Johnell Brooks, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Clemson University with an appoint in Automotive Engineering at Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine at the University of South Carolina’s School of Medicine, a Clinical Research Faculty in the Department of Internal Medicine of the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, and a Consultant for the Department of Geriatrics at Palmetto Health hospital system in Columbia, SC.  She received her MS in Applied Psychology with a concentration in Human Factors and her PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.  Dr. Brooks leads an interdisciplinary research team, the South Carolina Aging Driver Innovation Initiative, which strives to enable aging drivers to maintain their independence as long as safely possible. The team consists of specialists in the fields of automotive engineering, bioengineering, civil engineering, computer science, driving rehabilitation, geriatrics, orthopedics, rehabilitation, and statistics.  The initiative houses six DriveSafety simulators in South Carolina (three at Clemson University, one in the Department of Geriatrics at the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, one at Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital, and one in the Division of Geriatrics at Palmetto Health).  The team uses instrumented vehicles to develop objective feedback for patients regarding their driving performance.  Dr. Brooks’ primary research interest is in the mobility needs of the aging population.  Dr. Brooks has several industry partnership including DriveSafety, Vision Coach, and Sure Grip.  A Dwight David Eisenhower Graduate Transportation Research Fellowship allowed Dr. Brooks to focus and develop her interests on senior drivers. 

J. Larry Durstine, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor
Chair, Department of Exercise Science
Co-director, Preventative Exercise Program
Division of Applied Physiology
Department of Exercise Science
University of South Carolina

With an MA in Physical Education from the University of Denver and a Ph.D. in Exercise Science and Physical Education from the University of Toledo/Medical College of Ohio, Dr. Durstine's areas of interest are: Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism; Exercise Management for Chronic Diseases and Disabilities; Physical Activity, Physical Fitness and Health; and, Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Cheryl J. Dye, Ph.D.

Associate professor
Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University
Adjunct associate professor, Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Norman School of Public Health, University of South Carolina

Dr. Dye's research interests focus on chronic disease prevention and management primarily with African-American and older adult populations. She has been a principal investigator or co-investigator on several studies funded by NIH, HRSA, CDC, USDA and the Kellogg Foundation to investigate health behaviors of African Americans and rural seniors. In her community-based research, Dr. Dye uses qualitative research methodology to assess community needs and lay health advisors to implement interventions.

Dr. Dye leads the university-wide Gerontology Research Interdisciplinary Team (GRIT) whose members represent every college at Clemson University. Since 2001, she has chaired the South Carolina Center for Gerontology (SCCG) whose membership includes representatives from every university in the state and the major aging agencies. In 2006 she received the 2006 National Eta Sigma Gamma Distinguished Service Award for her contributions to Health Education and the Honor Society through teaching, research, and service.

G. Paul Eleazer, MD, FACP, AGSF

 Director, SeniorSMART™
 Director, Division of Geriatrics, University of South Carolina
 Director, Fellowship Program
 Professor of Internal Medicine

 The tenured professor and University of South Carolina and Medical University of South Carolina alumnus was appointed to the faculty at the School of Medicine in 1988. While at the University, Dr. Eleazer has also jump started an innovative Senior Mentor Program that matches senior citizens with medical students. His pioneering program has gained the attention of CBS-TV's "Evening News" and Parade magazine.

Dr. Eleazer has an extensive background in geriatric medicine originating from his private practice in Kentucky. Eleazer has since held positions in South Carolina as co-medical director of the Lowman Nursing Home Center, director of the James F. Byrnes Center for Geriatric Medical Education and Research, medical director of Palmetto Senior Care, and director of professional services for C.M. Tucker Jr. Human Resources Center.

He has served in numerous national positions as well, including the American Geriatrics Society Educational Committee. Presently, he is the president of the Association of Directors of Geriatrics Academic Programs and chair of the National Fellowship Directors of Geriatrics. His interests include medical education research, health service delivery, and ethnicity

Lotta Granholm-Bentley, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Professor, Physiology & Neuroscience,
Director of Center on Aging
Medical University of South Carolina

Dr. Lotta Granholm-Bentley received her D.D.S/Ph.D. degree at the Department of Histology and Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, in Stockholm, Sweden. She came to the University of Colorado Health Science Center, Department of Pharmacology, as a postdoctoral fellow. She has been an associate professor at the University of Linköping, Sweden and at the Department of Basic Science, University of Colorado HSC. She was promoted to professor with tenure at the University of Colorado HSC in 1998, and was recruited to the Department of Physiology and Neuroscience at MUSC in the fall of 2000.

Dr. Granholm-Bentley wrote her dissertation on the effects of thyroid hormones on brain development and aging, and has had an active interest in age-related topics since the early 1980s. She currently has four research grants with the National Institute on Aging, and one with the US Army Neurotoxicology Program. Dr. Granholm-Bentley has published more than 90 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

K. Sue Haddock, Ph.D, RN, is an Associate Chief of Staff for Research (ACOS-R) at the WJB Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, SC. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Health Policy and Administration Department and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Haddock has a keen interest in evaluation research and is currently leading the national evaluation of the Clinical Nurse Leader Program and is involved in the evaluation of the VA RN Residency Pilot. Dr. Haddock has been a key member on the ONS Staffing Methodology Pilot and Implementation project. Locally, she works with interdisciplinary teams at her local site to develop grants in response to requests for clinical proposals. Recently her teams have been awarded funding for system redesign and non-institutional care alternatives for the elderly. Dr. Haddock’s research fits well with implementation science and provides evidence about system issues.

Victor A. Hirth, MD, MHA, CMD, FACP, AGSF

Associate professor of Internal Medicine
Medical director, Geriatric Services
University of South Carolina

Dr. Hirth was recruited to the University of South Carolina in 1994, following his residency in Internal Medicine at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and a fellowship in geriatrics at the University of Washington. He is the medical director of Geriatric Services, where his responsibilities include geriatric program development, geriatric research, and education.

Dr. Hirth is active both locally and nationally in geriatrics. He developed and helped pass the first-in-the-nation geriatric loan forgiveness program and has been instrumental in both geriatric education and geriatric research development. He currently is the principal investigator for the Palmetto State Geriatric Education Center funded by Health Resources and Services Administration. Dr. Hirth's interests include dementia and driving, 3T MRI scanning in seniors, and rebuilding old cars.

Clinical Research Professional, Executive Director for SeniorSmart
Division of Geriatrics, Palmetto Health
Assistant professor of Clinical Internal Medicine, University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Assistant Director for SeniorSMART

Dr. Krotish joined Palmetto Health and the University of South Carolina in 2007 after teaching at Winthrop University, where she received her MS. Her Ph.D. from the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, is in Exercise Science. Dr. Krotish's responsibilities include clinical research in geriatrics, medical education with an emphasis in physical functioning, and SeniorSMART™ infrastructure. Her interests include physical activity and cognition and 3T MRI scanning.