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Center for Research on Health Disparities

CRHD Research

Health Disparities Research

The research goal of the Center for Research on Health Disparities is improved quality of life, including positive health outcomes and a sense of well-being for South Carolina citizens, particularly underserved populations. Our research encompasses a lifespan and developmental approach with outcomes translated back to the community for improved health conditions.

Research Impact

  • Actionable health recommendations through rigorous research translatable back to the community. 
  • Improved quality of life, and well-being from results-oriented research applicable for people in South Carolina and beyond.
  • Representation of traditionally under-represented persons in research to produce relevant results considering lifespan and developmental approaches.
  • Credible, science-based knowledge is enhanced through varied research methods including bench, translational, clinical practice, and community-based participatory research. 
  • Relevant research teams cross boundaries between practice/education and culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

CRHD Related Grants: 2017-current

  • HRSA: [July 2019 – 2023]

    Appalachia SC- ANEW: Expanding the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Workforce for Appalachia Upstate South Carolina
    Principal Investigator: Dr. Stephanie Davis
    Co-Investigators: Clemson: Drs. Ann Wetsel, Veronica Parker, Kathleen Valentine, Lisa Miller, Anne Koci, Roxanne Amerson, and Mary Ellen Wright. Prisma Health: Drs. Lori Stanley, David Cull and Carolyn Swinton
    Award: $2,761,521

  • HRSA: [Fall 2018 – 2021]

    Caring for Sexual Assault Survivors (C-SAS): Expanding the SANE Workforce in Upstate South Carolina
    Principal Investigator: Dr. Margaret Wetsel
    Co-Investigators: Dr. Veronica Parker, Ellen Kennedy (Prisma Health; SANE Coordinator), Cassie Mueller (Prisma Health; Nurse Manager, Emergency Department), Greg Hair, MS, RN (Prisma Health; Director, Emergency Department) & Susan Bethel (Prisma Health; Manager, Nursing Scholarship and Research)
    Award: $949,396

  • SAMHSA: [Fall 2018 – 2021]

    Project EMPOWER - Engaging Medicine Providers on Ways to Enhance Recovery” 
    Principal Investigator: Dr. Alan Litwin (Prisma Health)
    Co-Investigators: Drs. Mary Ellen Wright and Veronica Parker; Lauren Demosthenes, MD
    Award: $445,489

  • HSC/PRISMA Seed Grant: [Fall 2019 – 2021]

    "The Effects of Resistance Exercise on Post-Prandial Glycemic Control in Obese or Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study” 
    Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. Kim Pickett and Dr. Stephen Franks (Prisma Health)
    Co-Investigators: Drs. Veronica Parker and Jennifer Rice, and Dr. Sandra Weber (Prisma Health)
    Award: $8,745

  • HSC/PRISMA—Transformative Research Seed Grant: [Fall 2019 – 2020]

    Increasing Conversations About End-of-Life (EOL) Planning for Culturally, Racially, and Ethnically Diverse (CRED) Older Adults in Appalachia, SC
    Co-Principal Investigators: Lucia Gonzales PhD, Teney Gomez MD (Prisma Health) Saria Saccocio MD (Prisma Health), Zahra Rahemi PhD
    Co-Investigators: Moonseong Heo MD (Department of Public Health Sciences), Kathleen Valentine PhD, Lori Stanley DNP(Prisma Health), Tracy Fasolino PhD, Veronica Parker PhD,  Kimberly Trammel MS, Kylie Padron Newsom MS, Drew Albano MD (Prisma Health), Mark Call MD (Prisma Health)
    Award: $15,000

  • AONE Foundation: [Spring 2019 – 2020]

    Benefits of an Academic-Service Collaboration: The Nurse Executive Viewpoint
    Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. John Whitcomb and Dr. Lori Stanley (Prisma Health)
    Co-Investigators: Dr. Kathleen Valentine, Ms. Haley Bush (Prisma Health), Dr. Ann Wetsel, Ms. Sheree Mejia (Prisma Health), Dr. Veronica Parker, Ms. Leslie Higgs (Prisma Health), Dr. Adam McFarlane, Dr. Lucia Gonzales, Ms. Megan Mayfield, Ms. Amy Garrison, Ms. Kristi Farmer (Prisma Health)
    Award: $9,925

  • HSC/PRISMA—Transformative Research Seed Grant: [Spring 2019 – 2020]

    Innovative Teaching and Learning: Key Metrics of an Undergraduate Nursing Academic and Clinical Learning Environments
    Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. John Whitcomb and Dr. Lori Stanley (Prisma Health)
    Co-Investigators: Dr. Kathleen Valentine, Ms. Haley Bush (Prisma Health), Dr. Ann Wetsel, Ms. Sheree Mejia (Prisma Health), Dr. Veronica Parker, Ms. Leslie Higgs (Prisma Health), Dr. Adam McFarlane, Dr. Lucia Gonzales, Ms. Megan Mayfield, Ms. Amy Garrison, Ms. Kristi Farmer (Prisma Health)
    Award: $3,660

  • PRISMA Seed: [Spring 2019– 2020]

    Understanding the Perspectives and Needs of African-American And Latino Caregivers of Persons With Alzheimer’s Disease in the Upstate
    Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. Nicole Davis and Dr. Melissa Bailey-Taylor
    Co-Investigators: Drs. Veronica Parker, Arelis de Peralta, Shirley Timmons, Jennifer Rice, Kathleen Valentine
    Award: $18,290

  • USC: [Fall 2018 – 2020]

    Addressing Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Health Disparities Between Urban & Rural Populations in SC”
    Principal Investigator: Dr. Nicole Davis
    Co-Investigators: Drs. Veronica Parker, Cheryl Dye, Maggi Miller, Daniela Friedman
    Award: $29,997

  • CVS Health Foundation: [2016-2019]

    CVS Nurse Practitioner Scholarships
    Principal Investigator: Dr. Stephanie Davis
    Co-Investigators: Drs. Margaret Wetsel, Veronica Parker, Kathleen Valentine
    Award: $15,000

  • CU SEED-Tier 2: [2018-2019]

    Factors Related to Advance End-of-Life Care Planning Among a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Population” 
    Principal Investigator: Dr. Zahra Rahemi 
    Co-Investigators: Dr. Veronica Parker
    Award: $10,000

  • Healthy Greenville 2036 (GHS): [2017-2019]

    Expanding Primary Care Access in Greenville County Through Nurse Practitioner Education Support
    Principal Investigator: Dr. Margaret Wetsel
    Co-Investigators: Drs. Stephanie Davis, Veronica Parker, Kathleen Valentine
    Award: $410,000

  • IMPACT (CBSHS): [2017-2018]

    Development of a Web-Based Telehealth Program to Support Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Urinary Incontinence
    Principal Investigator: Dr. Nicole Davis
    Co-Investigators: Drs. Veronica Parker, Cheryl Dye, Kapil Madathil
    Award: $26,244

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