John Wilson, PhD

Dillard University

Eric L. Buckles, PhD

Dillard University

Dr. Buckles holds faculty appointments at Dillard University and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. He completed postdoctoral research at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Maryland where his research focused on understanding molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis in uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Dr. Buckles’ current research aimed at understanding the structural changes in the androgen gene and protein during the early stages of prostate cancer in African American men. Dr. Buckles has published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, Infection and Immunity, Microbiology, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Charlotte Hurst, PhD, CNM, RN

Dillard University

Dr. Hurst is an Obstetrics-Gynecology Nurse Specialist and a Certified Nurse-Midwife. She holds faculty appointments at Dillard University and LSU Health Science Center, where her research focuses on the interaction between EBV and HPV in the development of cervical dysplasia and the genital diseases in HIV-negative Women. Dr. Hurst has published in refereed journals including the Journal of HealthCare for the Poor and Underserved, Journal of Multicultural Nursing and Health, and Urban Education.

Yolanda M. Powell-Young, PhD, PCNS-BC

Dillard University

Dr. Powell-Young is a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist. She has a Ph.D. in research and has completed postdoctoral work in Clinical and Molecular Genetics at the University of Iowa, Georgetown University and The National Institutes of Health. She holds faculty appointments at LSUHSC and Dillard University. Her research focus is obesity genetics among minority populations; most specifically among African American youth. She is published in peer reviewed research journals including Applied Nursing Research, Obesity, Journal of the National Black Nurses Association, and Online Journal of Health Ethics.

Wodajo Welldaregay, DrPH, MPH