School of Public Health professor named to new faculty leadership program

It can take time for a junior faculty member to break through and feel they are making an impact. It takes time to adjust to the new role, and it often comes shortly after stops in a PhD program and a postdoc position, which is why it’s important for junior faculty members to take part in mentorship and other programs.

That is what Brett Burrows, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health Sciences in Augusta University’s School of Public Health, is doing.

Burrows, who came to AU last fall, has been selected to participate in the inaugural class of the American Society of Nephrology’s Fostering Innovative Leaders in Nephrology and Dialysis, or FIND, leadership training program, a partnership with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

“This program will help me learn more about what it takes to, not only get involved with but lead research projects at a university like Augusta University,” Burrows said. “I’m still working on getting more involved here at AU. I’m currently writing a K-01 grant to hopefully get involved with the research going on around our university. This particular grant would involve the Medical College of Georgia and the Georgia Prevention Institute and would be a big step forward for me.”

The FIND leadership training program was designed to help young researchers cultivate the necessary skills that will translate into improving outcomes and experiences for people living with kidney diseases impacted by health care disparities.

The program offers a one-year virtual leadership training, career-specific mentoring and networking experience for early scientists, including those in fellowship training.

“We are so proud of the great work that Dr. Burrows has been doing since arriving at AU SPH,” said Teresa Waters, PhD, dean of AU’s School of Public Health. “He has been very focused on building a strong foundation for his research-focused career, and joining this program is an important part of that. Mentorship initiatives like this are essential for early career faculty to further develop leadership skills within their programs and universities, as well as in professional organizations. Dr. Burrows has already started to build connections here at AU in our research areas. With his background, he will have numerous opportunities to connect with leaders in his field and engage in significant collaborative projects that can enhance the health of Georgia, our region and our nation.”

The training experience includes a monthly virtual lecture series, covering topics like vascular access, current health care disparities in dialysis, dialysis health policy, research and leadership. In addition to the virtual lecture series, the FIND program includes an in-person networking event with the other mentees of the program, mentors and program leaders to facilitate cross-pollination of ideas.

Burrows and the other participants have been paired with a mentor who will help with a leadership capstone project, which will provide a real-world leadership experience to apply the knowledge gained during the program. Burrows has been paired with Kirsten Johansen, MD, from the University of Minnesota.

“Dr. Burrows joined our faculty in June after completing a postdoc at Duke University and has already had a lot of success as an early career investigator,” said Aaron Johnson, PhD, associate dean for Research and director of the Institute for Public and Preventive Health within SPH. “In the fall, he was selected for the Kidney, Urology and Hematology Grant Writing Intensive Training program managed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham. That experience resulted in the submission of an NIH career development award application just a couple of weeks ago.

“Now, to follow that up with being selected for the American Society of Nephrology’s FIND leadership training program is really remarkable,” Johnson continued. “It’s a great opportunity for him to continue to develop his knowledge and expertise, as well as a chance to expand his connections with other researchers in the field. We are fortunate to have Dr. Burrows as a faculty member within SPH and look forward to continuing to support him as his career develops.”

Burrows earned his PhD in Exercise Science and Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana after earning a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Kinesiology from East Stroudsburg University. His current research focus is centered around chronic kidney disease and improving care and the quality of life for those individuals suffering from the disease.

“When I was at University of Illinois, we did clinical interventions for patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis,” Burrows said. “Those individuals went to an outpatient facility to receive hemodialysis three times a week. We did interventions on physical activity, nutrition and psychotherapy. I also received training in chronic kidney disease.

“There’s a strong concentration in kidney disease research here, but it’s more on the cellular level, and I’m more quality-of-life, patient-centered, outcomes-focused,” Burrows continued. “But I have been introduced to Dr. Jennifer Sullivan and her SCORE/ROAR program, so I’m actively trying to build some collaborations with her and her group who are conducting research related to chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.”