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KPCOM faculty across more than 20 departments — spanning primary care, surgery, behavioral and neuro-immune health, rehabilitative sciences, population health, osteopathic principles, foundations and medical education — conduct research addressing disease mechanisms, clinical outcomes, health equity, and the training of future physicians. This work ranges from laboratory and translational science to clinical trials, community health interventions, and educational research, reflecting the full breadth of osteopathic medicine's approach to patient care.
Faculty collaborate with NSU colleagues and students as well as outside institutions, industry experts, and corporate partners, extending the depth and reach of the research they contribute to the scientific community. Many hold active federal, state, and foundation-funded grants, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and mentor the next generation of physician-researchers through KPCOM's student research programs.
KPCOM Faculty Research by Department
Family Medicine
Delivers holistic osteopathic care across the lifespan at university-owned clinics and affiliated hospitals, including an ACGME-accredited Family Medicine Residency at Evara Health, launched in 2023 to train physicians for underserved communities in Pinellas County.
Barbara Arcos, D.O.
Chair, Family Medicine; Associate Professor
Research Focus: Leads the Department of Family Medicine's effort to bring together clinical practice and research, supporting faculty scholarship alongside preclinical and clinical training for medical students and residents.
Janet Roseman-Halsband, Ph.D., REAT, REACE, R-DMT
Associate Professor, Integrative Medicine, Family Medicine
Research Focus: The Kenyon endowment for cancer research; the Sidney Project in Spirituality and Medicine (which she founded); how medical students respond to compassion without being cued to its importance; self-care as a wellness priority; with Violetta Renesca, Irina Rozenfeld, Maria Vera-Nunez, and Alison Bested, effects of color therapy for patients with ME/CFS.
Gina Foster-Moumoutjis, MD, MS
Associate Professor - Family Medicine/Assistant Dean - Clinical Operations
Research Focus: Problem-based learning in pharmacology education; SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroconversion in NSU athletes; a 2020 editorial in the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine (with G. McDermott, Y. Qureshi, and A. Espejo). Recently contributed to the Introductory Textbook in Health Informatics (Springer Nature, 2026) alongside Vanessa D'Amario, Ph.D.
Luzan Phillpotts, D.O., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor, Family Medicine
Research Focus: Attitudes and perceptions toward face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic among South Florida residents; barriers to medical school matriculation for Black male applicants, with Pamela Moran-Walcutt, D.O., Paula Anderson-Worts, D.O., M.P.H., and Robin Jacobs, Ph.D.
Rebecca Cherner, D.O.
Professor, Family Medicine
Research Focus: Analysis of factors that predict success on clinical skills exams. Contributing author, Health Matters: The Human Side of Medicine (NSU College of Osteopathic Medicine's first faculty-authored medical book), alongside Naushira Pandya, M.D. and other KPCOM colleagues.
Michelle Johnson, D.O.
Assistant Professor - Family Medicine
Research Focus: Co-author, "Cytomegalovirus Esophagitis in an Immunocompromised Patient" (Cureus, September 2023, with A. Ali, S. Anasseri, J. Abou-Ghaida, L. Walker, and T. Barber); co-author, "Adenocarcinoma of an Unknown Primary Site: Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management" (Cureus, June 2023, same co-author group).
Internal Medicine
100+ years of collective clinical experience across specialty consultation, complex chronic disease management, rheumatology, and allergy/immunology care.
Marc M. Kesselman, D.O., MACOI, FACC, FACR
Chair, Internal Medicine; Associate Professor
Research Focus: The intersection of rheumatologic disease, cardiovascular health, immunology, and nutrition — including cardiovascular comorbidities and atherosclerosis risk in patients with chronic systemic inflammation and autoimmune disease; immune-related adverse events from cancer immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapy; and the role of nutrition and dietary supplementation in managing musculoskeletal health and inflammation in rheumatologic disease.
Suzanne Riskin, D.O.
Assistant Professor, Foundational Sciences
Research Focus: Medical education, preventative health, cancer prevention, primary care, combating health inequities, and medical humanities. Has guided student research on online studying during COVID-19, sunscreen application for skin cancer prevention, vitamin D, and patient education on the treatment of fatty liver disease.
Farzanna S. Haffizulla, MD, MACP, FAMWA
Research Focus: Founder and Principal Investigator, Caribbean Diaspora Healthy Nutrition Outreach Project; NSU Principal Investigator on "Lauderhill Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19" (HHS Office of Minority Health grant), published as a November 2025 study in Cureus. Community-engaged health equity research, clinical research oversight, and translation of evidence into population health improvements. Serves on the Data Safety Monitoring Board for a Long COVID clinical trial and as a Physician-Scientist Board Member for Advarra's Center for Institutional Review Board Intelligence.
Pediatrics
Trains medical students to deliver primary care to infants, children, and adolescents, with residency partnerships including Nicklaus Children's Hospital — home to the largest ACGME-accredited pediatric residency program in Florida (84 categorical residents) — and an ACGME-accredited community-health-center residency with Tampa Family Health Centers.
Mark Gabay, D.O.
Chair, Pediatrics; Program Director, Nicklaus Children's Hospital Residency; Assistant
Professor
Research Focus: Affordable Care Act primary care residency expansion program.
Stephanie Urban-Galvez, D.O.
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics
Research Focus: Co-author, "Cognitive Impairment Prediction in Chronic Alcohol Dependence" (Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, November 2009, with A.J. Jak, A. McCauley, and colleagues) — predates her NSU appointment. Panel speaker (with F. Haffizulla, K. Johnson, and other KPCOM faculty) on a topic not further specified.
Noel Alonso, MD, MSc, FAAP
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics
Research Focus: Academic pediatrics; co-author on a March 2026 correction to a study on non-pharmacologic approaches to preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in pediatric surgical patients.
Hilda M. DeGaetano, D.O., M.S., FACOP, FAAP
Associate Dean, Pre-Clinical Education; Professor, Pediatrics
Research Focus: Implementation and evaluation of clinical education programs. Co-author, "Formative Evaluation of Using Action Learning in a Master of Medical Education Assessment and Measurement Course" (Cureus, July 2022, with Arif M. Rana, Harold Wiggin, Jill Wallace-Ross, and Robin J. Jacobs).
Geriatrics
Trains and supports faculty caring for older adults through the HRSA-funded South Florida Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, a $3.5 million interprofessional collaboration across 10 NSU academic, clinical, and community partners. The program's NSU Health-Ziff clinic has achieved Level-2 recognition as an Age-Friendly Health System from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Naushira Pandya, M.D., C.M.D., F.A.C.P.
Professor and Chair, Geriatrics; Project Director, HRSA-funded South Florida Geriatrics
Workforce Enhancement Program
Research Focus: Co-author on four April 2026 papers in Diabetes Care as part of the American Diabetes Association's "Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026," covering diabetes technology, comprehensive medical evaluation, diagnosis and classification, and children/adolescents with diabetes; co-author of an April 2026 review, "Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Care for Type 1 Diabetes in Older Adulthood." 172 total publications, 5,145 citations, h-index of 42.
Rural and Urban Underserved Medicine
Trains students in primary care skills for rural and underserved settings with limited access to sophisticated technical and ancillary services, building multi-cultural health awareness and introducing students to community medicine.
Marie Florent-Carre, D.O., M.P.H.
Chair, Department of Rural and Urban Underserved Medicine; Associate Professor, Family
Medicine and Public Health
Research Focus: Foreign-borne illnesses including Zika, Dengue Fever, and Ebola. Principal Investigator, USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant at NSU-KPCOM, with Elizabeth Oviawe, Ph.D.; former Principal Investigator, Broward Regional Health Planning Council's Transforming Our Community's Health project. Recognized nationally as a Zika virus expert, including panels with CDC representatives and appearances on Dateline Health and PBS's "Viewpoint."
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Prepares students in care before, during, and after pregnancy, and conditions affecting the urinary, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Obstetrics and gynecology are taught together as "Women's Health" in the second year, with clinical rotations in the third year.
Renee Alexis, M.D., M.P.H., MBA, FACOG
Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology; Associate Professor
Research Focus: Cervical pathology and alternative diagnostic approaches, aiming to reduce the economic, physical, and emotional burden of current diagnostic protocols. Co-author, "Successful Management of Complications Due to a Cesarean Section in a Patient With a Complex Obstetric History: A Case Report and Review of Preventive Strategies" (Cureus, January 2025, with E. Parikh, S. Kanetkar, and R. Sheth); co-author, "Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in an Eclamptic Adolescent: A Case Report" (with R. Alef, A. Akhtar, M. Barrant, and A. Carillo); co-author, "Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy: An Autobiographical Case Report" (Cureus, 2022, with S. Bartolone). Recipient of NSU's President's Faculty and Research Grant (2017–present). Fellow, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Surgery
Prepares students for surgical practice through integration with the systems-based curriculum, small-group instruction in surgical thought processes, and a procedures course introducing pre-clinical students to surgical techniques prior to clinical rotations.
Khavir Sharieff, D.O., MBA
Chair, Surgery; Assistant Professor
Research Focus: Surgical education and long COVID's impact on medical student performance; student mentorship in surgical research. Co-author, "Physician Modified Stent Grafts Created Using 3-Dimensional Printing in the Management of Aortic Disease: A Systematic Review" (2024, with Gregory Alfieri, Jack Stensland, and Sydney Elness); co-author, "Use of Electrical Bone Growth Stimulators in High-Risk Patients Following Spinal Fusion" (2024, with Soumya Malhotra).
Emergency Medicine
NSU is a designated top American Heart Association (AHA) training center in South Florida, offering CPR, ACLS, PALS, and airway management certification taught by ER physicians and paramedics.
Darren Cohen, D.O.
Associate Dean, Clinical Medical Education; Associate Professor, Medical Education;
Chair, Emergency Medicine
Research Focus: Project SEAMIST (Southeast Area Maritime Industry Safety Training), a hazardous waste worker training program providing health and safety training for personnel whose jobs bring them into contact with hazardous materials in ports.
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Focuses on the evaluation, identification, and management of psychiatric conditions, combining clinical practice with research spanning neuroscience, psychology, biochemistry, and pharmacology.
Raymond L. Ownby, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.
Chair, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine; Professor
Research Focus: Digital therapeutics for cognition and chronic disease self-management in older adults, health literacy assessment, and brain health interventions. Co-author, "Middle-Aged and Older Adults' Beliefs, Ratings, and Preferences for Receiving Multicomponent Lifestyle-Based Brain Health Interventions" (Brain Sciences, January 2026, with Shazia Akhtarullah and Joshua Caballero); co-author of a September 2025 review in Aging and Health Research and a June 2025 article in Behavioral Sciences (both with Joshua Caballero); co-author, "Mapping the Mind in the Virtual Metaverse: An Initial In-Depth Thematic Exploration of Youth Mental Health within VRChat." Director of the FLIGHT/VIDAS II project delivering tailored chronic disease self-management content via mobile app to individuals with low health literacy. 200+ published research articles; multiple NIH grants; recipient of NSU's Provost's Research and Scholarship Award (2014).
Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine
Researching complex neuro-inflammatory illnesses — primarily ME/CFS and Gulf War Illness — through clinical, laboratory, computational, and translational research, in partnership with the CDC, Miami VA Healthcare System, and NIH
Nancy G. Klimas, MD
Director, Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine
Research Focus: Brain-immune interactions in Gulf War Illness and ME/CFS. Leading a 2026 clinical trial (funded by the Florida Department of Health and Schmidt Initiative for Long COVID) testing a monoclonal antibody treatment for Long COVID.
Theoharis C. Theoharides, MD, PhD
Professor and Vice Chair, Clinical Immunology
Research Focus: Regulation of mast cells and microglia in neuroinflammatory disease. Co-author of a November 2023 paper (with A. Twahir and D. Kempuraj) in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Kempuraj Duraisamy, Ph.D.
Director, Research Laboratory; Associate Professor
Research Focus: Neuroinflammation and neurovascular dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ME/CFS, Gulf War Illness, Long COVID, and traumatic brain injury, with Theoharis Theoharides, Nancy Klimas, the UK ME/CFS Biobank, and NIH Brain Banks. Developing a neuroinflammatory biomarker panel, brain-on-a-chip, blood-brain-barrier-on-a-chip, and brain organoid models using patient-derived stem cells.
Amanpreet Cheema, Ph.D., MS
Director of Clinical Research; Chair, Institutional Review Board
Research Focus: Intersection of nutrition, immunology, and systems biology in Gulf War Illness, ME/CFS, and Long COVID, with a 2025–2026 focus on neuroimmune dysfunction, mitochondrial and vascular health, oxidative stress, and post-exertional symptom worsening. Recipient of the 2024 NSU Provost's Research and Scholarship Award.
David Quesada Saliba, Ph.D.
Director, Computational Clinical Systems Biology Group; Associate Professor, Computational
Biology, Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine
Research Focus: Statistical analysis and biomathematical modeling of neuro-inflammatory conditions (GWI, ME/CFS, Long COVID), including exercise-challenge modeling and modeling the transition from acute COVID to Long COVID; effects of environmental stressors on immune-endocrine function; neuronal network dynamics relevant to epilepsy and neurodegenerative disease; and potential quantum biology effects on neuronal function and plasticity.
Irina Rozenfeld, D.N.P., MSHS, APRN, ANP-BC
Assistant Professor, Clinical Track; Director, Concierge Services
Research Focus: Neuroinflammation, biotoxin exposure, detoxification, and integrative medicine for ME/CFS. Co-author, "Tamariz L, Rozenfeld I, et al." (Clinical Medicine & Research, March 2026, with Nancy Klimas); co-author of a 2025 book chapter in Plant and Animal Proteins in Health and Disease Prevention (CRC Press); co-author of two 2024 chapters in Handbook for Culturally Competent Care (Springer, with T. Maltseva).
Irma Rey, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine; Director of Medical Education, Institute for Neuro-Immune
Medicine
Research Focus: ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, Gulf War Illness, HIV/AIDS, autism spectrum disorder, and Lyme disease. Co-author (with Nancy Klimas and colleagues) of a study linking active enterovirus infection to idiopathic gastroparesis, finding antiviral/immune therapy favorable in most patients studied.
Violetta Renesca, D.N.P., APRN, NP-C, IFMCP
Assistant Professor, Clinical Track; Director, Veteran Services
Research Focus: Functional and integrative approaches to complex neuro-inflammatory conditions. Author, "The Role of Nutrition in ME/CFS" (NSUWorks, 2024). Co-investigator on "Next-Generation Sequencing to Identify Infectious Pathogenesis of ME/CFS" (with Irina Rozenfeld, Maria Vera-Nunez, Lubov Nathanson, and Alison Bested), and "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Detecting Mycotoxin Subgroup" (with Alison Bested, Irina Rozenfeld, and Nancy Klimas). Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating methylphenidate hydrochloride for chronic fatigue syndrome.
Jacqueline Junco, M.D., M.P.H., A.P., IMD
Chair, Integrated Medicine; Assistant Professor, Neuro-Immune Medicine
Research Focus: Leads the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine's Integrative Medicine program, drawing on 15 years as a clinical researcher at the University of Miami and Miami VA Medical Center, with clinical expertise in acupuncture, Chinese herbology, and integrative approaches to mental health for veterans.
Audiology
One of only six dually accredited (ASHA-CAA and ACAE) Doctor of Audiology programs in the U.S., with faculty research spanning audiology education, clinical practice, vestibular diagnostics, auditory processing, tinnitus, pediatric audiologic outcomes, and global health.
Erica Friedland, Au.D.
Chair and Professor, Audiology
Research Focus: Student perception of preceptor characteristics, graduate admissions and predictors of student success, ethics and decision-making in audiology, education and personality characteristics of audiology students, and pediatric case-based research.
Josiah Alamu, Ph.D., MPH, B.Pharm.
Associate Professor, Audiology
Research Focus: Global health, water quality and waterborne disease, and Hepatitis C prevalence among homeless populations; currently examining HIV and Hepatitis B pathogenesis and comorbidities with institutions in West Africa; past work includes hypertension and diabetes screening in rural Ghana.
Alyssa Needleman, Ph.D.
Professor; Clinical Director, Audiology
Research Focus: Audiology education and professional practice, including clinical education and precepting, graduate admissions and predictors of student success, ethics and decision-making in audiology education, and the economics and valuation of audiology services.
Patricia Gaffney, Au.D., M.P.H.
Professor, Audiology
Research Focus: Professional issues related to students, specifically student loan impacts and salary. Additionally, she focuses on vestibular function and factors for reducing fall risk.
Sarah Wakefield, Au.D.
Associate Professor, Audiology; Director, Audiology Clinic
Research Focus: Tinnitus and sound disorders, decreased sound tolerance, auditory processing evaluation and treatment, mindfulness as a component of treatment for tinnitus.
Caroline Dadowski, Au.D., CCC-A
Assistant Professor, Audiology
Research Focus: Clinical preceptors in audiology education, including students' perceptions of effective preceptor characteristics and tools to support preceptor success, and examining reflective practice and the use of reflective journals to support audiology students' clinical learning and professional development.
Alix Moody, Au.D.
Assistant Professor, Audiology
Research Focus: Early hearing detection and intervention; complex pediatric audiologic outcomes and
case-based research; interprofessional pediatric care; and resilience, confidence,
and professional development among audiology doctoral students.
NSU Research Profile TBA
Health and Human Performance
NSCA-endorsed (National Strength and Conditioning Association) B.S. and M.S. programs in exercise and sports science, with faculty research spanning sports nutrition, combat sports physiology, and performance biomechanics for professional and elite athletes.
Corey Peacock, Ph.D., CSCS
Program Director, Exercise and Sports Science; Professor
Research Focus: Physiological performance and its impact on fight outcomes in professional mixed martial artists, examining how aerobic capacity, explosive performance, and rapid weight-loss strategies vary across weight categories to optimize training, enhance recovery, and reduce health risks of extreme weight cycling in combat sports. Co-author, "Weight Cutting in Female UFC Fighters" (with Cassandra Evans, Charles Stull, and colleagues); co-author, "Analysis of Ringside Physician Stoppages in Professional Mixed Martial Arts" (2025, with Andy Suarez, Justin Braun, and Gabriel Sanders); co-author of multiple 2025 studies in Sensors, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, and Translational Sports Medicine (with Gabriel Sanders). 87 publications, 1,300+ citations.
Jose Antonio, Ph.D.
Professor, Exercise and Sports Science
Research Focus: Dietary supplements (creatine, protein), sports neuroscience, and human performance. Co-author, "Creatine Supplementation and Resistance Training: A Comparison Between Novice and Experienced Lifters" (Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, December 2025); co-author, "Creatine Supplementation Is Safe, Beneficial Throughout the Lifespan, and Should Not Be Restricted" (Frontiers in Nutrition, April 2025); co-author of a September 2025 study in Muscles. CEO and Co-Founder, International Society of Sports Nutrition; Co-Founder, Society for NeuroSports. 100+ peer-reviewed papers, 29,000+ citations.
G. Monique Mokha, Ph.D., L.A.T., A.T.C
Professor, Exercise and Sports Science
Research Focus: Sport injury and performance biomechanics. Co-author, "Morphology and Performance Biomechanics Profiles of Draft Prep American Style Football Players" (Biomechanics, 2024); co-author, "Training Regimen of an Elite Ultramarathon Runner" (International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2024); co-author, "Effects of Five Common Preparatory Approaches on Grande Jeté Biomechanics" (Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, 2024).
Pradeep Vanguri, Ph.D.
Professor, Health and Human Performance
Research Focus: Golf injury prevention. Co-author, "The Impact of Inadequate Sleep on Overtraining Syndrome in 18-22-Year-Old Male and Female College Athletes: A Literature Review" (Cureus, March 2024); co-author, "Effects of Education, Nutrition, and Psychology on Preventing the Female Athlete Triad" (Cureus, March 2024, with Lailah Issac).
Lia Jiannine, Ph.D., CSCS
Associate Professor, Exercise and Sports Science
Research Focus: Effects of exercise and sport supplementation on sexual functioning. Co-author of a 2026 study (with K. Leung and J. Antonio) in Journal of Exercise Physiology Online; co-author, "Exploring the Effects of Swearing on Aerobic Endurance" (2024, with C. Ballmann and N. Washmuth).
Tobin Silver, Ph.D., CSCS
Professor and Clinical Director, Exercise and Sports Science
Research Focus: Nonlinear, linear, and temporal analyses of biological signals, trip recovery while walking, balance and posture, and community wellness. Co-author of two 2024 studies with Jose Antonio on caffeinated energy shots and turkesterone supplementation.
Anthony Ricci, Ed.D., MS, FISSN, CSCS, PES
Assistant Professor, Exercise and Sports Science
Research Focus: Mixed martial arts performance, sports psychology, and sports neuroscience. Co-author, "Acute Effects of High-Intensity Exercise on Inflammatory Markers" (2023, with J. Tartar and colleagues).
NSU Research Profile TBA
Megan E. Colas, Ph.D., ATC, NREMT-B
Associate Professor, Athletic Training
Research Focus: Emergency management, first responder health and wellness, and interprofessional/evidence-based education. Co-author, "Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Increased Hamstring Mobility" (Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 2022).
Elizabeth Swann, Ph.D., ATC
Associate Professor, Athletic Training
Research Focus: Interprofessional Education
Occupational Therapy
ACOTE-accredited (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education) entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy programs in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay, part of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel of Osteopathic Medicine, with faculty research spanning equity in OT education, older adult care, and rehabilitation technology.
Tamara Pinchevsky. Dr.OT, OTR/L
Chair - Occupational Therapy/Associate Professor
Research Focus: TBA
Occupational Therapy — Fort Lauderdale
Nardia Aldridge, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, FNAP, DTM
Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy
Research Focus: Systemic racism, belonging, and cultural humility in occupational therapy education, with a focus on Black students and practitioners. Co-author, "Belonging: A Phenomenological Study of Systemic Racism Experienced Among Black Students in Occupational Therapy Programs" (Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, with C. Hill); presented related research at the 2024 American Occupational Therapy Association conference. Also studies interprofessional education activities and diversity, equity, and inclusion in OT curricula.
Linda Frasier, OTD, OTR/L, CLT, CAPS, CEAS
Program Director and Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
Research Focus: Pedagogy and simulation in OT education, including the integration of standardized patients and interprofessional education. Co-author, "Enhancing Simulation Fidelity in Occupational Therapy Education: Considerations for Standardized Patient Training and Implementation"; co-author of a study examining whether standardized patient encounters predict Level IIA fieldwork performance (with Kevin L. MacPherson).
Rick (Ricky) Davenport, Ph.D., OTR/L
Research Focus: TBA
Danielle Barber, O.T.D., OTR/L
Research Focus: TBA
Nicole Quint, Ph.D., Dr.OT, OTR/L, FAOTA
Research Focus: TBA
Christina Kane, Ed.D., M.S., OTR/L
Associate Professor and Doctoral Capstone Coordinator, Occupational Therapy
Research Focus: Outcomes for patients with spinal cord injuries in day treatment programs. "Exploring Outcomes for Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries Participating in a Day Treatment Program" (December 2025, with A. Chappell, K. Frack, S. Salluom, and B. Meurs), examining self-care outcomes at the Brooks Spinal Cord Injury & Related Disorders Day Treatment Program in Jacksonville, Florida.
Shirish Lala, EdD, MHS, OTR/L
Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy
Research Focus: Occupational engagement and participation among children with neurodivergent conditions. "Occupational Participation Among Children with Neurodivergent and Related Conditions: A Mixed Methods Study" (December 2025, with D. Amacker, A. Martens, A. Rodefeld, D. Toth, and E. Wider), examining how occupational engagement differs across home, school, and community settings using the Model of Human Occupation framework.
Speech-Language Pathology
CAA-accredited (Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, ASHA) M.S. program, offered in both residential and distance formats, with the only undergraduate program in speech, language, and communication disorders in South Florida. Faculty research spans neurogenic communication disorders, aphasia treatment, and voice-resonance disorders.
Erica Friedland, Au.D.
Chair, Speech-Language Pathology; Chair and Professor, Audiology
Research Focus: Skills-based clinical evaluation of students, preceptor roles, and characteristics of the ideal audiology applicant; doctoral research on developing and implementing an auditory processing evaluation protocol in children.
Jacqueline Hinckley, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow
Professor and Program Director, Speech-Language Pathology; Director, B.S. in Speech,
Language, and Communication Disorders
Research Focus: Neurogenic communication disorders, aphasia treatment, and stakeholder-engaged research. Project Lead, Project BRIDGE (Building Research Initiatives by Developing Group Effort), a PCORI-funded research incubator centering people with aphasia and their families in research design. Co-author, "Person-Centered Care for People with Aphasia: Tools for Shared Decision-Making" (2023, with Mark Jayes); contributing author, "Complex Speech-Language Therapy Interventions for Stroke-Related Aphasia: The RELEASE Study," a large international systematic review and individual participant data network meta-analysis; author, "Aphasia Practice in the Year 2026." Author of two books on narrative-based practice and communication-impairment simulation training. Recipient of the Audrey Holland Award from Aphasia Access.
Lea Kaploun, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Associate Professor, Speech-Language Pathology
Research Focus: Neurogenic communication disorders affecting speech, language, and cognition, particularly related to Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease; counseling for patients and families coping with these conditions. Co-author, "Acoustic Analysis of Voice and Speech Characteristics in Presymptomatic Gene Carriers of Huntington's Disease" (Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, with J.H. Saxman, P. Wasserman, and K. Marder).
Helene Fisher, SLP.D., CCC-SLP
Professor, Speech-Language Pathology
Research Focus: Voice-resonance disorders, craniofacial anomalies, and gender-affirming voice care. Author, "Oral Pressure and Velopharyngeal Function: A Bi-Directional Relationship."
Frederick DiCarlo, Ed.D., CCC-SLP
Professor, Speech-Language Pathology; Director, Academic & Faculty Support
Research Focus: Per his NSU bio: dysphagia, primary progressive aphasia, telehealth, and arts-based approaches to clinical communication.
Physical Therapy
CAPTE-accredited (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education) Doctor of Physical Therapy programs in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay, with a 100% NPTE ultimate pass rate and two-year graduate employment rate at the Fort Lauderdale campus.
Shari Rone-Adams, PT, MHSA, DBA
Chair and Professor, Physical Therapy
Research Focus: Simulation in physical therapy education, curriculum development and mapping, student outcomes, and professionalism. Editor, Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. Serves on the ACAPT Task Force to Develop Best Practices in DPT Admissions/Retention and the Reactor Panel for Domains of Competence and Entrustable Professional Activities.Co-author, "Validity and Optimization of the OpenCap Motion Analysis System in Functional Assessment" (February 2025, with Brett Berkowitz, Alessandra Mondelli, and colleagues).
Physical Therapy — Fort Lauderdale
Coral Gubler, PT, PhD, ATC
Professor, Physical Therapy; Director, Post-Professional Clinical Education
Research Focus: Injury and disease prevention. Author, "Interrater Reliability of a Customized Submaximal Cycle Ergometer Test" (European Journal of Applied Physiology); author, "The Effect of Adding a Tuck to the Drop Vertical Jump Test in Collegiate Soccer Players" (Gazzetta Medica Italiana).
Cheryl Hill, PT, MS, DPT, PhD
Professor, Physical Therapy
Research Focus: No specific publication confirmed — active member of the Florida Physical Therapy Association, APTA, American Council of Academic Physical Therapy, and the Academy of Physical Therapy Research; co-author of an older presentation, "Teaching Evidence-Based Practice: How Contributing to Hooked on Evidence Contributes to our Curriculum" (with D. Scalzitti and colleagues).
Jennifer Canbek, PT, PhD, NCS
Program Director and Professor, Physical Therapy
Research Focus: Neurologic physical therapy, stroke, clinical decision-making, and physical therapy residency education. Research centers on validating functional performance-based outcome measures in stroke patients, measuring functional performance in acute care, and developing clinical decision-making skills in PT students and novice clinicians.
Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez, PT, DPT, PhD
Program Director, Ph.D. in Physical Therapy; Professor
Research Focus: Pediatrics, biomechanics, clinical decision-making, educational innovation, and nanotechnology/theranostics in cancer. Author, "Editorial: Nanotechnology-Based Delivery Systems for Cancer Treatment" (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, January 2026); co-editor, "Editorial: State-of-the-Art Rational Nanodesign" (Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2023). 2,045+ citations; NSF-funded research; 2015 NSU College of Health Care Sciences Excellence in Faculty Scholarship Award.
Dalila Dias, PT, DPT, EdD, GCS, COMT, CWT
Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
Research Focus: Student metacognition in foundational courses in accelerated health care programs; impact of service-learning on student self-efficacy in gerontology courses. Co-author, "Assessing Student Physical Therapists' Metacognition in a Foundational [Pathophysiology Course]" (with Cheryl J. Hill and colleagues), examining certainty-based markings and metacognitive self-regulation in an accelerated DPT program.
Ovidio Olivencia, PT, DPT, OCS
Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
Research Focus: Orthopedics and exercise physiology, with clinical focus in lower extremity and cranial mandibular disorders. Co-author, "The Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change of Common Tests and Measures for Temporomandibular Disorders" (Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 2025, with Kaplan, Graham, Herpich, Memmo, and Morey Kolber).
Brian Russ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, COMT
Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
Research Focus: Orthopedics and exercise physiology, focused on triceps surae flexibility and exercise interventions for osteoporosis. Co-author, "Exercise Interventions for the Individual With Osteoporosis" (with Eric Chaconas and Ovidio Olivencia, 2013).
Physical Therapy — Tampa
Kathleen Manella, PT, PhD
Program Director and Professor, Physical Therapy, Tampa Bay Regional Campus
Research Focus: Measurement of abnormal lower limb reflex activity and operant conditioning interventions for spinal cord injury and stroke patients; developed a smartphone video-based clinical tool for ankle clonus measurement.
Joann Gallichio, PT, DSc, NCS
Professor, Physical Therapy
Research Focus: Recovery of walking following stroke. Site team leader, Locomotor Experience Applied Post-Stroke (LEAPS) study, a Phase III multi-site randomized clinical trial. Author of studies on pharmacological management of post-stroke spasticity (2004), virtual reality training for stroke rehabilitation (2004), the Fugl-Meyer sensorimotor assessment after stroke (2011), balance/gait speed/falls after stroke (2016), and clinical decision-making in walking recovery trials (2017). 560+ citations.
Lance Cherry, PT, EdD, OCS
Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education, Physical Therapy
Research Focus: Musculoskeletal dysfunction outcomes and hybrid/blended education models in physical therapy.
Public Health
Focuses on the health of populations — especially multicultural and underserved communities — through education, research, and service. NSU's Master of Public Health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), and was recognized by Fortune Education and The Princeton Review as one of the Best Online Master's in Public Health programs for 2025 and 2026.
Kristi Messer, D.H.Sc., M.P.H., M.S.W., LCSW
Assistant Dean; Director, Bachelor of Public Health; Associate Professor
Research Focus: Online alternative medical treatment sites; influence of COVID-19 and parental/guardian vaping history on undergraduate vaping behaviors; presented at 40+ national and international conferences.
Claudia A. Serna, Ph.D., D.D.S., M.P.H., M.B.A.
Chair, Department of Public Health; Director, Master of Public Health Program; Associate
Professor of Public Health
Research Focus: Dental care utilization and dental-related ED use among Hispanic migrant farmworkers, community-based HIV prevention interventions (Project Salud), needs assessment of social media platforms for the Broward Regional Health Planning Council, and racial disparities in pediatric firearm-related injuries in Florida. Recipient of the 2024 Hispanic Dental Association and Crest + Oral-B Community Service Award.
Jayson Forbes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Public Health
Research Focus: Health policy and systems research; hospital patient safety culture; the role of hospitals in addressing social determinants of health. Co-author of a December 2025 review in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition (with A.M. Enyeji, C. Obi, and colleagues) and a December 2024 study on healthcare leadership in BMJ Leader (with A. Arrieta). President-Elect, Florida Chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives.
Theodore "Lucas" Hollar, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Public Health
Research Focus: Policy, systems, and environmental change for population health; political and administrative determinants of health; social vulnerability; patient experience of care; childhood obesity prevention; tobacco-control policy.
Kasi Lou Van Heel, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor, Public Health
Research Focus: Social determinants of access to credible health information; college access and participation among marginalized groups; current research on parent involvement among student athletes in underserved communities.
NSU Research Profile TBA
Julio Llanga, D.O., M.S., LSSBB
Assistant Professor, Public Health
Research Focus: TBA
Stacey Pinnock, D.H.Sc., M.S.W., CPH, CWP
Assistant Professor, Public Health
Research Focus: Health literacy within family systems; community resilience, thriving, and wellness. Background spans health literacy in minority populations, geriatric workforce training, and interprofessional collaboration.
Health Informatics
CAHIIM-accredited programs (M.S. reaffirmed through 2028–2029) in health IT, clinical informatics, and healthcare data management, also recognized as an Approved Education Partner of HIMSS and a member of the AMIA Academic Forum, with faculty research spanning AI in healthcare, cybersecurity, and health information technology.
Stephen E. Bronsburg, Ph.D., M.S., M.H.S.A.
Director, M.S. in Health Informatics Program; Associate Professor
Research Focus: Health information technology to improve chronic disease and addiction care. Co-author, "Computer Science Review: The Basics," a chapter in Introductory Textbook in Health Informatics (Springer Nature, May 2026, with Vanessa D'Amario, Ph.D.); co-author of a December 2024 study on designing an electronic health records system for a medical outreach field clinic (with Michelle/Mical Ramim, Vanessa D'Amario, and Jill Wallace-Ross); mHealth interventions including text messaging and Fitbit-based chronic disease self-management.
Jeniffer R. Garcia, D.H.Sc., M.S.
Director, B.S. in Health Informatics; Assistant Professor, Health Informatics
Research Focus: Artificial intelligence in healthcare technology and education, electronic health records, and process improvement. Author of a series of 2025–2026 pieces on preparing health informatics students for generative AI and aligning health informatics programs with industry needs, most recently in March 2026. Certified Scrum Master and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
Michelle (Mical) Ramim, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Assistant Professor and Founding Director, B.S. in Health Informatics
Research Focus: Co-author, "Security and Privacy of Wearable and Implantable Medical Devices: A Course-Based Approach to Medical Device Cybersecurity Education," an NCAE-C-sponsored curriculum on healthcare cybersecurity presented at the 2026 CyberEd conference; co-author of a December 2024 study on designing an electronic health records system for an international medical outreach field clinic (with Stephen Bronsburg, Ph.D., Vanessa D'Amario, Ph.D., and Jill Wallace-Ross); broader research spans wearable medical device security, data privacy and ethics, and information security governance.
Roseanne Alhindi, M.S.
Assistant Professor, Health Informatics; Academic Advisor
Research Focus: 2025 doctoral dissertation, "A Study of User Experiences of Pediatric Physicians with Electronic Health Record Systems: Encounters with Task Complexity and Efficiency of User Task Flows," examining EHR usability and human-computer interaction in pediatric clinical settings; research interests span health informatics, healthcare technology, human-computer interaction, and EHR systems.
NSU Research Profile TBA
Nutrition
ACEND-approved (Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics) through December 31, 2029, the only pathway at KPCOM to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Faculty deliver clinical nutrition services spanning student health, sports medicine, pediatric feeding disorders, and medical nutrition therapy.
Stephanie Petrosky, D.C.N., M.H.A., RDN, FAND
Director, Nutrition & Dietetics; Associate Professor
Research Focus: Community-based nutrition intervention, food insecurity among college students, dietary intake and exercise before and during COVID-19, and increasing access to healthcare. Co-author, "Interprofessional Education Activities and New Practitioner Competence: Implications for Practice in Nutrition and Dietetics Education."
Andrea Charvet, Ph.D., RDN, LDN
Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Research Focus: Risk factors for childhood obesity, and nutrition-based interventions to help children and families build healthy habits.
Priya Krishnakumar, Ph.D., RDN
Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Research Focus: Intracellular nutritional biomarker differences in ME/CFS patients versus healthy controls, presented at the American Society for Nutrition's 2022 conference, conducted through NSU's Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine.
Marilyn Gordon, Ed.D., RDN, CSSD, LDN
Associate Professor, Nutrition; Sports Dietitian, NSU Athletics
Research Focus: Co-author, "The Effects of Fit 5 and Gardens on Adults with Intellectual Disabilities" (with Cyril Blavo and colleagues, NSU President's Research Grant). Interests include Ayurveda, functional nutrition, and nutrigenomics.
Annie Lin, D.C.N., M.S., CNS, FMCP
Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Research Focus: Vitamin D3 dosage for COVID-19 management. Co-author, "Vitamin D3 Dosage for Symptoms Associated With COVID-19: A Narrative Review" (Current Developments in Nutrition, 2022) and its corrigendum; co-author, "Management of Hepatogenous Diabetes in a Liver Transplant Patient Through Blood Sugar Regulation: A Case Report."
Couple and Family Therapy
South Florida's only COAMFTE-accredited (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) M.S. program, and home to the first campus-based COAMFTE-accredited D.M.F.T. in the United States. Trains students to work with culturally and sexually diverse populations through relational and systemic practice, with hands-on experience in a live, supervised on-site community clinic.
Fariha Niazi, Ph.D., LMFT, LMHC
Chair, Couple and Family Therapy
Research Focus: Use of photography in health and wellness coaching as a tool for self-care; Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) Level I trained, with interest in pediatric feeding and related disorders in children and families.
Shazia Akhtarullah, Ph.D., LMFT, LMHC, MCAP, NBC-HWC
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine; Director, Health & Wellness
Program
Research Focus: Brain health and lifestyle-based interventions for middle-aged and older adults. Co-author, "Middle-Aged and Older Adults' Beliefs, Ratings, and Preferences for Receiving Multicomponent Lifestyle-Based Brain Health Interventions" (Brain Sciences, January 2026, with Raymond Ownby).
Kara S. Erolin, Ph.D., LMFT
Associate Professor, Couple and Family Therapy
Research Focus: Mental health and relationships in underserved populations, grounded in social constructionist theory. AAMFT Members of Color Survey (with Elizabeth Jarquin). Co-author, "Through the Storm" (Springer, 2019, with Anne Rambo), on program response to Hurricane Irma and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting. Presented on faculty experiences at minority-serving institutions and Narrative Exposure Therapy for complex PTSD at the 2023 National Council on Family Relations conference.
Rochelle S. Clarke, LMFT
Assistant Professor, Family Therapy
Research Focus: Co-author (with Anne Rambo) of a special-section article in the Journal of Systemic Therapies, "Hospice Workers in the Pandemic: Re-visioning Self-Care Systemically in a Time of Crisis" (2023). Presented at the International Family Therapy Association's 2024 World Congress in Toyoma, Japan, on academic burnout prevention resources for MFT students and self-of-the-therapist growth in supervision.
Pei-Fen Li, Ph.D., LMFT
Associate Professor, Family Therapy
Research Focus: Dyadic analyses of couples' relational factors, application of MFT models in Eastern cultures, acculturation of immigrant families, and solution-focused brief therapy with parents of children with autism. Co-author, "Reentry Experiences and Professional Developments of International Marriage and Family Therapy Graduates in Taiwan" (Contemporary Family Therapy, 2018, with Jerry Gale); co-author, "Marital Enqing and Depression in Taiwanese Couples" (Marriage & Family Review, 2018). Recipient of Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation grants (2017, 2019) to study solution-focused group brief therapy for parents of children with autism in Taiwan and South Florida.
Fatemeh Nikparvar, Ph.D., LMFT
Assistant Professor, Couple and Family Therapy
Research Focus: Intimate partner violence (IPV) risk markers, treatment, and recovery, with a focus on Iranian populations. Co-author, "Effectiveness of Compassion-Based Acceptance Therapy and Schema Therapy on Intimate Partner Violence Victims' Psychological Health" (Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2023, with F. Sasanian, C. Spencer, and S. Stith); co-author, "Risk Markers for Women's Physical Intimate Partner Violence Victimization in Iran: A Meta-Analysis" (Violence Against Women, 2021); co-author, "Intimate Partner Violence in Iran: Factors Associated With Physical Aggression Victimization and Perpetration" (Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2021).
Lori Pantaleao, Ph.D., LMFT, LMHC, CAP, CTP
Assistant Professor, Couple and Family Therapy
Research Focus: Co-author, "Everyday Solution-Focused Recursion: When Family Therapy Faculty, Supervisors, Researchers, Students, and Clients Play Well Together" (with Jenna Wilson), examining relational dynamics in academic clinical training programs. Presented at the International Family Therapy Association's 2024 World Congress in Toyama, Japan, on "Self-Care Series: Groups Designed to Provide MFT Students with Prevention Resources for Academic Burnout" and "Experiential & Reflective Activities in the Classroom and Supervision: Self-of-the-Therapist Growth" (with Rochelle Clarke).
Disaster and Emergency Management
An interdisciplinary program offering unique concentrations in maritime safety and cybersecurity, preparing students to lead across all phases of disaster — preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery — through collaboration between public and private sectors.
Kelley Davis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Foundational Sciences (Immunology); Director, Disaster and Emergency
Management Program
Research Focus: Virology, immunology, and bacteriology, with emphasis on the medical aspects of infectious disease. Recognized authority in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) response, including recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of mass casualty and mass care events; lectures on Presidential Directives regarding BioSense, BioWatch, and biological weapons.
Osteopathic Principles and Practice
Preserves and teaches the history and philosophy of osteopathic medicine as developed by A.T. Still, D.O., combining clinical instruction with active research into osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) mechanisms and efficacy. Faculty include practitioners certified in pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, sports medicine, and cranial osteopathy.
Mark Sandhouse, D.O., M.S.
Chair and Professor, Osteopathic Principles and Practice; Vice Dean and Director,
Administrative Services & Fellowship
Research Focus: Leads the Department of Osteopathic Principles and Practice's research program investigating osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) mechanisms and efficacy, in collaboration with NSU's Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, while overseeing the department's Predoctoral and Sports Medicine Fellowships.
Yasmin Qureshi, Ed.D., D.P.T., M.H.S.
Administrative Chair and Professor, Osteopathic Principles and Practice; Director,
OPP Research
Research Focus: OMT mechanisms and effects on the immune system, in collaboration with NSU's Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine.
Holly Waters, D.O., M.S.
Vice-Chair and Assistant Professor, Osteopathic Principles and Practice; Fellowship
Director, Tampa Bay Regional Campus
Research Focus: OMT mechanisms and effects on the immune system, in collaboration with NSU's Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine.
Patrick Barry, D.O.
Director, Pre-Doctoral Osteopathic Principles and Practice Fellowship, Fort Lauderdale/Davie
Campus
Research Focus: OMT mechanisms and effects on the immune system, in collaboration with NSU's Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine.
Jill Wallace-Ross, D.O., M.S., M.S.
Director, International Medicine; Associate Professor, Osteopathic Principles and
Practice & Family Medicine
Research Focus: OMT for chronic low back pain and musculoskeletal pain in remote underserved populations. Co-author, "Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain and Musculoskeletal Pain in Remote Underserved Populations: A Systematic Literature Review" (Cureus, May 2025, with Arielle Friedman and Reena Sheth); co-author, "Formative Evaluation of Using Action Learning in a Master of Medical Education Assessment and Measurement Course" (Cureus, 2022).
Nathan Widboom, D.O.
Director, Pre-Doctoral OPP Fellowship, Davie Campus; Associate Professor, Osteopathic
Principles and Practice
Research Focus: OMT's mechanistic effect on immune cell function in chronic low back pain, in collaboration with NSU's Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine. Co-author, "A Mechanistic Hypothesis: Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy May Modulate Immune Cell Function in Chronic Low Back Pain" (Frontiers in Pain Research, January 2026, with Lily Tehrani, Jackson Gamer, Sarah Ballarin, and Sebastian Arango).
Sports Medicine
Provides interdisciplinary athletic training and sports medicine care to NSU's 300 student-athletes across 16 varsity sports, integrating injury prevention, medical care, education, and research to support NCAA student-athlete health and performance.
Lailah Issac, D.O., FAAPMR, CAQSM
Chair, Sports Medicine; Associate Professor
Research Focus: Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in injured NCAA athletes from a single university; effects of education, nutrition, and psychology on preventing the female athlete triad (with Bijal Patel, Nicole Schneider, Pradeep Vanguri).
Leah Goedecke, D.O., AOBNMM, CAQSM
Assistant Professor, Sports Medicine
Research Focus: Combat sports safety and injury prevention. Co-author, "Headguard Use in Combat Sports: Position Statement of the Association of Ringside Physicians" (The Physician and Sportsmedicine, August 2023, with Kevin deWeber, Lindsay Parlee, Alexander Nguyen, and Michael W. Lenihan).
NSU Research Profile TBA
Jennifer P. Maldonado, D.O.
Assistant Professor, Sports Medicine
Research Focus: TBA
NSU Research Profile TBA
Medical Education
Serves as Dr. Kiran C. Patel Osteopathic Medicine hub for teaching, learning, and assessment, supporting curriculum development, clinical skills evaluation, and faculty development.
Gayl J. Canfield, Ph.D., RDN, LDN
Assistant Dean, Medical Education; Associate Professor
Research Focus: Leads faculty and curriculum development within the Department of Medical Education, supporting clinical skills assessment, data-driven curriculum evaluation, and research training for Dr. Kiran C. Patel Osteopathic Medicince students and faculty.
Sherrica Taylor, Ph.D.
Chair, Medical Education; Assistant Professor, Medical Education
Research Focus: Institutional discrimination and religious accommodation in health education, per a 2023 book chapter, "Making Room for Religion in Health Education" (with C. Brown-Wujick).
Robin J. Jacobs, Ph.D., MSW, MS, MPH
Professor of Research; Director, KPCOM Research Fellowship Program
Research Focus: Health informatics, public health, and behavioral medicine, integrating advanced statistical modeling, mixed-methods research, and psychometrics. Co-author of a recent mixed-methods study, "Death Literacy and End-of-Life Preparedness Among Health Professions Students," examining student readiness for end-of-life care. Co-investigator on a multi-year NIH-funded project developing health literacy tools; author of 100+ peer-reviewed publications, largely student-mentored Cureus scoping reviews.
Christina Brown-Wujick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Medical Education; Academic Counselor; Director, M.S. in Foundational
and Integrated Medical Sciences Program
Research Focus: Educational and vocational opportunity/outcomes assessment; co-author, "Attention and Generosity in Medical Education" (2026, with Elizabeth Cunio, Laura Barry, and Jeanette Rodriguez); co-author, "Making Room for Religion in Health Education: Institutional Discrimination and Dismantling the Framework" (2023, with Sherrica Taylor).
Tameeka Grant, Ph.D.
Director of Assessment
Research Focus: Clinical, developmental, and psychometric psychology, focused on outcomes for families and children; supports institutional research and student-success initiatives. 25+ years of research experience, 16 publications.
Elizabeth Oviawe, Ph.D., Ed.S., M.S.B.I., M.M.I.S., M.Sc.
Director, Division of Institutional Technology; Adjunct Instructor
Research Focus: USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant; AI-driven immersive clinical case-scenario training for health professions students using virtual and augmented reality (with Imaan Benmerzouga, Ph.D.).
NSU Research Profile TBA
Foundational Sciences
Home to the M.S. in Foundational and Integrated Medical Sciences, offering direct-entry pathways into KPCOM's D.O. program. KPCOM is ranked #1 for external funding across NSU and ranks highly nationally in NIH funding dollars received and articles published and cited.
Cyril Blavo, D.O., MPH, TM, FACOP
Chair, Foundational Sciences; Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health
Research Focus: Health promotion and disease prevention in underserved populations, domestically and globally. Recent student-mentored studies include a 2023 literature review on health issues among Nepalese youth (Cureus), a 2023 study on ADHD among children in Kathmandu Valley children's homes, and a 2023 study on maternal health service utilization in Nepal.
Mayur Parmar, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Foundational Sciences
Research Focus: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, tau and synuclein aggregation, and microbiota's role in neurodegenerative disease. Author, "Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonism and Cardiomyocyte Regeneration Following Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review" (Current Problems in Cardiology, 2023); co-author, "Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Current Treatment and Emerging Exon Skipping and Gene Therapy Approach" (European Journal of Pharmacology, 2023, with G. Patterson, H. Conner, M. Groneman, and C. Blavo).
Randall Gregg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Foundational Sciences
Research Focus: Microgravity's influence on immune cell function and cancer growth; effect of Ebolavirus secreted glycoprotein on NK cell function; development of a new vaccine construct for bacterial and viral disease prevention and melanoma.
ResearchGate
Deepesh Khanna, Ph.D., MBBS, MPH, MBA, MS, CPH
Associate Professor, Foundational Sciences
Research Focus: Complementary therapies to reduce inflammation following acute injury (with Alessandra Posey, Lailah Issac, Lubov Nathanson, and colleagues); quality of life based on weight, physical activity, nutrition, and sleep. Co-author of multiple 2023 student-mentored Cureus reviews, including intra-operative guidelines for uterine niche formation prevention in cesarean sections and psychiatric manifestations of neurosyphilis.
ResearchGate
Anna Potter, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Foundational Sciences; Director of Student Research
Research Focus: DNA repair mechanisms in apicomplexan parasites (Toxoplasma and malaria); drug repositioning and natural products as anti-parasitic agents. Co-lead (with Jyotsna Chawla, Ph.D.) of a mosquito-borne disease surveillance project in Greater Tampa Bay, funded by NSU's Presidential Research Grant.
Tonni Bacoat-Jones, D.O., MPH
Assistant Professor, Foundational Sciences
Research Focus: Role of race and ethnicity in obstetric anesthesia and maternal health disparities; health disparities affecting the Black community, women, and children with mental illness; social determinants of health, including food insecurity, HIV preventive services, and environmental/ecological factors; eating disorders in vulnerable populations, including children with disabilities; breast cancer and socioeconomic disparities in cancer diagnosis and treatment; obesity in susceptible populations; global health systems and public health law; physician burnout, work-life balance in medicine, pain management, and malignant hyperthermia.
Jyotsna Chawla, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Foundational Sciences
Research Focus: Infectious disease, genomics, microbiology, and malaria. Co-lead (with Anna Potter, Ph.D.) of a mosquito-borne disease surveillance project in Greater Tampa Bay with Pinellas County Mosquito Control, using trapping, PCR diagnostics, and environmental data for early viral detection, funded by NSU's Presidential Research Grant. Co-author, "Type 1 Diabetes and the Gut Microbiome: What We Know and What the Future Holds" (2024, with Angela Chen and Cyril Blavo).
Matthew Machini, M.S., M.D.
Assistant Professor, Foundational Sciences
Research Focus: TBA
Interested in Collaborating?
KPCOM welcomes research partnerships with NSU colleagues, outside institutions, industry experts, and corporate partners. For general research inquiries, contact:
Randall Gregg, Ph.D.
Director, Faculty Research; Associate Professor of Microbiology
rgregg1@nova.edu