Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention Members

The Leadership Team is comprised of the faculty and staff who manage the work of the three cores: the Administrative and Scientific Support Core, the Biostatistics and Informatics Core and the Metabolism Core.

The Leadership Team works together to provide services and support to junior faculty including but not limited to:

• Reviewing and critiquing all project proposals
• Grant formatting and writing assistance
• IRB, CT.gov, and other regulatory guidance
• Community engagement
• Senior mentoring
• Development of junior investigators

Administrative Core 

Judith L. Weber, PhD, RD 
PI / Director, Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention 
Director, Administrative Core
Associate Dean and Professor, College of Nursing 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 
 
Linda Larson-Prior, PhD 
Associate Center Director, Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention 
Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Biomedical Informatics,  
and Neurobiology & Developmental Science 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 
Director, Neurocognitive Dynamics Laboratory 
Director, ACNC Brain Function Laboratory 
 
Jami Jones, MBA 
Research Program Director, Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences  

 

Metabolism and Bioenergetics Core 

Elisabet Børsheim, PhD 
Director, CCOP Metabolism and Bioenergetics Core 
Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Geriatrics 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences  
Co-interim Director, Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center 
Director, Physical Activity, Energetics & Metabolism Research Lab 

Craig Porter, PhD 
Associate Core Director, CCOP Metabolism and Bioenergetics Core 
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 

Biostatistics Core 

Paula Roberson, PhD 
Director, CCOP Biostatistics Core  
Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 
 
Reid Landes, PhD 
Associate Core Director, CCOP Biostatistics Core 
Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 

Community Engagement Core 

Kate Stewart, MD, MPH 
Director, CCOP Community Engagement Core*  
Professor, Department of Health Policy & Management  
Director, Office of Community Based Public Health  
Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health  
Director, Community Engagement Translational Research Institute 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences  
 
Emily English, DrPH 
Associate Core Director, CCOP Community Engagement Core*  
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UAMS 
Office of Community Health and Research, UAMS NW

Other Leadership Personnel

Jon Oden, MD 
Medical Director, Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention 
James H. Hamlen II Endowed Chair in Pediatric Endocrinology 
Professor Pediatric Endocrinology 
Section Chief of Endocrinology 
Department of Pediatrics,  
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 

Jonathan C. Hilpert, PhD 
CCOP Evaluation Director 
Associate Professor of Learning Analytics 
Educational Psychology and Higher Education 
University of Nevada, Las Vegas 
 
Kevin Fitzpatrick, PhD 
CCOP Northwest Arkansas Research Director 
Professor and Jones Chair in Community, 
Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice, 
University of Arkansas 

*Indicates new position contingent upon COBRE Phase 2 funding. 

The External Advisory Committee (EAC) provides unbiased external oversight for the overall Center and the progress of the individual junior investigators. The EAC consists of four nationally recognized scientists with expertise in the causes and consequences of childhood obesity and its comorbidities, childhood obesity prevention intervention strategies, community-based research strategies, statistical consideration of longitudinal datasets, and the operational management of academic health centers. The EAC is responsible for critiquing the scientific progress of the Center, and providing advice and guidance to Dr. Weber and the core directors.

As part of this responsibility, the EAC meets twice per year and looks at the following:

• Reviews and critiques the junior investigator career development program
• Encourages and assists with faculty development and mentoring
• Evaluates the progress of each primary and pipeline junior investigator project
• Advises Center leaders in evaluating the development and progress of the Center
• Helps identify resources for sustainability of Center operations and scientific impact

Bert Boyer, PhD
CCOP External Advisory Committee Chair 
Bob and Charlee Moore Endowed Professor
Director, Alaska Native Health Research
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute
Oregon Health & Science University
https://www.ohsu.edu/people/bert-boyer-phd

Joel Gittelsohn, PhD, MSc
Director of Community Interventions
Professor, Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
http://www.jhsph.edu/faculty/directory/profile/263/joel-gittelsohn

Alice Ammerman, DrPH, RD
Director, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Professor, Department of Nutrition,
Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Medicine
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
http://hpdp.unc.edu/research/research-fellows-program/hpdp-research-fellows/alice-ammerman/

Keith A. Joiner, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine, Economics and Health Promotion Sciences
Eller College of Management
University of Arizona
https://econ.arizona.edu/people/keith-joiner

The Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) includes senior level administrative and research faculty from ACRI and UAMS, all of whom have demonstrated excellence in their respective fields. The IAC provides internal institutional advice and guidance for Overall Center operations as well as the development and mentoring of the junior investigators by:

• Evaluating the progress of the individual research projects and the progress of the junior investigators towards acquiring extramural funding and independent program status
• Reviewing and scoring primary, pilot and affiliated study proposals submitted by junior faculty across campuses
• Evaluating the development of the Center and assisting in identifying resources in support of the Center
• Participate in semi-annual meetings with the External Advisory Committee

Larry Cornett, PhD
Director, Arkansas INBRE  
Professor, Department of Physiology & Biophysics 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 

Clint Kilts, PhD
Wilbur Mills Professor 
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 
Director, Brain Imaging Research Center 
Psychiatric Research Institute 

Mark Smeltzer, PhD
Director, Center for Microbial Pathogenesis & Host Inflammatory Responses 
Professor, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 

Pearl McElfish, PhD, MBA, MS, PMP
Director, Office of Community Health and Research
Vice Chancellor
– Northwest Arkansas Campus 

Joseph Thompson, MD, MPH
President and CEO, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement 
Professor 
Dept. of Pediatrics, College of Medicine 
Dept. of Health Policy & Management, College of Public Health 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences  

Namvar Zohoori, MD, MPH, PhD
Chief Science Officer and Deputy State Health Official 
Arkansas Department of Health 
Adjunct Professor, College of Public Health 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 

Center mentors include both internal and external senior level administrative and research faculty, all of whom have demonstrated excellence in their respective fields. The mentors provide project specific guidance on, the development and progress of the junior investigator research projects by:

• Meeting with the junior investigators to discuss the following:
  • subject enrollment
  • issues (including budget)/barriers; potential solutions
  • accomplishments
  • recommendations and goals for the next quarter
    
    
• Connecting junior investigators with potential collaborators, consultants, and opportunities to enhance their research
• Meeting quarterly or as needed with Dr. Weber to discuss the project’s progress
• Attending Work-in-Progress meetings, monthly training sessions and external advisory committee meeting

Sarah Blossom, PhD
Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
 
Geoffrey Curran, PhD
Professor, Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Psychiatry
Director, Center for Implementation Research, UAMS
Research Health Scientist, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
 
Jonathan Dranoff, MD
Jerome S. Levy Professor of Medicine
Director, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, UAMS
Chief, Gastroenterology Service, Central Arkansas VAMC

Kevin Fitzpatrick, PhD
Professor and Jones Chair in Community,
Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice,
University of Arkansas
 
Lee Ann MacMillan-Crow, PhD
Professor and Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program Director
Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, UAMS

Ashlea Milburn, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering
University of Arkansas
 
Tamara Perry, MD
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Medical Director of Telemedicine, Arkansas Children’s Hospital
UAMS

Roy Morello, PhD
Associate Professor
Genetics, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
 
Sean Adams, MS, PhD
Professor and Vice Chair for Basic Research
Department of Surgery
UC Davis Health

Research Project Leaders

Shannon Rose, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Current Project Title: “T cells in Childhood Obesity: Immunometabolic Phenotype and Effects of Metformin”

Taren Swindle, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Current Project Title: “Adaptive Implementation & Costs of Obesity Prevention in Early Care and Education”

Emir Tas, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Current Project Title: “Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training in Adolescents with NAFLD”

Pilot Study Investigators

Emily English, DrPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Office of Community Health and Research
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Regional Campus
Current Project Title: “Characterizing Farm to School in Preschool Settings: Farm to Early Care and Education”

Craig Porter, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Current Project Titles: 

•  (CCOP Pilot) Targeting Mitochondrial Efficiency as a Countermeasure for Obesity
• (CCOP/ABI Pilot) Development of a Model of Protonophore-Induced Hypermetabolism in Mice Acclimated to Thermoneutrality

Britni Ayers, PhD
Assistant Professor
Office of Community Health and Research
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Regional Campus
Current Project Titles:

• (Pilot #1) Barriers and Facilitators of Exclusive Breastfeeding in a Marshallese Community
• (Pilot #2) Exploring the Feasibility of a Group Prenatal Program among Marshallese Women

Erhan Ararat, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Current Project Title: (CCOP/ABI Pilot) Metformin effect on asthma control in overweight/obese children with asthma

Eva Diaz, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Current Project Title: Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of blueberry phenolic and blueberry volatile compounds on stimulated macrophages

Umesh Wankhade, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Current Project Title: Parental influence on programming of adipose tissue in offspring

Past Investigators:

Research Project Leaders:

Jamie Baum, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Nutrition
University of Arkansas
Project Title: "Breakfast, Energy Metabolism, and Skeletal Muscle Health in Children”

Eugenia Carvalho, PhD, MSc
Instructor
Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Project Title: "Assessment of Oxidative Capacity in Obese Children"

Mike Thomsen, PhD
Professor
Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness
University of Arkansas
Project Title: "Informing Policies to Address Childhood Obesity: A Systems Approach"

Pilot Study Investigators:

Eva Diaz, MD, MSc
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Project Title: "Probiotic Supplementation in Obese Pregnant Women – A Feasibility Study"

Erin Kaye Howie Hickey, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Health, Human Performance, & Recreation
University of Arkansas
Project Title: "Activity Phenotypes in Pregnancy, Childhood and Associations with Child Obesity"

Keshari Thakali, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Project Title: "Determining the Effect of Maternal Obesity on Offspring Cardiovascular Health"

Chris Long, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Arkansas Regional Campus
Project Title: "Relating Families’ History of Food Pantry Use to Children’s Obesity Status"