Mentored research training is a critically important part of the LEAD Global Training Program. As such, we have assembled a group of established investigators with national and international recognition in global health disparities, mental health, public health, epidemiology, behavioral medicine, dissemination and implementation research, behavioral economics, and comparative effectiveness research. LEAD trainees will have two mentors, a U.S. faculty mentor and a foreign faculty mentor at their selected Research Site. Mentors will support trainees’ development through involvement in their own health disparities research. Mentors will also advance trainees’ career development through networking, enhancing national visibility, and assisting with manuscript/proposal development.
| U.S. Mentor | Organization/Role | Research Interest |
 Agrawal, Arpana, MD | Professor, Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine | Epidemiological and genomic approaches to the study of substance use & addiction |
 Bierut, Laura, MD | Professor, Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine | Role of environmental and genetic factors in the development of Psychiatric illnesses |
 Brown, Angela, MD | Associate Professor, Cardiology, Washington University School of Medicine | Effective hypertension management, particularly among under-represented populations |
 Bucholz, Kathleen, PhD | Professor, Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine | Race/ethnic differences in development of SUDs and other psychiatric disorders |
 Cabassa, Leopoldo, PhD | Associate Professor, Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | Physical and mental health disparities in historically underserved populations |
 Colditz, Graham, MD | Professor, Public Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine | Epidemiology, cancer disparities and implementation science |
 Cunningham-Williams, Renee, PhD | Associate Professor, Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | Fundamentals of health, race and inequalities |
 Drake, Bettina, PhD | Professor, Public Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine | eliminating health disparities, with a focus on cancer, through community-based approaches |
 Drake, Francis, PhD | Professor, Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | Socio-environmental conditions and child neglect |
 Grucza, Richard, PhD | Associate Professor, Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine | Policy influences on behavioral health disparities, substance abuse and mental health |
 Kreuter, Matthew, PhD | Professor, Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | Novel approaches to eliminate health disparities |
 Lenze, Eric, MD | Professor, Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine | Depression and anxiety, PCOR |
 Luke, Doug, PhD | Professor, Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | Public health policy, implementation science |
 McKay, Mary, PhD | Vice Provost of Interdisciplinary Initiatives, Washington University | Child mental health services, public health interventions to strengthen families, communities and systems |
 Nabunya, Proscovia, PhD | Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | Family and community-based support systems as protective factors for the development and well-being of children and families |
 Nebbitt, Von, PhD | Associate Professor, Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | How exposure to community/household violence, peer networks & social cohesion effects mental, behavioral & physical health of adolescents |
 Politi, Mary, PhD | Associate Professor, Public Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine | Behavioral science, health education & promotion |
 Purnell, Jason, PhD | Associate Professor, Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | Health disparities & social determinants of health |
 Rogers, Cynthia, MD | Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine | Effects of environmental factors & child maltreatment on social/emotional development of infants |
 Sensoy Bahar, Ozge, PhD | Research Assistant Professor, Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | Poverty, child/family well-being, and resilience |
 Stark, Lindsay, DrPH | Associate Professor, Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | Measuring sensitive topics among vulnerable and hidden populations globally |
 Thompson, Vetta, PhD | Professor, Social Work, Washington University, Brown School | Community based participatory research |
 Waters, Erika, PhD | Associate Professor, Public Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine | Health behavior change |