Forge AHEAD Center

?? Stepping Up for Heart Health! ?? This past weekend, we took strides toward a healthier future at the American Heart Association Birmingham Heart Walk! Our team—including Carol Agomo PhD, MBA, MPH, Jared Ball, MPH, Chris Campos, and their families—joined hundreds of community members in raising awareness and support for cardiovascular health. Heart disease disproportionately impacts communities across the Deep South. We’re committed to tackling cardiometabolic disparities and promoting heart-healthy habits through research, advocacy, and engagement. Events like the Heart Walk remind us that every step counts toward awareness, prevention, and a stronger, healthier future for all. UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine UAB Medicine

Happy National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day! We celebrate the essential role of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) in improving nutrition-related outcomes across the Deep South. Our Forge AHEAD RDNs—Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Ph.D., Aseel El Zein, PhD, MS, RDN, Mary Catherine Halphen, RDN, LDN, Isabelle Schexnayder, MS, RDN, LDN, and Camille Schneider Worthington, PhD, RDN—are leading critical research and interventions focused on chronic disease prevention, maternal health, and cardiometabolic health. Their work enhances nutrition education, expands access to healthy foods, and supports long-term community wellness. #RegisteredDietitianNutritionistDay #NationalNutritionMonth #RDNDay UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Don't forget about our Community Micro-Grant Program RFP. Proposals are due April 18 for up to $10,000 to support community-led projects that improve health outcomes in diabetes, obesity, and hypertension across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Do you plan on or know someone who plans on submitting a proposal? Let us know ????

Update from American Heart Association EPI | Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2025: #ForgeAHEADCenter scholar Yulia Khodneva, M.D., Ph.D., shared her poster "NSAIDs Use, Pain Interference, and Incident Heart Failure among REGARDS Participants with Diabetes". "REGARDS?(REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) is an ongoing, national cohort study sponsored by the The National Institutes of Health (NIH). Between 2003 and 2007, the study enrolled 30,239 black and white participants from the continental United States. For over two decades, the study has followed its participants to understand why Southerners and Black Americans have higher rates of stroke and related diseases that affect brain health." Congratulations, Dr. Khodneva and team! UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine UAB School of Public Health

Join Team Forge A-HEART at the Birmingham Heart Walk! ??♂??? We’re stepping up for heart health at the Birmingham Heart Walk on March 8th, and we want YOU to be part of it! ?? Every step we take raises awareness and funds to fight heart disease and stroke. Together, we can make a difference in cardiovascular health for our communities. How to Get Involved: ? Sign up with Team Forge A-HEART ? Walk with us to show your support ? Invite your friends & family to join ?? Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025 ?? Location: Railroad Park, Birmingham, AL Let’s lace up, walk together, and make an impact! Tag us Forge AHEAD Center and use #ForgeAHEART to share your journey! ??

Join us on Tuesday, March 11 at 12 PM (CT) via Zoom for a compelling session on Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) theories, models, and frameworks, sponsored by the Center for Clinical and Translational Science. This session will feature insightful presentations from leading experts across the CCTS Partner Network, including Forge AHEAD Investigator Development Core lead, Michael Mugavero, M.D. Mugavero serves as the Director for the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Center for Outcomes Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE). ???????????????? ????????: https://lnkd.in/eWbYK7UV

The Forge AHEAD Center is excited to announce the Community Micro-Grant Program, offering up to $10,000 to support community-led projects that improve health outcomes in diabetes, obesity, and hypertension across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. We know that local organizations are driving real change, and we’re here to support your vision with funding, resources, and technical assistance. If you’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to advancing community health, we encourage you to apply! ?? Application Deadline: April 18, 2025 ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????: https://lnkd.in/eE3BGXWD Let’s work together to strengthen communities and improve health across the Deep South!?Please share this with any community-based organizations that are eligible.

?? Call for Proposals – Deadline Extended! ?? We’re excited to announce that the submission deadline for the [Conference Name] has been extended to February 28, 2025! ? This is your opportunity to present your work, research, and innovative solutions to address health disparities and drive meaningful change in our communities. Why present? ? Expand your impact – Share your expertise with a diverse audience of professionals, policymakers, and community leaders. ? Boost your credibility – Gain recognition as a leader in health equity and public health. ? Grow your network – Connect with changemakers and explore new collaboration opportunities. We welcome proposals from health professionals, researchers, community advocates, and industry experts who are committed to advancing health equity! ?? New Submission Deadline: February 28, 2025 ?? Submit your proposal today: https://lnkd.in/gjjNH8t3

Applications are now open for the 2025 CEO Core CEnR Summer Institute! The Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) Summer Institute is designed to train junior investigators/faculty from Mississippi’s institutions of higher learning in CEnR principles to address racial and ethnic health disparities associated with cardiometabolic and obesity related diseases. For more information on the Summer Institute and application requirements, click here: https://lnkd.in/e_pzzaf

Last week, Forge AHEAD scientific advisory board members John Kirwan, Ph.D., and Joey Granger, Ph.D., presented the latest breakthroughs in Obesity, Cardiovascular, and Kidney disease treatments at the Southern Society of Clinical Investigation annual meeting in New Orleans. Joining them were FAC center project PI @Michael Hall, M.D., and scholar Licy Yanes Cardozo, M.D. ???? University of Mississippi Medical Center Pennington Biomedical Research Center