James Shikany

James Shikany is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine. He holds a Doctor of Public Health from UCLA (1994) and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics/Psychology from UC Davis (1978). His research focuses on clinical sciences, public health, nutrition, and cardiorespiratory medicine, with a particular emphasis on addressing health disparities through large-scale cohort studies like the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.

He has served in multiple leadership roles, including Senior Scientist positions across UAB's Nutrition Obesity Research Center, Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center, and Comprehensive Diabetes Center. Dr. Shikany has been recognized with awards such as the Max Cooper Award for Excellence in Research and has contributed to over 80 grants, including NIH-funded projects examining cardiometabolic health, bone strength, and racial disparities in cardiovascular outcomes.

He has advised numerous graduate students and served on committees for initiatives like the UAB Health Disparities Research Training Program. His work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, addressing population health through environmental, behavioral, and epidemiological lenses.