The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery welcomes Christen Press, MSN, CRNP, Eric Kidd and Jessica Schweikart (pictured left to right.)
Press, who joins the department as a clinical research nursing manager, is an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner in the Division of Infectious Diseases at UAB. She has more than 16 years of clinical research experience. A fierce patient advocate, Press has spent much of her career working with underserved and special populations. As a team member and consultant for the regional Southeast STD/HIV Prevention Training Center, she served as preceptor and mentor to clinicians desiring to advance their knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
In her free time, Press enjoys an eclectic range of music, crafting and spending time with her husband, nine-year-old son and two cats.
Kidd, a Hoover, Alabama, native, joins the department as a program coordinator I. With a degree in health service administration from Auburn University, Kidd looks forward to putting his skills to work. “I’ve always admired UAB’s dedication to healthcare excellence, and I’m eager to contribute to this community,” said Kidd.
Outside of work, Kidd stays active by participating in long-distance trail runs, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and weightlifting. He also enjoys photography, capturing wildlife, concerts and family moments. His deeply values his family, and cherishes their time spent fishing, hunting, cooking, or watching movies together.
Jessica Schweikart joins the department as a clinical research coordinator II. In her most recent role as a scientist at Southern Research, she performed PK and dose formulation analysis for preclinical animal studies. “I’m eager to bring my experience to my new role and reconnect with the direct impact my work has on patients,” said Schweikart.
When she’s not at work, you can find Schweikart enjoying time with friends and family. According to Schweikart, her one-year-old son takes up most of her free time. Schweikart considers herself a “big nerd” when it comes to reading and has a goal of finishing 25 books this year. She particularly enjoys fantasy, sci-fi and fan fiction genres.