Esteemed health researchers, National Academy members join FSU College of Medicine

Two eminent scholars focused on the intersection of nutrition and public health have joined Florida State University and will lead new research efforts in that area as the university continues to bolster its health research portfolio.

Regan Bailey, an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, and Patrick Stover, an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, have joined the FSU College of Medicine as professors and will lead a new institute focused on nutrition and health that will report to the Office of the Vice President of Research.

“The caliber of faculty we are able to attract, such as Dr. Bailey and Dr. Stover, speaks volumes to the reputation of this College of Medicine and the work being done here,” said Dr. Alma Littles, dean of the college. “We are delighted they have chosen to join our faculty and look forward to working with them as they help us train the next generation of scientists and health care professionals and make a significant impact in the health of our communities through their research.”

Bailey joins the college as a professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine. She earned her doctorate in nutritional sciences from Pennsylvania State University, a master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins University and master’s in food and nutrition from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is also a registered dietitian with clinical experience.

Bailey comes to FSU after serving as associate director of the Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture at Texas A&M University’s AgriLife Research. She also served as professor of Nutrition in Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

A nutritional epidemiologist who focuses on promoting health through nutrition across the lifespan, Bailey’s work has been used to inform public policy and identify research gaps. She has multiple active grants and is an author of more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and policy documents.

“Joining FSU is a tremendous honor for me to work alongside talented scientists and clinicians to improve health, educate students and provide community outreach, all of which is strongly supported by university leadership,” Bailey said.

Stover joins the College of Medicine as a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He comes to FSU after serving as founding director of the Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture (IHA), Texas A&M University. He also served as Distinguished Professor, Nutritional Sciences and Biochemistry and Biophysics.

“I am delighted to join the faculty at Florida State University and the College of Medicine,” Stover said. “The university’s strategic vision focused on collaboration, innovation and excellence in scholarship around key cross-cutting themes is exciting and offers the opportunity for FSU to lead nationally. I was particularly drawn to the university’s commitment to Healthy Florida, which will bring the very best research and education to improve the lives of all Floridians.”

Stover’s most recent research has raised more than $30 million annually from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state of Texas as IHA’s founding director.

Best known for his pioneering research on folate metabolism and its crucial role in human health, Stover’s studies have helped uncov­er how folate, a B-vitamin, affects critical biological processes such as DNA synthesis, repair and methylation. His research has demonstrated how folate deficiencies could lead to severe health consequences such as neuropathies, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Stover has also made significant contributions to the fields of epi­genetics (understanding how nutrition influences gene expression) and cancer biology (understanding how folate metabolism is linked to cancer prevention and progression).

He has more than 23 years of academic leadership experience, serving as vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture at Texas A&M AgriLife, director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University.

Stover earned his doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biophysics from Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, and completed his post­doctoral studies at University of California, Berkeley in nutrition. He accepted his first academic appointment at Cornell University, where he served as professor and researcher.

The researchers join FSU as the university enhances its health research and clinical capabilities under the FSU Health banner. The university is currently building an academic health center on the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare campus and partnering with TMH on other projects in the Panama City area. FSU has also forged partnerships with Mayo Clinic in Florida, Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic, Andrews Institute and others as it works to improve health outcomes through research for the region.

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