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WVU ICRC to expand research efforts in adverse childhood experiences

The WVU Injury Control Research Center (ICRC) is expanding its research expertise with the addition of two new members to its senior leadership team.

Michael Brumage, M.D., M.P.H., will lead the center’s research efforts in adverse childhood experiences. In addition to supporting this area of expertise, Keith Zullig, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., will also contribute expertise in mental health and drug abuse research.

Brumage and Zullig officially join the ICRC team on July 1 as associate directors under the leadership of center director, Robert Bossarte, Ph.D. Robin Pollini, Ph.D., M.P.H., joined as associate director in 2017 to support the center’s efforts to reduce overdose.

Dr. Brumage will continue in his role as assistant dean for public health practice and service at the WVU School of Public Health and will serve as director of the recently funded Public Health Residency program, the first in Appalachia, once accredited.

In his role as associate director at ICRC, Brumage will assist with development of community partnerships and lead WVU ICRC affiliate researchers interested in this area.

“Adverse childhood experiences – or ACEs – are an important driver behind most of the major public health problems of our time,” said Brumage. “I’m looking forward to working with the ICRC to further research in this area and develop solutions on how to mitigate the effects of ACEs in our state.”

Before joining WVU, Dr. Brumage served as Executive Director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, Health Officer for Kanawha County, and was a Colonel in the United States Army for 25 years.

Dr. Zullig, professor and chair of the School of Public Health’s Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, primarily focuses his research on adolescent health, quality of life, substance use and effectiveness interventions. As an associate director with ICRC, Zullig will provide strategic vision for the expansion of the WVU ICRC and strengthen ties with the School.

“The ICRC is an incredibly valuable asset to the state of West Virginia and our School of Public Health with a legacy of influential research, education and training opportunities for students,” said Zullig. “I am honored to play a small role in contributing to that legacy.”

Dr. Zullig’s work has been funded by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). He has published over 85 peer-reviewed journal articles and authored numerous book chapters, many of which included students as co-authors. He is a long-time affiliate researcher with the WVU ICRC.

The mission of the WVU ICRC is to advance the science and practice of injury prevention and control through research, education, outreach and service. The WVU ICRC is one of 10 injury control research centers across the United States funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is housed in the WVU School of Public Health.

 

-WVU-

DDB/06/20/18

CONTACT: Dannell Boatman; WVU ICRC 304.581.1799; dboatman@hsc.wvu.edu

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