Black Americans and residents of the Southeastern United States are known to be at increased risk of stroke. Dr. Suzanne E. Judd, associate professor in the department of biostatistics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health– along with department colleague Dr. George Howard, professor, Dr. Orlando M. Gutiérrez, assistant professor in the School of Medicine, Dr. Virginia J. Howard, professor in the department of epidemiology, Dr. Julie L. Locher, associate professor in the department of health care organization and policy, and Dr. James M. Shikany, professor in the department of preventive medicine – investigated diet as one of many potential factors that might explain racial and regional disparities.