HBCU Scholars Mentorship

ALABAMA

Birmingham

Ryan Cantor, PhD 
Lead Statistician
Department of Surgery
James and John Kirklin Institute for Research in Surgical Outcomes (KIRSO)
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

Luqin Deng, PhD 
Clinical Data Base Manager II
Department of Surgery
James and John Kirklin Institute for Research in Surgical Outcomes (KIRSO)
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

Devin Koehl, MS
Data Science, Database Analyst II
Department of Surgery
James and John Kirklin Institute for Research in Surgical Outcomes (KIRSO)
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

James K. Kirklin, MD
 Professor
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
James K. Kirklin Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Surgery
Director, James and John Kirklin Institute for Research in Surgical Outcomes (KIRSO)
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

Ramaraju Rudraraju, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Surgery
James and John Kirklin Institute for Research in Surgical Outcomes (KIRSO)
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

Tuscaloosa

Lilanta Joy Bradley, PhD, MFT
 Assistant Professor
Department of Community Medicine and Population Health
University of Alabama

Shameka Cody, MSN, PhD
Assistant Professor
Capstone College of Nursing
University of Alabama

Cassandra Ford, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN, FAHA
Professor
Capstone College of Nursing
University of Alabama

Betty A. Key, Ed.D, MSN, RN, CCRN
Assistant Professor
Capstone College of Nursing
University of Alabama

Pamela Payne-Foster, MD, MPH
Professor
Community Medicine and Population Health
Deputy Director for Community Outreach
University of Alabama

Raheem Paxton, MS, PhD
Associate Professor
Community Medicine and Population Health
University of Alabama

Remona Peterson, MD
Family Practice
WeCare Family Practice Clinic

RaSheda Workman, MA
Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
Stillman College

GEORGIA

Atlanta

Alvaro Alonso, MD, PhD
Professor
Department of Epidemiology
Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University

Kimberly Cooney, PhD
Fellow
Department of Medicine
Division of Cardiology
Emory University School of Medicine

Cheryl Franklin, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Morehouse School of Medicine

Shabatan Jamila Islam, MD
Fellow
Cardiovascular Research Institute
Emory University School of Medicine

Rebecca Levit, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Division of Cardiology
Emory University School of Medicine

Manu Platt, PhD
Associate Professor
Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University
Deputy Director, Interdisciplinary Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program

Rakale Quarells, PhD
Associate Professor
Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Associate Director
Cardiovascular Research Institute
Morehouse School of Medicine

Arshed Quyyumi, MD, FACC, FRCP
Professor
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Director
Cardiovascular Research Institute
Emory University School of Medicine

Charles Searles, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Vice Chair
Research and Space Management
Director
Cardiology Fellowship
Emory University School of Medicine

Kiyoko Takemiya, MD, PhD
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Emory University School of Medicine

Herman Taylor, Jr., MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA
Professor of Medicine
Director
Cardiovascular Research Institute
Morehouse School of Medicine

LOUISIANA

New Orleans

Lydia Bazzano, MD, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Epidemiology
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medical Director of the Bogalusa Heart Study
Tulane University School of Medicine

Suttira Intapad, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Tulane University School of Medicine

Prasad V.G. Katakam, MD, PhD, FCVS
Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Tulane University School of Medicine

Sarah Lindsey, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Tulane University School of Medicine

Hongbing Liu, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatric Nephrology
Tulane University School of Medicine

Kevin Zwezdaryk
Assistant Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Tulane University School of Medicine

MISSISSIPPI

Jackson

Clifton Addison, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Senior Research Scientist
Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center
Jackson State University School of Public Health

Denise C. Cornelius, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
Director of Preclinical Research
University of Mississippi Medical Center

Marinelle Payton, MD, PhD, MS, MPH
Chair and Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Director
Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Disparities
Director
Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center
Jackson State University School of Public Health

Mario Sims, PhD, MS, FAHA
Professor of Medicine
Chief Science Officer
Jackson Heart Study
University of Mississippi Medical Center

TENNESSEE

Nashville

Larry D. Alexander, PhD
Associate Dean of Curriculum and Innovation
Associate Professor of Physiology
Department of Professional and Medical Education
Meharry Medical College

Joey Barnett, PhD
Professor of Pharmacology, Medicine, Pediatrics, Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Vice Chair Pharmacology
Director of the Office of Medical Student Research
Assistant Dean
Physician Research Training
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Walter Chazin, PhD
Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry
Chancellor’s Chair in Medicine
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Steven Damo, PhD
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Co-Director, Minority Access to Research Careers
Fisk University

Evangeline Motley-Johnson, PhD
Interim Dean
School of Graduate Studies and Research
Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology
Meharry Medical College

David Wasserman, PhD
Professor
Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
AM Lyle Chair in Biomedical Sciences
Director
Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Quinn S. Wells, MD, Pharm.D, MSCI
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

CharLynda Williams-DeVane, PhD
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Chair
Department of Bioinformatics and Data Science
Fisk University