Dr. Parker received his undergraduate degree in Biology/Chemistry at Augusta College (now known as Augusta State University) and received his Ph D in Endocrinology from the Medical College of Georgia.
He obtained postdoctoral training in Neuroendocrinology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas TX. He has had over 25 years of experience in biomedical research, with emphasis on several aspects of Reproductive Endocrinology.
He is perhaps best known for his studies relating to the endocrinology of the fetoplacental unit in normal and complicated pregnancy and relating to the development and control of adrenal steroidogenesis in the human, particularly formation of adrenal androgens such as DHEA/DHEA sulfate, during development and aging.
He has authored 150 peer-reviewed articles, and has written 23 reviews and book chapters. His knowledge and contributions to the field of Endocrinology led to him being selected to be a member of the Reproductive Endocrinology Study Section of the NIH from its inception first as an unofficial body for almost 2 years, and thence for 4 years thereafter upon its being a chartered committee; he served as the Chairman of the Reproductive Endocrinology Study Section for 2 years.
He was honored by being presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award for the Medical College of Georgia in 1991. Due to his overall understanding of human physiology, Dr. Parker has served on the Institutional Review Board of the University of Alabama at Birmingham for the past 8 years and currently serves as Chairman of the IRB Subcommittee on Noncompliance.
During his academic service at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Dr. Parker has participated in the mentoring of graduate students, medical students, and residents in Obstetrics/Gynecology and postdoctoral fellows in ACOG-recognized training programs in both Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Endocrinology.
He has also recently been added as a potential mentor for the newly approved ACOG training program in the Division of Medical-Surgical Gynecology at UAB. Among several such postdoctoral fellow trainees since joining the faculty at UAB are the following: A.K. Stankovic, MD, PhD, Huabin Li, MD, Ming Jian, MD, S.M. Slayden, MD., and S Dharia, MD.