Brandon Brooks | Medicine and Dentistry | Innovation Trailblazer Award

Dr. Brandon Brooks | Medicine and Dentistry | Innovation Trailblazer Award

DPM, MPH at Columbia VA Health Care System, United States

Dr. Brandon M. Brooks is an accomplished podiatric physician, public health researcher, and academic leader whose career reflects a strong blend of clinical excellence, innovative research, and community service. He earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Barry University and a Master of Public Health from Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, where he was awarded the Henry Masters Award for academic and research distinction. His expertise lies in limb preservation, opioid prescribing practices, and the integration of mental health in podiatric care, leading to groundbreaking frameworks such as the Saint Dymphna Modification and Saint Brendan’s Guide. Dr. Brooks has authored numerous award-winning studies, served in leadership roles within the American College of Podiatric Medicine and the American Limb Preservation Society, and continues to mentor, teach, and inspire through his dedication to advancing patient care and public health.

Professional Profile

Google Scholar

Education

Dr. Brandon M. Brooks pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Saint Leo University, where he distinguished himself as a scholar and leader, earning recognition as one of the youngest alumni to receive high professional honors. He then earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine, where he was recognized for his academic excellence, leadership qualities, and commitment to patient-centered care. He later completed a residency in podiatric medicine and surgery at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, gaining extensive surgical experience and serving as chief resident. Building on this foundation, he completed a fellowship in podiatric public health at Dartmouth College and earned a Master of Public Health at the Geisel School of Medicine, focusing on epidemiology, biostatistics, and healthcare improvement.

Experience

Dr. Brooks has held key professional roles that reflect both clinical expertise and administrative leadership. As a podiatrist at the Columbia VA Health Care System, he provides advanced surgical and medical care for veterans, while also serving as Interim Chief of Podiatry where he restructured systems to improve access and quality of care. His earlier experience includes serving as an associate physician at Physicians Footcare, where he treated a wide range of complex foot and ankle conditions. He has also served as a teaching assistant at Dartmouth, supporting graduate-level instruction in epidemiology and health statistics. His leadership roles extend beyond clinical practice, including treasurer and board member of the American College of Podiatric Medicine, as well as contributions to national committees focused on education, advocacy, and clinical practice improvement.

Research Interest

Dr. Brooks’ research interests are centered on limb preservation, pain management, public health approaches in podiatry, and the integration of mental health in diabetic foot care. He has pioneered several innovative frameworks, such as the Saint Dymphna Modification to wound classification, which incorporates depression as a determinant of healing, and novel opioid prescribing guidelines tailored to foot and ankle surgery. His studies have addressed pressing issues including opioid misuse, postoperative pain outcomes, and patient-centered approaches to clinical decision-making. He is also passionate about bridging gaps between public health and podiatric medicine through large-scale studies, systematic reviews, and quality improvement projects. His work consistently emphasizes practical, evidence-based solutions that improve patient outcomes and influence national practice guidelines.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Brooks has received numerous awards that recognize his leadership, innovation, and academic contributions. At Dartmouth, he was honored with the Henry Masters Award for his lasting impact on healthcare and excellence in his Master of Public Health program. His research has earned multiple first-place poster awards at major conferences, including the American Podiatric Medical Association and the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons, for groundbreaking studies on opioid prescribing, limb preservation, and the intersection of depression with diabetic foot disease. He has also been recognized with distinguished alumni awards from Saint Leo University, as well as monetary awards for exceptional service at the Veterans Affairs Health System. These accolades reflect his ability to translate research into meaningful change in both clinical and community settings.

Research Skill

Dr. Brooks possesses advanced research skills that span quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including cross-sectional studies, systematic reviews, data analysis, and quality improvement initiatives. He is highly skilled in epidemiology and biostatistics, applying these competencies to investigate health disparities, prescribing practices, and patient-centered outcomes. His ability to design innovative frameworks, such as opioid prescribing models and novel classification systems, demonstrates creativity and scientific rigor. He has experience mentoring students in research design, statistical analysis, and academic writing, contributing to the development of future healthcare scholars. Additionally, his role as a peer reviewer for leading journals underscores his expertise in critically appraising scientific literature. These skills, combined with his clinical insight, enable him to conduct impactful research that directly informs practice and policy in podiatric medicine and public health.

Publication Top Notes

Title: Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus dynamic ultrasound for plantar plate injuries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: RH Albright, BM Brooks, M Chingre, EE Klein, LS Weil Jr, AE Fleischer
Year: 2022
Citation: European Journal of Radiology, 152:110315

Title: Postoperative opioid-prescribing practice in foot and ankle surgery
Authors: BM Brooks, AE Fleischer, RG Smith, RH Albright
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(5)

Title: The Diabetic Foot–Pain–Depression Cycle: A Multidisciplinary Cohort Study
Authors: BM Brooks, CD Shih, DE Tower, TT Tran, JE Simon, et al.
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(3)

Title: Cognitive Bias in Postoperative Opioid-Prescribing Practice: A Novel Effect
Authors: BM Brooks, CD Shih, RWR Bratches, AS Arp, GJ Coughlin, KB Wolff, et al.
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(3)

Title: Postprocedural Opioid-Prescribing Practice in Nail Surgery: A National, Questionnaire-Based, Cross-Sectional Study with Recommendations
Authors: BM Brooks, Q Li, AE Fleischer, NA Anderson, AZ Handa, CD Shih
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(3)

Title: Opioid-Prescribing Approaches—One-Size-Fits-All versus Patient-Centric and Procedure-Focused—Among Podiatric Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: BM Brooks, RWR Bratches, KB Wolff, MD Stapp, KW Bruce, DE Tower
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(4)

Title: The opioid use agreement in foot and ankle surgery: an addition to your informed consent
Authors: BM Brooks, NL Salvo, JM Robbins
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(4)

Title: Evidence-based opioid education that reduces prescribing: The 10 principles of opioid prescribing in foot and ankle surgery
Authors: CP Ryans, BM Brooks, DE Tower, JM Robbins, ML Butterworth, MD Stapp, et al.
Year: 2024
Citation: The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 63(2):214–219

Title: Podiatry and the opioid epidemic: a call to action
Authors: BM Brooks
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(4)

Title: American podiatric surgeons’ postoperative multimodal analgesic-prescribing practice: A 2019–2020 national survey
Authors: BM Brooks, RWR Bratches, AM Nettles, AE Fleischer, et al.
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(4)

Title: The anesthetic effects of lidocaine with epinephrine in digital nerve blocks: a systematic review
Authors: AS Arp, JK Multani, RW Yen, BM Brooks
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(4)

Title: Depression: the fourth pillar of classifying risk of diabetes-related amputation in veterans
Authors: BM Brooks, J Banks, AS Arp, V Saysoukha, et al.
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Disorders, 7:201

Title: Diabetes-Related Extremity Amputation Depression and Distress (DREADD): A Multimethod Study
Authors: LM Brooks, BM Brooks, AS Arp, CR Dove, LC Rogers, R Michel, V Clinton, et al.
Year: 2025
Citation: Seminars in Vascular Surgery, 38(1):94–100

Title: Social pain: A systematic review on interventions
Authors: BM Brooks, FJ Cordero, SL Alchermes
Year: 2025
Citation: F1000Research, 14:58

Title: Concomitant Use of Spasmolytics and Opioids for Postoperative Pain After Foot and Ankle Surgery: Fair or Foul?
Authors: BM Brooks, RG Smith
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(5)

Title: Diabetes Psychiatry: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle to Prevent Complications of the Diabetes Pandemic
Authors: BM Brooks, AM Nettles
Year: 2025
Citation: Psychoactives, 4(2):13

Title: Social Pain and Opioid Misuse: A Synergistic Epidemic (Syndemic)
Authors: BM Brooks, MI Brown, V Clinton, FJ Cordero, ML Butterworth
Year: 2025
Citation: IntechOpen

Title: Baseline Knowledge of Peripheral Arterial Disease and Factors Influencing Learning Material Preferences in the San Francisco Chinese-Speaking Community: A Survey Analysis
Authors: CD Shih, T Lee, S Hassan, H Chau, BM Brooks, B Zhang, ER Rosario
Year: 2024
Citation: Journal of Vascular Diseases, 4(1):1

Title: Postoperative Opioid-Prescribing Practice in Limb Preservation Surgery
Authors: BM Brooks, CD Shih, RWR Bratches, KT Pham, L Hooshivar, et al.
Year: 2024
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 114(2)

Title: Misdiagnosis or Missed Diagnosis-Hallux Sesamoid Fractures among Active-Duty Females in the United States Air Force: A Case Series
Authors: BM Brooks, KB Wolff
Year: 2024
Citation: Unpublished / Case Series Report

Title: A Book Review of Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy
Authors: BM Brooks
Year: 2023
Citation: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 113(5)

Title: Winners of the Student/Resident Poster Contest 2018
Authors: B Brooks, K Pham, S Saeedi
Year: 2019
Citation: Linacre Quarterly, 86(2–3):254–257

Conclusion

Dr. Brooks exemplifies a professional who bridges the worlds of clinical practice, research innovation, and leadership with distinction. His strong educational foundation, extensive clinical experience, and groundbreaking research have contributed to redefining approaches in limb preservation, pain management, and podiatric public health. His numerous awards highlight his influence as both a practitioner and innovator, while his professional memberships and leadership positions reflect his commitment to advancing the field at national and international levels. With his unique ability to integrate patient care, academic excellence, and health systems improvement, he continues to inspire peers and trainees. Dr. Brooks stands out as a forward-thinking leader whose contributions will shape the future of podiatric medicine and public health, positioning him as a role model and trailblazer.

Rajeshwari Ullagaddi | Health Professions | Best Academic Researcher Award

Dr. Rajeshwari Ullagaddi | Health Professions | Best Academic Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, Karnataka, India

Dr. Rajeshwari Ullagaddi is a distinguished academic and researcher in Food Science and Nutrition, with expertise spanning functional foods, phytochemistry, and chronic disease management. Holding a Ph.D. from Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, she has significantly contributed to research on herbal therapeutics for conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. With over 28 peer-reviewed publications, international collaborations, and book chapters, her work is indexed in Scopus and published in reputed journals. Dr. Ullagaddi is actively involved in mentoring, organizing awareness programs, and promoting community health, sustainability, and gender empowerment. Her leadership is recognized through awards such as the Eminent Scientist Award and Best Teacher Award. A committed educator and life member of professional bodies, she exemplifies academic excellence with societal impact, making her a strong contender for the Best Academic Researcher Award.

Professional Profile

Google Scholar | Orcid Profile | Scopus Profile

Education

Dr. Rajeshwari Ullagaddi’s academic journey is marked by a solid foundation and continuous advancement in the field of Food Science and Nutrition. She obtained her B.Sc. in Home Science from Karnataka State Bijapur Women’s University, followed by an M.Sc. in Food Science and Nutrition from Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning . She further pursued her academic excellence by earning a Ph.D. in Food Science and Nutrition from the same institute, demonstrating her commitment to deepening her expertise. In addition, she completed a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) in Science, equipping herself with essential pedagogical skills. Her comprehensive academic background has provided her with both theoretical knowledge and practical competencies, forming a robust platform for her future research and professional endeavors.

Professional Experience

Dr. Ullagaddi’s professional experience spans research, teaching, and community engagement, reflecting her multifaceted expertise in nutrition and functional foods. She began her career as a Research Fellow at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, where she explored dietary interventions and biochemical research for over seven years. Transitioning into academia, she held positions as a Nutrition Lecturer, enriching undergraduate and postgraduate curricula with innovative approaches. Her roles have included designing and coordinating workshops, as well as serving as an assistant professor, where she taught advanced subjects such as Cancer Biology. Additionally, she has served as an online dietitian and contributed to various community-oriented educational programs. Her diverse professional roles underscore a commitment to both academic excellence and practical impact in health and nutrition.

Research Interest

Dr. Ullagaddi’s research interest is broad and dynamic, focusing on the intersection of nutrition, phytochemistry, and chronic disease management. Her work explores the therapeutic potential of functional foods and traditional herbs to combat oxidative stress and related disorders such as diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. She delves into innovative aspects of food waste upcycling and sustainable nutrition, while also investigating the role of dietary components in mental health and stress management. This multidisciplinary approach enables her to combine bench research with clinical insights, exploring in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial methodologies. By emphasizing holistic healing and the integration of modern science with traditional knowledge, she continuously contributes to the advancement of nutritional science and public health.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Ullagaddi has been recognized nationally and internationally for her exemplary contributions to academia and research. Her awards include the Eminent Scientist Award 2025 and the Youth Empowerment Award 2025, which acknowledge her innovative work in agricultural and nutritional sciences. Additionally, she has been honored with the Chanakya Award and the Best Teacher Award, underscoring her commitment to excellence in both research and teaching. Recognitions for her reviewing contributions to peer-reviewed journals further highlight her expertise and influence in the field. These awards not only reflect her academic prowess but also her dedication to societal impact, research integrity, and excellence in scientific dissemination, positioning her as a leading figure in contemporary nutritional research.

Research Skills

Dr. Ullagaddi possesses a comprehensive set of research skills that blend traditional methodologies with modern analytical techniques. Her expertise encompasses experimental design, in vitro and in vivo study execution, and clinical trial management. Highly proficient in advanced analytical techniques such as RP-HPLC, she applies these methods to isolate and quantify bioactive compounds in functional foods. Her capabilities extend to robust data analysis, scientific writing, and critical literature review, as evidenced by her extensive publication record in reputed international journals. Her research also integrates multidisciplinary approaches that combine food science, biochemistry, and public health. These technical and analytical skills, alongside her aptitude for innovative problem solving, enable her to contribute effectively to current scientific challenges in nutrition and health.

Publications Top Note

Title: Protective role of aniseeds (Pimpinella anisum) in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Andallu B
Year: 2010
Citation: Lap Lambert Publishing Ltd, 2010

Title: Efficacy of aniseeds (Pimpinella anisum) in controlling oxidative stress in type 2 diabetics
Authors: Andallu B, Rajeshwari CU
Year: 2010
Citation: Inventi Nutraceuticals 1(2), 1–4

Title: In vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of aniseeds (Pimpinella anisum)
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Abirami M, Andallu B
Year: 2011
Citation: 2(1), 80–89

Title: Efficacy of curry (Murraya koenigii) leaves in scavenging free radicals
Authors: Andallu B, Mahalakshmi S, Rajeshwari CU
Year: 2011
Citation: 1, 263–267

Title: Oxidative stress in NIDDM patients: influence of coriander seeds
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Andallu B
Year: 2011
Citation: 2(1), 31–41

Title: Comparison of aniseed and coriander seeds for antidiabetic activities
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Andallu B
Year: 2011
Citation: 1(1), 9–16

Title: Isolation and simultaneous detection of flavonoids via RP-HPLC
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Andallu B
Year: 2011
Citation: 21(1–4), 13–21

Title: Medicinal benefits of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Andallu B
Year: 2011
Citation: 1(1), 51–58

Title: Anti-hemolytic activity of methanolic coriander extract
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Andallu B
Year: 2012
Citation: 22(1), 1–6

Title: Efficacy of mint (Mentha spicata) leaves in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Preeti M, Andallu B
Year: 2012
Citation: 1(1), 1–7

Title: RP-HPLC flavonoid extraction from coriander seeds
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Andallu B
Year: 2012
Citation: 1(2), 34–39

Title: Reverse phase HPLC detection of flavonoids in coriander seeds
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Andallu B
Year: 2012
Citation: 1(1)

Title: Antioxidant and anti-arthritic potential of coriander leaves
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Andallu B
Year: 2012
Citation: e-SPEN Journal (online), Hirsch Index 6

Title: Phytochemical constituents of ajwain seed extract
Authors: Mekha MS, Rajeshwari CU, Shobha RI, Andallu B
Year: 2012
Citation: 1(2), 20–33

Title: Oxidative stress and antioxidant therapy in acute and chronic leukemia
Authors: Rajeshwari CU, Andallu B
Year: 2013
Citation: 3

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Rajeshwari Ullagaddi stands as a paragon of academic and research excellence in Food Science and Nutrition. Her comprehensive education, diverse professional experience, and pioneering research interests showcase a career dedicated to advancing both scientific knowledge and public health. Recognized by multiple prestigious awards and honors, she has demonstrated her capacity to lead, innovate, and impact global research agendas. Her robust research skills and commitment to community engagement further underscore the significance of her contributions to sustainable nutrition and wellness. As she continues to expand her work in functional foods and chronic disease management, Dr. Ullagaddi remains a highly deserving candidate for the Best Academic Researcher Award, promising continued excellence and leadership.