He holds a PhD in epidemiology with a focus on biostatistics and health promotion, education and behavior from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, an MA in sociology and a BS in psychology from Georgia Southern University. Previously, he was a Research Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Department of Medicine with the University of South Carolina, School of Medicine as well as the Director of Research for the Department of Medicine. Simultaneously, he was a Research Associate with the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Dr. Parker has considerable experience in public health practice and research on persons with HIV, other disabilities and persons experiencing homelessness, with this work beginning in 1999.