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Kohei Akiba is a Research Coordinator working on tobacco cessation and vaccine confidence projects. He received a B.A. in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Delaware, where he also minored in Africana Studies. Before joining PHMC, Kohei worked on various environmental policy analysis projects at the Institute for Public Administration. When he's not at work, Kohei helps teach the drumline at Unionville High School. He enjoys watching basketball, playing video games, and petting cats.
Lola Al-uqdah is the Director of Community Research Engagement working on incorporating equity into R&E Group's policies and procedures as well as R&E Group's research and evaluation practices. Lola earned a PhD in Health Policy from the University of the Sciences and a MS in Educational Psychology from Temple. Prior to joining R&E Group, she worked at the Philadelphia Department of Health and The Philadelphia VA where the focus of her research was on improving the health of poor and minority communities by reducing disparities and identifying evidenced-based solutions. Lola currently mentors youth in her community. She loves to make tea, cook, dance, travel and spend time with family and friends.
Hiba Ansar is a Project Manager working on a variety of research projects, including the PADOH statewide tobacco control project and those related to connecting survivors of human trafficking to community resources. With a background in medical anthropology, Hiba is primarily trained in qualitative research methods and analysis. Before coming to PHMC, Hiba worked for several organizations across the city of Philadelphia, conducting on-the-ground trauma-informed reproductive justice work. She has also organized pop-up health clinics in the city. She received her MA from The Ohio State University and her BA from Temple University. Her Master’s research critically assessed global maternal health interventions in parts of South Asia. Outside from work, you can find her playing her guitar, singing songs, and sipping on tea!
Madison Beehler is a Senior Project Manager working on a variety of projects including statewide tobacco control, behavioral health, and food access initiatives. Madison earned her MPH from Boston University School of Public Health and her BS in Environmental Science from Dickinson College. Prior to joining the R&E Group at PHMC, she worked for six years on food access and youth empowerment initiatives in Boston, MA. Outside of work, Madison can be found running on the beautiful trails near her hometown in southern Chester County, sewing her own clothes, and hanging out with her family.
Daljinder "DJ" Bhangoo is a Research Assistant working primarily on statewide tobacco control in addition to a number of other projects. Prior to PHMC, DJ completed her Master's in Public Health from Thomas Jefferson University with a focus on Public Health Analytics and a BS in Biology from North Carolina State University. When she is not at work, she enjoys discussing complex themes in the pop culture landscape, dissecting musical lyrics, and most shades of purple.
Brook Burkley is a Senior Project Director responsible for leading projects related to medication assisted treatment in drug courts and other substance use evaluations. Before joining PHMC, she worked as a Program Coordinator for the Treatment Research Institute, where she worked on substance use research projects and evaluations. Brook received her B.A. in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma and her M.S.W from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. When she isn't at work, Brook is busy cheering on the Oklahoma Sooners and hanging with her cats.
Chinenye Chukwu, MPH is a Project Manager with the Research & Evaluation Group at PHMC. Ms. Chukwu works on evaluation projects related to tobacco cessation and lung health. Prior to joining PHMC, Ms. Chukwu worked in medical affairs, supporting evidence generation for pharmaceutical companies. She received her MPH from New York University and her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
Christina Collins is an Evaluation Specialist working on projects relating to substance misuse & recovery, tobacco prevention and cessation, reproductive health & HIV prevention, adolescent health, nutrition and wellness, and human-trafficking. She is interested in diversity and inclusion, health equity, public policy, and program evaluation. Christina attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania where she received her B.S in Human Services and a master's degree from Drexel University in Public Health. Outside of work Christina enjoys volunteering for community building initiatives, writing, attending music festivals, tending to her plants, and frequents art galleries.
Marcos Cotto is the Operations Manager for R&E Group. Marcos serves as a department leader ensuring and improving R&E's operational performance and efficiency. He is also responsible for developing, overseeing, and implementing operational strategies to support processes ranging from contract execution to staff engagement. Marcos earned an MPH from Drexel University and a BS in Early Childhood Education from Eastern University. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, listening to music, exploring Puerto Rico, and watching the E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!
Karen Dugosh is is the Director of Research in the Research & Evaluation Group. She oversees a portfolio of research trials and systematic evaluations of interventions for people who have substance use disorders. Much of her current work involves clinical trials related to the treatment of opioid use disorder and quasi-experimental studies examining effects of medical marijuana on biopsychosocial outcomes within different patient populations. Karen received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Gettysburg College and graduate degrees in Experimental Psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Outside of PHMC, Karen enjoys traveling with her family, cooking, reading, and hiking.
Kelly Feighan is a Research Scientist who directs the Division of Teaching and Learning, a unit within the R&E Group that evolved out of Research for Better Schools and specializes in producing independent, actionable research related to schools and lifelong education. She is a sociologist with expertise in educational evaluation design and implementation, grant writing, and data analysis. Kelly’s advanced degrees in sociology include a PhD in from Temple University and an MA from the University of Maryland at College Park. Over the past two decades, she has conducted more than 100 educational evaluations as well as qualitative and ethnographic research, randomized controlled trials, and analyses of large-scale Census data. Kelly is active in several professional associations; she served on the board of the Eastern Evaluation Research Society for several years and volunteers for organizations in her community that support older adults. Sadly, her SG guitar collects dust more than she'd care to admit.
Madeline Garber is an Interviewer working on projects related to substance use treatment centers for women and children as well as evaluations related to promary and behavioral healthcare. Maddy earned a BA in Public Health from Muhlenberg College. In her free time, she enjoys running/working out, cooking, and spending time with her two cats and dog.
Gabriella Grimaldi is a Senior Project Manager engaged in projects relating to tobacco prevention and cessation, sexual health, and technology in public health. She received her MPH from Drexel University and a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience from Temple University. Some of her areas of interest in research include environmental health, human behavior, and infectious disease. In her free time, Gabriella enjoys trail running, discovering new music, and reading memoirs.
Gabrielle Grode is a Senior Project Director responsible for leading projects related to maternal and child health and emergency preparedness. Gabrielle enjoys the process of lifting up clients' work and helping them tell their stories. Prior to joining PHMC, Gabrielle worked at Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, studying nutrition and physical activity at child care centers. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University and an M.P.H. from Temple University, with a certificate in Geographic Information Systems from the University of New Haven. Outside of work, Gabrielle can be found completing 1,000 piece puzzles, taking hikes, dragon boating, and spending time with her family.
Kate Hemady (née Bamberger) is a Research Scientist focusing on family strengthening and child well-being. She works to prevent families’ involvement in the child welfare system, prevent children’s removal from the home, and improve child welfare experiences by supporting programming inside of and adjacent to the child welfare system. Kate is interested in achieving public health impact by embedding programs in families’ lives through integration into familiar service delivery venues such as pediatric primary care. Her work includes rigorous outcomes evaluation, quality improvement, coalition support, and technical assistance based in implementation science. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University and was an NIH-funded pre-doctoral fellow at the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center. Ever a creative systems thinker, Kate is an artist and mom who spends her free time restoring a native ecosystem in her backyard and maintaining a home orchard and vegetable garden with her husband.
Adina Hill is a Research Coordinator on several projects about STIs, community health workers, and community partnerships to address health disparities. Adina received a BA from New York University in Trauma Informed Health Policy Design. In the past, she participated in research on period poverty among refugees, developmental social psychology, and spatiotemporal analysis. On the weekends, you can find Adina painting, drawing, and making music!
Rachel Hough is a Research Coordinator engaged in projects related to substance use disorders, mental healthcare, and nutrition. Before joining PHMC, she received her MSc in Human Geography from the University of Amsterdam and her BA in Sociology and Spanish from Temple University. Her professional interests include geography, nutrition, and migrant populations. Outside the office, Rachel enjoys biking around the city, trying out new recipes, and moderating her local Buy Nothing group.
Andrew Jones is a Senior Project Manager leading nationwide, regional, and statewide evaluations related to lung health, asthma awareness, vaccine confidence, maternal and child health, and cultural competence among behavioral healthcare providers. He recently worked on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey, the most comprehensive health survey in the region and the largest sample from a concentrated local population in the country. He earned his Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Villanova University, and a B.A. in American Studies and History from the University of Richmond. He enjoys playing bass, collecting and talking about watches, and rooting for his hometown Houston Astros.
Sukanya Kansara is a Research Coordinator working on a variety of projects relating to smoking cessation, and asthma. She earned both her B.S. in Health Science and MPH from Hofstra University in Long Island, New York and was especially interested in environmental justice health issues. Outside of work, Sukanya enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, walking and reading.
Jennifer Keith is the Managing Director of the Research & Evaluation Group, working on development, implementation, and coordination of evaluation activities across a variety of programs. Jen enjoys working with R&E Group’s diverse set of partners to collect and use data with a focus on maximizing impact and value. Prior to joining PHMC, Jen was a Peace Corps volunteer in central Asia. She earned a B.A. in Sociology at the College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State) and an M.P.H. from the University of Michigan. Jen loves to travel and laugh with her kids.
Jaime Kishpaugh (née Metzger) is a Project Manager applying mixed methods to evaluate interventions and partnerships that seek to improve people’s social determinants of health. They anticipate graduating in 2024 with their Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as a Fellow in the Addiction & Overdose focus area. R&E projects that Jaime co-leads include a randomized controlled trial of an innovative family-level substance use intervention and a statewide LGBTQ+ health needs assessment conducted every two years. For fun, Jaime loves to play games with friends, bake, and explore new & familiar places alike.
Gary Klein is a Senior Data Analyst, engaged in projects involving specialized programming to clean, merge, aggregate, and analyze data. Gary analyzes population-level census and vital data and sampled health survey data, incorporating a variety of statistical techniques. Prior to joining PHMC, Gary taught statistics and sociology classes at various universities across the Philadelphia area and, more recently, night classes at Jefferson University. Gary has earned degrees in Sociology, which include a B.A. from Gettysburg College, an M.A. from Temple University, and a Ph.D. from Temple University, conducting research in South Africa for the latter degree.
Gary's passion for analyzing various types of health data with creative SPSS syntax and appropriate statistical techniques has not waned after 35 years at PHMC! In his spare time, Gary still enjoys running, but after qualifying for the Boston Marathon at age 49 he no longer competes due to arthritic hips and surgery that he had on them in India. Gary’s new recreational passion is boxing, where he competes (and occasionally wins) while remaining an eager and humble student of professors of the “sweet science” -- local, gritty Philly boxers!
Archana Bodas LaPollo is the Director of Evaluation, responsible for providing strategic leadership related to R&E Group’s evaluation practices. In addition, Archana oversees projects specifically related to HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, substance use and recovery, and adolescent health. Archana earned a B.A. in French and Political Science from Rutgers University, Rutgers College and an M.P.H. from Boston University School of Public Health. She is also currently pursuing a doctorate in public health at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. When she’s not working, Archana loves spending time with her husband and two children, and dog, Pineapple.
Amirah Lewis is a Research Coordinator primarily working on a teen sexual health study. Amirah graduated from University of Hartford with a BA in International Studies with a concentration in Cultural Globalization. Prior to working at PHMC, she interned at a nonprofit that specialized in youth serving systems that prepared young people for future employment. Outside of PHMC, Amirah enjoys learning about wellness and self-care.
Brielle LoBello is a Research Assistant working on several lung health projects including vaping/tobacco prevention and cessation. She attended The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) to receive her B.S. in Public Health with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She also received her MPH, specializing in Epidemiology and Health Analytics, from TCNJ. Prior to this role, Brielle worked closely with diabetes programming and nutrition policy efforts at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. In her free time, you can find Brielle playing with her dogs, enjoying live music and theatre, or playing her viola and guitar.
Meghan Love is the Product Director for the Treatment Research Solutions team and is responsible for providing day to day oversight for the development and delivery of new products and services. This includes overseeing the distribution and support of software for treatment programs and problem-solving courts, and developing and implementing training programs. Prior to PHMC, Meghan led the successful development and implementation of products, solutions dissemination, and licensing initiative for 9 years at the Treatment Research Institute. Over the past 27 years, she has managed a variety of research projects in the field of substance use and mental health, including managing the Drug Evaluation Network System (DENS) project between 1998 and 2004. Meghan graduated with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University. Besides cheering on the Nittany Lions, she spends her free time on the sidelines watching her sons play soccer, walking her rescue dog Sugar, or in a yoga studio.
Esther Min is a Project Manager involved in substance use projects. Before joining PHMC, she worked on an evaluation of medication assisted treatment in drug courts at the Treatment Research Institute. Esther received her B.A. in psychology and law and society, with minors in politics and philosophy, from Oberlin College. She spends much of her free time being ordered around by her demanding avian baby.
Sophie Mitchell is a Research Coordinator focused on opioid use disorder and harm reduction research. They received a BA in Philosophy from Bryn Mawr College where they worked at the Quantitative Center teaching computer science. Before joining the R&E Group at PHMC, Sophie worked as a literacy teacher and as an early childhood educator. In their free time, Sophie enjoys caring for their bonsai, trying new varietals of coffee, and tackling the New York Times crossword puzzle.
Nana Nimako is a Research Coordinator evaluating projects related to sexual health and substance abuse recovery. She is interested in women’s reproductive health, health inequity, as well as program design and evaluation. Nana attended Washington University in St. Louis where she received a B.A. in Anthropology: Global Health and Environment. Outside of work, Nana enjoys writing, baking, and shopping unnecessarily.
Roo Parkhe is a Research Coordinator working on projects relating to tobacco control and prevention. Roo received a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies from Temple University. They are interested in harm reduction and community organizing, and enjoy analyzing LGBTQ+ pop culture and meticulously curating Spotify playlists.
Sneha Patel is a Research Coordinator working on a variety of projects regarding nutrition and sexual health. Sneha earned her BA in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining R&E Group, Sneha was a Community Assistant at Bloomsburg University. Outside of work, Sneha enjoys reading, going on walks, watching movies, and learning about East Asian history!
Darion Porter is a Project Coordinator supporting projects related to education, tobacco cessation, and nutrition. Darion is interested in mixed methods research and he enjoys using tools like GIS to help visualize data in new ways and make it more accessible to people. He is also a Team Lead at PolicyMap, Inc. based in Philadelphia, PA. He earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Temple University, and prior to joining the PHMC team he was a GIS intern at the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation. When not at work, he likes to read, play videogames, snowboard, and tinker with things.
Justin Powell is an Interviewer on projects related to sexual health education and substance use. Previous to joining R&E Group, Justin worked at PHMC for both The Bridge & The Care Clinic, where his focuses were juvenile substance use treatment and Hepatitis C outreach. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in English & Film Studies. An avid film fan, when not at the movies, Justin likes to spend time traveling, reading, and seeking new experiences.
Megan Richardson is a Senior Project Director with expertise in STEM education, early childhood and K-16 interventions, teacher and principal preparation, teacher induction support, professional development studies, and higher education policy. She completed her BA at the University of Pennsylvania and her MA in Sociology & Education at Columbia University. As a member of R&E Group's Division of Education (formerly Research for Better Schools), Megan designs complex quasi-experimental and randomized controlled trial evaluations for clients across the educational spectrum. She participates in “green school” initiatives aimed at building healthier and more environmentally conscious school communities and works with state departments of education to obtain hard-to-track longitudinal information about novice teachers. Megan is an avid amateur genealogist and a ninth generation Philadelphian.
Alia Salam is a Research Coordinator engaged in projects related to cancer screening and perceptions, opioid use disorder, and tobacco-related disparities. She earned her M.P.H. from Thomas Jefferson University and her bachelor’s degree from Temple University, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Psychology. Prior to joining the R&E Group, Alia lived near the Syrian-Lebanese border to manage a psycho-social support project serving Syrians affected by war. On the weekends, Alia loves to shop for the trendiest clothes and home-decor items with her mom and watching psychological thrillers with her husband.
Molly Sarbaugh is a Research Coordinator working on projects related to school-based interventions and diabetes self-management. Molly earned their bachelor's degree in psychology from Drexel University. Outside of work, they enjoy camping and board games with friends.
Kristiane Simmons is a Research Assistant on a study comparing ways to increase access to COVID tests in disadvantaged areas in Philadelphia. She obtained a B.A. in Global Affairs with a concentration in Global Economy and National Governance from Chestnut Hill College. After graduating, she gained an interest in Public Health through her service in AmeriCorps for the NNCC COVID Response Corps. You can find Kristiane listening to music, going out with local friends to new restaurants, and catching up with foreign friends through social media.
Laura Sosinsky is a Research Scientist conducting evaluations of programs for children and families with a focus on interventions designed to build the capacities of teachers and parents to promote healthy early development and school readiness. Trained as a developmental psychologist, Laura has expertise in infant and child development, early care and education (ECE) quality improvement and professional development, as well as state, federal, and local ECE policy. Laura received her B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Yale University. Outside of PHMC, Laura enjoys classic movies, good music, traveling to new places, and spending time with her family.
Katie Stettheimer is a Research Assistant working on projects related to policy, physical activity, and tobacco. She has also worked on projects related to early childhood care. She has a Master in Social Service (equivalent to an MSW) from Bryn Mawr and graduated with a Master in Public Health from Thomas Jefferson University. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening and gaming with her friends, and exploring new places around the region.
Kelly Thompson is a Senior Policy Analyst responsible for managing legal research projects and policy initiatives. She helps to provide a legal perspective on multidisciplinary teams developing public health law projects, which span topics from health and social equity concerns of vulnerable populations to emergency preparedness. Her favorite focus areas are intersections of criminal justice issues with public health outcomes. After graduating with a dual B.A. in Criminal Justice and Sociology from the University of Delaware, Kelly moved to Philadelphia to earn her J.D. from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. Away from the office, Kelly enjoys being active outdoors, eating sweets, binging podcasts, and meeting dogs while walking her dog.
Janine Tobia is a Project Manager leading evaluations related to respiratory health and tobacco. She earned her MPH from Thomas Jefferson University and a B.S. in Microbiology from Rutgers University. Before joining the R&E group, she worked as a technician at a pharmacy location specializing in HIV management medication. An ideal evening for Janine includes sipping a cup of tea, playing with her cat, and watching a historical documentary with comically inaccurate reenactments.
Anna Todaro is a Senior Evaluation Specialist responsible for leading projects related to nutrition education and capacity building. She enjoys evaluation design, mixed methods research, and data visualization. Prior to her role at PHMC, Anna was a research analyst with The Health Determinants & Disparities Practice, developing programming in culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare services for the Office of Minority Health. She also spent time in Latin America and Africa through her roles with the Rutgers Global Health Institute and the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children. A Fulbright scholar, Anna earned her B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Scranton, and her M.P.H. from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Besides research and evaluation, Anna loves photography, discovering new music, and exploring local trails with her family.
Richard Trinh is a Research Coordinator working on evaluating the Cedar Campus Project, Healthy Hearts and Minds, and other projects as well. Richard earned his MPH from George Washington University and his BS in Microbiology from University of the Sciences. Before his time in R&E Group, he did research in social sciences and interned for Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In his downtime, Richard likes jogging, playing video games, and making art.
Pragya Verma is a Senior Project Director working on multiple evaluation projects related to lung health as well as opioid use disorder. Prior to joining PHMC, Pragya worked as a data analyst and project manager supporting behavioral health and child welfare programs at a direct service organization in Philadelphia. She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from The College of New Jersey. Outside of work Pragya enjoys crafting & woodworking, photography and traveling.
Caitlin Waggoner is a Research Assistant working on projects related to tobacco cessation and family and child in-home health programs. They received their BA from Temple University in Psychology, with a focus on research methods and mathematics. Prior to joining PHMC, they worked at Jefferson-Einstein Hospital in the obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics departments researching social determinants of health and evaluating maternal-child health programs. Caitlin is a huge Philly sports fan, and when not at work they can be found watching games with friends, cooking, or crocheting.
Caroline West is a Senior Project Manager with over twenty years of experience working on projects related to domestic violence, mental health, COVID testing, and substance abuse treatment research. She has a strong interest in health disparities and has led both community needs assessments and managed place-based evaluations focused on disadvantaged and underserved areas of Philadelphia. Caroline earned her Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin and her AB in Economics and History from Bryn Mawr College. Before joining PHMC, she managed health services research projects on reproductive health in overseas clinical settings with Family Health International (now FHI 360).
Devin Berry Williams is an Administrative Coordinator working with the admin/operations team to assist R&E Group staff with any administrative needs they may have. Devin is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Developmental Psychology at Post University. Prior to joining R&E Group, she taught competitive and recreational gymnastics to children at Kehler's Gymnastics Center. Outside of work, Devin enjoys staying active in the gym, roller skating, and doing fun activities with her children.
Margot Wisel is a Research Coordinator working on projects related to vaccine hesitancy, community needs surveys, disability, and tobacco control with a focus on tobacco cessation, quitlines, and health disparities in LGBTQ+ populations. She is also an advocate for improving accessibility best practices and supporting interdepartmental knowledge- and resource-sharing through several workgroups. Margot earned her B.A. in Sociology and Theater from Bryn Mawr College. If she and her wife are not busy pampering their cats, you will probably find Margot foraging, volunteering at local parks, and championing trees as public health infrastructure.