Dr. Cristian J Chandler is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases within the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Chandler received his Ph.D. in Behavioral and Community Health Science from University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. His research interests are focused on health equity and biobehavioral HIV prevention in racial, gender, and sexual minority populations using community-engaged methods. His work includes explorations in syndemics, intersectional stigma, and uptake of HIV prevention modalities.
Dr. David G. Schlundt is an associate professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University. He has been a member of the Diabetes Research and Training Center since 1985. He also works with the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, and the Vanderbilt Institute of Community and Translation Research (VICTR) as the director of the qualitative research core and as a member of the CTSA Community Engaged Research Core. His research has focused on social, emotional, and environmental influences on eating behavior. This work has broadened into an interest in the effects of environmental factors on lifestyle behaviors and health disparities, the development and validation of behavioral assessment tools, and testing behavioral interventions. His current work examines how community action, public policy, and environmental change can be used to promote healthy eating and exercise.
Dr. Latrice C. Pichon is a Professor in the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health. She completed her PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Health Behavior from the Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health at San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego. She received post-doctoral training in community-based participatory research (CBPR) in the Kellogg Health Scholars Program at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Her research focuses on exploring the role of the faith-based community in addressing HIV awareness and prevention, partnering with community-based organizations to understand HIV outreach, care, and utilization needs among vulnerable populations, and using the application of community-based participatory research approaches. Dr. Pichon was selected as a 2019 Transformative Grant partner by the COMPASS Initiative and the Southern AIDS Coalition. Dr. Pichon is currently the principal investigator of CDC U01PS005211 grant-funded as part of the Minority HIV Research Initiative. In 2021, she was awarded a University Research Professorship for her outstanding contributions to the University's educational, research, outreach, and service missions.
Dr. Leah R. Alexander is a Nashville native with over 25 years of experience in public health and community-engaged research. She holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Health Behavior and a PhD in Health Education and Promotion, both from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Currently, Dr. Alexander is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health in the School of Global Health at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. Her research focuses on critical public health issues, including HIV prevention among African American women and clergy, health promotion within faith-based organizations, public interest technology, and maternal health.
