By Teresa Hicks
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Associate Professor Pamela G. Bowen, PhD, BBA, CRNP, FNP-BC (BSN 1988, MSN 1992, PhD 2012), is helping to create a healthier Alabama through her service on the Board of the Alabama Wellness Alliance as Community Access and Engagement Representative.
According to 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 39.2 percent of Alabama adults are obese, placing the state fifth highest in the nation. The American Diabetes Association projects that this rate could climb to 58 percent by 2030.
With such urgent challenges facing Alabama, Bowen has contributed to the development of the Alabama Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan 2023–2033 and is recognized as a Physical Activity Sector Leader, underscoring her influence in shaping strategies that promote healthier lifestyles statewide.
“This plan is more than a document. It’s a profound commitment to all Alabamians to build a future that is healthier and more equitable, where nutritious foods and safe spaces for physical activity are recognized as fundamental rights,” Bowen explained.
The plan is a statewide initiative to address obesity and chronic disease through improved nutrition and physical activity. Based on the Social Ecological Model, it promotes change at individual, community and policy levels. It targets eight key sectors including education, health care, business, transportation and public health to create environments that support healthy lifestyles.
It also outlines strategies to reduce health disparities, expand access to nutritious food and safe spaces for activity, and set goals for policy development, community programs and resource sharing. Supported by state leadership, the plan guides local groups, organizations and community members in adopting evidence-based practices that promote long-term health and wellness.
Through her involvement, Bowen ensures that evidence-based nursing research informs state-level health strategies, helping to reduce rates of obesity, diabetes and related chronic diseases. Bowen’s role on the AWA Board reflects her commitment to community health and exemplifies how the School’s faculty translate expertise into statewide impact.
In addition, Bowen’s research at UAB continues to advance health through interdisciplinary collaboration. She recently was awarded a $300,000 grant from the McCance Center for Brain Health at Mass General Brigham–Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at UAB to study the effects of exercise on brain health. As a scientist at the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, she leads a multidisciplinary project in partnership with the UAB Center for Exercise Medicine and the Department of Optometry and Vision Science in the UAB School of Optometry.
By integrating clinical research with community engagement, Bowen’s efforts at the UAB School of Nursing complement her leadership within the AWA and reflect her commitment to improving health outcomes across the lifespan.