voices for our Fathers
Background: Lillie Head’s father, Freddie Lee Tyson, is one of more than 600 men who were enrolled in the Tuskegee Institute Syphilis Study. She founded Voices for our Fathers as a way to connect other relatives of the study’s victims across generations, to provide annual scholarships to descendants of participants, and to participate in the Research Project: “The Untold Story”.
Fun Fact: She leads efforts to offer support and guidance to the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care, while pursuing all other strategic plans.
Michael Saag, MD | Professor/Associate Dean
Infectious Disease | University of Alabama at Birmingham
Background: Graduate of Tulane University and the University of Louisville. He completed his residency and infectious disease and molecular virology fellowship training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Fun Fact: Founded the 1917 Clinic, a comprehensive AIDS treatment and research center at UAB, more than 30 years ago.
Research Focus: HIV/AIDS infection control, Antiretroviral therapy, HIV/AIDS research, and Hepatitis C diagnosis and therapy.
Infectious Disease | University of Alabama at Birmingham
Background: Graduate of Tulane University and the University of Louisville. He completed his residency and infectious disease and molecular virology fellowship training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Fun Fact: Founded the 1917 Clinic, a comprehensive AIDS treatment and research center at UAB, more than 30 years ago.
Research Focus: HIV/AIDS infection control, Antiretroviral therapy, HIV/AIDS research, and Hepatitis C diagnosis and therapy.