I am currently a Professor of Medicine in the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases. I assumed the role of Administrative Director of the UAB Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) in 2007 and became the Associate Director in 2019. Before joining the CFAR, I trained as a virologist, publishing over 26 manuscripts and book chapters during my research career. In current role, I am focused on advancing the impact of the center and the related HIV program projects, now in its 30th year of continuous NIH funding. During my tenure, the CFAR has experienced significant growth in center membership and engagement of new faculty in HIV research resulting in an increase in funded grants and a renewed sense of “connectedness” amongst the HIV research community. My expertise has been instrumental in the center becoming a ‘hub’ for large HIV program and initiatives, such as the nationwide CNICS cohort network, a new southern site for the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS), the multi-CFAR international pilot program for those new to HIV research (Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research/CNIHR), the HIV in Aging Pilot Program with Wake Forest University and the new UAB K12 in HIV-related Heart, Lung, Blood and Sleep Research at UAB. I am a member of the CFAR Executive and Leadership Committees and lead the monitoring and evaluation of cores and services. I am deeply committed to the engagement of affected communities in all endeavors of the center. I contribute scientific direction and oversight to advance the mission of the center and its related HIV programs, operationalized through targeted recruitments, faculty development activities, pilot funding programs, and interdisciplinary collaborations. I have developed sustainable, equitable partnerships with representatives from other CFARs, institutions, university-wide centers, HIV advocates and community-based organizations.
