APPHATCHERY - Key Persons


Abigail (Abby) Cox

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
  • Director of the Department of Human Services
Abigail (Abby) Cox is the Director of the Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services (DAS). In this capacity she administers a statewide system of services for older adults, their families and caregivers. She works closely with other aging agencies and organizations to effectively and efficiently respond to the needs of elderly Georgians. DAS meets the challenge of Georgia's growing older population through continued service improvement and innovation. Before beginning her work with DAS, Abby was the Executive Director of the Georgia Gerontology Society (GGS), which is the largest state organization of multidisciplinary professionals in the field of aging. Abby began her career in Gerontology in 2005 with the Georgia Division of Aging Services. She has also worked with Care Improvement Plus as a Medical Social Worker and at the Georgia Council on Aging as an advocate at the State Capitol on behalf of aging issues.

Adrianne Serrano Proeller

Job Titles:
  • Community Health Worker
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
Adrianne Serrano Proeller is a Community Health Worker (CHW) with Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center (PRC) and Community Engagement Coordinator for The Center for Translational Research in Health Disparities at MSM. Her role as a CHW at Morehouse School of Medicine has included community outreach and education on a number of projects, including the REACH Healthy Corner Stores and Safe Routes to School initiatives, as well as the PRC's Community Health Needs and Assets Assessment. She is also the community health worker for the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance, where she works on capacity-building projects for CHWs across the state. Adrianne currently serves as the Georgia Ambassador to the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW). She is a graduate of Loyola University of New Orleans and her background includes 6 years as a senior writer in Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and 8 years as Senior Manager of Corporate Communications for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. She is actively involved in many community-based organizations in SW Atlanta, where she has lived for 10 years.

Alexander Quarshie

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Co - Director, Informatics / Morehouse School
  • Co - Director, KL2 Program / Morehouse School

Alexey Kurbatov

Job Titles:
  • Information Analyst / Research Education
Alexey Kurbatov graduated from the Samara State Aerospace University in 1998 with a MSc Degree in Computer Science. Alexey has served at different levels throughout his career as a software and database developer, system analyst, change management and IT compliance coordinator. In 2008, he joined the Research Education Programs of Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance as the Information Analyst.

Alison Berg

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Professor
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Assistant Professor and Extension Nutrition and Health Specialist
Alison Berg is an Assistant Professor and Extension Nutrition and Health Specialist at the University of Georgia. Dr. Berg is also a registered and licensed dietitian. As the State Extension Nutrition and Health Specialist, she leads educational programming delivered by Extension agents in Georgia in the areas of chronic disease prevention and health maintenance throughout the lifespan. Her current research interests include the effectiveness of Extension programs to improve health behaviors and enhancing research and evaluation capacity among county faculty in Georgia Extension.

Allisen Penn

Job Titles:
  • Associate Dean
  • Co - Director
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
Allisen Penn is the Associate Dean and State Program Leader for Extension and outreach in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences for the University of Georgia. She leads the college to fulfill the land-grant university mission to provide Georgia's residents, businesses, and communities access to quality educational experiences and the institution's knowledge base. Dr. Penn works with leaders of the other UGA colleges and units to successfully apply research to meet the state's priority needs through Extension faculty located in all 159 counties. She also serves as the co-chair of the Georgia Clinical Translational Science Alliance Community Engagement function to address health and wellness needs, particularly in rural and underserved populations, by strengthening and expanding research collaboration with faculty from various disciplines. Dr. Penn has over 30 years of experience in the Land-Grant University Cooperative Extension System. Before accepting her current position on August 1, 2019, Dr. Penn was a regional program leader for the University of Tennessee (UT) Extension with responsibilities for family and consumer sciences and 4-H in 31 counties in middle Tennessee. She began her career with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. D Over a 22-year career, she served as an Extension Agent in four counties; Associate District Director with leadership and administrative responsibilities for Extension agents and programs in the Ouachita District; and as a Leadership Specialist and Associate Professor directing a division-wide faculty leadership program. Dr. Penn received her doctorate in higher education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and holds a master's degree in counseling and a bachelor's degree in home economics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Amber Weber

Job Titles:
  • Program Coordinator
Amber Weber graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. While in Chapel Hill, she worked as a research assistant at the UNC Medical School studying the relationship between mothers and infants during the postpartum period. Additionally, she served as a Care Manager for a locally run clinic to identify necessary treatment resources for patients with chronic illness conditions. Following her undergraduate career, Amber moved to Atlanta to begin the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She worked as a graduate research assistant conducting quantitative and qualitative research in current tobacco control policies and cancer survivorship studies. In 2019, she graduated with an MPH in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education. Amber joined the Georgia CTSA in June 2019 as a Program Coordinator for the Evaluation & Continuous Improvement (ECI) program and Communications.

Amit Shah

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee

Amita Manatunga

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Course Director, Overview of High Dimensional Data / MSCR Thesis Committee

Amy Stehlik

Job Titles:
  • Communications Manager / Emory University
Amy Stehlik earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Ball State University. While continuing her education in the Master of Business Administration program at Georgia State University, she began her career in marketing at S&P Global. She spent the next decade at Thomson Reuters, progressing to a VP of Marketing. During the next 10 years, she worked as the VP of Marketing and Communications for a communications firm with Rollins School of Public Health as a client. Prior to joining the Georgia CTSA as the Communications Manager in February 2019, she served as a strategic marketing consultant to Emory University.

Anandi Sheth

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Co - Director, TL1 Program

Andi L. Shane

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Co - Course Director, Clinical Trial Design

Andrea Sikora

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee

Andrew C. West

Job Titles:
  • Executive Center Administrator / Emory University
Andrew West graduated from Emory University in 1993 with a History major and English minor. After graduation, he began working full-time for Wesley Woods, the geriatric and chronic care wing of Emory Healthcare. During his time with Wesley Woods, Andrew obtained an MBA and MHA from Georgia State University. He then left Wesley Woods to work as a consultant for BDO Seidman, LLP. After two years of consulting, he returned to Emory University to manage finances and research administration for the Department of Pathology. In March 2008, West assumed the Center Administrator, Sr. role of the Georgia CTSA and is currently the Executive Center Administrator.

Andrés J. García

Job Titles:
  • Principal Investigator / Georgia Institute of Technology

Bekeela Davila

Bekeela Davila, MPH Program and Research Manager Pilot Grants bekeela.davila@emory.edu 404-654-0085 Bekeela Davila graduated from the University of Illinois in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism degree. She began her career in 2007 at the University of Illinois as an Office Support Specialist. She then earned a Master of Public Health degree and a Graduate Certificate in Community Health Education from University of Illinois in 2008. In 2010, she worked at the University of Illinois as a Graduate Education Coordinator. She went on to the Arthritis Foundation, National Office in 2012 and served in the role of Information and Referral Coordinator. In 2014, Bekeela joined Emory University as a Senior Public Health Program Associate in the Rollins School of Public Health. She became the Program and Research Manager for the Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute in 2015.

Breanna Blaess

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
Breanna received her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in May 2020 and is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Philosophy in Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Her research interests include epidemiologic methods, prevention and treatment of cancer, and chronic disease treatment disparities. She is currently working as a Graduate Research Assistant with the Georgia CTSA, and T x™ and Kessler projects within the Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center.

Brian Rivers

Job Titles:
  • Director, Integrating Special Populations / Morehouse School

Carlton D. Dampier

Job Titles:
  • Director, Regulatory Knowledge & Support / Emory University

Cathy Ho

Job Titles:
  • Program Coordinator
Cathy Ho graduated from Georgia State University in 2018 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. After graduation, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Winship Cancer Institute in a large non- therapeutic epidemiology cohort study recruiting lymphoma patients. During her time at Winship, she conducted qualitative and quantitative research to determine the unmet needs of cancer patients in order to improve patient survival and their quality of life. In November 2019, Cathy joined the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance as a Program Coordinator.

Chaouki T. Abdallah

Job Titles:
  • Advisor / Georgia Institute of Technology / Executive Vice President for Research

Charles Howard Candler

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Professor of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences Rollins School of Public Healt

Cheryl Sroka

Job Titles:
  • Project Coordinator / Research Education Programs / Emory University
Cheryl Sroka graduated from King's Business College in Raleigh, NC, then attended North Carolina State University and Kennesaw State University. She has worked as a Deputy Clerk of the Wake County Superior Court, legal secretary, life and health insurance agent, and business broker. Before coming to Emory in December 1990, she was in public relations at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Claire E. Sterk

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Member / Emory University

Colleen Kraft

Job Titles:
  • Director, Georgia CTSA Clinical Research Centers ( GCRCs )

Darrell Sabbs

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
  • Community Benefits Coordinator for Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
For over four decades, Darrell Sabbs has served the communities of Southwest Georgia through hard work and determination, driven by the shared belief that "service is the rent we pay for living." From teenagers to the eldest members of society, his focus has remained strong - to recognize the struggles of the underserved and to provide tools to help them ensure a healthier future for themselves and their families. Darrell currently serves as Community Benefits Coordinator for Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital (PPMH) in Albany, Georgia. His work with the hospital includes identifying ways to impact community health, with particular focus on the underserved. He works closely with the hospital's Network of Trust, a national award-winning in-school, interactive outreach program for pregnant and parenting teens in rural Southwest Georgia. Darrell played a key role in developing health initiatives for "Men on the Move," a faith-based partnership of more than 30 institutions designed to help Southwest Georgia men. His work with both underserved men and women led to the creation of two of Phoebe Putney's most successful health events - a Women's Health Fair and a Men's Health Fair. More than 300 individuals attend each event annually. For many, these events empower participants to take control of their lifestyle and well-being. For even more, it is the first time they speak to a physician or nurse face-to-face and learn that they, too, can receive healthcare no matter how poor or underserved they may feel. They leave with tools to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. In 2003, in large part a result of Darrell's commitment, Phoebe Putney was awarded the coveted Foster G. McGaw Prize for excellence in community service.

David Goldsmith

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee

David S. Stephens

Job Titles:
  • Advisor / Emory University / Vice President for Research, Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine

Dawn Comeau

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Mentor Training Director / Emory University / Research Professor & Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health

Debora A. Clem

Job Titles:
  • Administrative Director
  • Program Staff Member
Debora A. Clem Administrative Director Georgia CTSA Clinical Research Centers (GCRCs) / Emory University Emory University Hospital dclem@emory.edu 404-712-1993 Debora Clem earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from North Georgia College in 1985. She began her career as a Science Librarian with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Public Library in Chattanooga, TN before transitioning in 1996 to a Special Librarian position first with the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga and then with Zoo Atlanta in 1998. She began her academic career in 2001, as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Department of Medicine, Renal Division at Emory. She joined the General Clinical Research Center, now Participant & Clinical Interactions (PCI) of the Georgia CTSA, in 2005. She assumed the role of Administrative Director of the PCI in 2011 and completed the requirements to become a Certified Research Administrator in 2013.

Dr. Linda McCauley

Job Titles:
  • Director, Translational Workforce Development / Emory University
  • National Leader
Dr. Linda McCauley began her tenure as Dean of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University in May 2009. Dr. McCauley is a national leader in the area of research on environmental exposures and conducts interdisciplinary research using participatory research models to study pesticide exposures among minority communities. Her work aims to identify culturally appropriate interventions to decrease the impact of environmental and occupational health hazards in vulnerable populations, including workers and young children. Dr. McCauley has been awarded research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Her research has resulted in more than 80 publications, ongoing consultations, leadership on occupational and environmental advisory panels, and testimony to governmental oversight bodies.

Dr. Rakale Collins

Job Titles:
  • Behavioral Scientist
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
Dr. Rakale Collins Quarells is a Behavioral Scientist and an Associate Professor of Community Health and Preventive Medicine at the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and an adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She also served as the Associate Director of the MSM Cardiovascular Research Institute, overseeing population science research. Dr. Quarells also serves as course director for the MSM, Emory, GA Tech, and UGA's joint course titled: Community Engagement and Health Disparities in Clinical and Translational Research.

Dr. Rashad Richey

Job Titles:
  • Community Member
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
  • Board Member at Piedmont Hospital
  • Professor
Dr. Rashad Richey earned his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and MBA from Beulah Heights University, Ph.D. from Scofield Graduate School (Research Focus: Global Affect of Western Religion on Politics, Policy and Government), Doctor of Education from Clark Atlanta University (Research Focus: Federal Policy and Political Analysis of Higher Education Reform) and completed studies in Executive Leadership from Cornell University. Dr. Richey is currently matriculating at Atlanta's John Marshall Law School obtaining his Juris Doctor Degree. Dr. Richey is a noted lecturer, university professor, broadcaster, writer, and entrepreneur. As a political analyst, Dr. Richey was Emmy nominated for his continued work as a television news analyst for CBS 46 News - Atlanta. Nationally, Dr. Richey is a frequent commentator on MSNBC, CNBC, BBC, The Young Turks Network, and the Fox News Channel, where he provides insight and analysis on various political, social and policy-related topics. He is also an award-winning radio personality who was voted "Best Talk Radio Personality in Atlanta" by readers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (first African-American to receive this distinction) and named "Most Trusted Voice in Atlanta" by the Atlanta Business Journal. Beyond his broadcasting acumen, Professor Richey serves as Chief Editor and Sr. Writer for Rolling Out Magazine (largest free-print urban publication in America), with a national readership of 2.8 million and combined social media following of half-a-million. "Ensuring the message is heard" is a frequent Dr. Richey quote. As a lecturer and speaker, his portfolio includes Morehouse School of Medicine, University of West Georgia, Clark Atlanta University, Mercer University, SCLC National Luncheon, Pinnacle Awards and the Atlanta NAACP Jubilee to name a few. An industry influencer and marketplace leader for over 14 years, Dr. Richey is a practitioner and scholar who believes higher education is best achieved when pragmatic educational elements are combined with research and personal character development. Dr. Richey has both research and non-research material published through an array of platforms, including Grin Publishing, CBS, Fox News, Atlanta Business Journal and Rolling Out Magazine. Dr. Richey is a well-known social justice leader and national speaker who is actively involved in policy reformation and addressing the social ills of racial disparity. This work has led to Dr. Richey being recognized by various local and national agencies for his collective work and societal impact, including being honored with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from former United States President Barack Obama. Dr. Richey was also named Top 40 Under Forty Most Influential people in GA by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and one of Atlanta's Most Powerful leaders according to Atlanta Magazine. Believing service is a responsibility we all must share, Dr. Richey is a board member at Piedmont Hospital, Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, and Children's Rights. He is a member of the Atlanta NAACP, National Association of Black Journalists, American Association of University Professors and the Atlanta Press Club.

Dwight Curry Anderson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
Dwight Curry Anderson has worked in the HIV/AIDS advocacy field for twenty years now. Being a former educator for Atlanta Public Schools, that experience garnered Mr. Anderson the ability to relay technical subject manner in a way that clients of HIV services could understand. Mr. Anderson has advocated and lobbied in Georgia and in Washington, DC on behalf of Georgia clients of HIV services. He has also organized conferences, seminars, and educational forums to inform clients of the best ways to improve health disparity outcomes. He has worked with the Ryan White Planning Council, Fulton County Department of Health, and the HIV Jurisdictional Prevention Planning Group for Fulton and DeKalb Counties. This often entailed working as an intermediary between clients and providers. Currently Mr. Anderson is the Patient Navigator at a Ryan White clinic for DeKalb County Board of Health, along with being a facilitator for a support group for HIV Positive individuals through the Fulton County Board of Health. Dwight Curry Anderson holds a Bachelor's Degree in English from Ohio State University, with a minor in Black Studies, and has taken non-degree curriculums in Teacher Certification at the University of West Georgia, and Georgia State University. He has also embarked on numerous trainings in HIV related subjects like testing procedures, counseling and facilitation, and education.

Elizabeth Ofili

Job Titles:
  • Ex Officio )
  • Principal Investigator / Morehouse School

Erena Reese

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
Erena is a graduate from Spelman College where she majored in health science and minored in Spanish. She has been working toward her personal and professional goals in the health science and medicine prevention fields. Through the years she has dedicated efforts in striving for high academic achievement and serving the community. Being adaptable and driven, she aligns her education and experiences for greater opportunities for success. Through experience and travel have taught her that we may impact health and wellness, as well as positive self-image with; healthy food access, strategic products sourcing, and evidence-based preventions.

Eric J. Nehl

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Associate Research Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health

Evonne R Perdue

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
  • Member and Secretary, CE Community Steering Board
Evonne has been a business woman in the greater Atlanta area for many years. Her business ventures include a child care center, print shop and presently a partnership since 1985 in a beauty/ barber salon. Evonne is passionate about volunteering, beginning as a teen working in her neighborhood, church and school. She joined the American Business Women's Association over 30 years ago. She is Director of the "Weight Loss =Equal= Health Gain" Challenge, a community-based nutrition, exercise and life changing program designed to meet the emerging needs in the community, specifically public health and social issues of obesity and unhealthy eating/lifestyle habits from a domestic perspective. Her volunteer experience includes:volunteer facilitator/lead support group instructor at CHHC Overcomer's Ministry; (prepared group meetings weekly and directed class in sharing and going forth in family aide to addicted family member); a past Alternate Atlanta Planning Advisory Board Member for NPU-Z; Thomasville Community Development Corporation Secretary; Thomasville Heights Community Association member; Satcher Community Health Leadership Institute graduate.

Gail McCray

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
Gail McCray serves the Georgia CTSA as part of the training and capacity-building team and as a long term champion of Community Health Workers (CHW). Since 2016, there has been a renewed effort to have CHWs recognized as essential members of the healthcare team. She serves on the statewide Advisory Council and on national committees to advocate for appropriate credentialing of this workforce. Additionally since 2016, she has worked to develop an innovative high school CHW program - and has been working on an online curriculum for this program. Her research interests include cancer prevention and control (especially multiple myeloma), hypertension, bioethics, and health literacy. She also co-teaches a Community Health Course for first-year medical students. Her professional foci are to help develop innovative ways to improve the quality and satisfaction of the patient experience and of the many areas of overall community health promotion.

Gale Newman - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman

Gari Clifford

Job Titles:
  • Director, Informatics / Emory University / Chair, Biomedical Informatics

Georgia CTSA

Job Titles:
  • Program Staff Member

Gianluca Tosini

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Co - Director, TL1 Program / Morehouse School

Guillermo Umpierrez

Job Titles:
  • Site Director, Emory University Hospital Midtown

Harold K. Simon - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman

Henry M. Blumberg

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee

Herman A. Taylor

Job Titles:
  • Advisor
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Professor and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine
Herman Taylor is an endowed professor and director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine, and a nationally recognized cardiologist with broad experience in invasive practice/research. His current research predominantly focuses on preventive cardiology, and his teaching is aimed at building research capacity at minority-serving institutions and enhancing the health of minority communities through research and health activism at the community level. Over the past decade, Taylor held the position of principal investigator and director of the landmark Jackson Heart Study, the largest community-based study of cardiovascular disease among African Americans, funded by National Institute of Health's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. His extensive experience in epidemiological observation has led him to a deeper appreciation of the urgency of community-level intervention as a priority, as well as a keen interest in broadening the diversity of disciplines and scientists focused on the problem of health disparities nationally and globally. A graduate of Princeton University, Taylor earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, trained in internal medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and completed a cardiology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Huronda Smith

Huronda Smith Administrative Lead Georgia Institute of Technology huronda.smith@ibb.gatech.edu Huronda obtained her BA from Spelman College. She is the Grants Administrator Sr. for the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) at Georgia Tech assisting faculty/staff in facilitation of grant submissions, research of funding sources, co-administration of internal competitions and applications management processes, and orchestrating collaborations with internal and external entities. Formerly, Huronda performed as a Financial Analyst ll affiliate for Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). Huronda's accounting and financial background encompasses expertise within the University of Georgia School System, Emory University (SOM), and private and public entities.

Igho Ofotokun - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman

J. Brandon Dixon

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Co - Director, KL2 and TL1 Programs, Georgia Tech / Georgia Institute of Technology / Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

James D Lauderdale

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Co - Director, TL1 Program / University of Georgia / Associate Professor, Department of Cellular Biology, Paul D Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Georgia

Jeff M. Sands

Job Titles:
  • Director, Pilot Grants / Emory University / Professor, Medicine and Physiology / Director, Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Medicin

Jeffrey Lennox

Job Titles:
  • Director, Quality & Efficiency and Trial Innovation Centers / Emory University / Associate Dean, Clinical Research / Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

Jessica A. Alvarez

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee

John J. Hanfelt

Job Titles:
  • Director, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, & Research Design / Emory University / Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

Jon Duke

Job Titles:
  • Co - Director, Informatics

Jordan A. Kempker

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee

Karen A. Lindsley

Job Titles:
  • Manager
Karen Lindsley graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Master of Science in Nursing degree. In 2017, she completed a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Health Systems Administration at Emory University School of Nursing. Lindsley is also certified as a diabetes educator and clinical research coordinator. She has worked in various roles as a diabetes educator for the Mayo Medical Center and the Joslin Diabetes Clinic and as a clinical research nurse and research supervisor at Emory University, School of Medicine, Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes. In June 2018, Lindsley joined the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance as the Manager of the Research Coordinating Center and Regulatory Knowledge & Support (RKS).

Karen Burg

Job Titles:
  • Advisor / University of Georgia / Vice President for Research

Kateisha Oladipo

Job Titles:
  • Program Coordinator
Kateisha Oladipo graduated from the University of Florida in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a concentration in Family Youth and Community Sciences. Prior to her career at Emory, Kateisha worked with several youth and community based non-profit organizations both locally and internationally. Kateisha began her career at Emory in 2014, and later joined the Emory University Georgia CTSA Clinical Research Centers (GCRCs) as Administrative Assistant and CR-Assist Scheduler. In February 2018, Kateisha assumed the role of Program Coordinator for the Emory University GCRCs.

Kim Schmitz

Job Titles:
  • Unit Coordinator of the Clinical
  • Unit Coordinator, Clinical and Translational Research Unit
Kim Schmitz is the Unit Coordinator of the Clinical and Translational Research Unit, also known as the UGA GCRC. In this role, she oversees the activities of the CTRU, including coordinating several studies and providing oversight for recruitment, compliance, and quality improvement activities. She is also part of the GaCTSA Recruitment Center. Kim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular and cellular biology from Humboldt State University and Masters of Science degrees in genetics and epidemiology from the University of Wisconsin. After starting as a clinical research coordinator at the University of Wisconsin Reproductive Endocrinology clinic in 2005, she continued her career in public health research and clinical research at the Naval Medical Center San Diego in 2008, and managed the start-up of the UGA Clinical and Translational Research Unit in 2015.

Kimberly Lawson

Job Titles:
  • Associate Project Director / Morehouse School
Kimberly received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Morgan State University and a Master of Public Health degree from Walden University. She has held various positions as Account Manager and Program Manager in the telecommunication and biotechnology pharmaceutical industries. In 2017, Kimberly joined Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) as a Program Manager for the National Research Mentoring Network. Kimberly currently is an Associate Project Director at MSM overseeing biomedical research projects, controlled studies, implementation, and programming of NIH awarded grant programs.

L. Neicey Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Attorney
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
  • Registered Nurse
L. Neicey Johnson, registered nurse and attorney, is the founder and executive director of VSNS, Inc. (Visions), a Georgia not-for-profit personal service and mentoring organization in metro Atlanta since 2003. Its purpose is to provide an environment where persons are empowered to improve their economic status through education and skills development by simply changing the way they think. Under her leadership, the organization seeks opportunities to ensure its program participants overcome barriers to success with adequate skills, education, and access to available resources; the basis for its corporate existence.

Latrice Rollins

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Assistant Director of Evaluation and Institutional Assessment at Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center
  • Member of the Evaluator
Latrice Rollins is the Assistant Director of Evaluation and Institutional Assessment at Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center. She is a social worker and evaluation generalist. She provides evaluation plan development and management for academic and community-based programs focused on strengthening the research infrastructure of minority institutions, public health workforce development programs, and reducing health disparities in various areas, including behavioral health, sexual health, and chronic disease. Dr. Rollins is also an Instructor in the Morehouse School of Medicine Department of Community Health & Preventive Medicine. Her research focuses on father engagement and fatherhood programs. She is a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leaders cohort. Latrice received a bachelor's in sociology from Spelman College and a master's and doctorate in social work from the University of Georgia.

Lauren James

Job Titles:
  • Associate
  • Program Director
Lauren James graduated from Florida State University (FSU) in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Business Management. After graduation, Lauren moved to Atlanta to work in Hospitality Management and later joined the City of Atlanta's Parks and Recreation department. Lauren joined the Georgia CTSA in May 2019 as a Senior Program Coordinator for Collaboration and Multi-Disciplinary Team Science.

Lilly Immergluck

Job Titles:
  • Co - Director, Pediatrics / Morehouse School

Lou Ann Brown

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Member / Emory University

Matthew Magee

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Co - Course Director, Analytic Methods for Clinical and Translational Research / Emory University / Associate Professor of Hubert Department of Global Health Rollins School of Public Health

Mentor Training Director

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Mentor Training Director / Emory University / Research Professor & Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health

Michael Proctor

Job Titles:
  • Technical Project Manager
Michael Proctor earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunication Management from DeVry University in 2003. Before his Emory career, Michael worked at Georgia Institute of Technology as an IT Professional for the past 15 years. During the last five years, Michael managed all technology related to the Georgia Tech Online Master's programs as a Senior System Engineer. He joined the Georgia CTSA as a Technical Project Manager in February 2021.

Miriam Vos

Job Titles:
  • Director, Pediatrics / Emory University

Morgan Greenleaf

Job Titles:
  • Innovation Catalyst Technical Project Manager
Morgan graduated from the University of Virginia in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Following graduation, Morgan moved to Atlanta to join Cox Communications as a project manager and product manager. Next, Morgan joined Accenture's consulting practice focused on product development for telecom and network clients. Morgan then completed a Master of Science in Product Management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh while developing antibiotic resistance diagnostic tools for low resource microbiology laboratories. Most recently, Morgan was the product manager for mobile apps at Dick's Sporting Goods. In 2020, Morgan is joining the Innovation Catalyst program where he will focus on developing mobile applications.

Mugisha Niyibizi

Job Titles:
  • Senior Research Administration Coordinator / Recruitment Center
Mugisha Niyibizi graduated from The Pennsylvania State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She worked in virology research laboratory to continue research projects she began during her undergraduate years. In 2013, Mugisha moved to Atlanta and started the Master of Public Health program at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She graduated in 2015 with an MPH in Epidemiology and worked for the Emory School of Medicine in the division of Rheumatology as a Public Health Program Associate. Mugisha joined the Georgia CTSA in February 2018 as a Senior Research Administrative Coordinator for the Recruitment Center.

Natalie D. Hernandez

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Member / Morehouse School

Neal Dickert

Job Titles:
  • Director, Recruitment Center / Emory University / Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiology

Nikki Llewellyn

Job Titles:
  • Associate Director, Research Projects
Nikki Llewellyn graduated from Emory University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience and behavioral biology. After graduation, she worked as a Research Coordinator at the Fuqua Center for Late-Life Depression, part of the Department of Psychiatry at Emory. In 2005, she moved on to the University of Cambridge in the U.K, where she coordinated epidemiological research projects at the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC-Norfolk), part of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care. Nikki later returned to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, specializing in social and biological factors affecting mental illness; she graduated in 2015. She returned to Emory in 2016, joining the Evaluation & Continuous Improvement program of Georgia CTSA.

Nikki T. Randall

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
  • Academic Member
Nikki T. Randall was born and raised in Macon Georgia, the youngest of five children born to the Honorable William C. and Lauretta Fults Randall. She attended Bibb County Public Schools and is a graduate of Tennessee State University in Nashville TN, where she received a Bachelors' of Business Administration degree, she also holds a Masters of Public Health from Mercer University School of Medicine. Ms. Randall, a third generation elected official, made history in 1999 by becoming the first African American female to be elected to the Georgia General Assembly from Middle Georgia. She retired from the Georgia General Assembly in December 2016. She currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Community Outreach & Civic Engagement at Navicent Health. Ms. Randall serves on the boards of the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, and Crisis Line Safe House of Middle Georgia. Ms. Randall is a distinguished alumnus of Leadership Macon (1998) & Leadership Georgia (2004). She is also an active member of the Democratic Party of Georgia, Healthcare Businesswomen's Association, Macon Chapter of the LINKS, Incorporated, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Randall is member of the Beulahland Bible Church, where she works with the single's ministry, Beulahland Abroad Ministry, Women of Worship ministry and sings in the Women's choir. When she is not working she enjoys reading, mentoring rising political leaders, and volunteering with senior and youth organizations.

Olga Lucia Jimenez

Job Titles:
  • Community Member
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
  • Patient Navigation Program Manager
Olga Lucia Jimenez is the Patient Navigation Program Manager of the Georgia Breast and Cervical Cancer Program at the Department of Public Health. She currently oversees the implementation Patient Navigation Program statewide. Mrs. Jimenez has over 25 years of experience, working first as Promotora/Community Outreach Worker at Fulton County Health District and then working as a health educator in the breast and cervical cancer field. She has vast experience working with underserved populations, including ethnic minority groups, women with disabilities, and the lesbian population. Before joining the Department of Public Health, Mrs. Jimenez managed the Patient Navigation Program at the American Cancer Society. She provided oversight to a cadre of 11 client navigators (community health workers) located throughout the state of Georgia. These Patient Navigators provide/provided education, support, and assistance to low-income women in getting their breast and cervical cancer screening. In 2009, Mrs. Jimenez served as the President of the Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia Board of Directors. She co-authored Con Amor Aprendemos! and BRIDGES curriculums (both ACS Curriculums). Mrs. Jimenez was responsible for providing training to CHWs and Promotoras and supported them with guidance and leadership regarding implementing the programs. She holds a bachelor's degree in science. She is originally from Colombia and moved to the states in 1985.

Omer T. Inan

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
Omer T. Inan (S'06, M'09, SM'15) received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, in 2004, 2005, and 2009, respectively. He joined ALZA Corporation (A Johnson and Johnson Company) in 2006, where he designed micropower circuits for iontophoretic drug delivery. In 2007, he joined Countryman Associates, Inc., Menlo Park, CA where he was Chief Engineer, involved in designing and developing high-end professional audio circuits and systems. From 2009-2013, he was also a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University. Since 2013, Dr. Inan is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. His research focuses on non-invasive physiologic sensing and modulation for human health and performance, including for chronic disease management, acute musculoskeletal injury recovery, and pediatric care. Dr. Inan is an Associate Editor of the IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Associate Editor for the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference and the IEEE Biomedical and Health Informatics Conference, Invited Member of the IEEE Technical Committee on Translational Engineering for Healthcare Innovation and the IEEE Technical Committee on Cardiopulmonary Systems, and Technical Program Committee Member or Track Chair for several other major international biomedical engineering conferences. He has published more than 125 technical articles in peer-reviewed international journals and conferences, and has six issued patents. Dr. Inan received the Gerald J. Lieberman Fellowship in 2009, the Lockheed Dean's Excellence in Teaching Award in 2016, the Sigma Xi Young Faculty Award in 2017, the IEEE Sensors Early Career Award in 2018, the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award in 2018, and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2018. He was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-American in the discus throw for three consecutive years (2001-2003).

Peter Baltrus

Job Titles:
  • Associate Professor
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Member of the Epidemiologist
Dr. Baltrus is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and a researcher with the National Center for Primary Care in Atlanta, GA. He trained in Social Epidemiology at the University of Michigan, where he received his doctorate. Dr. Baltrus has developed expertise in the use of advanced statistical methods (including multilevel modeling and group based trajectory analysis) and the computer applications necessary for the analysis of the requisite data. Currently, Dr. Baltrus is the project PI for the population project of the Morehouse Emory cardiovascular (MECA) study examining geographic disparities in census tracts in Metro Atlanta with an emphasis on resilience in cardiovascular outcomes among Black adults in Metropolitan Atlanta at both the individual and neighborhood level.

Priscilla E. Pemu

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Advisor )
  • Liaison, Community Clinicians Network
  • Medical Director of the Community Physicians' Network
  • Professor, Department of Medicine
Priscilla E. Pemu is the medical director of the Community Physicians' Network, an academic-community partnership that is recognized by the AHRQ as a Practice Based Research Network. She is engaged in direct patient care, research, undergraduate, graduate, and resident preceptorship and didactic teaching. Her research enquiry is broadly aimed at improving health outcomes of African-American women and other underserved populations. She serves as Principal Investigator (PI) of the Morehouse School of Medicine's R-Center Community Based Research Core; Co-PI of the Health Information Technology Implementation arm of the Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center on health disparities; and Chair of the Research and Education Committee of the Morehouse Choice Accountable Care Organization-Educational System (MCACO-ES), a participant in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Her efforts are designed to improve care and outcomes for patients with chronic disease by addressing the gaps between primary care and population health. The development and testing of patient facing technologies that enhance health literacy and the interaction between patient and primary care provider is aligned with this overall goal. Developing and testing approaches that enhance care coordination to improve chronic disease outcomes also aligns with her goals. She has demonstrated sustained collaboration with institutional, local, and national leaders seeking to facilitate effective translation of research between academic institutions and real world clinical practice.

Priscilla Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Director, Clinical Studies and Operations / Morehouse School

Rachel E. Patzer

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee

Rachel Hardison

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director, Programs / Research Education Programs / Emory University
Rachel Hardison graduated from the University of Virginia in 2002 with a degree in Germanic Languages & Literatures. After spending two years teaching in Germany, Rachel completed a Master of Arts in Foreign Language Pedagogy at the University of Delaware. She taught German at Widener University and the University of South Carolina and then transitioned to working in higher education program administration. She spent seven years in the Study Abroad Office at the University of South Carolina, followed by six years in an institutional relations role with the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), a non-profit study abroad organization. Rachel joined the Research Education Programs staff at the Georgia CTSA as an Assistant Director of Programs in November 2021.

Rakale C. Quarells

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
Dr. Quarells joined MSM in July 2000 following the completion of a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Prevention at the Stanford Prevention Research Center in the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Quarells received her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in personality psychology from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Quarells' primary research focuses on utilizing community engagement to enhance the prevention and self-management of chronic diseases (including cardiovascular diseases and epilepsy) among African Americans.

Rebecca Hardeman

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
  • Coordinator and Director of the University of Georgia Clayton County Extension
Rebecca Hardeman currently serves as the County Extension Coordinator and Director of the University of Georgia Clayton County Extension. In this role, she provides leadership and management to county professionals in three (3) program areas and administrative oversight for program enhancement, resource allocation, and fiscal compliance. With over 20 years of experience educating on topics from personal and professional development to financial literacy, she is a life-long learner always desiring more knowledge. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics and mathematics and a master's degree in higher education administration. Rebecca has served as an educator in many capacities including as a professor, college administrator, and Extension agent. Her philosophy has always been motivating and empowering for job success while continuously encouraging for personal growth.

Rebecca Shelton-Thomas

Job Titles:
  • Nursing Director
Rebecca Thomas graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Nursing. In 2016, she completed a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) specializing in Population and Organizational Systems Leadership from the University of Kentucky. Rebecca has worked across multiple disease sites, both clinically and in research. Her expertise in clinical research spans over a decade and she has over 15 years of experience in critical care nursing. Prior to joining Emory, Rebecca served as the Regional Research Manager for Catholic Health Initiatives. In this role she oversaw operations of numerous research sites across Kentucky. Since becoming a part of the Emory family, Rebecca has served as the Assistant Director of Clinical Research Staff in the Winship Clinical Trials Office where she oversaw research site operations at Emory University Midtown, Grady Memorial, Atlanta VA and the Proton Therapy Center. In January 2018, Rebecca joined the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science as the GCRC Nursing Director. She also works on the Georgia CTSA Translational Workforce Development Project (TWD).

Rowena Elliott

Job Titles:
  • Co - Director
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Member of the Community Steering Board

Sandra Harris-Hooker

Job Titles:
  • Advisor / Morehouse School

Sean Hoer

Job Titles:
  • Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis / Emory University
Sean Hoer received his Bachelor of Arts in English from Temple University and Master of Science in Accounting from the University of North Carolina. After becoming a Certified Public Accountant, Sean worked for five years in EY/Ernst & Young's Assurance Practice. Sean then spent four years, most recently as Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis, at EVO Payments. In that role, he led a team of analysts and performed financial analyses, budgeting, and reporting. In July 2022, Sean joined the Georgia CTSA as the Financial Planning and Analysis Manager.

Sharon Liggett

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Operations Coordinator for the Archway Partnership
Sharon Liggett serves as an Operations Coordinator for the Archway Partnership, a UGA Public Service and Outreach unit created to connect communities with UGA and other resources to address community-identified needs. In her role as Operations Coordinator, Ms. Liggett supervises faculty in communities across Georgia to deliver resources from UGA's various colleges, schools, and departments directly to the communities she serves. The Archway Partnership routinely supports faculty research projects and provides students with experiential learning opportunities on health and wellness issues, as well as numerous other community-identified priorities. In addition to coordinating the delivery of UGA resources, she networks with regional partners, state agencies, USG, TCSG, and private higher education institutions, business/industry, and others to leverage assets and build collaborative community and economic development opportunities.

Sharon Sliggett

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee

Sherry Coleman

Job Titles:
  • Associate Director, Clinical Research Support Services
  • Associate Executive Director, Clinical Trials
Sherry is currently the Associate Director, Clinical Research Support Services - Office for Clinical Research (OCR). With over 30 years' experience in nursing, Sherry retired August 1, 2012 with 25 years of service with the Retirement Systems of Alabama. Prior to joining the OCR, she worked for the Georgia Department of Public Health as Deputy Chief Nurse - state liaison for school nursing practice. Sherry retired from the Alabama State Department of Education as the State School Nurse Consultant, where she served as a liaison and resource expert in school nursing practice working with local school districts and school nurses to promote quality nursing services and school health programs. Prior to her work in school nursing, Sherry worked at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as research nurse coordinator, research nurse manager and ultimately interim director for the Office of Clinical Research. Sherry has served at different levels throughout her career as staff nurse, charge nurse, school nurse, nurse preceptor, clinical research nurse/coordinator, nurse supervisor, clinical instructor, and nurse administrator. She has a very diverse background having worked in many areas such as Medical -Surgical (Pulmonary), OB/GYN (labor and delivery, postpartum) Perinatal (well-baby and continuing care nursery), and Clinical Research (Federal and Non-Federal).

Somanath P.R. Shenoy

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Co - Director, KL2 Program / University of Georgia / Professor, College of Pharmacy University of Georgia / Director of Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics

Suresh S. Ramalingam

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee

Tabia Henry Akintobi

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
  • Director, Community Engagement / Morehouse School
  • Professor of Community Health
Tabia Henry Akintobi, PhD, MPH is Professor of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Director of Evaluation and Institutional Assessment at Morehouse School of Medicine. As Principal Investigator of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center Dr. Henry Akintobi demonstrates leadership in local, national and global community-based participatory approaches and research addressing health disparities. She leads or collaborates in several federal and privately-funded initiatives that model community-driven research, including but not limited to the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance, The Georgia Center for Diabetes Translational Research and the Morehouse School of Medicine/ Tuskegee University / University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center Partnership. Her public health leadership is also evident through appointments to national taskforces designed to shape the science and practice of effective community-based participatory and translational research and collaborations bridging the gaps between basic, clinical and community-based stakeholders to address disparities and advance health equity. Among them include the National Institutes for Health National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Collaboration and Engagement Taskforce Lead Team, designed to advance team science towards becoming a major academic model through more equitable community-academic partnership -from conceptualizing to dissemination. Her research and public health interests in maternal and child health, diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction and HIV/AIDS prevention are guided by training in public health social epidemiology, social marketing and community based participatory research and evaluation.

Tandeca King Gordon

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Academic Leadership Committee
  • Associate Director at Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center
Tandeca King Gordon is Associate Director at Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center. She is an educator by trade and brings over 10 years of teaching experience in the classroom. Overseeing the administrative and programmatic operations, Dr. King Gordon is responsible for assisting the Center in setting policies, defining research programs, and developing strategies to achieve program objectives and goals. She also leads the administrative hub, which provides oversight in communication and dissemination of effective, culturally appropriate health information and research. In addition, she represents the Center on national committees, collaborating across institutions and with community partners.

Theresa R. Jacobs

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
  • Certified Family Medicine Physician
Theresa R. Jacobs is a board certified family medicine physician providing the highest quality comprehensive health care to the uninsured and underserved, at-risk populations at Oakhurst Medical Centers. She serves as the clinician chair for the Georgia Association for Primary Health Care, which is the governing body for Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHC) in Georgia. There are 129 FQHC sites scattered throughout the state, servicing over 300,000 Georgians. Theresa is a scholar who earned an Associate Degree of science in industrial chemistry from Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI; a Bachelors of Science in microbiology from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI; and her Medical of Doctorate Degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine where she served as chief resident for one year. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She and her sister (Crystal Horhn) are the founders of The John and Sally Horhn Foundation (JASH), a non-profit organization that is committed to helping disadvantage children excel academically.

Thomas R. Ziegler

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee
  • Co - Director, TL1 Program / Emory University

Tina Nguyen

Job Titles:
  • Community Member
  • Member of the Community Steering Board
Ms. ‘Tina' Khuyen Nguyen received her Master of Public Health from East Tennessee State University Graduate School of Public Health and Bachelor of Arts from Sewanee: The University of the South. Since 2015, Ms. ‘Tina' Khuyen Nguyen has worked with diverse stakeholders to address the needs of underserved minority communities in Georgia. As a first generation Vietnamese American, Ms. Nguyen is aware of the health disparities and difficulties many Asian Americans and immigrants struggle with. Her work focuses on improving access to healthcare services and promoting preventative health behaviors among the Vietnamese and Asian American communities. During her time as a Program Manager at BPSOS-Atlanta - a nonprofit organization that serves Vietnamese community in Georgia, she successfully attained over $1.8 million dollars from funders such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Healthcare Georgia Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, and Komen Atlanta. Grants from these federal, state, and local foundations allowed Ms. Nguyen and BPSOS-Atlanta to fund and implement programs that provide social services access, domestic violence survivor support, and affordable healthcare access to the community at large. She is an aspiring writer and currently volunteers on the Georgia Clinical & Translation Science Alliance Community Steering Board, DeKalb County Board of Health Emergency Preparedness Medical Reserve Corps, BPSOS-Atlanta Board, and ETSU Prescription Drug Abuse/Misuse Works Group.

Vasiliki Michopoulos

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Research Education Programs Executive Committee

Vin Tangpricha - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman

W. Robert Taylor

Job Titles:
  • Principal Investigator / Emory University / Interim Chair, Emory University Department of Medicine / Director, Division of Cardiology, Emory University Department of Medicine

Wilbur Lam

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Professor
  • Director, Innovation Catalyst / Emory University
  • Member of the Cancer Cell Biology Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute
Wilbur Lam, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University and in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Lam is a member of the Cancer Cell Biology Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute. In 2017, he was inducted into the American Society for Clinical Investigation.