Events & Announcements – Forge AHEAD Center

Forge AHEAD Center Announces Fifth and Sixth Cohort of Scholars Focused on Advancing Cardiometabolic Health

The Forge AHEAD Center (FAC) is pleased to introduce the recipients of its pilot funding for the fifth and sixth cohorts – early-stage investigators dedicated to advancing evidence-based solutions that address cardiometabolic health challenges and differences in health outcomes across the Deep South.

These scholars are translating research into action to improve access to care and health outcomes for communities with limited healthcare resources. Join us to become part of a vibrant community not only focused on providing funding but dedicated to making a real difference together.

Fifth Cohort Scholars

Seven outstanding early-stage investigators were selected for innovative projects targeting cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and related conditions.

Keri Barron, Ph.D., MSN, BSN

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama

Project: Evaluating the Utilization of the Heart Truth Program® among Young Black Women in the Deep South

Focus: This project evaluates the reach and outcomes of a national educational campaign addressing cardiovascular health awareness and prevention for young Black women, tailoring efforts to meet the unique health needs of the region.

Kaylee Crockett, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Project: Pilot Testing of a Primary Care-Based Dyadic Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Intervention: “Heart Care Pairs”

Focus: Pilots an innovative dyadic intervention that engages primary care patients and their care partners, “Heart Care Pairs”, in shared health behaviors to reduce cardiovascular risks and improve long-term outcomes.

Deborah Ejem, Ph.D., RN

Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Project: Enhancing Patient-Centered Care for Older African American Patients with Cardiovascular Comorbidities: Piloting the Patient Priorities Care Model at Cooper Green Mercy Health Service Authorities (PPC-HEART)

Focus: Explores precision, patient-centered approaches to improve co-occurring condition management among older Black patients at a safety-net primary care clinic.

Abbey Gregg, Ph.D., MPH

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama

Project: Challenges and Enabling Factors to Implementing Remote Patient Monitoring for Hypertensive Conditions of Pregnancy

Focus: This research examines how remote patient monitoring technology can support management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, particularly for Medicaid-insured populations, addressing logistical obstacles to improve maternal health outcomes.

Lucia Juarez, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Project: Development and Validation of a Diabetes Risk Score for Undiagnosed Hispanics Living in the United States

Focus: Develops and validates a diabetes risk score developed with community input to improve relevance and uptake to enhance early diabetes detection and prevention for Hispanic populations.

Seung-Yup “Joshua” Lee, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Project: AI-Guided Risk Stratification for Medication Reconciliation for Patients with Diabetes

Focus: Uses artificial intelligence to strengthen medication reconciliation and reduce medication adherence-related risks for patients living with diabetes.

Chin-Yen Lin, Ph.D., RN

Assistant Professor, Auburn University

Project: Feasibility and Acceptability of a Yoga Intervention in Heart Failure Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Focus: Evaluates the feasibility and benefits of a yoga intervention developed with community input to enhance cognitive and cardiovascular health in rural areas.

Sixth Cohort Scholars

Six early-stage investigators join with projects addressing hypertension, diabetes, food insecurity, and cardiovascular health through innovative approaches developed with input from community partners.

Osayande Agbonlahor, M.D., Ph.D., MPH

Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center

Project: Using a Physician-Patient and Community Advisory Board to Address Health Care Discrimination and Improve Cardiovascular Outcomes for Black Adults

Focus: Examines how approaches developed with input from community partners and stakeholders can build trust and improve cardiovascular outcomes among Black adults.

Dashauna M. Ballard, Ph.D., MPH

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Project: Empowering faith-based communities to provide personalized diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) in the Magic City: A pilot study

Focus: Implements a faith-based diabetes self-management program combining community health workers and remote monitoring to improve diabetes-related health outcomes in Black and rural communities.

Courtney E. Gamston, ScM, PharmD, BCPS

Assistant Professor, Auburn University

Project: Assessing the Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Hispanic Community Health Worker Program in a Safety-net Clinic

Focus: Evaluates a community health worker program to improve diabetes care and education among Hispanic populations at a safety-net clinic in Alabama.

Catheryn Orihuela, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Project: Impact of a Health Coaching Program to Improve the Health of Food Insecure Adults with Cardiovascular Disease

Focus: Tests a health coaching program designed to enhance nutrition access and improve cardiovascular health outcomes for adults with cardiovascular disease.

Chloe Taub, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Project: Pharmacist-Led Remote Patient Monitoring for Diabetes and Hypertension Management in Persistent Poverty Areas

Focus: Tests the feasibility of an AI-supported, pharmacist- and community health worker–led program to improve diabetes and hypertension management in areas with limited healthcare resources.

Gabriel S. Tajeu, DrPH

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Project: A Clinical Decision Support Questionnaire to Identify Obstacles to Blood Pressure Control

Focus: Develops and tests a clinical decision support questionnaire to identify factors and logistical obstacles influencing blood pressure control and improve hypertension management among patients in a safety-net clinic in Alabama.

Supporting Scholarly Success

The Forge AHEAD Center is dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment that equips these scholars with the resources they need to succeed. Recipients will receive mentorship, strategic guidance, and funding to translate their innovative ideas into measurable health outcomes.

By addressing significant health needs related to cardiometabolic conditions, these projects aim to enhance health outcomes and care for communities experiencing healthcare challenges.

Advancing Health through Innovation

The Forge AHEAD Center remains committed to driving transformative research that improves cardiometabolic health outcomes for all populations across the Deep South. Together, our scholars and partners are forging a healthier future for all.

Stay Connected!

For more details about the scholars and their projects, visit the Forge AHEAD Center’s website. Early-stage investigators interested in applying for upcoming pilot funding cycles are encouraged to review application guidelines and deadlines online.

InspireHER Women’s Health Walk: Walking to Wellness

The Forge AHEAD Center is proud to collaborate with community partners to support the InspireHER Women’s Health Walk, taking place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Black Creek Park in Fultondale, AL. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., with the program and walk from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The InspireHER Walk is more than just a morning in the park. It is a celebration of women’s health and wellness, a chance to connect with others, and an opportunity to take steps toward healthier futures. With the theme “Walking to Wellness,” the event invites women, families, and the broader community to come together for a morning of movement, learning, and encouragement.

Group from 2024 InspireHER Walk

Participants will engage with healthcare providers, access health awareness information, and explore practical ways to take charge of their health. October is recognized as Health Literacy Month, which makes this walk even more timely. Attendees will be able to gather resources, ask questions, and strengthen their ability to make informed choices about their health and well-being.

This year, the walk also highlights October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, with an emphasis on lifting up survivors and their stories of strength. As Dr. Angela B. Haynes, CEO of InspireHER Global, shares, “October is a month of both awareness and action. By walking together, we honor the journeys of survivors while standing firm in our commitment to build healthier, safer communities for all women.”

As a planning partner, the Forge AHEAD Center is committed to advancing the message of cardiometabolic health. The walk reflects our shared mission: to promote healthier lifestyles, expand access to health screenings, and support policies that give our community the resources they need to thrive.

Walking improves more than just physical health. It strengthens the heart, reduces stress, boosts mental well-being, and reminds us that a community moving forward together is stronger than any individual walking alone.

We invite you to join us at Black Creek Park on October 18. Together, let’s keep Walking to Wellness and building healthier communities, step by step.

To learn more about InspireHER Global, the walk, and to register, please visit inspireherglobal.com.

Written by: Carol Agomo, Ph.D.

Forge AHEAD Center announces 2025 Community Microgrant awardees improving health in the Deep South

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sept. 25, 2025) – The Forge AHEAD Center awarded six community-based organizations through its 2025 Community Microgrant Program. The program, administered in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), provides up to $10,000 in funding to support innovative, community-driven projects that address pressing health challenges in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

The Community Microgrant Program recognizes that local organizations are often best positioned to identify needs, build trust and lead change. By investing directly in community partners, Forge AHEAD affirms its commitment to supporting organizations that bring deep knowledge, cultural understanding and long-standing relationships to their work.

“We are proud to partner with CCTS to invest in local organizations whose work reflects the needs and priorities of their communities,” said Andrea Cherrington, M.D., MPH, UAB director of the Division of General Internal Medicine and Population Science, and Forge AHEAD multiple principal investigator. “These projects are powerful examples of how grassroots leadership can make a real difference in people’s lives.”

2025 Awardees

El Pueblo (Mississippi): Bilingual hypertension self-management program tailored for limited English proficient adults, with education, goal-setting and weekly support.
Edward Street Fellowship Center (Mississippi): Food Is Medicine initiative integrating monthly produce vouchers and clinical monitoring for patients with diabetes and hypertension.
BirthWell Partners (Alabama): Expansion of postpartum care with free doula and lactation services for low-income families, training a new workforce of doulas and educators.
Pinktopps (Alabama): Survivorship program for young breast cancer survivors, offering wellness education and mental health support.
Metromorphosis (Louisiana): Resident-led community garden project to increase access to healthy food, reduce neighborhood blight, and build local leadership.
Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants (Louisiana): Development of a maternal health risk assessment tool co-designed with immigrant and refugee women to improve maternal health outcomes.

Throughout the year, the Forge AHEAD Center will provide technical assistance, evaluation tools, and opportunities for peer learning. This ongoing collaboration reflects the center’s belief that lasting solutions emerge when universities and communities work together, with communities leading the way.

“These organizations are at the forefront of improving health in their communities,” said Caroline E. Compretta, Ph.D., University of Mississippi Medical Center assistant vice chancellor for research and Forge AHEAD Community Engagement Core lead. “We look to them as leaders and assets whose vision, creativity and dedication will have a measurable impact on the individuals and families they serve.”

The Community Microgrant Program is part of the Forge AHEAD Center’s broader mission to strengthen partnerships, build community capacity and support innovative approaches to improving health in the Deep South.

For more information about the Forge AHEAD Center and its programs, visit https://www.forgeaheadcenter.com/.

Forge AHEAD Center welcomes champion for community engagement in Louisiana

The Forge AHEAD Center is excited to welcome Andrea Pickett, Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center (LA CaTS) Community Engagement and Outreach Program coordinator at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, to our growing team. Andrea brings extensive experience in community-based mental health services, disaster response, and public health, making her a key addition to our mission of improving health outcomes across the Deep South.

Andrea’s passion for solving problems and caring deeply for people in the southern United States has guided her career. Holding a Bachelor of Science in psychology and currently pursuing her master’s in public health, she has dedicated herself to building relationships, crafting clear health messages, and connecting communities to critical health education and resources. Her approach to engagement is deeply rooted in community organizing strategies, ensuring individuals and families have access to the tools they need to support their well-being.

“In my work, I strive to build relationships and create clear messages that people can understand,” Andrea said. “My goal is to continue promoting health education, expanding access to care, and learning more about the relationship between stress and health behavior.”

Inspired by Forge AHEAD’s focus on partnerships, strengthening communities, and using the best approaches to outreach, Andrea sees her role as an opportunity to connect people to the resources they need and foster collaboration for long-term impact.

Her personal connection to the work runs deep. “Growing up in rural South Louisiana, listening to the experiences of others, and appreciating their stories is what motivates me to continue working to improve health outcomes and address barriers to care,” she said. “My experiences in disaster response have also helped me develop a better awareness of people’s needs and the diversity in the way we communicate. This has empowered me to ask better questions about the root causes of health challenges and be creative in partnership development and leveraging resources.”

Beyond her work in public health, Andrea is a strong advocate for arts education, recognizing how creative expression fosters critical thinking, community connection, and stress reduction. “Engaging in art has a profound way of bringing people together, fostering creativity, and reducing stress,” she said.

When she’s not working, she enjoys volunteering, attending community events, visiting local theaters and art galleries, crafting, and going on adventures with her family.

Andrea’s dedication, innovative thinking, and passion for community-driven solutions make her an invaluable addition to the Forge AHEAD team. We are excited to have her expertise and vision as we continue working toward stronger, healthier communities.

Forge AHEAD Center launches Community Micro-Grant Program to strengthen health initiatives across the deep south

The Forge AHEAD Center is proud to announce the launch of its Community Micro-Grant Program, an initiative designed to support organizations in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi that are working to improve health outcomes related to diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.

Through this program, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations will have the opportunity to receive up to $10,000 in funding to implement community-driven health initiatives that address critical health needs in their local areas. The program is managed by the Community Engagement Core (CEC) of Forge AHEAD, which works to build sustainable partnerships between academic institutions, community organizations, and public health leaders to advance equitable health solution

Empowering Communities with Targeted Support

The Deep South faces some of the highest rates of chronic disease in the country, and many local organizations are already leading efforts to improve community health. The Forge AHEAD Community Micro-Grant Program is designed to provide the financial resources and support these groups need to scale their efforts and drive lasting change.

“We believe that the best solutions come from within the communities themselves,” said Caroline Compretta, Ph.D., Community Engagement Core Lead. “This micro-grant program allows us to directly support organizations that are already working to improve the lives of their neighbors. By providing funding, resources, and ongoing support, we can help amplify their impact and create lasting change.”

The program prioritizes projects that focus on health education, disease prevention, and increasing access to care, particularly in underserved communities. Projects will be evaluated based on feasibility, innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, ensuring that awarded funds go to initiatives with a clear and measurable impact.

Community Voices Leading the Charge

One of the unique aspects of the micro-grant program is the involvement of the Forge AHEAD Community Advisory Board (CAB), which plays a critical role in guiding the center’s initiatives and ensuring that its work is responsive to the real needs of the communities it serves.

“Our communities have the knowledge, passion, and solutions to tackle health challenges—we just need the resources to make it happen,” said a CAB member. “This grant program is an incredible opportunity for local organizations to access funding and support that will help turn their ideas into action.”

The program includes monthly support meetings, a mid-year progress check-in, and a final impact report, ensuring that grantees receive ongoing guidance and assistance throughout the year-long funding period.

Key Dates and How to Apply

The application process is now open, with proposals due by April 18, 2025. Organizations interested in applying can access the Request for Proposals (RFP) and submission details on the Forge AHEAD Center website.

Key dates include:

RFP Release Date: February 19, 2025
Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
Grant Awards Announced: May 19, 2025
Project Start Date: July 1, 2025
Project Completion Deadline: June 30, 2026

For more information or to apply, visit the Forge AHEAD Website.

2024 Methods Symposium Recap

The 2024 Methods Symposium, “Scientific Methods to Support Implementation Science” was a hybrid event held at the Edge of Chaos in the UAB Lister Hill Center on January 18th. COERE Director, Dr. Michael Mugavero shared that “the 2024 Methods Symposium exceeded our lofty expectations and provided overwhelming evidence of the substantial interest in learning more about Dissemination and Implementation Science research. We engaged over 150 participants (60+ in person and 98 via Zoom), heard four fantastic presentations, and had substantive interactions among those in attendance throughout the half day event.” The 2024 Methods Symposium was sponsored by UAB COERE, CFAR, CCTS, UAB School of Public Health, Heersink School of Medicine, and Forge AHEAD Center.

The 2024 Methods Symposium featured dynamic talks from Drs. Eva Woodward from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Jereme Wilroy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Alicia Bunger from The Ohio State University. The highlight of the event was with the Meredith Kilgore Endowed Lectureship delivered by Dr. Maria Fernandez from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, that focused on implementation mapping. Attendees interacted with speakers to discuss facilitators and challenges to implementation science, novel methods, and ways to leverage social networks. The Symposium concluded with an interactive luncheon with speakers and in-person attendees. “The COERE team looks forward to seizing the momentum of the Methods Symposium in working with co-sponsors and other partners to further build the Implementation Science training and research portfolio at UAB and across the Deep South region. Our concerted, collaborative efforts to enhance Implementation Science research capacity are essential to ensure that effective scientific innovations are systematically and equitably delivered to individuals, communities, and populations in greatest need with maximal reach, rigor, and expediency to advance health and wellness” said Mugavero. With its diverse range of perspectives, the Symposium helped reaffirm a collective commitment to support and build the field of research in implementation science.

Explore the complete event photo album.

Four new research projects to expand reach of Forge AHEAD Center

The Forge AHEAD (Advancing Health Equity Across the Deep South) Center has received a new award, totaling over $4.5million, to fund four new research projects aimed to expand the reach of the center’s mission.

Forge AHEAD Center, a regional comprehensive research center, is making significant strides in the battle against cardiometabolic diseases in the Deep South. Focused on the prevention and management of health disparities associated with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension (HTN), Forge AHEAD Center spans the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Supported by a grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and a key player in the Health Equity Action Network, the center’s vision is clear: achieve health equity by eliminating disparities and improving health outcomes.

In the Deep South, where rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are the highest in the nation, Forge AHEAD Center is addressing a critical need. Life expectancy in the region, particularly for Black Americans, lags significantly behind other areas. Forge AHEAD Center recognizes the urgent need for intervention on multiple levels, encompassing research, training, outreach, and education. The goal is the elimination of health disparities and the realization of health equity for all.

“This new funding supports an exciting advancement of the mission of Forge AHEAD Center to address health equity in cardiometabolic disease across the South,” says Andrea Cherrington, M.D., professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine in the Department of Medicine, and the contact primary investigator for Forge AHEAD Center.

“These additional Forge AHEAD Center projects invest in four new investigators conducting interventions focused on cardiometabolic disease prevention and management that apply novel intervention approaches not addressed by the Center’s current projects.”

The following research projects aim to support the center through this new grant:

Project 1
Title: Teen Mom Study: A Hybrid Cluster Randomized Trial
Abigail Gamble, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Mississippi Medical Center

Project 2
Title: Remotely Delivered Resistance Training for Cardiometabolic Health among Black Women: A Pilot Trial
Amber W. Kinsey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine –Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine

Project 3
Title: Remotely-delivered Mindfulness-Based Diabetes Education for rural adults with uncontrolled diabetes and elevated distress
Caroline Presley, M.D.
Assistant Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine –Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine

Project 4
Title: Weight-focused vs. weight-neutral adaptive biobehavioral strategies for improving metabolic health in Black adults with Stage 1 Obesity: A pilot Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial
Drew Sayer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine

Forge AHEAD HIV-Focused Pilot RFA

The Forge AHEAD (Advancing Health Equity Across the Deep South) Center is pleased to announce a new HIV-focused request for applications for its Pilot and Feasibility Scholars Program. Funding for this special emphasis round is available for up to 3 pilot awards (up to $50,000 each for 1 year) focused specifically on health equity issues related to HIV and cardiometabolic disease, ranging from prevention efforts to projects involving people living with HIV. This program will provide seed support for research projects focused on stakeholder-engaged intervention development, clinical outcomes, implementation and dissemination (T3) and outcomes and effectiveness in populations (T4). Letters of intent are due October 25, 2023, and detailed instructions can be found in the RFA document. Please reach out to Dr. Trudi Horton at trudihorton@uabmc.edu if you have questions or would like additional information.

LAUNCHED is Recruiting Underrepresented Minority Scientists

Now Recruiting Underrepresented Minority Scientists: LAUNCHED

(The Louisiana Center for Advancing Underrepresented Scientists Careers in Health, Nutrition, Obesity, and Disparities Research)

The Louisiana Center for Advancing Underrepresented Scientists Careers in Health, Nutrition, Obesity, and Disparities Research (LAUNCHED) is a comprehensive program designed to provide mentorship, training, and career development opportunities for underrepresented minority (URM) scientists in nutrition, obesity, diabetes, and related research. LAUNCHED is a highly innovative training program with the long-term goal of increasing the success rate of underrepresented ethnic minority scientists competing for federal research funding in the fields of nutrition, obesity, and diabetes. Located in the Deep South, LAUNCHED is focusing on providing training to scientists in Louisiana and neighboring states. A diverse workforce is important to academic productivity. However, there are several groups of scientists, including racial and ethnic minority groups, who are currently underrepresented in academia. This underrepresentation has a direct effect on scientific research in general, but especially within health disparities research, including studies related to nutrition, obesity, and/or diabetes. The goal of LAUNCHED is to increase the success rate of URM scientists being awarded federal research funding, particularly in areas relevant to the National Institute for Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The LAUNCHED program is funded by the NIDDK and is a collaboration among several institutions, including Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Southern University, Louisiana State University (LSU) A&M, Xavier University of Louisiana, Tulane University, and LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans (LSUHSC-NO).

We are looking for early career scientists (post-doctoral fellows and early career faculty) from institutions in Louisiana and neighboring states with an interest in diabetes, nutrition, and/or obesity research from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups. Applicants must have a PhD or MD equivalent degree and there is no citizenship requirement. Additional information can also be found on our website at www.launchedprogram.org. Should you have any questions at this time, please feel free to contact us at launched@pbrc.edu. We are very excited to give deserving applicants the opportunities that LAUNCHED has to offer!

Apply here today.

Inaugural Forge AHEAD Seminar – A Meaningful Start

Forge AHEAD kicked off the Center’s monthly seminar series on April 26, 2023 as twenty-one attendees from 3 states and multiple institutions gathered on Zoom for a presentation by Drs. Tina Kempin Reuter and Casey Herman. These two presenters shared the results of our their mixed-methods research on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic for family members and caregivers of people with disabilities and chronic diseases. The presentation included sobering feedback from the caregiver community and shed light on the needs of the high-risk population that feels unseen and underrepresented. The summary of Drs. Kempin Reuter and Herman inspired discussion of actionable points, the need for community partner input in research, and advocating for human rights as a motivator for change.

Thank you to our presenters and attendees for the meaningful hour together!

View the recording of the presentation below.