What is your professional background?
I went to medical school in Birmingham (where I’m from) and then did internal medicine residency and fellowship training in pulmonary and critical care at the University of Florida. During fellowship, I had the opportunity to do laboratory-based research, liked it, and was fortunate enough to get a career development award that enabled me to stay in academic medicine. I joined the faculty at UF for two years before being recruited to Indiana University where I stayed for 10 years. I have now been at Emory for 19 years and have spent my career enjoying the clinical, research, and teaching/training aspects of my positions.
In what division do you work, and who is your mentor?
I work in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. I have several informal mentors who help me greatly from time to time by providing advice and perspective.
Briefly describe your research. Why is it important?
I have spent my career studying vascular biology with an initial focus on the endothelium. More recently we have focused on pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell biology as it relates to pulmonary vascular disease, pulmonary hypertension specifically. This disorder causes significant morbidity and mortality, and we need to understand it better to develop better approaches to diagnosis, management, and treatment.
What do you like most about Emory?
The collaborative environment in a progressive southern city where it is sometimes 70 degrees and sunny in the winter months.
What is your favorite book, movie, or TV show?
Never met a Cohen brothers movie I didn’t like – The Big Lebowski and O Brother, Where Art Thou leading the list.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Hanging out with friends and family, playing guitar, going to the lake (Oconee or Martin), seeing live music and Atlanta United soccer, and traveling, especially internationally, are a few favorite things to do.
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