Professor Mona Fouad, M.D., director of the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center, has been appointed to the National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Fouad
She will advise and make recommendations regarding research, training, health-information dissemination and other programs of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

“The reasons for health disparities are complex, and we need to involve the scientific and medical communities, government agencies and all stakeholders in expanding and encouraging minority health and health-disparities research and training programs,” said Fouad, whose research studies totaling $50 million have this overarching goal. “Health equity is a shared responsibility.”

In her new role, Fouad will participate in the development of a comprehensive strategic plan that establishes objectives, priorities, policies and budgets governing the conduct of all NIH minority health and health-disparities research and training activities. She also will provide leadership in expanding the pool of experienced investigators in the areas of minority health and health-disparities research.

Fouad is the founding director of the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center, a comprehensive research, training and community-outreach center with a mission to reduce and eventually eliminate health disparities.