Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois-Chicago
About
Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, FACP is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine where she received her MD degree. She completed residency training in Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, obtained her master of public health in chronic disease epidemiology from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and completed a research fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Biggers has interests in health disparity research and achieving health equity. She has experience in breast cancer research, winning research awards while still in residency and as a featured researcher at the National American Society of Clinical Oncology Conference and Quality Care Symposiums in 2014. Dr. Biggers continues her endeavors in research at UIC and currently has a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant for research in diabetes mellitus and sleep. Additionally, Dr. Biggers enjoys teaching residents and students on best practices in urban health and providing medical care for underserved populations. She also aims to improve diversity among faculty at UIC College of Medicine as a member of the Diversity Task Force and a consultant for the Bias Reduction in Internal Medicine (BRIM) Initiative, another NIH funded grant to address bias in academic medicine. Other clinical interests include preventive health with a concentration on clinical care spotlighting lifestyle modification when providing patients with guidance. Dr. Biggers plans to expand her role in the Chicago community by providing tips on healthy living through patient care and media outlets. She is the co-author of The Chronicles of Women in White Coats, a book showcasing the journeys of women in healthcare.
Current Work:
Dr. Biggers leads a mentored research study to investigate mobile health (mHealth) evaluation of sleep within the context of type 2 diabetes. Outcomes include subjective and objective measures of sleep (quality, duration, and patterns), glycemic control, quality of life, depression, and sedentary behaviors. Ultimately, this research may help demonstrate a potential role of mHealth evaluation of sleep, leading to innovative, behavioral strategies to improve diabetes-related outcomes in underserved and vulnerable populations. Preliminary data from this cross-sectional study will inform the development of remotely-delivered approaches to sleep assessment and intervention (e.g., promotion of sleep hygiene) for a K career development award.
Research Area Keyword(s):
Diabetes, CVD risks, health hisparities, mindfulness
