Chad K Radwan | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (original) (raw)

Dissertation & Thesis Research by Chad K Radwan

This dissertation research examines how shared aspects of identity are constructed among the Druz... more This dissertation research examines how shared aspects of identity are constructed among the Druze in Lebanon and how it contributes to conceptualizations of heritage. Assessing the educational resources focused on aspects of Druze heritage, the barriers to cultural preservation were elucidated. Utilizing a number of qualitative research methods, participants’ feedback constructed a narrative that considers what they believe to be at risk for their community. These issues included addressing a perceived knowledge gap wherein the majority of Druze expressed a need to expand the educational resources in their community. Participants defined the kinds of resources and social supports that are lacking and explained how existing texts, lectures, and seminars should be improved, increased, and made more accessible.
This dissertation is a result of ethnographic fieldwork which I conducted throughout 2014. Having lived in the town of Aley, Lebanon, I conducted research interviews with individuals that represented a broad spectrum of society, taking into account women and men of different ages with diverse social, economic, and educational backgrounds. Through participant observation, I shared many of the daily experiences of research participants and observed the Druze in their regular lives, their social gatherings, and at sites of historical significance.
Using a political economic theoretical framework, this research also explored the diversity of ways in which social phenomena are contested among the Druze in Lebanon. While much of the anthropological and social science research on heritage focuses on its material components, utilizing pre-established models that conflate heritage with tangible symbolic expressions, a political economic approach insists that the context of social structures are taken into account. This also lends itself to a conceptualization of heritage as a process by which individuals create meaning in their lives, which are shaped by social contexts such as history and contemporary culture. This research highlights the fact that a priori models that fail to consider both social structures and the fundamental perspectives of participants are based upon ideologies that lack a critical academic lens.
This dissertation demonstrates that while Druze particularism often necessitated a level of conformity and ascription to traditional values, the diversity of individual approaches to shared identity contributed to the plasticity of cultural forms and varieties of self-expression. As well, expanded and improved educational resources that encourage individuals to learn more about their history and the basic tenets of their faith were widely seen as a valued means of ensuring the society’s continuation.

This research study focuses on promoting historical, religious, and cultural knowledge among tran... more This research study focuses on promoting historical, religious, and cultural knowledge among transnational Druze. The Druze are a relatively small, tightly knit religious community from the Middle East who practice endogamy and accept no converts. In the diaspora, Druze have often established their own communities based on their collective ancestral and familial ties and through the establishment of groups such as the American Druze Society. This study works to allow individuals to discuss their Druze identity, identify the community’s social problems, and recommend possible approaches or solutions. My research experience as an insider doing ethnography among fellow Druze has in many cases worked to my favor while studying a group whose religious tenets have been considered secret since their inception a thousand years ago.
The extensive participant observation, combined with a thorough review of Druze history and literature, works to illustrate the unique position of North American Druze and how they have evolved from a small fraternity of immigrants into a growing and close-knit and well organized community. As well, survey responses and semi-structured interviews have given voice to individuals allowing them to explain how they perceive the community and its circumstances. Triangulating these methods I have found that many Druze identify a number of problems that include concerns about the community’s future as well as a general dissatisfaction with their own lack of religious knowledge.

Journal Articles by Chad K Radwan

Druze communities throughout Lebanon utilize culturally influenced strategies to cope with their ... more Druze communities throughout Lebanon utilize culturally influenced strategies to cope with their economic pressures. As a group, their unique political and historical role in Lebanese society has exposed them to a broad spectrum of economic issues similar to those experienced by ethnic and religious minority groups elsewhere. This article discusses a number of economic concerns they face, with a focus on how cultural values, traditions, and practices are employed to navigate optimal outcomes at individual and communal levels. Traditions and practices common to Druzes, such as dissimulation or the strict obligation to protect one another from outside threats, provide examples to analyze Trouillot’s discussion on silences and Chambers’ theories on public and private heritage. This research is primarily based on ethnographic and qualitative fieldwork in Lebanon and, using secondary sources, offers a cross-cultural comparison of disparate economic issues faced by Druzes in Israel in order to identify similarities and difference in cultural coping strategies. Examples of how public images relate to financial opportunities and how these images are brokered by insiders and outsiders provides a nuanced approach to understanding the economic burdens that affect Druzes and the resulting impact on conceptualizations of self, nationality, and shared identity.

As the number of adults aged 65 and older in the US doubles, the need for innovative care solutio... more As the number of adults aged 65 and older in the US doubles, the need for innovative care solutions becomes increasingly paramount. Sensor technology can enable " aging in place " by detecting changes in daily living that indicate onset or progression of conditions including diabetes, depression, and sensory impairment. AlwaysNear is a 24/7 in-home sensor system that monitors the frequency and timing of daily activities (e.g. sitting) and generates notifications when activity levels deviate significantly from individualized baselines. AlwaysNear can increase seniors' independence by enabling caregivers to preempt avoidable health decline.The objectives of this study were to evaluate AlwaysNear's ability to detect 13 activities and to generate timely notifications when activity frequencies or timing change by predetermined amounts. To validate the system's detection capability and notification system, eight contact sensors and one motion sensor were embedded into a Living Lab and 12 notifications (e.g. infrequent refrigerator openings) were programmed into the system. Target activities were performed by researchers and all activities, excluding toileting, were accurately detected by the sensors. Most activity notifications (levels above baseline) were reliably generated, however, inactivity notifications (levels below baseline) did not generate reliably. Recommended system improvements included more sensitive motion sensors and more reliable inactivity notifications. The sensors' detection capabilities, however, already offer a promising mechanism to facilitate seniors' independence. Further, AlwaysNear has the potential to integrate with electronic medical records and homecare services to enhance the current prevention capabilities of geriatric medical practitioners and improve the health and safety of seniors.

Under Review by Chad K Radwan

The Druze are a Gnostic Unitarian religious group whose calling began in Cairo and took root in t... more The Druze are a Gnostic Unitarian religious group whose calling began in Cairo and took root in the Levant. Their millennium-long history continues to shape its members' sense of ethnoreligious particularism and relations with other religious groups in Lebanon. Both the Druze's contemporary heritage narrative and processes of enculturation are associated with basic knowledge of the community's history in the region. A perceived dearth of formal and informal educational resources focused on Druze history has had a negative impact on the community and the resulting knowledge gap has shaped identity politics as the Druze relate to their Lebanese Christian, Sunni, and Shia counterparts. Directed content analysis was used to analyze 91 interviews (i.e. focus groups, oral histories, and semi-structured interviews) providing insight into how research participants conceptualized the role of knowledge of Druze history in relating to their community and in preserving their intangible cultural heritage. The applied anthropological and political economy approaches taken here offer a rich contextualization of the factors that shape contemporary Druze cultural heritage as associated with history and faith. Further, this work seeks to identify the connections among the community's social problems, including exogamy, apathy, relations with other religious groups, and a considerable knowledge gap concerning Druze faith and history. This work contributes to heritage studies, Druze identity, intangible knowledge and living communities and offers new insights about the role of history in shaping attachment to ethnoreligious community identity.

Marriage practices among the Druze are shaped by their belief in reincarnation, their lack of pro... more Marriage practices among the Druze are shaped by their belief in reincarnation, their lack of proselytization, their social obligations, and their socioeconomic status. In Lebanon, a lower economic status can make marriage a financial burden given the common expectation for large weddings, and in some cases, expensive dowries. Marriage includes a significant number of customary steps and these traditions reify the Druze community while satisfying compulsory social obligations. Utilizing the political economy approach, this study illustrates the complex connections among faith, finance, and family and how these different features of the community inform marriage practices such as potential partner choices and courtship. This study is based on a broad range of qualitative interviews and ethnographic data to explore the interconnectivity of popular themes, including reincarnation, employment, and community resources. From participant feedback, these themes among others help to explore how marriage among Lebanese Druze shapes their collective notions of particularism, which can preserve their sense of community.

Other Media by Chad K Radwan

Originally aired 18 August 2017 on bullsradio.org In this episode, our guest, Chad Radwan, will ... more Originally aired 18 August 2017 on bullsradio.org

In this episode, our guest, Chad Radwan, will present on how expanded educational resources focused on Druze history might strengthen collective notions of community and Druze particularism.

Chad Radwan is a recent graduate of the Department of Anthropology at the University of South Florida. As well, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in anthropology at USF in 2006 and his Master’s degree in applied anthropology in 2009. His thesis is titled Assessing Druze Identity and Strategies for Preserving Druze Heritage in North America, and he worked to apply his findings through the oldest Arab-American mutual aid Society. For his dissertation research, Chad traveled to Lebanon in 2014 where he studied how educational resources focused on doctrine and history might strengthen the ethnoreligious Druze community. His dissertation is titled The Sweet Burden: Constructing and Contesting Druze Heritage and Identity in Lebanon and he has presented on his research at a number of Druze conventions, both domestically and internationally, and at academic conferences. Chad’s upcoming article, Economic Adversities and Cultural Coping Strategies: Impacts on Identity Boundaries among Druzes in Lebanon, will be published in the early 2018 issue of Economic Anthropology and he is currently writing an article focusing on the social obligations and financial pressures that shape modern weddings among young Druze. Chad has worked on a variety of research projects in Public Health and in the Information Management Systems Engineering and helped to create and disseminate the largest single health assessment of an older adult population. This research resulted in a paper titled, Villages of Opportunity: Increasing Health and Quality of Life in Older Adults, coauthored with the Dean of the College of Public Health at USF, Donna Petersen, which was awarded the American Public Health Association’s prestigious Erickson Foundation Research Award.

The Druze are a ethnoreligious community that mainly preside in Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Northern Jordan. They practice a strict form of endogamy and neither proselytize nor recognize a method of conversion. Their inner-teachings of their faith are require a knowledge that is passed down among male and female sheikhs, who represent a fraction of the worldwide Druze community, living relatively modest lives ideally devoted to the attainment of spiritual knowledge. Among a number of other factors, the majority of Druze individuals in the countries of origin and in the diaspora have a pronounced gap in their knowledge of their history and the basics of their doctrine. I conducted research to understand how expanded educational resources focused on Druze history and the elementary tenets of the faith might strengthen collective notions of community and Druze particularism. The research identified a number of gaps where formal resources are lacking and how existing seminars, study groups, community events, etc. might be increased, improved, or made more accessible. As well, having conducted 91 qualitative interviews, research informants discussed how a collective belief in reincarnation, shared political interests, and their minority status, shaped their Druze identity and sense of community in Lebanese society, which is often divided along sectarian and confessional lines.

Conference Papers by Chad K Radwan

The unilaterally annexed Golan Heights has largely been marketed as a tourist destination that ap... more The unilaterally annexed Golan Heights has largely been marketed as a tourist destination that appeals to local Israelis and foreign, mainly Jewish tourists. As stated on the Israeli Ministry of Tourism's website, " Some people call this area the Israeli Texas. " Perhaps most essential to the production of this appealing tourist image, is the willingness of the local Druze communities to act as hosts for tourists visiting the region. Druze identity politics are very complicated in relation to the nation of Israel with most Druze not fully accepting Israeli citizenship despite having been annexed in 1981. The economic pressures that shape local Druze townships are further complicated by fellow Druze in Israel proper, who are the only Arab community to serve compulsorily in the Israeli Defense Forces, since 1956.

Alongside its abundance of natural resources, the region is full of scenic trails and ranches spread between Druze villages, offering a psychological revere for Israeli tourists who want to escape their metropolitan homes. Anthropological research has the potential to offer critical insights into the how cultural identity is constructed within Druze communities in this region. Given the politicized identity politics in Israel and the Golan Heights, the anthropologist's ethnic and religious background, as well as national origins, is presumed to influence both etic and emic perspectives when contesting the political climate and the ability to conduct research among the clandestine Druze. In particular, this paper will explore the lens of the native anthropologist and issues of access and reliability when a non-Israeli Druze attempts to study the conditions of the region's tourist economy given the constraints of crossing the nation's borders.

Druze villages in northern Israel are popular tourist destinations and present opportunities for ... more Druze villages in northern Israel are popular tourist destinations and present opportunities for locals to peddle their heritage. The Druze townships represent one of the few acceptable Arab communities for domestic and foreign tourists to experience in the Jewish state. Both the Druze community and the state have advanced tourism by marketing Druze villages as appealing destinations and yet the state has worked to separate the Druze from their Arab identity while the community utilizes silences to separate their private heritage from their public heritage. This paper explores how tourism is mediated and experienced amongst hosts, guests and the state.

The health benefits of physical activity (PA) in the older population have been well established.... more The health benefits of physical activity (PA) in the older population have been well established. However, few older adults are meeting the minimum recommendations for PA. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between self-rated health, quality of life (QOL), and nutritional status, and their association with PA levels of residents of The Villages, FL, an active adult retirement community. Methods: Data for the overall USF Health and The Villages study were collected between January and April 2012 (N=33,199) and represent a comprehensive health assessment of older adults (55+) using a split-ballot design. This study focuses on analysis of participants who completed the quality of life ballot (N=11,102) which included measures of QOL, nutritional habits, and PA. Kendall's tau-b and ordinal logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate the relationship between health, QOL, eating and PA behaviors across age groups. Results: Approximately 5.6% of respondents meet the U.S. D.H.H.S.'s minimum recommendations for PA for older adults. The correlations between health (p<0.001), QOL (p=0.045), and healthy eating behaviors (p<0.001) were positively associated with PA activities; whereas pain (p<0.001), depression (p<0.001), and unhealthy eating behaviors (p=0.014) were negatively associated with PA activities. Results of regression models will also be discussed. Conclusion: The Villages community has been successful by providing numerous PA opportunities for residents. The residents that are utilizing these opportunities are improving their health and well-being. Findings are discussed to include policy and practice implications at The Villages and in other senior communities.

ABSTRACT By 2030, older adults will comprise more than 20% of the US population. This unprecedent... more ABSTRACT By 2030, older adults will comprise more than 20% of the US population. This unprecedented rise in the aging population will be met with a dramatic increase in health care expenditures. To reduce this burden and advance public health's mission to achieve longer, healthier and more productive lives across the lifespan, models of healthy aging must be promoted. In an effort to meet this challenge, USF Health, in partnership with The Villages, a 55 and older active adult retirement community, completed a formative health assessment to understand barriers and facilitators to successful, healthy aging. Specifically, this exploratory study aimed to identify prominent definitions of health; assess perceptions of the importance of good health; and recognize factors perceived to enhance overall quality of life. Fifty nine focus groups, stratified by age, gender, and health status, were conducted between September and December of 2011 with a convenience sample of residents (n=451) in three phases: general inquiry, in-depth exploration of emergent themes, and member validation. Results indicate a shared definition of good health' focused on one's ability to conduct daily activities consistently, while maintaining physical fitness and mental acuity; and reveal an emphasis on health and wellness among residents. Results also suggest the importance of positive community engagement and social support in promoting successful aging. The emergence of key health concerns suggest barriers (i.e. access to services, chronic conditions) and facilitators (i.e. community services and support, social capital) that impact models of healthy aging. Implications of findings for policy and practice are discussed.

Druze villages in northern Israel are popular tourist destinations and present a multitude of opp... more Druze villages in northern Israel are popular tourist destinations and present a multitude of opportunities for locals to display and peddle their heritage to the public. Given Israel's professed national heritage as a Jewish state, the Druze townships represent one of the few acceptable Arab communities for domestic and foreign tourists to experience. With a sample of anthropological and regional literature, this paper explores how tourism is mediated and experienced amongst hosts, guests and the state. Both the Druze community and the state of Israel have worked to advance tourism by marketing Druze villages as appealing tourist destinations. To do this, the state has worked to separate the Druze from their Arab identity while the community itself utilizes silences to separate their private heritage from their apparent public heritage. In particular, Michel-Rolph Trouillot's discussion of silences is expanded upon by showing how it can be actively used by a community as a tool to protect their private heritage and that the practice of religious dissimulation allows that same community to create a new version of what is acceptable for public consumption. As a minority, the Druze community is particularly vulnerable and protective of their heritage. While the influence of tourists, especially those from abroad, should be a cause for concern, the fact that Druze religious knowledge is relegated to the initiated sheikhs coupled with the overarching practice of religious dissimulation means that the community's values may not necessarily be at risk. However, given their relative marginal status, economic opportunities are inadequate while tourism remains the only tenable industry. Moreover, the Druze do not necessarily threaten the establishment of the state since they often lack any organized national sentiments like their Muslim and Christian counterparts and are thus marketed as an amicable religious minority. Thus, the Druze are relegated to an economy of tourism which in which they must open their homes and make available their culture to large numbers of weekend tourists. Yet as hosts, they are not powerless and can greatly control their guests' experiences through the use of various silences and elisions.

My research focuses on promoting cultural literacy among transnational Druze. The Druze are a rel... more My research focuses on promoting cultural literacy among transnational Druze. The Druze are a relatively small tightly knit religious community from the Middle East who practice endogamy and accept no converts. In the diaspora Druze have often established their own communities based on their collective ancestral and familial ties and through the establishment of groups such as the American Druze Society. This study works to allow individuals to discuss their Druze identity, identify the community's social problems, and recommend possible approaches or solutions towards the perceived problems. My current research experience as an insider doing ethnography among fellow Druze has in many cases worked to my favor while studying a group whose religious tenets have been considered secret since their inception nearly a thousand years ago.

Invited Lecture Presentations by Chad K Radwan

Part 1: Discuss my dissertation research in Lebanon. -Part 2: Share a group discussion utilizing ... more Part 1: Discuss my dissertation research in Lebanon. -Part 2: Share a group discussion utilizing 4 selected research questions. -Part 3: In smaller groups, develop responses to the 5 questions found at the bottom of our handout. -Part 4: Share our group responses with other attendees. -Part 5: Discuss the research findings.

This workshop offers attendees the opportunity to explore how our Druze heritage influences our s... more This workshop offers attendees the opportunity to explore how our Druze heritage influences our shared values and shapes our daily lives personally and professionally. Utilizing individual examples, as well as what we'll learn from out TEDTalk speakers, we will discuss the role of cultural identity in shaping our values and perspectives. In specific, attendees will be asked to think critically about how we construct our notions of professionalism, success, and happiness, among other important traits.

Applied anthropology and similar fields of research can offer important ways to understand how so... more Applied anthropology and similar fields of research can offer important ways to understand how social scientists help communities resolve their social problems. Throughout 2014 I conducted an ethnographic study to understand how educational resources focused on our history and faith might strengthen the Druze community. During today’s seminar, we will discuss my recent dissertation research titled, The Sweet Burden: Constructing and Contesting Druze Heritage and Identity in Lebanon (2016). We will then learn some of the basic steps to creating research questions of our own, so that we can better understand how the social sciences are applied to many of the complex issues that ethnic and religious minority groups face in their countries of origin and in diasporas such as the United States.

This workshop will allow participants to discuss and define what culture, identity and heritage m... more This workshop will allow participants to discuss and define what culture, identity and heritage mean to them. As individuals, we understand that culture is shared and we are aware of its effects on our daily lives. In academia, those who study culture often advocate the position that society and the individual are contrasting facets that mutually constitute our perceptions of heritage. In recognizing this relationship, we can understand how Druze heritage can be a powerful and positive influence on our values, social bonds, common symbols, and our individual identity. This workshop will involve activities while participation and interaction is encouraged.

This workshop will include three interconnected parts: a brief presentation defining oral histori... more This workshop will include three interconnected parts: a brief presentation defining oral histories, examples of oral histories, and an exercise implementing some of the techniques that I plan to review. Simply put, an oral history is an interview method employed in the social sciences, and related fields, that uses open-ended and semi-structured interviews to record an individual’s stories. The theme of this workshop will be preserving the stories of our parents and grandparents. We will briefly cover methods for creating good interview questions that facilitate rich narratives and in-depth stories. A number of audio (and perhaps visual) examples of oral histories will be shared to articulate how relevant topics are selected for particular oral histories. Participants will then be given the chance to conduct a brief oral history of their own by selecting among a number of provided questions to interview another attendee. Finally, a few minutes will be reserved at the end to share a few examples of selected responses. Generally speaking, oral history interviews can lend voice to individuals and offer opportunities to discuss personal approaches to shared identity, identify the community’s social problems, and recommend possible remedial approaches or solutions. Collectively, oral histories lend themselves to illustrating the unique position of North American Druze and how they have evolved from a small fraternity of immigrants into a growing, close-knit, and well organized community.

Originally aired 18 August 2017 on bullsradio.org In this episode, our guest, Chad Radwan, will ... more Originally aired 18 August 2017 on bullsradio.org

In this episode, our guest, Chad Radwan, will present on how expanded educational resources focused on Druze history might strengthen collective notions of community and Druze particularism.

What is Ambient Intelligence (AmI)? AmI is aimed at empowering people’s capabilities by means of ... more What is Ambient Intelligence (AmI)? AmI is aimed at empowering people’s capabilities by means of digital environments that are sensitive, adaptive, and responsive to human needs, habits, gestures, and emotions (Acompora et al. 2013).

AmIapplications in healthcare:
• Fall (risk) detection
• Medication reminders
• Detect problems with basic activities of daily living (ADL) such as grooming or eating
• Early warning of medical conditions
• Rapidly connect patients with caregivers

Research goals: Design, develop and implement AmI based solutions for senior healthcare management to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs and caregiver burden. and allow seniors to age in
place in a comfortable and safe environment.

State of Senior Health in the US: • Early detection of onset or progression of chronic conditions... more State of Senior Health in the US:
• Early detection of onset or progression of chronic conditions among the rapidly increasing population of older adults can prevent costly health complications, decrease caregiver burden, and increase seniors’ independence.
• Changes in activities of daily living (ADLs) can indicate chronic conditions including diabetes, depression, and sensory impairment.

Purpose:
The objective of this study was to evaluate Always Near’s ability to detect target ADLs and to generate timely notifications when ADLs deviate from baseline levels.

Objectives: The literature has documented the benefit of strong social networks to improved healt... more Objectives: The literature has documented the benefit of strong social networks to improved health status, especially in late life.

Methods: Key stakeholders from The Villages and the USF guided the iterative formative assessment process. Focus groups were conducted in a convenience sample of elderly residents (≥ 55yrs) stratified by gender, age, and health status. Groups were conducted using a three phase process. NVivo9 was used to identify salient themes.

Results:Fifty-nine groups (n=451) were convened between October and January 2012. Residents shared relationships between social cohesion and mental, physical, and spiritual health. Additionally, their community encourages interaction with neighbors, development of friendships, referrals from fellow Villagers, and stewardship of neighbors.

Conclusion: Implications of the findings will be discussed in terms of the practice of public health for an aging population and contribute to healthy aging.

What is Ambient Intelligence (AmI)? “AmI is aimed at empowering people’s capabilities by means of... more What is Ambient Intelligence (AmI)? “AmI is aimed at empowering people’s capabilities by means of digital environments that are sensitive, adaptive, and responsive to human needs, habits, gestures, and emotions” (Acompora et al. 2013).

State of senior health in the US:
• By 2030 more than 20-percent of US residents will be over the age of 65 and by 2050 the population of seniors will double from 2012 resulting in almost 84-million seniors.
• Health implications of aging
o Increased burden of chronic illness (Dementia, depression…)
o Limitations of ADL
o Increased health care spending
o Burden on family caregivers
• Older adults have a preference to live independently and 91% of seniors are living in resident homes either
independently or with a caregiver

AlwaysNear System:
• Wireless sensors offering comprehensive, 24/7 monitoring of daily living activities
• Detection of abnormal activities signifying health decline
• Generating notifications or alerts
• Case management system – Visiting angels, family caregivers, & emergency healthcare response

Introduction: •Circumstances of aging predispose many older adults to depression, loneliness, and... more Introduction:
•Circumstances of aging predispose many older adults to depression, loneliness, and social isolation.
•For seniors, poor socioemotional health is also associated with increased mortality, decrease in cognitive function, and poor quality of life.
•Due to the subtle onset of these changes, home sensing presents an opportunity to detect loneliness and social isolation before adverse health events occur.

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, Oct 6, 2022

JMIR Research Protocols, Jul 13, 2021

To report the relationship of vegetation structure and environmental gradient and physiochemical ... more To report the relationship of vegetation structure and environmental gradient and physiochemical properties of soil at Nikyal valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Methods: A survey of natural vegetation and soil of Nikyal valley was undertaken. Phytosociological survey was conducted by using Braun-Blanquet's approach. The study also investigated the vegetation structure and its relationship with altitude and edaphic factors. The floristic data was analyzed by cluster anlaysis, detrended correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis using CANACOO 5.0. Results: A total of 110 plant species and 13 stands were merged into five major associations as dema rcated by cluster analysis and detrended correspondence analysis. The associations were Olea-Pinus-Themeda association, Myrsine-Rhus-Quercus association, Quercus-Rubus-Pinus association and Quercus association. Soil organic matter, saturation, pH and altitude play the major role in distribution of species. Conclusions: The variation in vegetation structure is controlled by the altitudinal gradient and physiochemical properties of soil. These results indicate a deteriorated forest structure and reduced regeneration pattern, demanding immediate attention of forest management authorities.

Rehabilitation Psychology, Nov 1, 2022

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2019

Objective: Veterans with TBI (VTBI) often require an individually planned and coordinated approac... more Objective: Veterans with TBI (VTBI) often require an individually planned and coordinated approach to facilitate access to community support services.1-8 Resource facilitation (RF) is an evidenced-based model of service delivery that proactively bridges community support services following acute care or rehabilitation. The long-term goal of this program of research is to demonstrate the utility of coalition building to facilitate VA partnerships with communities and implement RF. This goal extends current Veterans Affairs (VA) care coordination activities by developing partnerships with non-VA, community-based services (Brain Injury Association of Florida (BIAF) RF program). The short-term goal is to identify key challenges, barriers, and solutions associated with coalition building processes that facilitate RF partnership. Design: One-year, descriptive, concurrent, mixed-method pilot study. Setting: Online and Community-based Coalition meetings, Tampa Bay Area, Florida. Participants (or Animals, Specimens, Cadavers): VA Leadership planning team and 18 Coalition members (two to three individuals from each of six stakeholder groups (VTBI; Veterans' Families; RF Providers from BIAF; Resource Facilitation Leaders from Indiana; VA Clinical Staff and Military Liaisons from the Tampa Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center). Interventions: N/A. Main Outcome Measure(s): Outcomes of Coalition Early Formation facilitators, challenges, and strategies for overcoming challenges (e.g., membership, mission, vision, goals and processes) via interviews. Reaching consensus on mission, vision, goals (for increasing Veteran access for RF), processes. Survey measures include the Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory and the Coalition Effectiveness Inventory. Results: Coalition has formed and includes 18 members from several stakeholder groups. Preliminary analysis indicates high levels of internal coalition functioning. Conclusions: Preliminary data suggest thatcoalition building can be used as a novel implementation strategy to cultivate relationships and build coalitions to promote Veteran access and referral to needed community reintegration services (RF).

Rehabilitation Psychology

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal

Economic Anthropology, 2018

Druze communities throughout Lebanon utilize culturally influenced strategies to cope with their ... more Druze communities throughout Lebanon utilize culturally influenced strategies to cope with their economic pressures. As a group, their unique political and historical role in Lebanese society has exposed them to a broad spectrum of economic issues similar to those experienced by ethnic and religious minority groups elsewhere. This article discusses a number of economic concerns they face, with a focus on how cultural values, traditions, and practices are employed to navigate optimal outcomes at individual and communal levels. Traditions and practices common to Druzes, such as dissimulation or the strict obligation to protect one another from outside threats, provide examples to analyze Trouillot's discussion on silences and Chambers's theories on public and private heritage. This research is primarily based on ethnographic and qualitative fieldwork in Lebanon and, using secondary sources, offers a crossâ€ cultural comparison of disparate economic issues faced by Druzes in Israel to identify similarities and differences in cultural coping strategies. Examples of how public images relate to financial opportunities and how these images are brokered by insiders and outsiders provide a nuanced approach to understanding the economic burdens that affect Druzes and the resulting impact on conceptualizations of self, nationality, and shared identity.

Foremost, I would like to thank my parents, Wafaa and Kassem Radwan, and acknowledge their suppor... more Foremost, I would like to thank my parents, Wafaa and Kassem Radwan, and acknowledge their support throughout the duration of this research project and these past three years of graduate school. I would also like to recognize the significant encouragement I received from my aunts, uncles and cousins. Specifically, I would like to thank Labiba and Khalil Harfouch for helping me to develop an internship with the American Druze Society's Michigan chapter and for hosting me during my six week stay last summer. Thanks to Drs. John Napora, Kevin Yelvington and Susan Greenbaum. As my graduate committee, they have provided me with meticulous feedback and critical advice, and I greatly admire and respect their work. I would also like to thank the department of anthropology at the University of South Florida. It has been my privilege to be a part of a great department with a truly remarkable faculty, staff and student body. In addition, the Druze communities throughout the United States and Canada have my sincere gratitude. Thank you for taking the time to complete my relatively extensive survey and for volunteering for interviews. Thanks to all the authors whose literature I reviewed; their works have provided me with knowledge of Druze history and tradition essential to this study. Finally, thanks to the American Druze Society's leadership and volunteers for their encouragement and willingness to engage my research. In specific I would like to mention Donna Chehayeb, Carolina Masri, Dr. Wafaa Shaban and Dr. Hatem Sleem. I look forward to volunteering my efforts and supporting the American Druze Society's important work in the community.