Waldemar Carlo, M.D.
Dr. Carlo is a Professor and Co-Director of the Division of Neonatology at UAB. His main research focus is on reducing mortality and major morbidities during early childhood in the US and developing countries. He is a Co-PI on the P3OPPY Project. His main research interest is in clinical research including the design, implementation, data analysis, and reporting of neonatal and childhood research performed in developing countries and in the US, including single-center trials and multicenter trials such as the First Breath Trial, the BRAIN-HIT Trial, and the SUPPORT Trial. He leads the UAB sites of the NIH-funded networks including the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research and the Neonatal Research Network. He has successfully implemented two large-scale multicenter studies in 6 developing countries that enrolled over 190,000 babies and resulted in large and significant reductions in neonatal and perinatal mortality. He developed innovative devices including a high-frequency ventilator, a flow interrupter to perform pulmonary function testing, and a low-cost oxygen air blender.
Rachel Sinkey, M.D.
Dr. Sinkey is an Assistant Professor of OB/GYN in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UAB and is co-PI of the P3OPPY Project. Dr. Sinkey attended Asbury University in Wilmore, KY for her undergraduate studies and the University of Kentucky for her medical degree. She pursued obstetrics and gynecology training at TriHealth / Good Samaritan in Cincinnati, OH where her interest in the management of medical diseases in pregnancy was sparked. She subsequently pursued sub-specialty training in Maternal-Fetal medicine at the University of South Florida. Her interests include hypertension and heart disease in pregnancy and the postpartum period and maternal morbidity and mortality.
Alan Tita, M.D.
Dr. Tita is the senior vice-chair for research & innovation in the Department of OB/GYN, associate dean for global and women’s health at UAB Heersink School of Medicine, the director of the Center for Women’s Reproductive Health at UAB, and he is PI of the EQUATE Coordinating Center. He is the PI of the Coordinating Center. His background is in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Perinatal Epidemiology, and International Health. Dr. Tita has led and continues to lead the design and conduct of collaborative multi-site and single-site clinical trials and observational studies that influence practice and policy globally. He also co-leads the Cameroon Health Initiative at UAB, a multidisciplinary venture to improve health care in collaboration with Cameroon partners. Dr. Tita serves or has served as consultant editor for the Green Journal and consultant for the World Health Organization, NIH (including NICHD National Advisory Council), and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Janet Turan, PhD, MPH
Dr. Turan is a Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Organization at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health, Director of the UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health, and Director of the Behavioral and Community Sciences Core of the UAB Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). She holds secondary appointments in Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology. She is a social and behavioral scientist with main research interests in the areas of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV prevention and treatment in low-resource settings of both developing and developed countries. She completed her doctoral training in Population Dynamics at Johns Hopkins University and her postdoctoral training at the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies. Her current research includes qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies designed to address HIV-related stigma; as well as intersectional stigma related to poverty, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, substance use, and reproductive choices; in settings as diverse as rural Kenya and the Deep South in the United States. She is the principal investigator on several NIH-funded studies that examine effects, mechanisms of action, and intervention strategies for HIV-related stigma and intersectional stigma, as they relate to the utilization of MCH services, HIV testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, HIV medication adherence, and engagement in HIV care. In addition, her current research program includes the study of stigma as it relates to a variety of other health conditions/services, including unintended pregnancy, obstetric fistula, breast cancer, and gender-based violence. Dr. Turan has served as the lead of an NIH Fogarty expert group on intersectional stigma and global health.
Martha S. Wingate, PhD, MPH
Dr. Wingate (DrPH, MPH, UAB; BS, Birmingham-Southern College) is a Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Organization She teaches courses in public health systems, maternal and child health, leadership, and perinatal health issues. She has published in a number of peer-reviewed journals, including the American Journal of Public Health, Social Science and Medicine, and the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is the co-author of a textbook on perinatal epidemiology. Her work focuses on preterm birth, fetal and infant mortality, racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes, and health policies related to pregnancy and infant health. She is engaged in technical assistance to the MCH workforce at the local, state, and national levels.
Colm Travers, MD
Dr. Travers is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neonatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He attended medical school at The University College in Dublin, Ireland. His Pediatric Residency was at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also completed his Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His research interest includes reducing major morbidities and mortality among preterm infants, long-term outcomes in survivors of prematurity, implementation of evidence-based medicine, disparities in neonatal-perinatal care, and global neonatal health.
Henna Budhwani, PhD, MPH
Dr. Budhwani is a Professor in the Florida State University (FSU) College of Nursing, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) School of Public Health, and Visiting Professor at the University of California, San Francisco’s (UCSF) Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS). Dr. Budhwani is a Medical Sociologist and Implementation Scientist who conducts studies to address the causes and consequences of health disparities among stigmatized populations that experience adverse health outcomes in resource-constrained settings. Her research is informed by sociological constructs, guided by human rights frameworks, and adopts a multidimensional view of how to address public health and clinical care inequities. She applies community-engaged approaches within intervention studies to improve women’s health, mental health, and HIV prevention. As the mother of dragons, specifically — twin boys who were born prematurely related to her pre-eclampsia, she is personally committed to the mission of the P3OPPY and related-HERN studies.
Donna C Dunn, PhD, CNM, FNP-BC
Dr. Dunn is dual certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse-Midwife. She has 20+ years of experience as a nurse practitioner in high-risk obstetrics. Dr. Dunn received her Ph.D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She is currently working at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) as a Deputy Director for Ambulatory Research and MFMU Network Coordinator. She also maintains a clinical practice as a nurse practitioner in Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
Molly Richardson, PhD, MHH
Dr. Richardson serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Organization in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. Prior to joining this department, she completed her post-doctoral fellowship at Virginia Tech and supported community-engaged health promotion in the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. During her public health training, she won the Charles Barkley Health Disparities Investigator Award. She uses her background in mixed methods and experience with community engagement to engage in research around health disparities. She serves as a coinvestigator on the P3OPPY to support the qualitative approach and ultimately hopes to their work can reduce maternal health inequities.
Vivek Shukla, MD
Dr. Shukla, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neonatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Shukla earned his medical degree from Sardar Patel University, India. Dr. Shukla completed his Pediatric Residency at the State University of New York in Brooklyn, NY, and his Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has received several research recognitions, including the SPR Fellow’s Clinical Research Award for 2020 and 2021. He has built a robust clinical research foundation in neonatal outcomes research. He has designed and led several outcome prediction/prognosis studies, five single-center clinical trials, and published several review articles and book chapters focused on improving perinatal outcomes. His research interest is focused on applying Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence by using prognosis for individualized intervention to improve perinatal outcomes. Using a large database from several low- and middle-income countries, Dr. Shukla built machine learning predictive models for accurately predicting the risk of perinatal mortality and an easy-to-use clinical tool for triaging infants per the risk of mortality. His ongoing projects include machine learning-based prediction of adverse maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes using large national and multinational databases.
Angelina Aduke Toluhi, MD, MPH
Dr. Toluhi is a Nigeria-trained medical doctor and public health and development professional. For over 16 years, she contributed to public health and health development in Nigeria and other African countries, particularly in maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCHN), HIV/PMTCT, Polio eradication, immunization, global health, and public health research. She designed, implemented, and evaluated health programs, including GAVI, Global Fund, and USAID-funded health projects, providing guidance in relation to her core areas of expertise. She is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Department of Health Policy and Organization (HPO) at the School of Public Health, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She is presently a pre-doctoral trainee, supporting the P3 Providing an Optimized and emPowered Pregnancy for You (P3OPPY) Study at UAB. She was a 2020-21 International Fellow of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She is also a recipient of several other scholarships and awards, including the Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine’s 2022 Award of Research Excellence.
Denita Lindsey, MD, MPH
Dr. Lindsey is a Chicago native currently a fellow in Neonatal-Perinatal medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She earned her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of Illinois – Chicago College of Medicine. Prior to attending medical school, she attended Xavier University of Louisiana and received a Master of Public Health degree from Northern Illinois University. Dr. Lindsey has been committed throughout her career to helping eliminate healthcare disparities through mentorship and research interventions.
Brian Casey, MD
Dr. Casey is originally from Pennsylvania and earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at Temple University in Philadelphia. He then did his OB/GYN residency training at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey and subsequently completed his Maternal-Fetal Medicine training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Dr. Casey spent 23 years on faculty at Parkland Hospital/UT Southwestern before coming to the University of Alabama at Birmingham as Division Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. He has been a productive clinician-researcher, including serving as the Principal Investigator for the Eunice Kennedy-Shriver NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network TSH Trial. This landmark investigation of subclinical hypothyroidism involved screening more than 97,000 pregnant women nationally and a 92% five-year developmental follow-up of their offspring. Dr. Casey recently received the Roy M. Pitkin Award from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for a randomized controlled trial in gestational diabetes and the Norman F. Gant Award for Best Research in Maternal-Fetal Medicine for his work on the TSH Trial.
Roy Rosin, MBA
Mr. Rosin is the chief innovation officer at Penn Medicine, where he works with thought leaders from across the health system to improve health outcomes, value, and patient and clinician experience. Previously, Roy served as the first vice president of innovation for Intuit, a leading software company best known for Quicken, QuickBooks, and TurboTax. In this role, Roy built innovation programs that dramatically increased entrepreneurial activity, with faster time to market and a material increase in annual new releases. After five years of Intuit’s new growth approach, the company delivered shareholder returns of 33 times the S&P 500. Roy received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and graduated with honors from Harvard College. Outside work, he serves as a board member and angel investor for venture-funded startups, advisor to Fortune 100 companies, and avid evangelist for his kids’ activities.
Rosylen Quinney, Program Manager, CCRC II
Mrs. Quinney is a Clinical Research Coordinator II (CRC II) at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Rosylen has 20+ years of coordinating experience, and she has worked on more than 100 clinical trials (Phases 1, 2, 3, and 4). She has experience in investigational drugs, medical devices, biologics, vaccines, surgical intervention, and other medical treatments and procedures. She is currently co-coordinating the Randomized Trial of Continuous Airway Pressure (CPAP) for Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy (SLEEP) study with the MFMU network, a qualitative study, P3 Providing and Optimized and emPowered Pregnancy for You (P3OPPY) Study, and serves as the Lead Coordinator on Identifying and Assessing Multi-Level Barriers to Equitable Postpartum Sterilization study. Rosylen served in the Armed forces for over 10 years, receiving many combat and service medals. She is an Operation Desert Storm Veteran.
ConnectionHealth Team
Trinita Ashford, MPH
Mrs. Ashford, MPH is the Executive Director of ConnectionHealth. Early in Trinita’s public health career with the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) she worked with minority populations specifically addressing disease prevention assisting in the development of a culturally sensitive intervention for minority adolescents. She joined the Division of Preventive Medicine at UAB working on the Community Retention Intervention Strategies (CRIS). CRIS evaluated the efficacy of a community-based intervention strategy to enhance minority and low-income women’s compliance in cancer research. She continued her career at UAB as the Deputy Director of the Smoke-Free Families National Program Office for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation where she lead the effort to discover and disseminate effective cessation treatments for prenatal and postpartum smokers. Smoke-Free Families sponsored 42 studies of interventions to help pregnant women quit smoking and remain smoke-free. The program disseminated the results by creating a coalition of more than 60 organizations and developing almost 70 products. She also serves on the Board of Pre-School Partners and Community Kitchens. Trinita earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Education and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
Lynetta West, CHW
Mrs. West is the Program Manager and the Master Community Health Worker for ConnectionHealth. She attended Herzing Institute in Birmingham, AL, and Xavier University in New Orleans, LA. Lanetta currently manages the Community Health Workers on the From Day One Jefferson County Department of Health Maternal Health Initiative. Also, she enjoys advocating for the community and helping bridge the gap for better healthcare practices in underserved communities.
Kayla Torres, MPH
Mrs. Torres is a native of Puerto Rico who currently serves as the Public Health Fellow at ConnectionHealth. She received her Bachelor of Science from Alabama State University in Montgomery, AL. After graduating, Kayla attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She pursued her master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Healthcare Organization and Policy. Before her current role, she was a Community Health Worker for the From Day One program, working with expectant mothers to improve pre-post birth outcomes and to reduce infant mortality in the Jefferson County area. During her graduate studies, she interned at the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), where she assisted the Office of Health Equity and Minority Health staff in developing and implementing multiple projects for the underserved community in the State of Alabama through the CDC Health Disparity Grant.
Women Community Advisory Board (W-CAB)
Ashley Stewart Jackson, MS, CHES
Ashley is a public health professional and business owner who has over a decade of experience working with health systems to improve their processes for providing equitable care to women, adolescents, and children. She is a mother whose life-changing tragedy turned into my passion to change and save lives daily. GOD called me for an Awesome assignment.
Tomeka Walker, C-CBE
Tomeka is the mother of one angel in heaven. She is also the founder and executive director of Khairi and Little Angels’ Memorial, named after her baby boy in heaven. She has worked hard to complete an Associate’s in Computer and Information Science, a B.S., and M.S. in Criminal Justice. She graduated from Lawson State Community College, Miles College, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Cincinnati. During her tenure, she has served as a Community Mentor, member of The NAACP, Motivational Speaker, Self-Published Author, and Infant and Maternal Advocate.
Her board positions include W-CAB Board member and volunteer coordinator at PSI of Alabama. She is a Certified Inspiring Doula, Certified Childbirth Educator, and Certified Heart Saver First Aid CPR AED. She is the recipient of The 2022 Minority Business Leader Award and the 2022 Women that Shape the State Honoree Award.
Charity L. Howard, Primary Midwife, CLC, CBE, Obstetrics Coordinator, Oasis Family Birthing Center
Charity has been serving traditionally marginalized families in Alabama for 7 years as a doula, primary midwife, lactation consultant, and childbirth educator with a primary focus on improving maternal and infant health disparities.
Jasmine Mims, M.Ed
Jasmine is a native of Birmingham, AL. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Stillman College in 2012, earned a Master of Education degree in Elementary Education from Alabama A&M University in 2017, and obtained a Master of Education degree in Instructional Leadership from the University of Montevallo in 2021. Her educational philosophy is founded on the belief that all children are capable of learning. She emphasizes that it is the educator’s responsibility to meet the unique needs of each student, providing strategic instruction to foster academic growth, development, and success in the classroom. Currently, Jasmine serves as a virtual instructor for the Birmingham City Schools Virtual Academy of Learning, teaching Math and Science to students in grades 3-5. She has previous experience teaching kindergarten, 3rd to 7th grades and providing reading intervention.
In addition to her teaching career, Jasmine owns a small business, CraftinWithMimz, LLC, which offers a variety of event services, including custom chocolate treats, balloon arrangements, and personalized party favors.
Above all, Jasmine is an angel mother to three beautiful children: Amira, a baby girl born still in 2021; Haadiya, a baby girl lost to miscarriage at thirteen weeks and four days in 2022; and Yaasir, a preterm NICU baby boy. She considers being their angel mom her greatest accomplishment and hopes to one day create a platform to bring Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness to the forefront of society.
Patricia Q. Wright, LPN
Patricia hails from Marengo County, a small rural area in the Black Belt. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 1989, graduating from what was then Hobson State, now Coastal Community College. With over 30 years of nursing experience, she has dedicated her career to the well-being of others. Patricia is a mother of two daughters and a grandmother to two grandchildren. In addition to her nursing career, she proudly served in the Armed Forces, a reflection of her enduring passion for caring for others. Having suffered a loss herself, she is committed to improving the experiences of women who share her background and look like her.
Expert Community Advisory Board (E-CAB)
Kathy Boswell
Kathy Boswell is an energetic facilitator, teacher, and speaker with extensive leadership experience at organizations like the Birmingham Education Foundation, Baptist Health System, and The World Games 2022 Birmingham.
She has launched her mission, B-Intentional, which is focused on strengthening connections and engagement through employee conversations, culture assessments, leadership development, workshops, and engagement strategies. Utilizing a strengths-based approach, she helps individuals identify their strengths for better work-life balance.
Kathy partners with organizations like the Alabama Humanities Alliance on programs exploring the impact of past laws on present-day poverty and wealth. She authored the devotional journal PassageWalk™ and created the fitness program You Are God’s Original (UAGO).
Honors include the 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Award from the Birmingham Business Journal and the 2020 A.G Gaston People’s Choice Community Service Award. A Birmingham native and UAB graduate, Kathy serves on boards, including the UAB Alumni Society. Her motto is: “Live to be an intentional blessing daily.”
Sandra H. Milstead, RN, BSN, CPXP
Sandra has been a NICU nurse for 32 years and, for the last 12 of those years, has also served as the Family Nurse Liaison, helping families navigate their unique NICU journey.
Jennifer S. Campbell, PharmD, DCES
Jennifer is the co-owner of MedsPLUS Consulting LLC. They are a clinic-based pharmacy bringing healthcare to the community.
Charlotte Walton, BSN, RN
Charlotte is a Supervisor for the Nurse-Family Partnership of Central Alabama.
Trendle Samuel, RN, BSN, CLC
Region II Perinatal Coordinator
Trendle collaborates with healthcare providers, agencies, and organizations to raise awareness and recommend infant morbidity and mortality strategies.
Katrese King, RN, II PMH-C
Katrese has served in women’s health for 26 years. She is the current Clinic Lead in the Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine at UAB. She has been a part of the Maternal Fetal Medicine nursing staff for the last 19 ½ years. She currently holds certification in Perinatal Mental Health and is responsible for the development and protocols for the Perinatal Bereavement and Palliative Care Program. She serves as a nursing mentor and preceptor and is also part of the UAB Addiction Scholar Program. She is an active participant on several committees and is also a part of the Minority Mentoring Circle.
