David W.

About David W.

I serve as Program Director for BRAVO-Vets and the COMPASS Brain Health Initiative at the Institute for Social Science Research at The University of Alabama.My work focuses on building practical, scalable systems at the intersection of brain health, behavioral health, implementation, and institutional strategy. I work across academic, clinical, public-sector, and community settings to strengthen how people with traumatic brain injury and related behavioral health needs are identified, understood, and connected to effective support.Across Alabama, I collaborate with university leaders, clinicians, state agencies, courts, and community partners to design and advance programs that improve screening, care coordination, referral pathways, and long-term outcomes. A major focus of my work is serving veterans and other high-need populations whose needs often cut across multiple systems at once.I help lead initiatives that connect research to real-world practice. This includes developing interdisciplinary models, building strategic partnerships, supporting research-ready infrastructure, and advancing human-centered approaches to data and technology that reduce friction and expand capacity without replacing human judgment.My professional interests include traumatic brain injury, veterans, behavioral health, justice-system partnerships, public-sector innovation, program development, implementation strategy, and responsible AI used to strengthen care, coordination, and decision-making.I care deeply about building systems that are credible, useful, and worthy of the people they are meant to serve.

Experience

1. Research Project Manager

   The University of Alabama

   Sep 2024 — Present · Tuscaloosa, AL, US

   As the Research Project Manager at The University of Alabama’s Institute for Social Science Research, I lead the BRAVO-Vets initiative, which focuses on providing brain injury and mental health screening, as well as resource facilitation, for veterans involved in the criminal justice system. I manage daily operations and collaborate with key partners, including the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH), and the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA), to enhance mental health outcomes and reduce recidivism among veterans with traumatic brain injuries and other mental health concerns.My responsibilities include:Leading a multidisciplinary team, overseeing screening data collection and analysis, and ensuring compliance with all grant and reporting requirements.Conducting strategic planning, managing budgets, and building long-term partnerships to expand the program’s reach across Alabama.Bridging public health, neuroscience, and research methodology to develop effective, evidence-based solutions that support veterans’ successful community reintegration.In addition to BRAVO-Vets, I am currently directing the development of a statewide behavioral health monitoring and forecasting system titled AI-Powered Behavioral Analysis for Suicide Prevention, Substance Use, and Mental Health Crisis Detection with Longitudinal Geospatial Crisis Trend Analysis. This initiative utilizes a combination of natural language processing (NLP), behavioral tracking, and geospatial trend mapping to identify emerging crisis patterns across regions. It is designed to inform public health strategy and resource allocation, beginning in Alabama with a scalable national framework.

Education

• University of Alabama at Birmingham

  Master of Public Health (MPH), Health Care Organization and Policy

  2006 — 2010

• University of Alabama at Birmingham

  Bachelor's Degree, Psychology

  2002 — 2004

• University of Alabama at Birmingham

  Master of Public Administration (MPA), Health Care Organization and Policy

  2006 — 2010