November 15, 2007
The following University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) experts are available to discuss topics related to the holidays, from safe on-line shopping tips to holiday stress. Please use our full name on first reference and UAB thereafter.
TOY SAFETYDavid Schwebel, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the UAB Department of Psychology
Expertise: toy safety, purchasing age-appropriate toys, teaching children how to use bikes, scooters and skates safely
Contact: Gail Short, Media Relations, 205-934-8931 or gshort@uab.edu
SAFE ONLINE HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Gary Warner is UAB’s first director of research in Computer Forensics. He is a nationally renowned cyber sleuth and veteran consultant to the FBI.
Expertise: safe online shopping, including online bidding
Contact: Ginny Smith, Media Relations, at 205-934-1676 or ginnys@uab.edu.
HOLIDAY EATING, DIETING & NUTRITION
Beth Kitchin, M.S., R.D.– Kitchin is an assistant professor of nutrition sciences in the UAB School of Health Professions.
Expertise: healthy eating during the stressful holiday time, how to handle the overload of holiday parties without ruining a diet
Contact: Bob Shepard, Media Relations, 205-934-8934 or bshep@uab.edu.
Joshua Klapow, Ph.D. – Klapow [Pronounced “Clay-poe”] is a licensed clinical psychologist in the UAB School of Public Health. He has published extensively on the role of psychosocial and behavioral factors in determining health outcomes. He is co-author of the book “Stop Telling Me What – Tell Me How: The Simple Answer to Better Health.”
Expertise: dieting, eating right during the holidays, keeping New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and exercise
Contact: Jennifer Lollar, Media Relations, 205-934-3888 or jpark@uab.edu.
Retta Evans, Ph.D. – Evans is an associate professor of human studies in the UAB School of Education
Expertise: helping children eat right during the holidays, youth obesity, eating disorders among teens
Contact: Gail Short, Media Relations, 205-934-8931 or gshort@uab.edu
Debra Strong, R.D. – Strong is director of the UAB EatRight Weight Management Program.
Expertise: nutrition, healthy alternatives to high calorie and high-fat holiday foods, losing holiday weight after New Year’s
Contact: Bob Shepard, Media Relations, 205-934-8934 or bshep@uab.edu.
HOLIDAY BLUES, DEPRESSION AND STRESS
Joshua Klapow, Ph.D. – Klapow [Pronounced “Clay-poe”] is a licensed clinical psychologist in the UAB School of Public Health. He has published extensively on the role of psychosocial and behavioral factors in determining health outcomes. He is co-author of the book “Stop Telling Me What – Tell Me How: The Simple Answer to Better Health.”
Expertise: holiday stress, managing holiday expectations, holiday blues
Contact: Jennifer Lollar, Media Relations, 205-934-3888 or jpark@uab.edu.
Rodney Tucker, M.D. – Tucker is an assistant professor of geriatrics, gerontology and palliative care, and medical director of the UAB Palliative and Comfort Care Unit,
Expertise: dealing with grief during the holidays, particularly dealing with the first holiday season after the loss of a loved one.
Contact: Bob Shepard, Media Relations, 205-934-8934 or bshep@uab.edu.
PARENTING, CHILDREN AND THE HOLIDAYS
Jerry Aldridge, Ed.D. – Aldridge is a professor of early childhood education in the UAB School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Aldridge has published more than 100 articles and is the author and co-author of several books, including “Self Esteem: Loving Yourself at Every Age” and “Children’s Fears of War and Terrorism.”
Expertise: raising compassionate children, teaching children to give to others
Contact: Gail Short, Media Relations, 205-934-8931 or gshort@uab.edu.
Vivian Friedman, Ph.D. – Friedman is a psychologist in the UAB Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Expertise: divorce and the holidays, mixed religious marriages, preparing children for holiday gatherings, the danger of giving children too much, teaching children the joy of giving, coping when the family can’t afford Christmas,
Contact: Gail Short, Media Relations, 205-934-8931 or gshort@uab.edu.
EASING TENSIONS AT FAMILY GATHERINGS
Joshua Klapow, Ph.D. – Klapow [Pronounced “Clay-poe”] is a licensed clinical psychologist in the UAB School of Public Health. He has published extensively on the role of psychosocial and behavioral factors in determining health outcomes. He is co-author of the book “Stop Telling Me What – Tell Me How: The Simple Answer to Better Health.”
Expertise: controlling family stresses during the holidays
Contact: Jennifer Lollar, Media Relations, 205-934-3888 or jpark@uab.edu.
Michael Brooks, Ph.D. – Brooks is a licensed professional counselor and an assistant professor with the UAB School of Education’s Counselor Education program. Expertise: counseling, easing tensions during holiday family gatherings
Contact: Gail Short, Media Relations, 205-934-8931 or gshort@uab.edu.
SAFETY AND INJURY PREVENTION
Russ Fine, Ph.D., M.S.P.H. – Fine is the founding director of the UAB Injury Control and Research Center (ICRC). He also is director of the Southern Consortium for Injury Biomechanics (SCIB) and the UAB Transportation Center.
Expertise: Injury prevention during a time of year when car crashes, house fires and accident-related injuries are most prevalent.
Contact: Kristen Vaughn, Media Relations, 205-934-8935 or kristenvaughn@uab.edu
Erica Liebelt, M.D. – Liebelt is a professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at UAB. She’s director of the UAB Medical Toxicology Services and associate medical director of the Regional Poison Control Center in Birmingham.
Expertise: How to choose safe, age-appropriate gifts and prevent poisoning.
Contact: Kristen Vaughn, Media Relations, 205-934-8935 or kristenvaughn@uab.edu.
PROTECTING TEETH FROM HOLIDAY SWEETS
Stephen C. Mitchell, D.M.D. – Mitchell is an associate professor and director of undergraduate pediatric dentistry at the UAB School of Dentistry.
Expertise: Pediatric dentistry, specifically infant oral health, and tooth decay in toddlers and young children.
Contact: Kristen Vaughn, Media Relations at 205-934-8935 or kristenvaughn@uab.edu.
HOLIDAY RETAIL SALES OUTLOOK/SPENDING
Morris M. “Mickey” Gee Sr. – Gee is an Executive-in-Residence and director of internship programs in the UAB School of Business Marketing and Industrial Distribution Program.
Expertise: retail sales
Contact: Ginny Smith, Media Relations, at 205-934-1676 or ginnys@uab.edu.
Robert A. Robicheaux, Ph.D. – Robicheaux is chair of the UAB School of Business Department of Marketing and Industrial Distribution.
Expertise: retail sales, marketing
Contact: Ginny Smith, Media Relations, at 205-934-1676 or ginnys@uab.edu.
Joshua Klapow, Ph.D. – Klapow [Pronounced “Clay-poe”] is a licensed clinical psychologist in the UAB School of Public Health. He has published extensively on the role of psychosocial and behavioral factors in determining health outcomes. He is co-author of the book “Stop Telling Me What – Tell Me How: The Simple Answer to Better Health.”
Expertise: controlling holiday spending
Contact: Jennifer Lollar, Media Relations, 205-934-3888 or jpark@uab.edu.
THOUGHTFUL, HEART-FELT GIVING
Erin Street – Street is community affairs director for the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Expertise: Donations as holiday gifts directed to the Cancer Center, where 100 percent of the money supports Alabama scientists battling the disease and treating patients.
Contact: Troy Goodman, Media Relations, 205-934-8938 or tdgoodman@uab.edu
Brett Levine, M.A. – Levine is director and curator of the UAB Visual Arts Gallery. He selects artwork for exhibitions. Levine’s focus is modern and contemporary art and identifying trends. He is a contributor to Birmingham Home and Garden magazine and guest lecturer at the Birmingham Museum of Art. He serves on the artist selection committee for the Magic City Art Connection and the UAB works of art committee.
Expertise: Best ways to give art that will be appreciated
Contact: Shannon Thomason, Media Relations, 205-975-8858 or Thomason@uab.edu
Reporters seeking experts may contact the UAB media specialists listed above or call the main UAB Media Relations number at 205-934-3884.