Morehouse School of Medicine

Coordination and Evaluation Center (CEC) Institution

Similar to the grants awarded to the FIRST Cohort institutions, funding for the FIRST CEC institution is provided by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund. Morehouse School of Medicine is honored to have been selected as the FIRST CEC institution. As the FIRST CEC, Morehouse School of Medicine collaborates with FIRST Cohort institutions to identify and harmonize a set of common data elements to be used by each institution to facilitate an objective evaluation of the FIRST program goals.

FIRST CEC Leadership

The overall objective of the FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center (CEC) at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), is to conduct a comprehensive evaluation grounded in realist evaluation theory, by collaborating with FIRST Cohort awardees to iteratively assess the impact of key institutional culture change strategies and other innovative approaches implemented at FIRST Cohort sites to promote inclusive excellence.

The FIRST CEC Investigators collectively have over 100 years of national consortia management, research and mentoring collaboration with expertise in Coordination and Management of large research networks, Data Management, Evaluation, Dissemination and Communication, including experience leading the Research Centers at Minority Institutions (RCMI) Coordinating Center (CC); the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN); the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance (Georgia CTSA); the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) and Cancer partnerships (PACHE). These assets and the team’s expertise uniquely position MSM to lead the FIRST CEC.

Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH

Morehouse School of Medicine

Contact Principal Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Brian Rivers, Ph.D., MPH

Morehouse School of Medicine

Multi-Principal Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Alexander Quarshie, MD, MS

Morehouse School of Medicine

Director of Informatics/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Mohamed Mubasher, Ph.D., MA

Morehouse School of Medicine

Senior Biostatistician/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Daniel Sarpong, Ph.D.

Yale University

Lead Evaluator/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Yulia Strekalova, Ph.D., MBA

University of Florida Gainesville

Co-Lead Evaluator/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Douglas Landsittel, Ph.D.

University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Data Management/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Linda Pololi, MBBS

Brandeis University

Lead, C-Change Faculty Survey/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Hwanseok Choi, Ph.D.

Morehouse School of Medicine

Biostatistician, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Muhammed Idris, Ph.D.

Morehouse School of Medicine

Data Scientist/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Tay McNamara, Ph.D.

Brandeis University

C-Change Faculty Survey/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Doris M. Rubio, PhD

University of Pittsburgh

Evaluator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Jonathan Stiles, PhD

Morehouse School of Medicine

Faculty Development Core Co-Lead, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Priscilla Pemu, MD, MS, FACP

Morehouse School of Medicine

Faculty Development Core Co-Lead, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Ernest Alema-Mensah, PhD, DMin, MS, MDiv

Morehouse School of Medicine

Bioinformatics Unit Data Team, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Adam Townes, PhD

Morehouse School of Medicine

Director of Dissemination and Communication, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Trenese McNealy, DBA, MBA

Morehouse School of Medicine

Project Director, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Tandeca King Gordon, Ed.D. ME.d.

Morehouse School of Medicine

Project Director, RCMI Coordinating Center

Geannene Trevillion, CRA

Morehouse School of Medicine

Director of Budget/Finance,
FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Helen D. Tyree, BSBA

Morehouse School of Medicine

REDCap Administrator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Karunamuni Ruvina Silva, MS

Morehouse School of Medicine

Database Administrator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Morgan Hall, MPH

Morehouse School of Medicine

Program Manager, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Jarmarkus Watson, MPH

Morehouse School of Medicine

Program Coordinator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Kevin Chai, BS

Morehouse School of Medicine

Database Administrator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Ali Aslam

Morehouse School of Medicine

Senior Software Engineer, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Phanesh Ganta

Morehouse School of Medicine

Statistical Analyst, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Kedir Yebre

Morehouse School of Medicine

Database Administrator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Mohamad Malouhi

Morgan State University

Information Security and Technology Integration Activity Leader, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Grantee Principal Investigators

The NIH FIRST Program aims to transform culture at NIH-funded extramural institutions by implementing a cohort faculty recruitment model and by building a self-reinforcing community of scientists committed to diversity and inclusive excellence (IE). Implementing and sustaining cultures of inclusive excellence within the program has the potential to be transformational for biomedical research at the awardee institutions and beyond.

This community will be built through recruitment of a diverse group of early-career faculty who are competitive for an advertised research tenure-track or equivalent faculty position and who have demonstrated strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence.

Rose Ann DiMaria-Ghalili, PhD, RN, FASPEN, FAAN, FGSA

Drexel University

Drexel FIRST Co-Investigator

Frank (“Frankie”) Y. Wong, Ph.D.

Florida State University

Contact Principal Investigator, Overall – Administrative Core

Emma K. T. Benn, DrPH, MPH

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Contact Principal Investigator, Principal Investigator – Administrative Core

María Luisa (“Mari”) Zúñiga, Ph.D.

San Diego State University

Contact Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator – Administrative Core, Director – Faculty Development Core

Angela D Liese, Ph.D.

University of South Carolina

Principal Investigator, Administrative Core

Tisha Felder, Ph.D. MSW

University of South Carolina

Principal Investigator, Administrative Core, & Faculty Development Core Co-Lead

Timothy Turner, Ph.D.

University of Alabama at Birmingham and Tuskegee University

Co-Principal Investigator

Coretta Jenerette, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator, Administrative Core

Jane Ellen Smith, Ph.D.

University of New Mexico

Co-Principal Investigator, Administrative Core

JoAnn Trejo, Ph.D., MBA

University of California, San Diego

Principal Investigator (MPI) Co-lead, Administrative Core and Faculty Development Core

Elena Martinez, Ph.D.

University of California, San Diego

Principal Investigator(MPI), Co-lead–Administrative Core

James B. Kaper, Ph.D.

University of Maryland School of Medicine / University of Maryland Baltimore County

Contact Principal Investigator, MPI

William R. LaCourse, Ph.D.

University of Maryland School of Medicine / University of Maryland Baltimore County

Multiple Principal Investigator

Eric Perreault, Ph.D.

Northwestern University

Clyde Yancy, MD, MSc

Northwestern University

Melissa Simon, MD, MPH

Northwestern University

Irene Salinas, Ph.D.

University of New Mexico

Project Lead, Faculty Development Core; Co-Project Lead, Administrative Core

Reshma Jagsi, MD, PH.D.

University of Michigan

MPI - Administration Core

Robert Sellers, Ph.D.

University of Michigan

MPI - Administration Core

Francesca Filbey, PhD

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School / The University of Texas at Dallas

UTD Co-principal Investigator

Helen Yin, PhD

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School / The University of Texas at Dallas

UTSW Co-principal Investigator

John Wiebe, Ph.D.

The University of Texas at El Paso

Principal Investigator, Project Oversight

Consuelo H. Wilkins, MD, MSCI

Vanderbilt University

Principal Investigator (MPI), Administrative Core

Vivian Gama, PhD

Vanderbilt University

Principal Investigator (MPI), Faculty Development Core

Cybele Raver, PhD

Vanderbilt University

Principal Investigator (MPI), Administrative Core

Mona Fouad, MD, MPH

University of Alabama at Birmingham and Tuskegee University

Contact Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator

Avery August, Ph.D.

Cornell University

Contact Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator

FIRST Cohort News

September 23, 2024October 15, 2024

Investigation of the Impact of Social Vulnerability and Racial Disparity on COVID- 19 Infection and Death Rates Among Georgians (USA)

Mohamed Mubasher *, Lynnette Ametewee, Reinetta Thompson Waldrop, Peter Baltrus, Sabrina Mobley, Rakale C. Quarells, Michelle Nwagwu, Chanelle Harris, Kamaria Glover, Mekhi Hill, Brittany D…. Continue Reading

August 21, 2024August 28, 2024

Morehouse School of Medicine and City of East Point to Hold Health Equity Summit

ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 19, 2024 – Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and the City of East Point, Georgia, will hold the third annual East… Continue Reading

August 8, 2024October 15, 2024

Assessing Institutional Culture for Inclusive Excellence in the Academic Health Sciences

Linda H Pololi 1, Mark Brimhall-Vargas 2, Maria T Madison 2 Drawing on the perspectives and expertise of all sectors of the population enhances excellence and scientific rigor in the… Continue Reading

Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH

Morehouse School of Medicine

Contact Principal Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Brian Rivers, Ph.D., MPH

Morehouse School of Medicine

Multi-Principal Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Alexander Quarshie, MD, MS

Morehouse School of Medicine

Director of Informatics/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Mohamed Mubasher, Ph.D., MA

Morehouse School of Medicine

Senior Biostatistician/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Daniel Sarpong, Ph.D.

Yale University

Lead Evaluator/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Yulia Strekalova, Ph.D., MBA

University of Florida Gainesville

Co-Lead Evaluator/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Douglas Landsittel, Ph.D.

University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Data Management/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Linda Pololi, MBBS

Brandeis University

Lead, C-Change Faculty Survey/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Hwanseok Choi, Ph.D.

Morehouse School of Medicine

Biostatistician, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Muhammed Idris, Ph.D.

Morehouse School of Medicine

Data Scientist/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Tay McNamara, Ph.D.

Brandeis University

C-Change Faculty Survey/Co-Investigator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Doris M. Rubio, PhD

University of Pittsburgh

Evaluator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Jonathan Stiles, PhD

Morehouse School of Medicine

Faculty Development Core Co-Lead, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Priscilla Pemu, MD, MS, FACP

Morehouse School of Medicine

Faculty Development Core Co-Lead, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Ernest Alema-Mensah, PhD, DMin, MS, MDiv

Morehouse School of Medicine

Bioinformatics Unit Data Team, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Adam Townes, PhD

Morehouse School of Medicine

Director of Dissemination and Communication, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Trenese McNealy, DBA, MBA

Morehouse School of Medicine

Project Director, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Tandeca King Gordon, Ed.D. ME.d.

Morehouse School of Medicine

Project Director, RCMI Coordinating Center

Geannene Trevillion, CRA

Morehouse School of Medicine

Director of Budget/Finance, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Helen D. Tyree, BSBA

Morehouse School of Medicine

REDCap Administrator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Karunamuni Ruvina Silva, MS

Morehouse School of Medicine

Database Administrator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Morgan Hall, MPH

Morehouse School of Medicine

Program Manager, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Jarmarkus Watson, MPH

Morehouse School of Medicine

Program Coordinator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Kevin Chai, BS

Morehouse School of Medicine

Database Administrator, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Ali Aslam

Morehouse School of Medicine

Senior Software Engineer, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Phanesh Ganta

Morehouse School of Medicine

Statistical Analyst, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center

Kedir Yebre

Morehouse School of Medicine

Director of Budget/Finance,
FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center