Omar T. Sims

Omar T.

Associate Professor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
University Hall 3137
(205) 934-3268

Research and Teaching Interests: Public Health Management and Clinical Management of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and HIV/HCV Co-infection; HCV epidemiology; Infectious Disease; Liver Disease; NAFLD; Liver Transplantation; Alcohol and Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders; health disparities

Office Hours: By appointment

Secondary Appointments:

Education:

  • AB, University of Georgia
  • MSW, University of Georgia
  • PhD, University of Georgia

As a health and public health scientist, Dr. Omar Sims’ program of research is focused on public health management and clinical management of liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in mono-infected and HCV/HIV co-infected patients. HCV is the leading cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation in the United States and in most of the western world. Likewise, liver disease caused by HCV is the leading non-AIDS cause of death among those with HIV infection.

His goal in this arena is to publish clinical and translational research to help health professionals improve health outcomes and extend life of those burdened with chronic HCV-associated liver disease. He aims to accomplish this by focusing his research efforts on populations heavily burdened with HCV, but often under-researched or under-represented in liver research: HCV-infected persons with co-existing alcohol, substance use, and psychiatric disorders, HCV/HIV co-infected persons, African Americans living with HCV, and individuals aging with HCV. Similarly, his research efforts include HCV testing among high prevalent populations (who are unaware of their HCV infection), alcohol use reduction among HCV mono-infected and HCV/HIV co-infected patients, and barriers to care.

Scholars @ UAB ProfileDownload CV (PDF) Omar Sims's Personal Zoom Meeting Room

  • Recent Courses
    • Human Behavior in the Social Environment
    • Social Work Research
    • Research in Health and Behavioral Health Populations I
  • Select Publications
    • Sims, O.T., Truong, D.N., Wang, K., Melton, P.A., & Atim, K. (2021). Time to hcv treatment disfavors patients living with hiv/hcv co-infection: Findings from a large urban tertiary center. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021-01105-5
    • Sims, O.T., Jackson, A., Guo, Y., Truong, D., Odame, E.A., & Mamudu, H.M. (2020). A cross-sectional analysis of tobacco use and concurrent alcohol and substance use among patients living with hiv/hcv co-infection: Findings from a large urban tertiary center. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-020-09744-2
    • Sims, O.T., Wang, K., Chandler, R., Melton, P.A., & Truong, D.N. (2020). A descriptive analysis of concurrent alcohol and substance use among patients living with hiv/hcv co-infection. Social Work in Health Care. 59(7), 525-541. https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2020.1814938
    • McPhail, J., Sims, O.T., Guo, Y., Wooten, D., Herndon, J.S., & Massoud, O.I. (2020). Fibrosis improvement in hcv patients treated with direct acting antivirals. European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. https://doi.org/10.1097/MEG.0000000000001821
    • Sims, O.T., Oh, H., Pollio, D.E., Hong, B.A., Pollio, E.W., & North, C.S. (2020). Personality in combination with alcohol and drug use and psychiatric disorders to predict psychosocial characteristics and behaviors of hepatitis c patients. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. 12(6), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-019-09694-4
    • Sims, O.T., Chiu, C., Chandler, R., Melton, P., Wang, K., Richey, C. & Odlum, M. (2019). Alcohol use and ethnicity independently predict antiretroviral therapy nonadherence among patients living with hiv/hcv coinfection. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-019-00630-8
    • Sims, O.T., Oh, H., Pollio, D.E., Hong, B.A., Pollio, E.W., & North, C.S. (2019). Quality of life, functioning, and coping in hcv patients continuing versus ceasing alcohol use. Health Promotion Practice. e1-e6. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839919837968
    • Romano, J., Sims, O.T., Richman, J., Guo, Y., Matin, T., Shoreibah, M., Kommineni, V., Lakshmi, K., & Massoud, O.T. (2018). Resolution of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy and absence of variceal bleeding in decompensated hcv cirrhosis patients. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2(6), 317-321. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.12091
    • Shoreibah, M., Romano, J., Sims, O.T., Guo, Y., Jones, D., Venkata, K., Kommineni, V., Orr, J., Fitzmorris, P., & Massoud, O.I. (2018). Effect of hepatitis c treatment on renal function in liver transplant patients. Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, 6(4), 391-395. Doi: 10.14218/JCTH.2018.00026
    • Shelnut, D., Sims, O.T., Zaibaq, J., Oh, H., Venkata, K.V.R., Peter, S. (2018). Predictors for outcomes and readmission rates following double balloon enteroscopy: A tertiary care experience. Endoscopy International Open. Jun; 6(6): E751-E757. doi: 10.1055/a-0602-3967
    • Sims, O.T., Melton, P.A., & Ji, S. (2018). A descriptive analysis of a community clinic providing hepatitis C treatment to poor and uninsured patients. Journal of Community Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-018-0476-2
    • Sims, O.T., Guo, Y., Shoreibah, M.G., Venkata, K., Fitzmorris, P., Kommineni, V., Romano, J., & Massoud, O.I. (2017). Alcohol and substance use, race, and insurance status predict non-treatment for hcv in the era of daas: A retrospective study in a large urban tertiary center. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 29(11), 1219-1222. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000000961
    • Sims, O.T., Pollio, D.E., Hong, B.A., & North, C.S. (2017). Racial disparities in hepatitis c treatment eligibility. Annals of Hepatology, 16(4), 530-537, doi: 10.5604/01.3001.0010.0282
    • Sims, O.T., Pollio, D.E., Hong, B.A., Jain, M.K., & Brown, G. (2016). An assessment of concurrent drug and alcohol use among patients seeking treatment for hepatitis c. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 28(1), 31-36.
  • Academic Distinctions and Professional Societies
    • American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
    • American Public Health Association (APHA)
    • NIDDK’s Network of Minority Health Research Investigators (NMRI)
    • Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)
    • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
    • American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)
    • European Association for the Study of the Liver
    • International Society for Medical Publication Professionals