Explore UAB

Sparkman Scholars are part of a recognized network of UAB faculty working in the areas of global health and development. This network aims to facilitate developing new collaborations with colleagues across campus, as well as making linkages with students interested in global health and development.Sparkman Scholars will have the opportunity to serve as mentors to students from among a select group of students who will apply to become Sparkman Fellows through a competitive process

Faculty members in the field of global health and development who would like to expand their work may apply for the Sparkman Scholar designation through the application below. We hope many of you will join us in this exciting initiative!

  • Current Sparkman Scholars

    Moustafa Awaden, PhD

    Moustafa Awaden, PhD

    Moustafa Awaden, PhD
    Southeastern Biosafety Laboratory Alabama Birmingham

    Geographic Experience: Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region
    Focus Area: Biosafety & biosecurity training and capacity building, lab-based surveillance studies and outbreak investigations of infectious diseases in LMICs
    Lori Bateman, PhD

    Lori Bateman, PhD

    Lori Bateman, PhD
    School of Medicine, Division of Preventative Medicine

    Geographic Experience: Egypt
    Focus Area: Colon cancer screening, socio-cultural and demographic factors; utilization

    UAB Scholar profile

    Erica Bjornstad, MD, MPH

    Erica Bjornstad, MD, MPH

    Erica Bjornstad, MD, MPH
    School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics

    Geographic Experience: Malawi, Tanzania
    Focus Area: Acute Kidney Injury, Nephrology, Epidemiology

    UAB Scholar profile

    Robert Blanton, PhD

    Robert Blanton, PhD

    Robert Blanton, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Government

    Geographic Experience: Cross-National
    Focus Area: Human rights, labor rights, human trafficking, workplace safety

    UAB Scholar profile

    Carolyn Bolton Moore, MD

    Carolyn Bolton Moore, MD

    Carolyn Bolton Moore, MD
    School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
    Geographic Experience: Zambia/Africa
    Focus Area: Implementation science, HIV, adolescent HIV, health systems strengthening

    UAB Scholar profile

    Nancy Borkowski, DBA

    Nancy Borkowski, DBA

    Nancy Borkowski, DBA
    School of Health Professions, Department of Health Services Administration

    Geographic Experience: China
    Focus Area: advancing health management as a profession in China

    UAB Scholar profile

    Bruxvoort K

    Bruxvoort K

    Katia Bruxvoort, PhD MPH
    School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology

    Geographic Experience: Sub-Saharan Africa
    Focus Area: infectious diseases, malaria, COVID, vaccines, intervention implementation & evaluation, community impact

    UAB Scholar profile

    Waldemar Carlo, MD

    Waldemar Carlo, MD

    Waldemar "Wally" Carlo, MD
    School of Medicine, Division of Neonatalogy

    Geographic Experience: US, developing countries, and the Global Network countries
    Focus Area: Neonatal and childhood research in single and multicenter trials

    UAB Scholar profile

    Leandra Celaya, MSc

    Leandra Celaya, MSc

    Celaya Leandra, MSc
    School of Health Professions, Department of Health Services Administration

    Geographic Experience: Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Brazil, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Spain, The Netherlands, and Honduras
    Focus Area: Healthcare Management Education

    UAB Scholar profile

    Amy Chatham

    Amy Chatham

    Amy Chatham, PhD, MSPH
    School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences

    Geographic Experience: United States
    Focus Area: Rural health, Health equity and access, WASH, soil-transmitted helminth ingection, Community-Based Participatory Research

    UAB Scholar profile

    Renato Corbetta, PhD

    Renato Corbetta, PhD

    Renato Corbetta, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Government

    Geographic Experience:
    Focus Area: Research methodology, international relations, major power states in international politics and international law

    UAB Scholar profile

    Loretta Cormier, PhD

    Loretta Cormier, PhD

    Loretta Cormier, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Anthropology

    Geographic Experience: Historical ecology, ethnoprimatology, ethnohistorical research
    Focus Area: Brazil

    UAB Scholar profile

    Martha Dawson, DNP, RN, FACHE

    Martha Dawson, DNP, RN, FACHE

    Martha Dawson, DNP, RN, FACHE
    School of Nursing

    Geographic Experience: Canada, Denmark, Philippines, Ghana
    Focus Area: Impact of nurse mitigation on the cost of health care, nursing and global health

    UAB Scholar profile

    Jodie Dionne-Odom, MD

    Jodie Dionne-Odom, MD

    Jodie Dionne-Odom, MD
    School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

    Geographic Experience: Cameroon
    Focus Area: HIV and coinfections in pregnancy

    UAB Scholar profile

    Paul Erwin, MD, DrPH

    Paul Erwin, MD, DrPH

    Paul Erwin, MD, DrPH
    School of Public Health, Department of Health Care Organization and Policy

    Geographic Experience: Cuba, China, England
    Focus Area: Health systems

    UAB Scholar profile

    Colleen Fisher

    Colleen Fisher

    Colleen Fisher, PhD, MSW
    College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Social Work

    Geographic Experience: Kenya, India, Guatemala, Ecuador
    Focus Area: HIV/AIDS; water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH); maternal and child health; microfinance and other livelihood interventions to improve health in low resource settings

    UAB Scholar profile

    Eric Ford, PhD, MPH

    Eric Ford, PhD, MPH

    Eric Ford, PhD, MPH
    School of Public Health, Health Care Organization and Policy

    Geographic Experience: China
    Focus Area: Improving organization and inforamtion management, healthcare management

    UAB Scholar profile

    Marcela Frazier, OD, MPH, FAAO

    Marcela Frazier, OD, MPH, FAAO

    Marcela Frazier, OD, MPH, FAAO
    School of Optometry

    Geographic Experience:
    Focus Area: Educational interventions for improving eye care and health care in the Hispanic community

    UAB Scholar profile

    Meredith Gartin, PhD, MA

    Meredith Gartin, PhD, MA

    Meredith Gartin, PhD
    School of Public Health, Department of Health Care Organization and Policy

    Geographic Experience: Latin America, South Pacific, and US immigrant/refugees
    Focus Area: Globalization and health; Food and water security; Climate change; Migration and refugee health

    UAB Scholar profile

    Gribble M

    Gribble M

    Matthew Gribble, PhD
    School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology

    Geographic Experience: South America, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Pacific Islands, South Africa
    Focus Area: Environmental health, including: climate change, drinking water, Oceans and Human Health

    UAB Scholar profile

    Achala Gunasekara-Rockwell, PhD, MA

    Achala Gunasekara-Rockwell, PhD, MA

    Achala Gunasekara-Rockwell, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, World Languages and Literatures Department; US Air Force-Air University

    Geographic Experience: Sri Lanka
    Focus Area: Languages and cultures of Asia and improving educational opportunities in South Asian communities, especially among young girls and physicially disabled children

    UAB Scholar profile

    Lily Gutnik, MD

    Lily Gutnik, MD

    Lily Gutnik, MD
    School of Medicine, Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery

    Geographic Experience: breast cancer, oncology, surgery
    Focus Area: sub-Saharan Africa

    UAB Scholar profile

    Akhlaque Haque, PhD

    Akhlaque Haque, PhD

    Akhlaque Haque, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Government

    Geographic Experience: Bangladesh
    Focus Area: Big Data, social justice, and public health data. Geographic information systems (GIS) and health related applications of GIS

    UAB Scholar profile

    Ragib Hasan, PhD

    Ragib Hasan, PhD

    Ragib Hasan, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Computer Science

    Geographic Experience: Bangladesh
    Focus Area: Provided free online courses to rural and disadvantaged students in Bangladesh and India, and online learning programs through YouTube

    UAB Scholar profile

    Kristine Ria Hearld, PhD

    Kristine Ria Hearld, PhD

    Kristine Ria Hearld, PhD
    School of Health Professions, Department of Health Services Administration

    Geographic Experience:
    Focus Area: Health care of vulnerable populations, global health, maternal and child health, health disparities, and mental health outcomes

    UAB Scholar profile

    Zdenek Hel, PhD

    Zdenek Hel, PhD

    Zdenek Hel, PhD
    School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

    Geographic Experience: South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Czech Republic
    Focus Area: HIV/AIDS research, Pathology, Molecular Pathology, Immunology, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, cancer

    UAB Scholar profile

    Anna Helova, DrPH

    Anna Helova, DrPH

    Anna Helova, DrPH, MA, MBA
    School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Organization

    Geographic Experience: East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Zambia), Central Europe (Slovakia, Czech Republic), and domestic programs
    Focus Area: Outcomes research, HIV prevention, maternal & child health

    UAB Scholar profile

    German Henostroza

    German Henostroza

    German Henostoza, MD
    School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

    Geographic Experience: Central & South America
    Focus Area: TB-HIV, Tropical medicine

    UAB Scholar profile

    S. Robert Hernandez, DrPH

    S. Robert Hernandez, DrPH

    S. Robert Hernandez, DrPH
    School of Health Professions, Department of Health Services Administration

    Geographic Experience: Armenia, Western and Central Europe, Russia, Saudi Arabia
    Focus Area: Management and leadership development, healthcare management research

    UAB Scholar profile

    Shannon Houser

    Shannon Houser

    Shannon Houser, PhD, MPH, RHIA, FAHIMA
    School of Health Professions, Department of Health Services Administration

    Geographic China
    Focus Area:Education and research in the areas of Healthcare/Hospital Administration, Health Information/Informatics, health behavior, and epidemiology

    UAB Scholar profile

    Nataliya Ivankova, PhD, MPH

    Nataliya Ivankova, PhD, MPH

    Nataliya Ivankova, PhD, MPH
    School of Health Professions, Department of Health Services Administration

    Geographic Experience: No specific area, generally international
    Focus Area: Qualitative inquirt, mixed-methods research, community-based and action research implementation science and translational research

    UAB Scholar profile

    Elizabeth Jackson, MD, MPH

    Elizabeth Jackson, MD, MPH

    Elizabeth Jackson, MD, MPH
    School of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease

    Geographic Experience: Kenya
    Focus Area: Cardiovascular prevention, digital health, women's health

    UAB Scholar profile

    Gavin Jenkins

    Gavin Jenkins

    Gavin Jenkins, PhD
    School of Health Professions, Department of Occupational Therapy

    Geographic Experience: South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda
    Focus Area: education abroad programs for occupational therapists

    UAB Scholar profile

    Grace Jepkemboi, PhD

    Grace Jepkemboi, PhD

    Grace Jepkemboi, PhD
    School of Education, Early Childhood and Elementary Education

    Geographic Experience: Kenya, Swaziland, Jamaica
    Focus Area: Psychosocial aspects on Children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS, HIV /AIDS and Adolescents population

    UAB Scholar profile

    James Michael Johnston, MD

    James Michael Johnston, MD

    James Michael Johnston, MD
    School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery

    Geographic Experience: Vietnam, Ghana
    Focus Area: Surgical Training and Capacity Building; Pediatric Neurosurgery; Hydrocephalus; Spina Bifida; Brain Trauma; Surgical Outcomes/Education; Craniofacial Surgery; Brain Tumors

    UAB Scholar profile

    Pauline Jolly, PhD, MPH

    Pauline Jolly, PhD, MPH

    Pauline Jolly, PhD
    School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology

    Geographic Experience: Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Guatemala, Tanzania, Peru
    Focus Area: HIV/AIDS, STIs, Genetics of hypertension, Complementary/Alternative Medicine use for Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Cervical cancer screening and prevention

    UAB Scholar profile

    Suzanne Judd

    Suzanne Judd

    Suzanne Judd, PhD, MPH
    School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics; Director of Lister Hill Center for Health Policy

    Geographic Experience: Untied States, France
    Focus Area: Diet and environment as mediators of racial disparities in the risk of hypertension, kidney disease, and stroke; nutrition science, obesity, community health

    UAB Scholar profile

    Mirjam-Colette Kempf, PhD, MPH

    Mirjam-Colette Kempf, PhD, MPH

    Mirjam-Colette Kempf, PhD, MPH
    School of Nursing

    Geographic Experience: Nepal
    Focus Area: Infextions disease, HIV/AIDS

    UAB Scholar profile

    Andrzej Kulczycki, PhD, MSc

    Andrzej Kulczycki, PhD, MSc

    Andrzej Kulczycki, PhD, MSc
    School of Public Health, Department of Health Care Organization and Policy

    Geographic Experience: Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Lebanon, Mexico and Poland
    Focus Area: Reproductive health; Behavior and policy; Demography and population studies; Maternal and early child health; Vaccination and primary health care, health service delivery, and health policy

    UAB Scholar profile

    Chris Kyle, PhD

    Chris Kyle, PhD

    Chris Kyle, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Anthropology

    Geographic Experience: Mexico
    Focus Area: Criminal violence and Narcotics, production, trafficking, use, and the associated violence

    UAB Scholar profile

    Jayme Locke, MD, MPH, FACS

    Jayme Locke, MD, MPH, FACS

    Jayme Locke, MD, MPH, FACS
    School of Medicine, Division of Transplantation

    Geographic Experience: South Africa
    Focus Area: transplant of incompatible organs, and HIV-infected end-stage patients

    UAB Scholar profile

    Bhekie Lukele

    Bhekie Lukele

    Bhekumusa Lukhele, PhD, MPH
    School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Orgranization

    Geographic Experience: Eswatini, Japan, London, Uganda
    Focus Area: Socio-epidemiology, clinical Nursing, government & NGO management, health informatics

    UAB Scholar profile

    MacCarthy S

    MacCarthy S

    Sarah MacCarthy, ScD
    School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior

    Geographic Experience: Brazil
    Focus Area: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) health

    UAB Scholar profile

    Albert Manasyan, M.D.

    Albert Manasyan, M.D.

    Albert Manasyan, M.D.
    School of Medicine, Division of Neonatology

    Geographic Experience: Zambia
    Focus Area: perinatal research, maternal & child health, cervical cancer, stigma, perinatal depression

    UAB Scholar profile

    Simon Manga, PhD

    Simon Manga, PhD

    Simon Manga, PhD
    School of Medicine, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology

    Geographic Experience: Cameroon, Sub-Saharan Africa
    Focus Area: Cervical cancer prevention, Women's reproductive health care

    UAB Scholar profile

    Ada Markaki, PhD, RN, PHCNS-BC

    Ada Markaki, PhD, RN, PHCNS-BC

    Ada Markaki, PhD, RN, PHCNS-BC
    School of Nursing

    Geographic Experience: Latin American and Caribbean Region, Greece
    Focus Area: Health systems research in primary health care; collaborative practice; compassionate care; organ donation

    UAB Scholar profile

    Lynn Matthews, MD, MPH

    Lynn Matthews, MD, MPH

    Lynn Matthews, MD, MPH
    School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease

    Geographic Experience: South Africa, Uganda
    Focus Area: HIV prevention and disclosure, reproductive health, safer conception, reproductive rights, women's health

    UAB Scholar profile

    Stacy Moak, JD, PhD

    Stacy Moak, JD, PhD

    Stacy Moak, JD, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Social Work
    Geographic Experience: Nairobi and Maasai Mara, Kenya
    Focus Area: Clean water, sustainable agriculture, education in orphanages, feminine hygiene produces to adolescent girls to promote education, and promoting policies to end the process of female genital mutilation in the Maasai culture

    UAB Scholar profile

    David Morris, PT, PhD

    David Morris, PT, PhD

    David Morris, PT, PhD
    School of Health Professions, Deaprtment of Physical Therapy

    Geographic Experience:
    Focus Area: Physical therapy

    UAB Scholar profile

    Phillip Musa, PhD

    Phillip Musa, PhD

    Phillip Musa, PhD
    Collat School of Business, Department of Management Information Systems and Quantitative Methods

    Geographic Experience: Sub-Saharan Africa and other low resource regions
    Focus Area: IT diffusion/adoption; Public Health Disease Surveillance and Containment; Health Equity and Access; IT for Development, IT Preparedness for Telemedicine, etc.

    UAB Scholar profile

    Van Nghiem

    Van Nghiem

    Van Nghiem, PhD, MSPH
    School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy & Organization

    Geographic Experience: Vietnam
    Focus Area: Economic evaluations for healthcare programs

    UAB Scholar profile

    Lynn Nichols, PhD, RN

    Lynn Nichols, PhD, RN

    Lynn Nichols, PhD, RN
    School of Nursing

    Geographic Experience: Haiti and Thailand
    Focus Area: Sustainable development goals and social determinants of health; interprofessional teamwork

    UAB Scholar profile

    Ana Oliveria, DrPH

    Ana Oliveria, DrPH

    Ana Oliveira, DrPH, MS, MSPH
    School of Health Professions, Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences

    Geographic Experience: Brazil
    Focus Area: Infectious Diseases, Parasitolgy, Epidemiology and Public Helath Practice (ex: outbreak investigation), Education

    UAB Scholar profile

    Tina Kempin-Reuter, PhD

    Tina Kempin-Reuter, PhD

    Tina Kempin-Reuter, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Departments of Government & Anthropology

    Geographic Experience: Middle East and North Africa, Europe, Kenya, Peru
    Focus Area: Human rights, ethnic conflict and conflict resolution, peace studies, international politics/law

    UAB Scholar profile

    Holly Richter, PhD, MD, FACOG, FACS

    Holly Richter, PhD, MD, FACOG, FACS

    Holly E. Richter PhD, MD, FACOG, FACS
    School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologyy

    Geographic Experience: West Africa
    Focus Area: recto-and vesicovaginal surgery and research; pelvic floor surgery (prolapse, incontinence); global fellow education

    UAB Scholar profile

    Brandon Rocque, MD, MS

    Brandon Rocque, MD, MS

    Brandon Rocque, MD, MS
    School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery

    Geographic Experience: Vietnam
    Focus Area: Neurosurgical education, hydrocephalus inciden and treatment, epilepsy surgery program development

    UAB Scholar profile

    Christina Rodriguez, PhD

    Christina Rodriguez, PhD

    Christina Rodriguez, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology

    Geographic Experience: Spain, Peru
    Focus Area: Parenting, child abuse, intimate partner violence

    UAB Scholar profile

    Martin Rodriguez, PhD

    Martin Rodriguez, PhD

    Martin Rodriguez, PhD
    School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease

    Geographic Experience: Peru
    Focus Area: Tropical diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, metabolic complications in HIV; education interventions in Infectious Diseases for developing countries

    UAB Scholar profile

    Cynthia Ryan, PhD

    Cynthia Ryan, PhD

    Cynthia Ryan, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of English

    Geographic Experience: India, Nepal, Zambia, Poland, The Netherlands
    Focus Area: Medical rhetoric

    UAB Scholar profile

    Michael Saag, MD

    Michael Saag, MD

    Michael Saag, MD
    School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease

    Geographic Experience: Zambia
    Focus Area: HIV/AIDS

    UAB Scholar profile

    Mansoor Saleh, MD

    Mansoor Saleh, MD

    Mansoor Saleh, MD
    School of Medicine

    Geographic Experience: Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia
    Focus Area: Global oncology, clinical investigator training, clinical trials, overcoming barriers to cancer care and cancer clinical trials

    UAB Scholar profile

    Isabel Scarinci, PhD

    Isabel Scarinci, PhD

    Isabel Scarinci-Searles, PhD
    School of Medicine, Division of Preventative Medicine
    Associate Director, O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center


    Geographic Experience: Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka
    Focus Area: Tobacco control, cervical cancer prevention and control

    UAB Scholar profile

    David Schwebel, PhD

    David Schwebel, PhD

    David Schwebel, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology

    Geographic Experience: China, Iran, Uganda, Canada
    Focus Area: Child and adolescent unintentional injury

    UAB Scholar profile

    Lisa Sharlach, PhD

    Lisa Sharlach, PhD

    Lisa Sharlach, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Political Science and Public Administration

    Geographic Experience: South Africa, Rwanda, North Korea, India
    Focus Area: Violence against women

    UAB Scholar profile

    Sadeep Shrestha, PhD

    Sadeep Shrestha, PhD

    Sadeep Shrestha, PhD
    School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology

    Geographic Experience: Nepal
    Focus Area: Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases, women's health, HPV and HPV-related cancer, reproductive health

    UAB Scholar profile

    Michael Straughn, MD

    Michael Straughn, MD

    Michael Straughn, MD
    School of Medicine, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology

    Geographic Experience: Mekelle, Ethiopia
    Focus Area: Cervical precancer and cancers screening and education, gynecologic care, OBGYN training

    UAB Scholar profile

    Magdalena Szaflarski, PhD

    Magdalena Szaflarski, PhD

    Magdalena Szaflarski, PhD
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Sociology

    Geographic Experience: Eastern Europe, former USSR/Russia
    Focus Area: Immigrant health, HIV, mental/behavioral health, neurological diseases, and comparative health care systems, faith-based community factors in HIV prevention and care

    UAB Scholar profile

    Meghan Tipre, DrPH

    Meghan Tipre, DrPH

    Meghan Tipre, DrPH
    School of Medicine, Deaprtment of Preventative Medicine

    Geographic Experience: South Asia
    Focus Area: Fly ash exposure, Indoor air pollution, Outdoor air pollution, Environmental health

    UAB Scholar profile

    Alan Tita, MD

    Alan Tita, MD

    Alan Tita, MD
    School of Medicine, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology

    Geographic Experience: Sub-Saharan Africa
    Focus Area: Pregnancy, Infections, Epidemiology, Gynecology, Reproductive Health, Women's Health

    UAB Scholar profile

    Bulent Turan, PhD, MA

    Bulent Turan, PhD, MA

    Bulent Turan, PhD, MA
    College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology

    Geographic Experience: Turkey
    Focus Area: Mechanisms underlying the relationship between social bonds and well-being across the life-span, stigma and discrimination

    UAB Scholar profile

    Janet Turan, PhD, MPH

    Janet Turan, PhD, MPH

    Janet Turan, PhD, MPH
    School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Organization

    Geographic Experience: Kenya, Turkey, Eritrea, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Jordan, and Egypt
    Focus Area: Maternal and child health (MCH) in low-resource settings; Stigma as it relates to a variety of reproductive health conditions/services, including abortion, obstetric fistula, HIV/AIDS, and gender-based violence

    UAB Scholar profile

    Barbara Van Der Pol, PhD

    Barbara Van Der Pol, PhD

    Barbara Van Der Pol, PhD
    School of Medicine

    Geographic Experience: Sub-Saharan Africa and Caribbean
    Focus Area: STI's and HIV

    UAB Scholar profile

    R. Marty Vander Noot, MD

    R. Marty Vander Noot, MD

    R. Marty Vander Noot, MD
    School of Medicine

    Geographic Experience: Peru, Kenya, Cambodia
    Focus Area: Tropical Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Ultrasound Utilization

    UAB Scholar profile

    Michael Vinikoor, MD

    Michael Vinikoor, MD

    Michael Vinikoor, MD
    School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease

    Geographic Experience: Zambia
    Focus Area: HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, alcohol misues, mental health, implementation science

    UAB Scholar profile

    Ursula Wesselmann, MD, PhD

    Ursula Wesselmann, MD, PhD

    Ursula Wesselmann, MD, PhD
    School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Periopertaive Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine

    Geographic Experience: Asia
    Focus Area: Pain and racial health disparities

    UAB Scholar profile

    Jeffrey Wickliffe

    Jeffrey Wickliffe

    Jeffrey Wickliffe, PhD, MS
    School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences
    Geographic Experience: Caribbean and South America
    Focus Area: Exposures to environmental chemicals and hazards, maternal and child health, neurodevelopment and neurological disease, cancer.

    UAB Scholar profile

    Amanda Willig, PhD

    Amanda Willig, PhD

    Amanda Willig, PhD
    School of Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease

    Geographic Experience: Zambia, Panama
    Focus Area: Nutrition and Exercise interventions, HIV and TB, education of health professionals

    UAB Scholar profile

    Craig Wilson, MD

    Craig Wilson, MD

    Craig Wilson, MD
    School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology

    Geographic Experience: Zambia, Ethiopia
    Focus Area: HIV/AIDS, Healthcare workforce development and use of IT innovations to deliver educational content

    UAB Scholar profile

    Nabiha Yusuf, PhD

    Nabiha Yusuf, PhD

    Nabiha Yusuf, PhD
    School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology

    Geographic Experience:
    Focus Area: Cancer and infectious disease

    UAB Scholar profile

    Majd Zayzafoon, MD, PhD

    Majd Zayzafoon, MD, PhD

    Majd Zayzafoon, MD, PhD
    School of Medicine

    Geographic Experience: China, Taiwan, Central America, Middle East
    Focus Area: International human trafficking

    UAB Scholar profile

     

     

  • How do Sparkman Scholars mentor Fellows?

    What is the connection between the Sparkman Scholars (faculty) & Sparkman Fellows (student) programs?

    Each academic year around 15 Sparkman Scholars serve as a mentor for a Sparkman Fellow student. This mentorship opportunity is at the core of the Sparkman Fellows program. Mentorship can focus on global health research, global health practice, or leadership/career development, or a combination of these three priority areas. Each Scholar/Fellow match is different. Our goal in the Sparkman Center is to facilitate matches between faculty & students that lead to positive experiences & growth for all involved.

    Who are Sparkman Fellows?

    The Sparkman Fellows Program is intended for highly motivated and engaged students seeking to enhance their understanding of global issues in a stimulating learning environment. Current UAB students apply to be Sparkman Fellows mid-spring semester. Each year, the Fellows program runs for an academic year, starting in the Fall.
    Around 15 students are selected each year. Fellows could be studying at the undergraduate, masters, doctoral and/or professional level. Just as global health professionals study & work in a variety of disciplines, so do Sparkman Fellows. Provided a Sparkman Fellow has demonstrated an interest and passion for global health, they can be studying in any school or track across the various schools at UAB.

    How are Fellows and Scholars matched?

    After their acceptance into the Sparkman Fellows program, students fill out a match form outlining their global health interests and top 2 priority areas for mentorship (research, practice, or leadership/career development). Fellows outline what skills they have and skills they look to potentially develop through mentorship. Finally, they identify a few Scholars they would be interested in being paired with and why (shared interest, previous experience, etc.)

    The Sparkman Center then reviews Fellow match forms along with global health project activities reported to us from Sparkman Scholars to identify potential matches. The Sparkman Center emails a Sparkman Scholar if there’s a potential Fellow match to see if they would be willing/able to work with the Sparkman Fellow mentee.

    What are the expectations of Sparkman Scholars who serve as mentors to Sparkman Fellows?

    Be available throughout the school year to meet with your Sparkman Fellow mentee (minimum of 8 meetings over the academic year with the first meeting happening by the end of August)

    • Communicate with the Fellow to understand their interests and experiences in order to figure out how to engage them in your global health & development projects or activities over the course of the year. Examples of ways that students can get involved include…..
        • work on qualitative analysis of data 
        • carry out a literature review
        • develop education/training materials
        • support development of global health focused education abroad program
        • compile background research for new projects
        • contribute to project write-ups through creation of figures & graphs, paper revisions & poster design
        • assist with IRB submissions for global health research projects
    • Communicate with the Sparkman Center if there is an issue or if there is a way the Sparkman Center can support you & your Fellow mentee

    What are the expectations of Sparkman Fellows?

    • Communicate with their Scholar mentor to schedule meetings, and come to each meeting with a list of topics they would like to cover
    • Provide a mid-point evaluation in December to the Sparkman Center including: number & frequency of mentor meetings, progress to program goals, changes to goals (if applicable), and support they need to meet their goals
    • Submit a final presentation by the end of Spring semester outlining: start of program interests & goals, project/program/activities engaged in with Scholar mentor, & outcomes of the mentorship (lessons learned,

    Do all Sparkman Fellows want to be involved in a research project?

    Many, but not all, Fellows are interested in being involved with a global health research project. If that is the case, the Sparkman Center will communicate this when we email Scholars about a potential Fellow match.

    Other Fellows are more interested in mentorship on global health practice or career/leadership development. Some Fellows might be interested in a Scholar mentor advising them on a project they already have underway, while others might appreciate help networking with global health professionals or thinking through potential career paths for working in global health and development.

     

    Other questions? Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

     

  • Submit to Become a Sparkman Scholar

    Requirements

    • UAB faculty in any school
    • Currently engaged in (or interested in becoming engaged in) research or practice projects in the fields of health and development (as broadly defined) outside the United States
    • Willing to be listed as a resource in a Sparkman Scholars directory on the Sparkman website

    Commitments

    • Attend Scholars meeting/seminar 4 times a year
    • Be willing to present your global health and development work to the group, and to give constructive feedback to others
    • Be willing to mentor stellar students interested in / engaged in global health and development topics (1-2 students per year)

    For more information, faculty should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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