SUNY PRIDE Scholars
Cohort IV – 2015
Willie Mae Abel, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC
Assistant Professor
Department, School: College of Health and Human Services, School of Nursing
University: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Research Interests: My research interests include reducing risky health behaviors in Black women with cardiovascular disease with a particular focus on hypertension and medication adherence.
Danielle Arigo, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department, School: Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences
University: University of Scranton
Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Research Interests: The interplay between cardiovascular and emotional health, with particular emphasis on the examination of social influences on health and health behavior and the improvement of intervention design and delivery.
Pablo Cure, MD, MPH
Assistant Research Professor
Department, School: Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Children’s National Health System, School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
University: The George Washington University
Location: Washington, DC
Research Interests: Retrospective and Prospective Studies in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Biomarkers of Wellness and Disease in Hispanics
Tefera Gezmu, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department, School: Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
University: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Location: New Brunswick, New Jersey
Research Interests: I am interested in using innovative epidemiologic and statistical methods to identify mechanisms of cardiovascular disease development and progression including vascular properties, lifestyle interventions, and responsiveness to preventive pharmacotherapy.
Marla B. Hall, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department, School: Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine
University: East Carolina University
Location: Greenville, North Carolina
Research Interests: Lifestyle interventions, including diet and physical activity, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and increase self-management skills among African Americans in eastern North Carolina. Her current research explores perceptions related to embedding health programs within the barbershop and beauty salon setting.
Rosalba Hernandez, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department, School: School of Social Work
University: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Location: Urbana, Illinois
Research Interests: Positive psychological well-being (PPWB) and its impact on engagement in healthy behaviors, development of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and subsequent CVD outcomes--particularly as it pertains to Hispanic/Latino adults.
Mosi Adesina Ifatunji, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department, School: Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences
University: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Research Interests: Disparities in hypertension between African Americans and Black immigrants.
Nneka Lotea Ifejika, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department, School: Department of Neurology
University: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School
Location: Houston, Texas
Research Interests: My research focuses on the use of mobile health technology to reduce the incidence of vascular risk factors, namely, obesity, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, in underserved minority populations. My long-term goal is to reduce the disability gap between minorities and non-minorities in the "Stroke Belt", an area of the Southeastern United States with significant mortality due to cerebrovascular disease.
Melissa Johnson, PhD, MS
Assistant Professor
Department, School: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences
University: Tuskegee University
Location: Tuskegee, Alabama
Research Interests: Physiological, social and cultural causes and consequences of cardiovascular disease; chronic disease prevention and health promotion, particularly among underserved and vulnerable (i.e. culturally, economically, socially, etc.) individuals; health disparities.
Larry Keen, II, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department, School: Department of Psychology, College of Natural and Health Sciences
University: Virginia State University
Location: Petersberg, VA
Research Interests: My research interests include the complex interplay among cardiovascular risk factors, substance use, and immunity-related outcomes. Specifically, I am interested in overweight/obesity, marijuana use and subsequent immune dysfunction in African Americans. A related interest is in examining the potential role effect of executive function on these relationships and as a modifiable factor for treatment or intervention programs.
Erica Payton, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department, School: Department of Physiology and Health Science, College of Sciences & Humanities
University: Ball State University
Location: Muncie, Indiana
Research Interests: Developing and implementing promising and evidence-based interventions that will reduce cardiovascular disease in Delaware and other communities in Indiana, with a focus on reducing obesity and tomacco use and premoting healthy lifestyle choices. Racial/ethnic minorities, rural and economically disadvantaged communities are special populations of interest.
Damon Swift, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department, School: Department of Kinesiology
University: East Carolina University
Location: Greenville, North Carolina
Research Interests: Performing exercise and physical activity studies to promote cardiovascular health benefits in African Americans, with a focus on cardiorespiratory fitness an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.