Center for Palliative & Supportive Care

Center Department

People

Faculty Administrative Position

  • image

    Rodney Tucker, Director

    Rodney O. Tucker, MD, MMM, FAAHPM, was born in Gadsden, Alabama and attended Litchfield High School graduating in 1980. He then attended UAB and received his undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Social Work in 1984. After a year of graduate work at UAB, he entered the University of Alabama School of Medicine and graduated in 1989. Dr. Tucker served an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Carraway Methodist Medical Center from 1989-1992 and then served as Chie...

  • Center Members - Faculty

  • image

    Alayne Markland, Scientist (C)

    Dr. Markland is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in Birmingham, Alabama. She is also a clinician researcher at the Birmingham VA Medical Center and the Associate Director of Clinical Programs in the Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinic Center (GRECC). Her overarching goal is to enhance evidenced-based knowledge regarding the treatment of genito-urinary disord...

  • image

    Anand Iyer, Associate Scientist (C)

    Dr. Iyer is a pulmonary-critical physician and geriatrics-palliative care researcher in the UAB Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine. He is UAB's first recipient of the Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging (K76) and works to integrate geriatrics and palliative care for people living with serious respiratory illnesses and their care partners. He is the founder of @pallipulm and @geripulm and works to bridge the fields of pulmonary medicine, pall...

  • image

    Ashley Nichols, Scientist (C)

  • image

    Beverly Williams, Associate Scientist (C)

  • image

    Carolyn Kezar, Associate Scientist (C)

  • image

    David Vance PhD, MGS, MS, Senior Scientist (C)

    Dr. David Vance is a Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing and psychologist actively pursuing research in positive and negative neuroplasticity, neurocognitive aging, neurocognitive remediation, aging with HIV, and more recently neurocognition in cancer survivors. With a passion for successful cognitive aging and for mentoring scientific leaders, Dr. Vance’s work has resulted in +350 publications (+280 peer-reviewed publications) including numerous book ch...

  • image

    Ella Bowman, Scientist (C)

    Dr. Bowman holds dual certification in both Geriatric Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine. A clinician educator, her interests intersect frail hospitalized elderly, cognitive impairment & hospital acquired delirium, communication in medicine, and unmet palliative needs in older adults with complex chronic illnesses.  She is a member of the American Geriatrics Society Ethnogeriatrics Committee and also serves on the External Guidelines & Practice Recommendations Subcommittee of the AGS Cli...

  • image

    Emily Johnston, Associate Scientist (C)

    I am a pediatric oncologist with a clinical focus on solid tumors and research focus on disparities in end-of-life care. I am originally from Iowa, went to Carleton College in Minnesota for undergraduate before heading to Stanford for my medical training (medical school, residency, and fellowship). I joined the UAB faculty July 2018.

  • image

    Erin Currie MSN, RN, PhD, RN, CPLC, Associate Scientist (C)

  • image

    Gabrielle Rocque M.D., Associate Scientist (C)

    Introduction:
    Dr. Gabrielle Rocque is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Divisions of Hematology & Oncology and Gerontology, Geriatrics, & Palliative Care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She completed her undergraduate degree, medical doctorate, Internal Medicine residency, and fellowship in Hematology & Oncology at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She also completed a Masters of Science in Public Health from UAB.

    Clinical interests:

    She curre...

  • image

    Grant Williams M.D., Associate Scientist (C)

    Introduction:

    Medical Oncologist and Geriatrician focused on the management of Gastrointestinal Malignancies.

    Clinical Interests: & Research:

    My research and clinical care focuses on the intersection of cancer and aging. My goal is to provide personalized and evidenced based care for vulnerable and frail older adults with cancer.

  • image

    James Willig, Scientist (C)

    James H. Willig, MD, MSPH, is the Associate Dean of Clinical Education in the School of Medicine. He attended Medical School at the Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and completed his residency at the University of Virginia Roanoke-Salem. At UAB, Willig has earned an M.S. in Public Health and completed an Infectious Diseases Fellowship. His research interests in quality improvement and medical informatics have found expression in both research into quality issues in HIV primary care...

  • placeholder image

    Jennifer Courtney, Associate Scientist (C)

  • image

    Keith Swetz, Senior Scientist (C)

    Dr. Keith M. Swetz is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. He previously served Medical Director of UAB Medicine’s Supportive Care Clinic, and works as an attending physician at The Whitaker Clinic of UAB Hospital, The Kirklin Clinic at Acton Road, UAB Hospital. Dr. Swetz serves as the Lead Physician for the Iowa City VA Medical Center's Virtual Transitions of Care Clinic trying to improve post-hospital care for seriously ill patients.

  • image

    Kenneth Saag, Senior Scientist (C)

    Kenneth G. Saag, M.D., M.Sc. is Professor of Medicine and holds the Jane Knight Lowe Endowed Chair in the Division and the Department of Medicine. He became Division Director of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology in July of 2020. His research focuses on comparative effectiveness and safety of therapeutics as well methods to improve quality of care in gout and osteoporosis. He is Vice Chair of Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and is also the Director of the UAB Comprehensive Arthritis, Mu...

  • image

    Laura Rogers M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.S.M., Senior Scientist (C)

    Dr. Laura Rogers is a Professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She is a Senior Scientist in the UAB Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC), Center for Exercise Medicine, and O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center's Cancer Control and Population Science (CCPS) Research Program. She is also the co-program leader for the CCPS Research Program and Associate Director for the Division of Preventive Medicine. She completed ...

  • image

    Laurence Bradley, Senior Scientist (C)

    Dr. Bradley's research focuses on the interactions among biological and psychosocial factors associated with abnormal pain sensitivity in persons with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, and other chronic painful disorders. Several studies are ongoing with support of an R01 grant and complementary grant funds: (1) In collaboration with investigators from the University of Florida, the goal of the R01 project is to characterize ethnic differences in experimental pain sensitivity, endogenous pain inh...

  • image

    Lyle Walton, Associate Scientist (C)

    Dr. Walton spent his formative years in Virginia and South Carolina. He received his undergraduate degree in English Literature from James Madison University and earned his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Following an internship in General Surgery at the University of Kentucky, he completed a Residency in Family Medicine at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Walton went on to complete Fellowships in Geriatric Medicine and Hospice an...

  • image

    Marianthe Grammas, Associate Scientist (C)

  • image

    Michael Barnett, Associate Scientist (C)

    Dr. Barnett is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Having previously completed a residency in combined Internal Medicine & Pediatrics at UAB, he went on to complete a fellowship in Hospice & Palliative Medicine for both children and adults at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He served as the Program Director of the UAB Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship from 2013-2022 and is now the Core Leader for Educati...

  • image

    Michael Hurst, Associate Scientist (C)

  • image

    Richard Taylor DNP, CRNP, ANP-BC, Associate Scientist (C)

    Dr. Taylor is an Assistant Professor at the UAB School of Nursing. He graduated from UAB School of Nursing in 1985 with a Bachelor’s degree, received his Master’s degree in Adult Oncology Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco, in 1987, a post-graduate Adult Nurse Practitioner degree in 2000, a Doctor of Nursing Practice from UAB in 2010, and a PhD in nursing from UAB in 2022. His dissertation topic was Life-Space Mobility in the Older Adult, Community-Dwelling Cancer Survivor ...

  • image

    Rita Jablonski PhD, CRNP, FGSA, FAAN, Scientist (C)

    Dr. Rita Jablonski’s internationally-renowned program of research is focused on improving the lives of older adults, especially those with dementia who reside in nursing homes. Her most recent studies have tested interventions that improve oral hygiene for persons with dementia who resist care. The strategies for reducing threat perception using dementia-centric communication strategies are congruent with the principles of person-centered care and nursing home culture change initiatives.

  • image

    Rodney Tucker, Senior Scientist (C)

    Rodney O. Tucker, MD, MMM, FAAHPM, was born in Gadsden, Alabama and attended Litchfield High School graduating in 1980. He then attended UAB and received his undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Social Work in 1984. After a year of graduate work at UAB, he entered the University of Alabama School of Medicine and graduated in 1989. Dr. Tucker served an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Carraway Methodist Medical Center from 1989-1992 and then served as Chie...

  • image

    Ronit Elk PhD, Senior Scientist (C)

    Ronit Elk, PhD has recently joined the University of Alabama, Birmingham as Professor in the School of Medicine; Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Care, and as Associate Director of the Southeast Institute for Innovation in Palliative and Supportive Care. Her prior position was at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Using Community Based Participatory Research, her NIH-funded research focuses on partnering with underserved populations, in particular rural African America...

  • image

    Samuel Perna III, Scientist (C)

    Dr. Perna is the lead physician for Aspire Health in the greater Birmingham area. He also serves as the Medical Director of the Pediatric Palliative Care Team at Children’s of Alabama. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine the University of Alabama – Birmingham with secondary academic appointments in Nursing and Pediatrics. Dr. Perna is a graduate of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He is board certified in both Family Practice and Hospice & Palliative Medicine.

  • image

    Seth Landefeld, Senior Scientist (C)

    Seth Landefeld is Chair, Department of Medicine and the Spencer Chair in Medical Science Leadership.

    Dr. Landefeld brings to UAB an infectious enthusiasm for all the wonderful opportunities in academic medicine – to care for people, to teach, to discover, and to build a healthy society. Recognizing the UAB Department of Medicine as a well established national leader, he envisions the Department as the go-to department in the United States for faculty, learners, and staff who have the am...

  • image

    Sigrid Ladores PhD, RN, PNP, CNE, Scientist (C)

    Dr. Sigrid Ladores is a pediatric nurse practitioner who is investigating reproductive health concerns in adolescents and young adults with chronic illnesses. She has presented her research in local, regional, national, and international conferences. She is also a respected scholar and leader in the Philippine Nurses Association of America.

  • placeholder image

    Susan Buckingham, Associate Scientist (C)

  • image

    Timmy Lee, Senior Scientist (C)

    Timmy Lee, M.D., M.S.P.H is a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine and Division of Nephrology with a secondary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Lee received his medical degree at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport and completed his Internal medicine residency and Nephrology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Nephrology research fellowship at the University o...

  • image

    Ursula Wesselmann M.D., Senior Scientist (C)

  • Organization Within