Internal Advisory Board

Dr. Cumming's training and research interests are in the study of health related behaviors, especially tobacco use prevention and cessation. His research is primarily population based with a focus on smoking cessation, consumer risk perceptions, the impact of cigarette design on smoking behaviors, and the evaluation of public policies on tobacco use behaviors. Recognized internationally for his work in tobacco epidemiology and smoking cessation, Dr. Cummings has guided global public policy and regulations in the marketing and distribution of nicotine products. This work has involved designing studies to understand factors involved in predicting uptake and cessation of tobacco use and the testing of interventions to alter tobacco use behaviors at both the individual and population level. In 2002, Dr. Cummings established the International Tobacco Research Policy Evaluation Project (ITC Project) to evaluate the behavioral impacts of national level tobacco control policies implemented as part of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This international project began in 2002 and involves over 100 scientific colleagues from more than 20 countries and includes a wide range of research projects ranging from those focused on biological factors that influence tobacco use to the impact of health warnings and public education campaigns on representative populations of smokers. As part of his work with the ITC Project he has served as the PI on three large multi-institutional NIH grants (P50 CA111236: 2004-2009, P01 CA138389: 2009-2016, P01 CA200512: 2016-2021).  Data from the ITC Project has become an important source of the evidence base used by governments and public health advocates to support tobacco control policy initiatives around the world. Over his 35-year career he has directed more than 70 grants and contracts and has published over 430 scientific papers including landmark reports for the Office of the Surgeon General, the National Cancer Institute, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the Institute of Medicine.

Hometown: Vicksburg, Mississippi
When did you join MUSC? 2006

What's your favorite part about working in global health? 
For me, it’s all about the mission and knowing the work we’re doing is making a meaningful impact. One of the things I truly love about this field is the collaborative nature of the work and the ability to build relationships across so many disciplines. I’m fortunate to partner with so many talented faculty and students at MUSC and with global colleagues who are equally passionate about driving innovative solutions in global health. Every day brings the opportunity to get to know people from different cultures and backgrounds and to learn from their experiences.

What advice would you give to an international student or faculty member coming to MUSC for the first time? 
It can be daunting to move to a new country and to navigate a new culture and language. My advice is to keep an open mind and meet as many people as you can. Charleston is a wonderful city to explore. Get involved in local activities. Try as many things as you can outside of your comfort zone, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice.

What is your favorite place to travel?
It’s impossible to pick a favorite – there are too many wonderful places. But if I had to give a top five list, I would surely start with Spain. My husband is from the northwest coast, and we spend time there each year visiting family, hiking in the mountains, and enjoying the sea. Next on the list includes Turkey, Morocco, Thailand and Tanzania.

How do you like to spend your free time? 
Paddleboarding, kayaking and anything that involves water! Endless adventures with my six-year-old son – ranging from scavenger hunts, kids’ science experiments to answering the endless stream of “why” questions and wondering how long the Socratic method will hold up! Any other free time I have is spent reading, spending time with family and friends, my perpetual (but failing) quest to acquire a green thumb in gardening and cheering on my alma mater Notre Dame during football season.

Mike M. Mallah, M.D., is a double-board certified fellowship-trained trauma and acute care surgeon who specializes in the care of both critically ill patients and patients with traumatic injuries. He is also a general surgeon experienced in minimally invasive procedures to treat patients with hernias and other complex general surgery issues.

Dr. Mallah has as a strong interest in global surgery and surgical education and serves MUSC as the Director of the Global Surgery Program. He has operated on five continents and traveled to over 55 countries. Not only did this work expose him to pathology and surgical technique not often seen or practiced in the United States, but it also allowed him to gain an understanding about barriers and lack of access to safe surgical and anesthesia care.

Dr. Mallah earned an undergraduate degree in Biology with a Chemistry minor and his medical degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then completed General Surgery Residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC and a Trauma/Surgical Critical Care fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University's Level I Trauma Center in Richmond, VA.

Education
Medical School: MUSC
Residency: University of Virginia
Additional Training: Master of Science, Clinical Research - MUSC