UAB - School of Medicine - Center for Exercise Medicine

The UCEM interdisciplinary team brings together investigators, departments, and schools from across campus for a multi-science approach. "The overall goal is to determine how we can best intervene with exercise in specific disease states to have the greatest impact on quality of life," states UCEM Director Bamman.

Member (click name for details)	Title	Research Focus (click for publications)	Membership Appointment
Aban, Inmaculada, MS, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Biostatistics, School of Public Health	Statistical methods in clinical trials, survival and reliability analysis, analysis of pool screening and count data, goodness-of-fit and model diagnostics, inference for heavy tail distribution	Scientist
Affuso, H Olivia, PhD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Epidemiology, School of Public Health	Pediatric obesity, health behavior	Scientist and Associate Director for Public Health
Alexander, Matthew S., PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pediatric Neurology, Children's of Alabama	Non-coding RNAs as modifiers of neuromuscular disease; epigenetic regulation of normal and disease muscle; generation, characterization, and therapeutic drug screening of noval zebrafish models of human neuromuscular diseases	Associate Scientist
Allendorfer, Jane, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Neurology, School of Medicine	Recovery in post-stroke aphasia, epilepsy	Associate Scientist
Amara, Amy, MD, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Neurology, School of Medicine	Parkinsonism, sleep disorders	Associate Scientist
Austad, Steven, PhD	Professor and Chair, Dept. of Biology, College of Arts and Science	Biology of aging; evolution of life histories	Senior Scientist
Ball, Karlene K, PhD	Professor and Chair, Dept of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences	Aging, cognitive decline	Senior Scientist
Ballinger, Scott, PhD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Div. of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Academic Joint Departments	Environmental cardiology, free radical biology, mitochondrial function	Senior Scientist
Bamman, Marcas M, PhD	Professor, Depts of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology; Medicine; and Neurology, School of Medicine	Muscle biology, musculoskeletal function and disease	Senior Scientist and Director
Barnes, Margaux, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics, Div. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition	Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, health promoting behaviors, lean body mass (additional publications)	Associate Scientist
Baskin, Monica, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine	Culturally-relevant behavioral interventions for cancer prevention/control and obesity prevention/treatment; minority health & health disparities	Senior Scientist
Bhatnagar, Sushant, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism	Diabetes, obesity, the role of tomosyn in insulin secretion, the role of complement 1q-like 3 (C1qI3) protein in beta-cell function	Associate Scientist
Bhatt, Surya, MD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine Dean's Office	COPD, Pulmonary hypertension	Associate Scientist
Bittner, Vera, MD, MSPH	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine	Cardiovascular disease, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation	Senior Scientist
Braswell-Christy, Jennifer, PT, PhD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions	Visual acuity for children, vestibular hypofunction, PT for children with severe cerebral palsy	Scientist
Bridges, S. Louis, Jr., MD, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Director, Div of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, School of Medicine	Rheumatoid arthritis, Clinical immunology	Senior Scientist
Brown, Cynthia J, MD, MSPH	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Director, Div of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care. Director, Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging, School of Medicine	Aging, mobility, hospitalization	Senior Scientist
Brown, David, PT, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Physical and Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions	Stroke rehabilitation	Senior Scientist
Casazza, Krista PhD, RD	Associate Professor, Dept of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health	Childhood obesity	Associate Scientist
Colvin, Edward V, MD	Professor and Director, Dept. of Pediatric Cardiology, School of Medicine	Congenital heart disease	Senior Scientist
Combs, Bryan, MSN	Instructor, Family, Child Health, & Caregiving Dept, School of Nursing	Instructor to nursing students	UAB Staff
Cutter, Gary R, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Biostatistics, School of Public Health	Biostatistics/Epidemiology, clinical trials and community studies; chronic disease epidemiology; largescale data bases, multiple sclerosis, data and safety monitoring, neurological diseases	Senior Scientist
Dell'Italia, Louis J, MD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine	Heart failure, mitral valve disease	Senior Scientist and Associate Director for Clinical Research
Demark-Wahnefried, Wendy, PhD	Professor, Dept of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions	Behavioral interventions for breast cancer survivors	Senior Scientist
Dransfield, Mark T., MD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Pulmonary/Allergy/Critical Care, School of Medicine	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer	Scientist
Dreer, Laura, PhD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine	Rehabilitation, development of behavioral health interventions, health behaviors, chronic diseases/injuries (eye diseases, traumatic brain injury, military-related injuries) and caregiving	Associate Scientist
Durant, Nefertiti, MD, MPH	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics, School of Medicine	Physical activity, health effects of obesity in youth	Associate Scientist
Dutton, Gareth R., PhD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Preventive Medicine	Lifestyle interventions for weight loss, physical activity and diabetes prevention	Scientist
Eberhardt, Alan W, PhD	Professor, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering	Orthopedic biomechanics, injury biomechanics	Senior Scientist
Enah Comfort, PhD, RN	Assistant Professor, Community Health Outcomes and Systems Dept, School of Nursing	HIV prevention	Associate Scientist
Evans, Retta, PhD	Associate Professor, Dept of Human Studies, School of Education	Health promotion	Scientist
Fisher, Gordon, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept of Human Studies, School of Education	Exercise intensity, insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial function	Associate Scientist
Fontaine, Kevin, PhD	Professor, Dept of Health Behavior, School of Public Health	Exercise treatment for inflammatory diseases of joints	Senior Scientist
Frank, Stuart J, MD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism	Growth hormone, diabetes, metabolism	Senior Scientist
Gamble, Karen L., PhD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, School of Medicine	Circadian rhythms, biological clocks, shift work, entrainment, suprachiasmatic nucleus	Scientist
Garvey, W Timothy, MD	Professor and Chair, Dept of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions	Insulin resistance, type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome	Senior Scientist
Geisinger, Maria L, DDS	Assistant Professor, Dept of Periodontics, School of Dentistry	Periodontology, oral surgery	Associate Scientist
Gower, Barbara A, PhD	Professor, Vice Chair for Research, Dept of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions	Dietary and physiologic determinants of chronic disease	Senior Scientist
Habegger, Kirk M. PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, School of Medicine	Diabetes, obesity, energy metabolism	Associate Scientist
Halade, Ganesh, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine	Cardiovascular sciences, obesity and remodeling	Associate Scientist
Hall, Sean, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Human Studies, School of Education	Education, counseling	Associate Scientist
Hanaoka, Beatriz Y, MD	Assistant Professor, Dept of Medicine, Div. of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology	Skeletal muscle, rheumatic diseases and metabolism	Associate Scientist
Harris, W. Thomas, MD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics-Pulmonary, Childrens Ambulatory Care Center, School of Medicine	Pediatric pulmonary disease	Associate Scientist
Hites, Lisle, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Health Care Organization and Policy, School of Public Health	State and local public health	Associate Scientist
Howard, Virginia, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Epidemiology, School of Public Health	Stroke epidemiology	Senior Scientist
Hunter, Gary R, PhD	Distinguished Professor, Dept. of Human Studies, School of Education	Energetics, body composition, obesity, aging	Senior Scientist
Hurt, Christopher, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions	Mechanisms of reduced mobility by older adults and individuals with neurological disorders	Associate Scientist
Ithurburn, Matthew P., PT, PhD, DPT	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions	Knee and hip injury outcomes, biomechanics, and rehabilitation	Associate Scientist
Javed, Amjad, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry	Genetic control of skeleton formation & remodeling	Senior Scientist
Johnson, Walter, MD	Professor, Dept. of Pediatric, Div. of Cardiology, School of Medicine	Congenital heart disease	Senior Scientist
Keyser, Kent T. PhD	Assistant Vice President for Research	Vision science	Senior Scientist
Kezar, Laura B, MD	Professor, Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; School of Medicine	Health behavior, spinal cord injury	Senior Scientist
Kilgore, James R, PhD, PA-C	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Div. of Physician Assistant Studies, School of Health Professions	Clinical medicine and research	Associate Scientist
Kimberly, Robert, MD	Howard L. Holley Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Immunology/Rheumatology, School of Medicine Director, UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science	Lupus, arthritis, systemic vasculitis	Senior Scientist
King, Peter H. MD	Professor, Dept. of Neurology, School of Medicine	ALS	Senior Scientist
Lau, Yung, MD	Professor & Associate Director, Dept. of Pediatrics, Div. of Cardiology, School of Medicine	Congenital heart disease	Senior Scientist
Lazar, Ronald M., PhD	Professor, Dept. of Neurology, School of Medicine. Director, UAB McKnight Brain Institute	Effects of vascular malformations, carotid artery disease, and endocrine abnormalities on brain function; potentially reversible forms of cognitive impairment; promoting cognitive resilience with aging	Senior Scientist
Li Li, MD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry, Div. of Behavioral Neurobiology, School of Medicine	Mood Disorders	Associate Scientist
Locher, Julie L, PhD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, School of Medicine	Cancer, nutrition, lifestyle interventions	Scientist
Lowman, John D Jr, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept of Physical Therapy; School of Health Professions	Pulmonary disease	Associate Scientist
Loyaga-Rendon, Renzo, MD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine	Heart failure, Pulmonary vascular disease	Associate Scientist
McDonald, Merry-Lynn, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept of Medicine, Div of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine	Network medicine approaches to Cachexia in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)	Associate Scientist
McGwin, Gerald, MS, PhD	Professor, Vice Chair, Dept of Epidemiology, School of Public Health	Biostatistics	Senior Scientist
McLain, Amie B, MD	Professor and Chair, Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine	Spinal cord injury	Senior Scientist
McMahon-Wakefield, Lori, PhD	Professor, Dept of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Director, Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, Academic Joint Departments	Neuroscience, aging, cognition	Senior Scientist
Menear, Kristi, PhD	Professor, Dept of Human Studies, School of Education	Movement disorders in children	Scientist and Associate Director for Education
Messina, Joseph L	Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Div. of Molecular & Cellular Pathology, Academic Joint Departments	Insulin and growth hormone action, insulin and GH resistance following trauma and infection	Senior Scientist
Miltner, Rebecca, PhD, RN	Assistant Professor, School of Nursing	Work hazards, incorporating quality and safety in the nursing workforce	Associate Scientist
Moellering, Douglas, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions	Metabolism, diabetes, aging, mitochonddrial physiology, and redox biology	Scientist
Moradi, Lee, PhD, PE	Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering		Senior Scientist
Motl, Robert, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions	Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, SCI, Aging, Cognition and Mobility, Health promoting behaviors, particularly exercise, Behavioral interventions, Theory-based interventions	Senior Scientist and Associate Director for Rehabilitation Research
Mountz, John D, MD, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, School of Medicine	Aging and immune senescence	Senior Scientist
Nagy, Timothy R, PhD	Professor, Dept of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions	Obesity and cancer	Senior Scientist
Namakkal-Soorappan, Rajeskaran, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, School of Medicine	Reductive stress in the heart, aging heart and skeletal muscle	Associate Scientist
Novack, Thomas, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine	Traumatic brain injury	Senior Scientist
Ovalle, Fernando, MD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, School of Medicine	Diabetes mellitus, metabolism	Senior Scientist
Patel, Rakesh, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Div. of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Academic Joint Departments	Cardiovascular disease, free radical biology	Senior Scientist
Pekmezi, Dori, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Health Behavior, School of Public Health	Chronic disease prevention and health communication	Associate Scientist
Plaisance, Eric, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Human Studies, School of Education	Obesity, metabolic disease, nutritional physiology	Associate Scientist
Pogwizd, Steven, MD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine	Cardiovascular disease	Senior Scientist
Pollio, David, PhD	Distinguished Professor/Chair, Dept. of Social Work, College of Arts and Science	Mental health and addiction services	Senior Scientist
Prabhu, Sumanth, MD	Professor and Director, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine	Cardiovascular disease	Senior Scientist
Ramanadham, Sasanka, PhD	Associate Professor, Dept of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Academic Joint Departments	Role of lipid mediators in signal transduction	Senior Scientist
Riddle, Nicole, PhD	Associate Professor, Dept of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences	Epigenetics and chromatin	Associate Scientist
Rimmer, James, PhD	Professor, Director of Lakeshore Foundation/UAB Research Collaborative, School of Health Professions	Exercise intervention and disabilities	Senior Scientist
Rogers, Laura, MD	Professor, Dept of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions	Exercise measurement, promotion, and benefits in cancer survivors	Senior Scientist
Rowe, Glenn C. PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine	How exercise influences mitochondrial remodeling	Associate Scientist
Roy, Jane, PhD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Human Studies, School of Education	Exercise science, exercise prescription	Scientist
Saag, Kenneth G, MD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, School of Medicine	Bone & joint diseases, outcomes and effectiveness research	Senior Scientist
Saag, Michael, MD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine	HIV and HCV clinical, translational, and outcomes	Senior Scientist
Sandroff, Brian M, PhD	Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions	Effects of physical fitness, physical activity, and exercise on cognition and brain health in persons with multiple sclerosis	Associate Scientist
Sasse. Mark, MD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine	Coronary artery angioplasty, catheterization and X-ray	Scientist
Serra, Rosa, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology	Musculoskeletal disorders, osteoarthritis, lumbar disc disease	Senior Scientist
Schwebel, David, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences	Child and adolescent unintentional injury	Senior Scientist
Schwiebert, Lisa M, PhD	Associate Professor, Dept of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology; and Associate Dean, Office of Postdoctoral Education, Academic Joint Departments	Asthma, pulmonary fibrosis	Senior Scientist
Shalev, Anath, MD	Professor,Dept. of Medicine, Div of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, School of Medicine	Type I diabetes mellitus	Senior Scientist
Shelton, Richard, MD	Charles B. Ireland Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Psychiatry, Div. of Behavioral Neurobiology, School of Medicine	Mood disorders, depression, bipolar disorder	Senior Scientist
Shikany, James M, DrPH	Associate Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine	Diet, physical activity, and epidemiology and prevention of chronic disease	Scientist
Singh, Jasvinder, MD, MPH	Associate Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, School of Medicine	Knee and Hip arthroplasty, rheumatology	Scientist
Singh, Karan, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine	Chronic disease modeling, clinical trials design & survival methodology	Senior Scientist
Standaert, David G, MD, PhD	Professor and Chair, Dept of Neurology and Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine	Parkinson's disease, movement disorders	Senior Scientist
Swanson, Mark, OD, MSPH	Associate Professor, Dept. of Optometry, School of Optometry	Vision disorders among elderly, retinal disease	Scientist
Taub, Edward, PhD	University Professor/Director C.I. Therapy, Dept. of Psycology, College of Arts and Sciences	Constraint-Induced movement therapy	Senior Scientist
Theiss, Steven M. MD.	Professor and Director, Dept. of Surgery, Div of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine	Orthopaedic surgery, musculoskeletal problems	Senior Scientist
Uswatte, Gitendra, PhD	Professor, Psychology, College of Arts and Science	Development of real-world measures of motor behavior	Senior Scientis
Vogtle, Laura, PhD	Professor, Dept of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions	Rehabilitation for movement disorders	Senior Scientist
Vohra, Yogesh, PhD	Professor, Assoc Dean, Dept. of Physics, College of Arts and Science	Nanoscale materials	Senior Scientist
Walker, Harrison C, MD	Associate Professor, Dept of Neurology, School of Medicine	Parkinson's disease	Scientist
Watts, Ray L, MD	President, University of Alabama at Birmingham	Parkinson's disease	Senior Scientist
Weise, Katherine K, OD, MBA	Associate Professor, Dept. of Optometry, School of Optometry	Pediatric eye disease, traumatic brain injury, sports-related concussion	Scientist
Wende, Adam R, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Div. of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Academic Joint Departments	Glucose utilization, fatty acid metabolism	Associate Scientist
Wesselmann, Ursula, MD, PhD	Professor, Dept. of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine	Urogenital and pelvic pain in women, pain in breast cancer survivors	Senior Scientist
Wick, Timothy, PhD	Senior Associate Dean, School of Engineering	Cartilage tissue engineering, cartilage repair and transdermal drug delivery	Senior Scientist
Wilkinson, Larrell, PhD, MSPH, CHES	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Human Studies, School of Education	Dietary, physical activity and lifestyle behaviors	Associate Scientist
Williams, Grant R., MD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Divisions of Hematology/Oncology & Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Pallative Care, Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Suvivorship	Refining treatment selection and improving outcomes of older adults with cancer	Associate Scientist
Windham, Samuel III, MD	Associate Professor, Dept. of Surgery, Div. of General Surgery Trauma Section, School of Medicine	Trauma, burns, skeletal muscle hypertrophy	Scientist
Wingate, Martha, DrPH	Associate Professor, Dept. of Health Care Organization and Policy, School of Public Health	Maternal and child health policy	Scientist
Willig, Amanda, PhD	Assistant Professor, Div. of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine	HIV and physical activity	Associate Scientist
Wingo, Brooks, PhD	Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions	Behavioral interventions for obesity	Associate Scientist
Yarar, Ceren, PT, PhD	Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation	Muscle biology, muscle protein, spinal cord injury	Associate Scientist
Young, Martin E. PhD	Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine	Myocardial metabolism, physical activity	Senior Scientist
Yuen, Hon, PhD	Professor, Dept of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions	Exercise treatments for chronic conditions	Senior Scientist
Zinski, Anne, PhD	Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine	HIV and physical activity	Associate Scientist

Members