profiles

PhD: Lower Extremity Development, Departments of Anatomy & Physical Therapy; University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1991 - 1995

MS, PT: Pediatric Neurophysiology and Treatment Paradigms in P.T; Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 1985 - 1988

BS, PT: Entry-Level Physical Therapy; Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore: School of Medicine 1980 - 1983

Margaret L. Alston, PT, PhD is an experienced Pediatric Orthopedic Physical Therapist, Associate Professor, Coordinator of the Pre-Professional Physical Therapy Track since  August 2016, and Director of SCHP’s Annual Summer Anatomy Academy for Careers in Healthcare, beginning 2024.

With 18 years of teaching and administrative experience in professional programs of higher learning, and 33 years of clinical experience primarily in Pediatric Development and Pediatric Orthopedic Physical Therapy.  Dr. Alston enjoys a balance of teaching, advising students, curriculum development, establishing community partners, university committee work, and research in the areas of education, pediatric safety, and clinical interventions.

In December 1995, Dr. Alston earned a PhD in Lower Extremity Development from the University of Iowa. Her dissertation topic was: "A Quantitative Analysis of Greater Tarsal Development." Areas of clinical research interest are: rearfoot imbalances of infants and children, as well as topics on Sleep-Related Infant Death.

PUBLICATIONS:

Alston, M., Thomas, D., Jambulingam, M., Hunt, A., Grover, R., Bronner, L., & Bronner, Y. (2022). Examining the Relationship Between Sleep-Related Infant Deaths and Social Determinants of Health in Urban Communities. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 9(3), 779–785. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021-01016-5

Thomas, D. , Alston, M. , Jambulingam, M. , Hunt, A. , & Bronner, Y. (2022). Social Media Usage for Changes in Health Practices and Health Promotion. American Journal of Public Health Research, 10(2), 53-62.

Alston, M. L., Jambulingam, M., Haidary, U. B., Hunt, A., Thomas, D., & Bronner, Y., (2021). An Illustrative Review of Positional Asphyxiation in Infants Secured Upright in Car Seats. J Pub Health Issue Pract 5(2): 186. doi: https://doi. org/10.33790/jphip1100186

Jambulingam, M. , Alston, M. , Hunt, A. , Thomas, D. , & Bronner, Y. (2021). Insights into Inconsistent Infant Safe Sleep Practices among African American Caregivers. American Journal of Public Health Research, 9(5), 201-206.

Jambulingam, M. , Hunt, A. , Alston, M. , Thomas, D. , & Bronner, Y. (2020). Infant Safe Sleep Interventions in African American Communities. American Journal of Public Health Research, 8(5), 147-153.

“Examining the Relationship Between Sleep-Related Infant Deaths and Social Determinants of Health in Urban Communities” Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 9, pp: 779–785 (2022)

Margaret Alston* & David Thomas & Malliga Jambulingam & Ariel Hunt & Raneitra Grover & Leslie
Bronner & Yvonne Bronner    https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021-01016-5.

“Social Media Usage for Changes in Health Practices and Health Promotion”
American Journal of Public Health Research, Vol. 10, No. 2, 53-62 (2022)
David Thomas*, Margaret Alston, Malliga Jambulingam, Ariel Hunt, Yvonne Bronner
DOI:10.12691/ajphr-10-2-3.

“An Illustrative Review of Positional Asphyxiation in Infants Secured Upright in Car ”
Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices, Article ID: JPHIP-186, Volume 5, pp: 1-6 (2021)
Margaret L. Alston*, Malliga Jambulingam, Uzma Binte Haidary, Ariel Hunt , David Thomas, & Yvonne Bronner   https://doi.org/10.33790/jphip1100186.

“Insights into Inconsistent Infant Safe Sleep Practices among African American Caregivers”
American Journal of Public Health Research, Vol. 9, No. 5, 201-206 (2021)
Malliga Jambulingam*, Margaret Alston, Ariel Hunt, David Thomas, Yvonne Bronner
DOI:10.12691/ajphr-9-5-3.

“Infant Safe Sleep Interventions in African American Communities”
American Journal of Public Health Research, Vol. 8, No. 5, 147-153 (2020)
Malliga Jambulingam*, Ariel Hunt, Margaret Alston, David Thomas, Yvonne Bronner
DOI:10.12691/ajphr-8-5-3.

GRANTS:

May 2025 - Recipient of Morgan State’s Center for Urban Health Equity’s (CHUE) small grant award of $25K to sponsor the 2nd “Annual Summer Anatomy Academy for Careers in Healthcare” (AACH) to enrich academic competence and confidence in mastery of Human Anatomy among eligible rising 11th and 12th grade students.

June 2024  Recipient of Morgan State’s Center for Urban Health Equity’s (CHUE) large grant award of $170K to sponsor the 1st “Annual Summer Anatomy Academy for Careers in Healthcare” (AACH) to enrich academic competence and confidence in mastery of Human Anatomy among eligible rising 11th and 12th grade students

June 2021-Feb 2019  Member of a Morgan State University Group Award of $120K from Maryland’s Child and Maternal Health Dept.: “A Mixed Methods Approach to Reducing Sudden Unexpected Infant Death.”

Feb 2021  “The Impact of Video Education on Proper Use of Car Seats/Strollers in Prevention of Airway Occlusion” Morgan State University: School of Community Health and Policy ($15K - RIP Grant)

March 1994 NIDRR NIH Research Award of $17K for the University of Iowa PhD Project: “A Quantitative Analysis of Greater Tarsal Development”

May 2023        Morgan State Action Project for Careers in Allied Health Professions” Center for Urban Health Equity—$83,876  (Pending) (Morgan State University: School of Community Health and Policy)

June 2021 –Feb 2019       “A Mixed Methods Approach to Reducing Sudden Unexpected Infant Death in Baltimore” Maryland Dept. of Health—$120,000 Safe Sleep Group Project (Morgan State University)

Feb 2021         “The Impact of Video Education on Proper Use of Car Seats/Strollers in Prevention of Airway Occlusion” Morgan State University: School of Community Health and Policy (RIP Grant)