Amie Brunson

Bio

Dr. Amie Brunson is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at The University of Alabama, where her teaching, practice, and scholarship converge at the intersection of clinical care, community health, and social work education. A Licensed Master Social Worker, she earned her Doctor of Social Work from The University of Alabama and her Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Science in Criminology from the University of South Carolina.

Dr. Brunson’s professional journey spans both the complexity of direct clinical practice and the structural dimensions of systems-level work. Her clinical background encompasses hospice and geriatric care, primary care, pediatric case management, community health, managed care, discharge planning, and caregiver support. She has facilitated caregiver education programs focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, work that reflects her long-standing commitment to those navigating life’s most vulnerable transitions. Prior to academia, she built significant expertise in county government, leading efforts in program planning and development, resource allocation, organizational management, and policy implementation.

Her research centers on health disparities particularly as they intersect with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, hospice care, and palliative care. Dr. Brunson is driven by a commitment to advancing knowledge that improves care for communities disproportionately affected by chronic and end-of-life illness.

Drawing on a multifaceted background in direct practice, organizational leadership, and academia, Dr. Brunson brings an integrated perspective to social work education. Her work bridges classroom instruction with real-world application, preparing students to think critically and practice effectively in complex healthcare and community environments.

Selected Publications

Hopson, L. M., John, D., Brunson, A., Wilkes, S. & Chapman Thomas, C. (2026). Client-centered program evaluation. in C. Franklin (ed.), Encyclopedia of Social Work. New York, NY, online edn, Oxford Academic, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1714

Newman, S.D., Pompay, N, Knol, L, Burton, W, Johnson, P., Scott, L., Brunson, A, Kang, IG, Hudnall, M. (2026). Beyond Biology: Social and Geographic Determinants of Hypertension in Rural Alabama Communities. PLOS Global Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0005835

Hossain, M. D. S., Sahoo, S., Ruggiano, N., & Brunson, A. (2025). Community Perceptions on Dementia-Friendly Infrastructure Needs: A Mixed-Method Study. Innovation in Aging, Volume 9. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.3901

·Ruggiano, N., Sahoo, S., Brashear, A., Nwatu, U., Brunson, A., Noh, H., Cole, H., McKinney, R., Framil Suarez, C. V., Brown, E. L., & Prevost, S. (2025). Evaluating AI-Generated Geriatric Case Studies for Interprofessional Education: A Systematic Analysis Across Five Platforms.  JMIR Medical Education. https://doi.org/10.2196/83085