HBCU Scholars Mentorship
HBCU Scholars Mentorship
The beating heart of the program
Volunteer mentors are the “heart” of our HBCU Scholars Program. Their influence goes far beyond the time they spend with these brilliant young adults. They are shaping and growing the next generation of Black and minority biomedical science and health care professionals. And therefore, they are transforming communities that have had historically greater health risks.
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
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

Current HBCU Scholars
The Class of 2020-2021 is paving their road to success

HBCU Scholars Program Alumni
Making a difference and impacting the future of their communities