HEROIC Investigators
HEROIC brings together unique talent and expertise from a multidisciplinary group of investigators.
HEROIC’s experienced body of investigators brings a variety of multidisciplinary skills to VA, including (1) chronic disease management (such as diabetes, hypertension, severe mental illnesses); (2) treatment for medical-psychiatric comorbidities; (3) novel intervention development for specific medical and psychiatric conditions (most notably diabetes, stroke, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression); (4) developing technology (like telehealth applications) to promote accessible healthcare; and (5) creating programs that reduce disparities across the full continuum of care.
Leadership
R. Neal Axon MD, MSCR
Director, HEROIC COIN Senior Physician Scholar, VA Quality Scholars Fellowship (VAQS) Co-Director, Charleston Health Services Research Fellowship (HSR) Professor of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Robert.Axon@va.gov
Elizabeth Santa Ana PhD
Associate Director, HEROIC COIN Senior Psychology Scholar, VA Quality Scholars Fellowship Co-Director, Mental Illness Research and Treatment Psychology Fellowship Program (MIRECC) Licensed Clinical Psychologist Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Associate Professor, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Elizabeth.SantaAna2@va.gov
Core Investigators
Ruth Adekunle MD
Infectious Disease Specialist Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Ruth.Adekunle2@va.gov
Sudie Back PhD
Staff Psychologist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Clinical Psychologist, Professor, and Director of the NIH-sponsored Drug Abuse Research Training programs (DART), Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: backs@musc.edu
Melanie Davis PhD
Biostatistician Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Melanie.Davis2@va.gov
Hermes Florez MD, PhD, MPH
Public Health Physician-Scientist Endocrinology Medical Service, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Hermes.Florez@va.gov
Lewis Frey PhD
Computer Scientist and Biomedical Informatics Scientist Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Lewis.Frey@va.gov
Mulugeta Gebregziabher PhD
Biostatistics Core Leader, HEROIC Biostatistician Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Professor, Vice Chair of Academic Programs, and Director of SC Public Health Training Center, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Daniel Gros PHD
Co-Director, Mental Illness Research and Treatment Psychology Fellowship Program Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina
VA Charleston health care
Anouk Grubaugh PhD
Access/Telemedicine Core Leader, HEROIC Clinical Psychologist Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: grubaugh@musc.edu
Jonathan Halford MD
Clinical Neurologist Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Professor of Neurology, Director of the Translational Unit for the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Associate Director for Technical Development for the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Jonathan.Halford@va.gov
Kathie Hermayer MD
Attending Physician, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System, Professor of Medicine and Endocrinology in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Medical Genetics, Medical University of South Carolina
VA Charleston health care
Email: Kathie.Hermayer@va.gov
Kelly Hunt PhD
Director, Charleston Health Services Research Fellowship Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiologist Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: huntke@musc.edu
Ahmed Mohamed PhD
Population Health Epidemiologist Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Ahmed.Mohamed1@va.gov
Ursula Myers PhD
Clinical Psychologist Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Assistant Professor in the Military Sciences Division of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Ursula.Myers@va.gov
Brian Neelon PhD
Biostatistician and Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Professor of Biostatistics in the Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: neelon@musc.edu
John Pearce PhD
Assistant Professor of Environmental Health and Leader of the Air Quality Lab, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: pearcejo@musc.edu
Charlene Pope PhD, MPH, CNM, BSN
Senior Nursing Scholar, VA Quality Scholars Fellowship Chief Nurse for Research, Sociolinguist, and Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Associate Professor, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Phone: (843)789-6577 Ext 206577
Email: charlene.pope@va.gov
Ken Ruggiero PhD
Professor, Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina Director, Trauma Resilience and Recovery Program (TRRP) SmartState Endowed Chair, Technology Applications Center for Healthful Lifestyles (TACHL) VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: ruggierk@musc.edu
David Taber PharmD
Senior Pharmacy Scholar, VA Quality Scholars Fellowship Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP) in Solid Organ Transplantation, Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Professor of Surgery and Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: David.Taber2@va.gov
Nichole Tanner MD
Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician, Research Health Scientist, Director of Lung Cancer Screening, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Professor of Medicine; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy & Sleep Medicine; Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Nichole.Tanner@va.gov
Ralph Ward PhD
Biostatistician, Research Health Scientist, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System Assistant Professor, Medical University of South Carolina VA Charleston Healthcare
VA Charleston health care
Email: Ralph.Ward@va.gov
Affiliate Investigators
Prabhakar Baliga, MD
Boyd Davis, PhD
Jyotika Fernandes, MD
Valerian Fernandes, MD
Mark Hamner, MD
Johann Herberth, MD
Michael Horner, PhD
Chanita Hughes-Halbert, PhD
Leslie Lenert, MD
Cheryl Lynch, MD
Patrick Mauldin, PhD
Hugh Myrick, MD
Paul Nietert, PhD
Don Rockey, MD
Andrew Schreiner, MD, MSCR
Gerard Silvestri, MD
Lisa Sternke, PhD
Tara Wright, MD
Cole Zanetti, DO
Administrative & Support Staff
Katherine Beavis, Ph.D.
Program Support Assistant
Kinfe Bishu, Ph.D., MSc, BA
Data Analyst
Tina Cooper, BA
Program Support Assistant
Budget Analyst
Casey Hall, Ph.D., MAA, BA
Program Support Assistant
Polly Hamilton, MSN, RN
Program Support Assistant
Kayla Lamb, BS
Program Support Assistant
Karen Slawson, MA, BA, LPC
Administrative Officer