University of Alabama Institute for Rural Health

2024 West Alabama Region 4 Stroke Symposium🐘🚑

Starting June 28, 2024, The University of Alabama will stop enrolling new All of Us participants and collecting biosamples such as blood, urine, or saliva in-person. New participants can still join online at JoinAllofUs.org. New participants can provide saliva samples from home by mail, if asked, and can also provide blood through Quest, if available.

The All of Us Research Program will continue after this change. There will be no change to your participant status. University of Alabama at Birmingham will continue to provide support for current All of Us participants in Birmingham, AL as they complete new surveys or other activities.

By remaining an active All of Us participant, your health information is helping researchers learn more about health and disease. Scientists are already making discoveries about conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and depression—to name just a few. Participating in All of Us is always free and always optional. You can leave the program at any time.

Please know we value your partnership and your many contributions to the All of Us Research Program. We are deeply grateful for all you have done to support the program. As we navigate these changes, we will keep you informed about any updates.

If you are a current participant and have further questions, please feel free to contact our office number at (205) 348-6991 or email us directly at [email protected]. Our office will be open past June 28, 2024.

Come by and see our booth at the Alabama Academy of Family Physicians Conference!

Come join us Today!

Conference on rural violence at the University of Alabama wrapping up Thursday

Rural Health Conference: Day 2

Great start to the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference with an informative panel “Addressing Gender Based Violence and S*x Trafficking in Alabama”

Join us on Thursday, April 18th to hear from presenter Curt Harper at the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference.

Dr. Curt E. Harper has over 15 years of experience as a Forensic Toxicologist. He was appointed Chief Toxicologist for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) in 2012. As Chief Toxicologist, he oversees technical operations, method development and validation, and the quality assurance/quality control program, manages productivity, serves as training coordinator, and develops and maintains standard operating procedures. Dr. Harper has a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology and a Master’s of Science in Forensic Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds board certification as a Fellow of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (F- ABFT) and serves as Chair of the Oral Fluid Committee and former Chair of the SOFT/AAFS Drugs and Driving. In addition, he acts as a President for the International Association for Chemical Testing (IACT) and member of the National Safety Council’s Alcohol, Drugs and Impairment Division (NSC-ADID). Dr. Harper serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the Department of Justice Sciences, adjunct professor at Oklahoma State University within the School of Forensic Sciences, and faculty for the Borkenstein Alcohol Course at Indiana University. His interests include oral fluid drug testing, DUI/D testing and interpretation, and drug facilitated crimes. ADFS is the first state crime laboratory to implement a comprehensive DUI/D oral fluid drug testing program in the United States. As an Alabama Peace Officer, Dr. Harper has been certified as a Drug Recognition Expert since 2015 and acts as a member of the Alabama Impaired Driving Prevention Council. Prior to his appointment as Chief Toxicologist at ADFS, he served as Toxicology Supervisor in Richmond for the Virginia Department of Forensic Science for two years. Dr. Harper has testified on the effects of alcohol and other drugs in over 225 criminal or civil cases during his tenure in Alabama and Virginia.

For more information, visit rhc.ua.edu/
CME/CE Opportunity: rhc.ua.edu/continuing-education/

Join us tomorrow to hear from presenter Rebekah Boswell at the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference.

Rebekah Boswell serves as the Forensic Pathology Manager at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. As a board-certified Forensic Toxicologist with 20 years of experience, Rebekah is dedicated to aiding the Medical Examiners in the interpretation of toxicological findings, managing the agency’s three medical facilities, and enhancing medicolegal death investigation services in Alabama. Her unwavering commitment to public service shines through her work in an agency devoted to applying science and medicine to uphold justice.

For more information, visit rhc.ua.edu/
CME/CE Opportunity: rhc.ua.edu/continuing-education/

We are just TWO DAYS from the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference! Join us Wednesday afternoon, April 17th, to hear presenter Jason Kokoszka, PhD.

Dr. Kokoszka has been employed with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences since 2005, initially serving as the Forensic Biology Section Chief in the Mobile Regional Laboratory. In 2017, he was appointed as the Forensic Biology Discipline Chief, and his responsibilities include overseeing the casework and databank activities statewide, as well as the technical operations, training program, and quality assurance program within Forensic Biology. Dr. Kokoszka holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Lehigh University and a Master’s degree in Forensic Sciences from George Washington University. Dr. Kokoszka received a PhD in Genetics in Molecular Biology from Emory University, where his graduate work spanned the fields of population genetics, biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. Following graduate school, Dr. Kokoszka worked at Orchid Cellmark, a private forensic DNA testing company, for approximately three years prior to joining ADFS in 2005.

For more information, visit rhc.ua.edu/
CME/CE Opportunity: rhc.ua.edu/continuing-education

Join us next Wednesday, April 17th, at 2p.m. to hear presenter Truman Fitzgerald at the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference.
For more information, visit rhc.ua.edu/
CME/CE Opportunity: rhc.ua.edu/continuing-education/

Truman Fitzgerald joined the Birmingham Police Department in July 2011. After completing the police academy, he was assigned to the Patrol Bureau as a patrol officer. In July 2020, he joined the Public Information Division, where he currently serves as an assistant public information officer.

Truman Fitzgerald obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (2016). He obtained a Juris Doctorate from Birmingham School of Law (2020) and then became a member of the Alabama State Bar in April 2021.

Continuing Education – Rural Health Conference | The University of Alabama The annual Rural Health Conference offers Continuing Education credits to registered physicians, nurses, social workers, and EMS (Emergency Medical Services) personnel.

Join us next Thursday, April 18th, at 11:30 a.m. to hear keynote speaker Vanessa Vega at the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference.
For more information, visit rhc.ua.edu/
CME/CE Opportunity: rhc.ua.edu/continuing-education/

Vanessa Vega, M.S., is an internationally published author and motivational speaker from Irving, Texas. For the last twenty-seven years, she has worked with students in grades 6–12 as an English Language Arts and Reading teacher and interventionist. Her memoir, “Comes the Darkness, Comes the Light,” puts readers into the mind of a self-injurer and recounts the process she went through over a 35-year period to reach a place of health and healing. By sharing her story, she hopes to educate and inspire others who may be, or know someone who is, on a similar journey. She holds degrees from Texas Tech University and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

We’re just ONE WEEK away from the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference!!
Visit rhc.ua.edu/registration/ to register TODAY!
CME/CE Opportunity: rhc.ua.edu/continuing-education/
Link to Conference Agenda: rhc.ua.edu/agenda/

Join us on Thursday, April 18th, at 1:00p.m. to hear presenter Ameer Baraka at the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference. For more information, visit rhc.ua.edu/
Link to Conference Agenda: rhc.ua.edu/agenda/
CME/CE Opportunity: rhc.ua.edu/continuing-education/

Ameer Baraka first emerged on the national stage after being profiled by Oprah Winfrey (http://bit.ly/OprahWinfreyAmeerBarakaBBWars). Born into abject poverty in New Orleans' most dangerous and most impoverished public housing project, the Calliope Houses, the prospects for Baraka's future could not have been more bleak. Before going off to prison to serve a 30-year sentence, his father introduced Baraka to drug use and drug sales as a means of survival.

Baraka's mother, unaware of his dyslexia, called Baraka “dumb” and “stupid” when he could not read, as well as his siblings and classmates. He failed at school and dropped out in the seventh grade. His own life spiraled out of control, to the point where he faced a 60-year prison sentence for crimes he committed as a juvenile but was tried as an adult. Baraka was an undiagnosed dyslexic until the age of 23. While in prison and functionally illiterate, he was diagnosed with dyslexia and told by a fellow inmate that, unlike any other inmate he had met before, Baraka had the potential to become someone if he applied himself. He earned his GED behind bars and was released after four years with the help and intervention of a sympathetic, compassionate jurist who recognized Baraka's potential for greatness. Having vowed to not just be a good citizen if given a second chance at life, but rather, to be a true leader on a national and even a global scale, Baraka has achieved that and then some.

Not only has he gone from illiteracy to becoming an excellent reader, he is a writer and is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, "The Life I Chose – The Streets Lied To Me," he is a renowned television and film actor who has acted alongside three different Academy Award winners in the more than thirty feature films and television shows in which he has appeared, he has been profiled by Oprah Winfrey, his book has been made mandatory reading for entire police departments and schools, he has testified before the U.S. Congress on the issue of dyslexia, he has launched a national, year-round police involved camp.

Join us on Thursday, April 18th, at 2:00p.m. to hear presenter Craig Parker at the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference.
For more information, visit rhc.ua.edu/
Link to Conference Agenda: rhc.ua.edu/agenda/
CME/CE Opportunity: rhc.ua.edu/continuing-education/

Lt. Craig Parker is a 13-year law enforcement veteran with the Tuscaloosa (AL) Police Department. He has served in many different roles including FTO, Patrol Sergeant, FTO Sergeant, and Shift Commander while assigned to Patrol Division. Since 2012, Lt. Parker has worked toward the creation of a dedicated unit to address behavioral health crises and to proactively prevent acts of targeted violence. To that end, he has served as a Mental Health Officer since 2019 and created the TPD Behavioral Health Unit in 2020. Initially, the BHU consisted of two Mental Health Officers and less than ten Crisis Intervention Team officers. Now, the newly-renamed Behavioral Intervention Team encompasses twenty-seven CIT officers in Patrol, six MHOs, fourteen SROs, two social workers, and the first multiagency, multidisciplinary Threat Assessment and Management Team in the State of Alabama (Central Alabama Threat Team). Lt. Parker is a Liaison to the Joint Terrorism Task Force (FBI) and an FBI Threat Management Coordinator for the Northern District of Alabama. Due to the successes of the CATT, Lt. Parker has been blessed to provide informational presentations at numerous conferences, including the 2023 IACP Conference, the 2023 FBI ASAC Domestic Terrorism Conference, and the 2023 PBSO Threat Management Conference. In his “spare” time, Lt. Parker enjoys being just Dad at home and amazing others with his perfect pronunciation of the English language.

Join us on Wednesday, April 17th, at 12:45p.m. to hear keynote speaker Eddie Compass, III at the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference. For more information, visit rhc.ua.edu/
Link to Conference Agenda: rhc.ua.edu/agenda/
CME/CE Opportunity: rhc.ua.edu/continuing-education/

Eddie Compass, III is the retired superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department. In this capacity he was responsible for supervising over 2000 commissioned and civilian personnel. He has over 44 years of experience in law-enforcement. He was superintendent during hurricane Katrina, universally acknowledged as one of the greatest natural disasters in the history of the United States. He’s recognized as an expert in disaster responses, as well as an expert on community policing. In 1996 the state department sent representatives from South Africa to study under him after the apartheid regime was abolished.

Chief Compass is currently a consultant for Next Generation Logistics, LLC. In this position he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the security division, as well as ensuring compliance on all security matters and directives under the auspices of Next Generation Logistics. Prior to this position, he worked as chief of Delgado College. His responsibilities included serving the (6) campuses within the LA system, as well as training and compliance with all state laws and protocols. He has also worked as an expert witness in crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). His testimony’s have resulted in millions of dollars being awarded to his clients in settlements.

Chief Compass also serves as a consultant to the film industry. He has worked in this industry since 1979 and oversees executive protection for high profile movie personalities, as well as set security. He also provides security for fortune 500 executives as well as high profile professional athletes.

Chief Compass is active in his community and has been involved with numerous civic and private organizations. He has served as Saint Augustine high school’s strength and conditioning coach for seven years and is in part responsible for the success of many high-profile professional athletes. He was a volunteer instructor for 30 years, at Blue Lion Karate Academy, where he holds the title of 5th degree black belt. He’s served as a volunteer security consultant, for All Congregations Together, as well as serving as the volunteer basketball and flag football coach, at the Carrollton Booster Club, to name a few.

Chief Compass received the national community police officer of the year; this award was personally presented to him by Vice President Al Gore. Chief Compass also received the award for rookie of the year, as well as NOPD policeman of the month (5 times), NOPD commander of the year (3 times), commendation for bravery medals (received 7 times), Kiwanis club policeman of the year (3 times) Loyola University’s alumnus of the year, and the medal of merit award winner. Chief Compass has over 80 awards and commendations in his 44-year career. Chief Compass was also an adjunct professor at Loyola university, Dillard University, Southern University, and a guest lecturer at Tulane University.

Chief Compass lives in New Orleans, LA is single living his “best life” and has five children, Tiffany, 42, Eddie 39, Candis,36, Laurette, 21, and Marlon, 18, and has seven grandchildren ranging in ages from 1 year - 22 years old.

Join us on Wednesday, April 17th, at 11a.m. to hear keynote speaker Frank DePaolo at the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference.
For more information, visit rhc.ua.edu/
Link to Conference Agenda: rhc.ua.edu/agenda/

Mr. DePaolo has more than 30 years of emergency response and recovery experience. For over twenty years, he served in multiple positions, retiring as Deputy Commissioner for Forensic Investigations & Operations for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner. In this position, he served as the agency’s emergency manager and was responsible for coordinating many complex operations, including the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center and, most recently, the response to COVID-19. Mr. DePaolo created several innovative solutions, such as the Unified Victim Identification System (UVIS) and the Medical Examiner Special Operations Response Team (MESORT), a multi-disciplinary, hazmat-certified forensic team, the first of its kind in the nation.

Mr. DePaolo is a recognized subject matter expert on mass fatality management at the national and international levels, serving on several advisory boards, including the National Commission for Forensic Science – Medicolegal Death Investigation Subcommittee. He has been an invited speaker at numerous emergency management and forensic science forums, including the American Academy of Forensic Science annual conference, the International Commission on Missing Persons, and the Interpol Disaster Victim Identification Committee. Mr. DePaolo was the Project Lead for the FEMA Regional Catastrophic Planning Grant’s Mass Fatality Management Four-State Response System.

Mr. DePaolo served as the President and Chairperson of the International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners (IAC&ME). He is a licensed medical practitioner with 30 years of experience as a New York City paramedic and licensed physician assistant. He is a Clinical Professor of Forensic Medicine at the NYU School of Medicine and maintains several certifications, including Hazmat Technician. Mr. DePaolo served 12 years with the United States Navy, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He trained with the U.S. Army’s Mortuary Affairs Center (MAC) at Fort Lee, Virginia, where he was one of only a few U.S. Naval Officers to earn the U.S. Army’s “4V” Joint Mortuary Affairs Officer designation.

Join us for the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference, "Turning The Tide… On Individual, Domestic, & Community Violence" on April 17-18th!!

Attendee Registration: rhc.ua.edu/registration/
Exhibitors & Supporters: rhc.ua.edu/exhibitors-and-supporters/

Join us for the 23rd Annual Rural Health Conference, "Turning The Tide… On Individual, Domestic, & Community Violence" on April 17-18th!

Attendee Registration: rhc.ua.edu/registration/
Exhibitors & Supporters: rhc.ua.edu/exhibitors-and-supporters/

The All of Us Research Program is pleased to support the Tuscaloosa Latino coalition and The Tuscaloosa Business Opportunity Program tonight at the River market

The All of Us Research Team will be on the 2nd floor of the UA Student Center today from 10am-2pm! Come see us and discover what is all about!

Come see us at the 2024 Heart Walk in Government Plaza!

The All of Us Research Team will be at Shelton State Community College today until 2:00pm. Come see us and discover what is all about!

The All of Us Research Team will be at University Medical Center today until 1:00pm. Come see us and discover what is all about!

The All of Us Research and AL CEAL Program teams will be at Vowell’s Cash Saver Grocery in Meridian, MS today until 2:00pm. Come see us and discover what and are all about!

The All of Us Research and AL CEAL Program teams will be at the First Methodist Church of Clanton today from 8:00am-2:00pm. Come see us and discover what and are all about!

The All of Us Research and AL CEAL Program teams will be at The University of Alabama Student Recreation Center today until 1pm. Come see us and discover what and are all about!

The All of Us Research and AL CEAL Program teams will be located in front of Blackbelt Hardware in Marion, AL today from 10:00am-2:00pm. Come see us and discover what and are all about!