Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC)

Project SuGar receives guidance and direction from an active Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), which was organized in 1995 at the inception of the project and has been meeting quarterly since its inception. The study values their insight and proactive approach to increasing community awareness concerning diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and services to the community.

• Motto: "You must have patience when conducting research in our community."
• Philosophy: Research must be service oriented.
• Core values: We must acknowledge the fears, health beliefs, and current norms of our study participants.

The Citizens Advisory Commitee (CAC) is the major component of the SIFP. It was organized in 1996 under the leadership of Project SuGar (the first member of the SIFP) and has met consistently over the years. Membership consists of representatives from the faith community, client advocates, professional organizations, South Carolina state organizations, community-based organizations, research participants, research nurses, Principle Investigators, coordinators, and MUSC employees. Members are committed to attending the quarterly meetings held on the campus of MUSC where both parking and breakfast are provided.

The CAC provides guidance and support for genetic based research conducted among the Sea Islanders and members are not afraid to as the hard questions. The CAC adheres to the principles of Community-Based Partcipitory Research (CBPR) and as such advocates community in-put on the front end of the research plan. To this end, new investigators to the Gullah community interested in community-based genetic related research are asked to  present the research  plan to CAC  members before intiation of the research project. Investigators are also asked to present findings as well as any publications to the group.

Our faithful members from 1995-present:

Yaw Boateng, RD, MPH,

• Director of Diabetic Control Programs, DHEC, Columbia, SC
• Current Wise Women Cancer Program

Representative David Mack III

• South Carolina Representative, 4th District, Charleston, SC

Roland Gardner

• Executive Director, Beaufort-Jasper Comprehensive Health, Beaufort, SC

Geri Connors, MSW

• Family Support Services, DHEC, N. Charleston, SC

Carolyn Grant, MSJ

• Director of Community Relations, Hilton Head Medical Centers Clinic, Hilton Head, SC

Janica F. Gadson (deceased)

• Social Worker, Charleston, SC

Abraham Jenkins

• President, Citizen Committee of Charleston County, Charleston, SC

Jacquetta Jones, BA

• Project Coordinator for Export Grant/Consumer Advocate, MUSC

Sherman Pyatt

• Archivist, Avery Research Center, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

James Russell (deceased)

• Community Volunteer, Project SuGar Participant, John's Island, SC

• Executive Assistant to the President, Office of the President, MUSC, Charleston, SC

Sabra Slaughter, PhD

• Executive Assistant to the President, Office of the President, MUSC, Charleston, SC

Monique Singleton, MD

• Center for Excellence, Denmark, SC

Eleanor Swinton-McHoney, BSW

• Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care, Inc., John's Island, SC

Doris B. Smalls

• Chairperson, Women's Coalition of Edisto Island, Edisto Island, SC

Jerolene Jenkins, RN

• Consumer, Georgetown, SC

Lee Moultrie

• Community Activist

Agnes West

• Project SuGar participant, COBRE participant

Montrese Edwards, RN

• DHEC
• MUSC

Newer Members:

Karen Stewart-Cain, PhD

• Trident Technical College

Annette Maranolle

• Our Lady of Mercy

Elizabeth Ganaway, RN, BSN

• Retired nurse

Anna Johnson

• Consumer Advocate

Hilda Gadsden, MSW

• New Hope Missionary Baptist Church

Rev. Karey Poinsette

Heather Crotts, BSW

• John's Island Rural Housing

Julia Gathers

• Palmetto Project

Imir Raven

• My Sister's House

Emma Frazier, PhD

• Voorhees College

Brittany Smalls, MHSA

• Medical University of South Carolina Lupus Erythematosus (MUSCLE) Research Group, Division of Rheumatology, MUSC
• Clinical Trials Coordinator

Imani Fickling, BS

• Medical University of South Carolina Lupus Erythematosus (MUSCLE) Research Group, Division of Rheumatology, MUSC
• Clinical Trials Coordinator

Karen Wilder Smalls, LPN

• Ralph Johnson VA Medical Center
• James Island City Council

Debbie Chatman Bryant, RN, MSN, cDNP

• Manager of Hollings Cancer Center's Breast Health Mobile Unit
• Administrator Hollings Cancer Center

 Academic Partners:

Jyotika K. Fernandes, MD, MBBS

• Associate Professor Department of Medicine

W. Timothy Garvey, MD

• Professor and Chair
• Senior Scientist, Clinical Nutrition Research Center University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama

Michele Sale, PhD

• Associate Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular University of Virginia Charlottesville,VA

Leonard E. Egede, MD, MS

• Professor Department of Medicine
• Director of the MUSC Center for Health Disparities Research

Carlos F. Salinas, DDS, DMD

• Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
• Director, Division of Cranofacial Genetics Director

Renata S. Leite, DDS, MS

• Assistant Professor Department of Stomatology

Anthony Alberg, PhD

•  Hollings Cancer Cancer
• Associate. Director, Prevention and Control Program
• Associate Professor, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, & Epidemiology

Kelly J. Hunt, PhD

• Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics & Epidemiology

Joan E. Cunningham PhD

• Research Assistant Professor Department of Medicine

Diane Kamen, MD, MSCR

• Medical University of South Carolina Lupus Erythematosus (MUSCLE) Research Group, Division of Rheumatology, MUSC
• Rheumatologist

Gary Gilkeson, MD

• Medical University of South Carolina Lupus Erythematosus (MUSCLE) Research Group, Division of Rheumatology, MUSC
• Rheumatologist

 Anna Meyer, PhD

• Medical University of South Carolina Lupus Erythematosus (MUSCLE) Research Group, Division of Rheumatology, MUSC
• Clinical Trials Coordinator