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For many people, thoughts turn to home during the holidays – to nourishment of body and soul, an appreciation that where we come from makes us who we are. Researchers in the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center Social Determinants of Health Core (SDH Core) focus on that connection year-round, looking at how the places we call home and the systems that shape our lives profoundly affect our health.

New research from the Reducing Ethical and Social Prejudicial Effects of COVID-19 Testing in Underserved Populations (RESPECT-UP) study—led by MHERC Member, Gabriela Oates, Ph.D.—adapted existing scales to create a new measure for COVID-19 stigma attitudes and perceptions. RESPECT-UP includes a multidisciplinary team of UAB investigators focused on reducing stigma, discrimination, and adverse social factors affecting COVID-19 testing.

Health disparities continue to pose significant challenges to achieving health equity, undermining the well-being of individuals and communities. To ensure the validity and fairness of research outcomes, it is essential to include representation across areas such as race and ethnicity, age, gender, and socioeconomic conditions. When research neglects the experiences and health needs of under-represented groups, it risks missing insights that could drive progress toward health equity.

For Angela Williams, it’s personal.

In a span of two weeks in July 1991, Williams lost both her parents to cancer. Ten years later, cancer took her sister.

Not the kind to sit idle, she reached out to programs overseen by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC) and the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center called REACH 2010 and the Deep South Network for Cancer Control. Its mission was, to engage with communities in addressing the disproportionate number of Black people who die from cancer.

UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC), a leader in health disparities research, is excited to announce the appointment of Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean of primary care and rural health, as the Center’s Co-Director.

Gabriela Oates, PhD, Associate Professor, and a member of the MHERC, has received a $1.2 million grant from the CF Foundation to develop and validate the “Screener for Unmet Needs in Cystic Fibrosis” (SUN-CF). This project addresses the critical need for a standardized, disease-specific social screening tool tailored for both adults and children with cystic fibrosis (CF). The SUN-CF aims to identify adverse social determinants of health (SDoH) that impact CF patients, such as financial instability, food insecurity, and substandard living conditions.

New research from the Reducing Ethical and Social Prejudicial Effects of COVID-19 Testing in Underserved Populations (RESPECT-UP) study, shows how engaging community members as research team members can overcome mistrust in medical research within African American communities. The study, which includes a multidisciplinary team of UAB investigators, focuses on reducing stigma, discrimination, and other social factors affecting COVID-19 testing.

With support from the University of Alabama at Birmingham's (UAB) Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC), Carrie A. Tuggle Elementary School recently celebrated the opening of its new Calm Down Room. This evidence-based calming room, which opened for daily usage on May 28, 2024, is equipped with sensory-based materials to provide students with a safe space to process and de-escalate intense emotions and manage their behaviors more effectively.

BIRMINGHAM, AL – The UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC) has been awarded a $5.6 million 4-year grant by the National Institutes of Health to implement the fourth iteration of the Alabama Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) – Alabama CEAL for Healthy Communities.

The use of tobacco products and smoking-related diseases are major, ongoing concerns for health care professionals and public health officials. Tobacco use is directly linked to various chronic diseases, including but not limited to cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These illnesses not only contribute to significant morbidity and mortality rates but also worsen existing health disparities among minority communities.

The 17th Annual UAB Health Equity Research Symposium, titled "Achieving Health Equity Through Community Engaged Research," took place at the Birmingham Hilton at UAB on April 2, 2024. The event had over 300 attendants and showcased the exceptional work in health disparities and health equity being conducted by academic investigators, students, and community partners from 11 states and Trinidad and Tobago.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center will hold its annual UAB Health Equity Research Symposium. The symposium highlights the work of undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral and faculty investigators in clinical, behavioral, social, and community-based research related to health equity and health disparities.

The 2023-2024 Health Equity Research Education Program (HEREP) scholars recently participated in a three-day intensive Grant Writing Retreat at the Westin Hotel in Birmingham. This program, hosted by the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC), provides scholars with a platform to present a grant proposal to senior investigators and experts in the field of health equity research.

For over 20 years, the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC) has generated and disseminated research findings to reduce the health disparities experienced by vulnerable populations across the nation. As MHERC teams continue to translate science into better health for all, leadership prepares to align the center for success in years to come.

Developed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC), REACH Up and Out is a five-week program designed to provide African-American women with the knowledge, skills, and encouragement to eat healthy and engage in physical activity. More importantly, the program aims to build a social support network for African-American women, 18 and older, in Alabama and Mississippi who can help each other better take care of themselves and their health. With two successful implementations completed, we shed light on the enriching experiences of the women who have come together, forming friendships, and uniting in their shared commitment to a healthier life.

Austin Nguyen, a senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), explores his journey as a scholar in the Research in Aging through Mentorship and Practice – Undergraduate Program (RAMP-UP).

The Community Advisory Board (CAB) for our new National Cancer Institute Center CARES (Cancer Awareness, Research, Engagement, and Support) is comprised of representatives from faith-based organizations, businesses, civic organizations, local healthcare providers, and residents, plays a pivotal role in of the mission of the project in enhancing cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and the overall well-being of cancer survivors.

The Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC) is actively addressing the underrepresentation of minority researchers and healthcare professionals. Our training curriculum is strategically designed to attract and equip prospective researchers, guiding them from their undergraduate years through postdoctoral fellowships. This process establishes a continuous stream of dedicated researchers committed to achieving health equity. As we prepare to bid farewell to the summer season, we're delighted to provide a recap of some of our summer training initiatives.

With over 570 visits since 2019, the Doc on the Spot Community Care Clinic has been a source of preventive healthcare for underinsured residents of Orrville, Alabama. As the program's current phase draws to a close, its impact for addressing healthcare disparities in rural areas is undeniable. 

Brenda Collins, an unwavering community liaison, has been a constant and reassuring figure, extending her assistance and support. Collins’ commitment shines as she shares, "Our community flourishes when we help each other; I’m passionate about encouraging others and showing acts of kindness to the patients.” 

The Emotional Well-Being & Economic Burden Research Network (EMOT-ECON), a collaboration between the University of Alabama at Birmingham Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, is hosting their second annual scientific meeting.

During this two-day event—October 16-17—attendees will discover the latest research on the economic impact of disease from network members, while engaging in inspiring discussions with multi-disciplinary leaders in the field.

An innovative, groundbreaking effort to improve communications between teens and law enforcement took place on July 20, 2023. The "Law in Your Community" event garnered the participation of enthusiactic teens and Bessemer law enforcement officials with the objective to improve relations between individuals aged 11 to 18 and the police force. The event featured hands-on training sessions covering federal, state, and local law.

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure—Administrator for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)—visited the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to discuss health equity with subject-matter experts. With its long-standing history in health disparities and goal to achieve health equity, the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center was selected to host visitors at the special event. During this multi-part panel, our nation’s leaders heard about the impact programs such as Grand Challenge winner Live HealthSmart Alabama are having in the community.

The 2023 UAB Health Equity Research Symposium, "Turning the Vision of Health Equity into Reality," was held at the Birmingham Hilton at UAB on April 20th. The event brought together over 200 researchers, practitioners, students, and community partners to address several themes surrounding health disparities and health equity.

Each April, National Minority Health Month is observed to raise awareness about the health disparities and premature mortality faced by racial and ethnic minority groups. The conversations had during this month not only shine a light on the important work being done to improve the health and wellness of these groups but also helps shape the policies, systems, and environments that can reduce such disparities to create health equity.

As the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center commemorates this year’s National Minority Health Month, we prepare for the 16th UAB Health Equity Research Symposium (HERS)—the first in person since 2019. Formerly known as the Health Disparities Research Symposium, HERS is a day-long event comprised of poster sessions, oral presentations, and a keynote speaker.

On Saturday, November 12, 2022, Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH— Associate Vice President for UAB Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Senior Associate Dean for Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion, and Director of the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center—accepted the Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) annual conference in Nashville, TN. 

The UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center hosted its annual UAB Health Disparities Research Symposium on Thursday, September 8, 2022.

The virtual symposium was part of the Center's 20th Anniversary, celebrated throughout September. 

The session, which was moderated by Regina Benjamin, M.D., 18th United States surgeon general, included the following panelists:

There have long been significant differences in health across race, income, education, and geographic location. In Alabama and in the Deep South, the impact of these differences is seen everywhere, from the state’s largest cities to most rural areas. 

For 20 years, the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities research center has taken a comprehensive, science-first approach to improve the health of people in historically under-resourced areas—with efforts in research, training, and community engagement.

In November 2021, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Tuskegee University received a first of its kind $13.7 million grant to further inclusive excellence in research across both institutions. As part of that effort, the program is now recruiting 12 new early career research faculty members.

Ann Arbor June 17, 2022

Obesity increases the risk of health conditions such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. Recent findings have also revealed that obesity is a risk factor for hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. In a new supplement to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, researchers identify the complex contributors to obesity and obesity-related health disparities and propose strategies for improving the wellbeing of populations impacted by these disparities.

New York, NY, June 1, 2022 — The Vilcek Foundation and The Arnold P. Gold Foundation are pleased to announce that the 2022 Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare will be presented to Dr. Mona Fouad, MD, MPH.

The UAB Division of Preventive Medicine (DOPM) was awarded a grant from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reduce violent crime in Bessemer, Alabama and improve relationships between community residents and police officers.

On June 11, 2021, Tuskegee University in partnership with Alabama CEAL, hosted a virtual citizen forum "On the Vaccine Fence: Connecting Spirituality & Science to Make Informed Decisions," to answer questions and address concerns surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine. 

If you were unable to attend, below is a full video of the Zoom session. 

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center and the Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) will use funding from a recent grant to launch an intensive multi-year summer experience: UAB Research in Aging through Mentorship and Practice—Undergraduate Program (UAB RAMP-UP).

To reduce health disparities in older adults, diversity of research is imperative. Ensuring this diversity is maintained requires the strategic nurturing of pipeline training programs such as RAMP-UP.

RAMP-UP gives underrepresented and rural undergraduate students a team of mentors to support their educational achievements and career development. Each mentorship team consists of a personal advocate, academic mentor, and career coach.

For those following along with our Minority Health Month researcher spotlights, we started the month by introducing you to Dr. Maria Pisu, who is pioneering research in EMOT-ECON (the relationship between the financial burden of disease and the effect it has on a person’s emotional well-being). Then, last week we showed you what Dr. Mona Fouad has been working on and the journey she took to get there.

Now, we want to introduce you to Lori Bateman, Ph.D., R.D., who is the principal investigator for YES! We Can Play. If you’re not familiar with the program, YES! We Can Play is working hard to solve a unique sports programming dilemma in Birmingham’s City Schools. In middle school, sixth-graders no longer have time for recess yet are ineligible to play on the sports teams offered to 7th and 8th-grade students. Additionally, many students don’t have access to the recreation or club sports that are available to wealthier families.

If you’re following our National Minority Health Month series, you might remember that earlier, we shined a light on the work we’re doing in partnership with the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and the Schools of Medicine and Public Health & Health Professions.

Alabama CEAL is working to help demystify COVID Vaccines by addressing the myths and misconceptions surrounding them. Working specifically within our underserved populations, CEAL aims to help those disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to promote and facilitate the inclusion and participation of the underserved minorities, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded an effort for outreach and engagement. Leading that effort is Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH.

To get insight into Dr. Fouad’s journey to becoming the Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Director and Professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine, and Director of the Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center, we asked her to participate in a Q&A.

Throughout the pandemic, there has been a big focus on health disparities and the consequences they have on minorities. At UAB, we have world-renowned researchers that focus on determining why these disparities exist and ways to reduce the gap.

In the spirit of National Minority Health Month (April), we set out to help raise awareness for the different programs that operate out of the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center. First, we spotlighted EMOT-ECON—which pays attention to the financial burden of a disease and its effect on a person’s emotional well-being.

To help you learn more about the woman leading this program, we are interviewing Maria Pisu, Ph.D. and professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine.

With the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) Young Professionals Board opted to postpone its annual Harlem in the ‘Ham event and in favor of a more socially distanced option.

This past December, MHRC Young Professionals Board hosted the inaugural Holiday Hustle virtual 5K for Healthy Happy Kids (HHK).

Runners, walkers, and crawlers were invited to participate while wearing their wildest, zaniest, and most fun Holiday attire. This virtual event occurred over the course of a week. During this timeframe, participants could run at their own pace, in their own space.

In the fall months of 2019 into the early weeks of 2020, Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) Training Program Director, Ann Smith, and Program Manager, Dawn Fizer, prepared for another year of summer curricula. Between Ann and Dawn’s 30 years’ experience managing MHRC programs, neither could have been ready for the changes they would encounter in 2020. As COVID-19 got closer and closer to home, many programs received instructions from national offices on whether or not they would be proceeding with their annual events. When necessary, it was left to individual schools and research centers to determine how they would be moving forward with their summer programs.

The MHRC offers four different training programs—geared toward undergraduate, graduate, and junior faculty & post-doctoral fellows. Click one of the groups below to learn more about the program(s) available.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is excited to announce that Dr. Mona Fouad has been named the inaugural holder of the Edward E. Partridge, M.D., Endowed Chair for Cancer Disparity Research.

As we're approaching spring, common symptoms like coughing, itchy eyes, and fatigue can overlap allergies, common cold, flu, and even COVID-19. As a result, UAB has developed an easy-to-follow flowchart that can help you determine which of these illnesses you might be experiencing. 

During these uncertain times, we understand there are lots of questions. The most common being, "How can I lower my risk of getting or spreading COVID-19?" To address this concern, UAB has created the infographic below to help you practice social distancing.

For the latest news and additional tips, visit the UAB Coronavirus website.

The Birmingham City Schools (BCS) Department of Athletics, Department of Physical Education and Health and the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center have partnered to bridge the local sports programming gap through YES! We can PLAY: A Physical Activity and Nutritional After-School Program for 6thGraders. This project is supported by a two year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health and Office on Women’s Health.

Casino Royale, one of Birmingham’s most popular fundraising events, returned recently as the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) Young Professionals Board presented Harlem in the ‘Ham to help prevent childhood obesity.  

On Saturday, September 23^rd, The Harbert Center was transformed into a 1920’s casino with good food & drinks, great music, gaming fun, and chances to win great prizes. “We are so excited to bring a fresh, new take on Casino Royale,” said YP Board president, Rayna Dyck, MD.

Another successful Harlem in the 'Ham...

On Saturday, September 29rd, The Harbert Center was transformed into a 1920’s casino with good food & cocktails, great entertainment, gaming fun, and chances to win great prizes as the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) Young Professionals Board presented Harlem in the ‘Ham. "We are excited to bring a fun, casino night event to Birmingham with an awesome purpose, to help children be healthier and prevent childhood obesity” said YP Board president, Prince Cleveland.

The sixties rock band Lovin’ Spoonful summed up the YP Board’s new fundraiser with their song “Hot time, Summer in the City.”

In spite of the heat, adventurous diners enjoyed a fantastic culinary experience as Dinner Lab’s crew of renegade chefs hit Birmingham to benefit the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center. This time it was for the Young Professionals Board’s new pop-up fundraiser, Summer in the City.

The YP Board supports MHRC initiatives that focus on reducing health differences resulting from social, economic or environmental disadvantages. Projects headed by the MHRC include researching disparities in African American men’s health, health policy, and solutions for obesity in the mid-South focusing on the social determinants of health.

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The American Statistical Association Committee on Fellows selected Karan P. Singh, Ph.D., professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine, as a 2015 fellow for his outstanding contributions to the statistical profession.

Fellows were presented with their awards on August 11, 2015 during the Joint Statistical Meetings awards ceremony in Seattle, Wash.

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On a rainy Friday night, 240 guests gathered in an abandoned building to do the unexpected: Enjoy fine dining for a good cause.

Birmingham’s first-ever Dinner Lab was held on April 17, 2015.

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The sixties band Lovin’ Spoonful summed up the YP Board’s new fundraiser with their song “Hot time, Summer in the City.”

In spite of the heat, adventurous diners enjoyed a fantastic culinary experience as Dinner Lab’s crew of renegade chefs hit Birmingham to benefit the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center's Young Professionals Board. These young leaders serve as ambassadors for the MHRC working to engage new audiences in understanding and supporting the center's mission to reduce health differences resulting from social, economic or environmental disadvantages.

Fall 2014 – Scientist Profile: Tiffany Carson, Ph.D., M.P.H.

By: Morgan Terry

Published with permission from the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine

It wasn’t until Tiffany Carson, Ph.D., M.P.H., returned home to her native Birmingham that she realized her greatest potential. Dr. Carson earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at Florida State University in 2002, and in 2005, she received her master’s degree in public health and epidemiology from UAB.

It was while attending UAB that Dr. Carson earned an internship with CaRES (Cancer Research Experiences for Students). This program provides paid summer cancer research internships for UAB medical students and graduate students on the UAB campus or at institutions affiliated with UAB. The goal of the program is to encourage students to pursue careers in cancer research, and through her internship, Dr. Carson realized that was what she wanted to do.

Fall 2014 – Research Story

By: Sara Davies
Published with permission from the Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine

In recent years, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and other cancer agencies have begun to address the increasing burden of cancer worldwide, and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center holds the same aspirations of expanding its global footprint.

As a long-standing NCI-designated institution, the Cancer Center has many investigators, research projects and other activities on the global front. To further these globalization efforts, the Cancer Center recently appointed Isabel Scarinci, Ph.D., M.P.H., as its inaugural associate director for globalization and cancer. She joins the senior leadership team at the Cancer Center and will lead the initiative to expand UAB’s global footprint.