After 10 years of leadership as Chair of the Department of Health Behavior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Kevin Fontaine, PhD opens a new website, stepped down with the appointment of interim successor, Suzanne Judd, PhD in July. Fontaine continues to teach in the department as a full-time professor.
Aside from his portfolio of impactful research, including 30 years of experience conducting obesity-related lifestyle modification trials, as well as investigating the impacts of diet, exercise and nutrition on health, Fontaine is known in the School of Public Health for his ability to bring humor and connection into the classroom and meetings.
He joined the School of Public Health in April 2012 after long collaborations with David Allison, PhD and the UAB Nutrition Obesity Research Center opens a new website. After six months of teaching, Fontaine was named Vice Chair of the Department of Health Behavior. He was then approached by Dean Emeritus, Max Michael III, MD about an opportunity to lead the department as chair. Fontaine accepted the opportunity in June 2014, although he did not consider himself leadership material at the time (and says that he still does not, although his students and colleagues would disagree.)
Fontaine holds a Master of Arts in Science and Medical Writing from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Assumption College and a PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Manchester. He completed postdoctoral training as a research fellow in clinical obesity treatment at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Fontaine is also the Antoine Lavoisier Endowed Professor of Energetics and Healthy Lifestyles at the UAB School of Public Health.
Reflecting on the Last 10 Years
When asked what Fontaine is most proud of during his time as chair, he laughed and said “I am proud that I didn’t lose all my hair, although, I used to have hair as dark as Elvis Presley. And I am impressed that I managed to stay married.”
“I am also proud of a very fine group of faculty and staff in the Department of Health Behavior. I have been fortunate to see many people in the department advance significantly in their careers over the last 10 years.” In particular, he commends the professional success of professors Peter Hendricks, PhD opens a new website and Dorothy Pekmezi, PhD opens a new website who were assistant professors when he joined the school. “I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to work closely with so many talented faculty and students.”
Fontaine also notes the stability of the department and a lack of employee turnover as a success during his time in leadership.
“Any success of a department is driven by the day-in, day-out work of staff,” said Fontaine. “Staff keep everything going so faculty can concentrate on what they need to do to be successful. Without our administrative and research staff, our department would never have been as successful as it is today, and we are lucky to have good people working here.” Fontaine specifically recognizes Julie Brown, MBA, Program Director II, Bethany Christolear, Program Manager, and Ginny Harvard, MBA, Business Officer II for their significant contributions to the operations of the Department of Health Behavior.
He also points out the way he saw employees come together during the Covid-19 Pandemic and manage to continue teaching and operations, commending the way the Department of Health Behavior adjusted to the new normal.
“I marvel that Deans Michael and Erwin kept me as chair for 10 years,” said Fontaine. “I am so grateful for the Health Behavior faculty and staff who made me look good, or at least not like a complete disaster during my time as chair. I remember when I took the position, I said, ‘I'll probably run the department over the cliff.’ I didn't manage to do that, so I guess that that's something…”
Bringing Laughter into the Workplace and Classroom
To preserve what's left of his psychological well-being, Fontaine says he is repressing all memories of his time as chair. However, he points out that especially during the Covid-19 Pandemic, he tried to bring some levity to the proceedings by injecting humor, laughing that most of it probably missed the mark. “My wife, Ann, says that I am the only one who finds what I say funny, but I tell her that I have to entertain myself because no one else will.”
Fontaine also uses comedy to maintain student interest in the classroom. “These days, everything is a soundbite, and everyone is trying to make an impression, making it challenging to maintain the attention of your students while teaching,” said Fontaine. “I use comedy to interact with my students, doing my best to be unpredictable so that they will pay attention.
“Dr. Fontaine has been an outstanding leader in the Department of Health Behavior and an influential professor in the classroom,” said Kalea Jones, M.S., MPH and Health Behavior PhD student. “During class, he is always challenging students to think critically about research, while also encouraging a witty and creative yet empathetic approach to science writing. His class was a major highlight of my PhD journey, and I will carry many of his lessons—and readings—into my future work!”
Dr. Fontaine’s Approach to Teaching
Fontaine has a unique philosophy on teaching that stands out to his students. “I believe teaching is best accomplished within the context of the students perceiving that they have a relationship with you,” said Fontaine. “The vast majority of learning will happen outside of my time with the students, so I help them to facilitate learning. I convey excitement about the material to my students in hopes that it’s contagious. I believe my students will be successful if they put the work in.”
He has empathy for what young people are going through right now, noting that the environment his students live in today is high pressure and even before the Covid-19 Pandemic, he noticed a decline in mental health among students. “Education shouldn’t be as stressful as it seems for students. It’s expensive, and students must make sacrifices to be here. I want them to focus on trying to enjoy their time at UAB and learn what they can, knowing that the relationships they will form here in my classroom will last for the rest of their lives.”
“This story is a great example of the humor that Dr. Fontaine has brought to his work,” said Paul Erwin, M.D., DrPH, Dean of the UAB School of Public Health. “He is the perfect example of someone who takes his work very seriously, while not taking himself too seriously. I knew I could get a glimpse of what kinds of research proposals Dr. Fontaine would be submitting, because he often did ‘pilot’ work on himself (e.g., ice water baths). In all seriousness, though, I appreciate Dr. Fontaine for many things, including his commitment to his students’ wellbeing and his capacity to adapt to the needs and direction of the discipline.”
Dr. Suzanne Judd named Interim Chair of the Department of Health Behavior
Effective July 1, 2024, Suzanne Judd, PhD is the Interim Chair of the Department of Health Behavior. As a Professor in the Department of Biostatistics, Judd is among the top-funded researchers in the UAB School of Public Health, being the Principal Investigator for both the REGARDS Study and the RURAL Cohort Study. As a nutritional epidemiologist by training, her work in behavioral epidemiology has a substantial disciplinary fit with current areas of focus within the department.