Dr. Young's research interests are developed from her works in both research and practical settings. Initially, her research focused on studying arterial health in individuals with chronic health conditions using ultrasound. In addition, she established and taught a wellness program for individuals with disabilities, where she trained pre-healthcare students as wellness coaches for the participants. Through these experiences, she learned that many people with disabilities could not undergo imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography for assessing body/muscle composition due to factors such as metal implants, spasticity, or radiation exposure. To address this issue, she developed calibration equations for examination of muscle composition and intramuscular fat using ultrasound. Dr. Young’s current research portfolio includes examining physiological and psychosocial effects of the M2M intervention in people with physical disabilities. She is actively involved in studies conducted under the UAB/Lakeshore Research Collaborative, where she serves as a scientific coordinator for federal-funded research projects.
