Research Team

Stephanie G. B. Sullivan, DC, PhD
Associate Vice President of Research, Complementary Healthcare Advanced Research and Leadership Institute (CHARLI), Director,  Dr. Sid E. Williams Center for Chiropractic Research (CCR)

Dr. Stephanie Sullivan is a scientist and chiropractor whose work focuses on advancing human resilience and deciphering the mechanisms of action for chiropractic care.  Dr. Sullivan is the associate vice president of research and director of the Dr. Sid E. Williams Center for Chiropractic Research (CCR) at Life University, where she works with her team and collaborators to advance the center's mission-driven research.

Dr. Sullivan earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University and holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute at the University of Georgia. Her professional background includes a career in banking and marketing before she decided to return to school for research and chiropractic studies. Leveraging her past expertise, Dr. Sullivan has worked to propel the CCR forward, conducting impactful research studies, and disseminating valuable information through various media channels, such as presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and open-access venues.

Dr. Sullivan's research currently focuses on brain-based and autonomic changes following chiropractic care. She is particularly interested in exploring the role of chiropractic care in fostering stress resilience among active duty and veteran military service members and first responders. Dr. Sullivan's research portfolio extends to developing the Well-being and Health Expression Evaluation List (WHEEL) and establishing a research-based learning healthcare community.

Outside of her research commitments and university support endeavors, Dr. Sullivan enjoys spending quality time with her family, participating in outdoor activities, and working with her husband on their farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Contact:
770-426-2632
Stephanie.Sullivan@life.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Russell received a Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1983 from Life University and a master’s degree in 2011 from Georgia State University (Exercise Science, Biomechanics Concentration.) As a professor at Life University, he teaches the courses Introduction to Research Methods and Selected Topics in Biomechanics. The majority of his time is devoted to biomechanics-related research.

Research Interests:

• Biomechanical outcomes measures of chiropractic care

Recent publications & conference presentations:

• Russell BS, Hosek RS, Hoiriis KT, Drake ED. A case study involving Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia and Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction: balance, gait, and eye movement, before and after multimodal chiropractic care. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. 2019;18(2):144-54.
• Minicozzi SJ, Russell BS. Increased low back pain in performance of a pelvic tilt maneuver: a short report of 2 cases. Journal of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists. 2019;16(1):3-17.
• Russell BS, Wynd SE, Hosek RS, Owens EF, Hoiriis KT. Rotational kinematics of supine cervical spine manipulation: a pilot study [abstract]. Congress of the World Federation of Chiropractic and European Chiropractors’ Union, March 2019.
• Owens EF, Hosek RS, Russell BS. Mechanical properties of a thoracic spine mannequin with variable stiffness control. Association of Chiropractic Colleges’ Research Agenda Conference (ACC-RAC), March 2019.
• Russell BS, Hoiriis KT, Hosek RS. Walking gait before and after chiropractic care following fifth metatarsal fractures: a single case kinetic and kinematic study. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. 2018;17(2):106-16.
• Owens EF, Russell BS, Hosek RS, Sullivan SGB, Dever LL, Mullin LE. Changes in adjustment force, speed, and direction factors in chiropractic students after 10 weeks undergoing standard technique training. Journal of Chiropractic Education. 2017;32(1):3-9.
• Hoiriis KT, Russell BS. Case report: a patient with low back pain and somatic referred pain concomitant with intermittent claudication in a chiropractic practice. Topics in Integrative Health Care. 2014;5(1):ID 5.1004.
• Russell BS, Hoiriis KT, Guagliardo J. Correlation between student performances on course level integrated clinical skills examinations and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations in a chiropractic college program. Journal of Chiropractic Education. 2012 Fall;26(2);138-45.
• Russell BS, Muhlenkamp KA, Hoiriis KT, DeSimone CM. Measurement of lumbar lordosis in static standing posture, with and without high-heeled shoes. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. 2012;11(3):145-53.

Contact:
770-426-2641
BRussell@life.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Ron Hosek has worked in research, both basic and applied since his undergraduate days. This work has been directed primarily in the medical and chiropractic fields but has included projects in many other diverse areas as well. He served on the research faculty of Life University through most of the 1980s, serving as department chair from 1983 to 1986. Prior to coming to Life, he served as Research Director for the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine.  Since leaving the Life faculty, he has been in the private practice of chiropractic and has worked as a consultant, focusing mainly on projects involving internet database and website creation. Dr. Hosek holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University, a DC degree from Life and an MPH in epidemiology and biostatistics from Emory University.

Contact:
770-426-2641
Ronald.Hosek@life.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Emily Drake has served in various roles within the Dr. Sid E. Willams Center for Chiropractic Research since 2016 and currently is the Senior Manager of Grants and Clinical Trials. Within this role, she works to expand the department’s portfolio by seeking funding opportunities and providing support to the research teams. She also assists with the implementation of the department’s clinical trials and manages their success by implementing effective organizational strategies. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology from Life University and a Master of Science in Human Performance-Clinical from Liberty University.

Curriculum Vitae

Contact:
O: 770-426-2636 x1635
EDrake@LIFE.edu

Contact:
O: 678-331-4471
Daekiara.Smith-Irela@life.edu

Contact:

O: 770-426-2628
Margaret.Sliwka@LIFE.edu

Dr. Mackenzie Keller is a 2021 Life University graduate and was a Research Track scholarship recipient. She has research published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics and presented research at the 2022 and 2023 Association of Chiropractic Colleges Research Agenda Conference.

Contact:
O: 470-588-8318
Mackenzie.k@life.edu

Contact:
678-331-4527
Angela.Seckington@life.edu

Tyson Perez, DC, PhD
Research Scientist
O: 770-794-3046
Tyson.Perez@LIFE.edu

Dr. Amber Jackson, known as Dr. Jackson, is a passionate chiropractor dedicated to providing exceptional care to her patients. With a background in fashion and retail management, Dr. Jackson's journey to chiropractic medicine was inspired by her personal experiences as a student athlete and her commitment to helping others heal and thrive. Dr. Jackson's career path took an unexpected turn during her time as a student athlete at Alabama State University. While playing volleyball, she suffered a back injury that led to multiple disc protrusions in her lumbar spine. This injury forced her to reconsider her dream of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. After soul- searching and self-reflection, Dr. Jackson had vision that led her to discover the field of chiropractic medicine. Since then, she has been unwavering in her dedication to helpingpatients find healing and relief.

Contact:
O: 770-426-2740
Amber.Jackson@life.edu

Contact:
O: 770-426-2536 x 2634
Ahmed.Qazi@life.edu

Stephanie.Wakefield@life.edu

Martha Herbert, Ph.D, M.D
Visiting Professor

Dr. Martha Herbert is a pediatric neurologist, neuroscientist, systems thinker and writer. She earned her PhD in the History of Consciousness at the University of California Santa Cruz, and her medical degree at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.  As a faculty member in neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School she founded and directed the collaborative multidisciplinary TRANSCEND Research Program (Treatment Research and Neuroscience Evaluation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders). She is executive director of the Higher Synthesis Foundation, which documents, analyzes and generates transformational successes achieved through regenerative bio-cultural practices — i.e., emergent complex health, food and ecological approaches that are restoring the robustness and integrity of damaged biological systems.

Contact:

Martha.Herbert@life.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Adejoke.Adenekan@life.edu

Contact:
O: 678-3331-4509
Itiben.Shah@life.edu

Carolyn Butler holds a Bachelors in Mechatronics and Robotic Engineering, along with Mathematics, from Kennesaw State University. She is currently completing her Masters in Intelligent Robotic Systems at the same institution. Carolyn has accumulated over two years of research experience in biomechanics at Kennesaw State University, collaborating closely with Dr. Muhammad Salman and Dr. Geza Kogler on studies related to plantar fasciitis and the Achilles tendon. Her research contributions include publications with ASME's IMECE conference. Currently, Carolyn is involved in a collaborative research initiative between Kennesaw State University and Life University, focusing on advancing chiropractic teaching tools.

Will Vicory, BMET, MS Mfg Eng, DC
Biomedical Engineer

Contact:
770-426-2536 x 4805
wvicory@life.edu

Tahamina Begum, MBBS, PhD
Research Scientist-Cognitive Neuroscience

Contact:

Tahamina.Begum@life.edu
O: 770-426-2536 x4515

Curriculum Vitae