Robert E. Powers, M.Div., Ph.D., received the first dual faculty appointment in the College of Health Sciences & Professions as an associate professor of both the Nursing and Physical Therapy departments. Dr. Powers also serves as the CHSP director of research. He is a graduate of Wofford College (Bachelor or Science in chemistry), Candler School of Theology at Emory University (Master’s of Divinity (honors)), and The Medical University of South Carolina (Doctoral degree in biochemistry and biostatistics) studying regulation of smooth muscle contractility in the male reproductive system. He did postdoctoral work in neurotransmitter regulation of smooth muscle contractility at Harvard Medical School, and stayed on the faculty in the department of surgery to continue research on experiment models of acute pancreatitis at Beth Israel Hospital at Harvard. Supported by a 5-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to continue studies on the pathology of acute pancreatitis, Dr. Powers served on the faculties of The University of South Carolina School of Medicine and then at Yale College of Medicine. He came to UNG in August, 2016. His research interest is in clinical decision making.