Meet the Team: The People Behind a Safer World

The Center for Injury Research and Prevention's team includes researchers from a wide spectrum of specialties. Members are drawn from the fields of emergency medicine, pediatric trauma, pediatric and adolescent development; epidemiology and biostatistics; bioengineering; computational engineering; psychology; behavioral science; communications; and health education. Although their backgrounds are diverse, team members are united by their commitment to protect and heal children through research and action.

Alphabetical Listing

View the team members organized alphabetically:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Kristy Arbogast, Ph.D.

  • Director of Engineering
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Pediatric Biokinematics
    Projects: PCPS, NHTSA Indefinite Quantities Contract, CIREN, CChIPS
  • Research Assistant Professor
    Division of Emergency Medicine
    The University of Pennsylvania

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B

Laurie Bach, B.A.

  • Research Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Sriram Balasubramanian, Ph.D.

  • Co-Director - Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies
    Biomechanical Research Engineer
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Impact, Sports and Orthopedic biomechanics
    Projects: Bumper Car Project (Pediatric head and neck range of motion)

Chiara Baxt, Ph.D.

  • Psychologist/ Investigator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Pediatric Traumatic Stress
    Projects: CARIT

Lindsey Borda, B.A.

  • Outreach Specialist
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest:

Ayana Bradshaw, M.P.H., B.S.

  • Project Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Violence prevention
    Projects: Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center (PCVPC)

Charles C. Branas, Ph.D.

  • Epidemiologist
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Gun violence, emergency medicine
    Projects: Philadelphia Collaborative for Violence Prevention Project
  • Epidemiologist
    Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Tyra Bryant-Stephens, M.D.

  • Director and Principal Investigator
    Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Philadelphia
    Research Interest: Community health, injury Prevention, asthma prevention
    Projects: IFCK
  • Attending Preceptor, General Pediatrics
    The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

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C

Valerie Caraballo-Perez, R.N., M.S.N., B.S.

  • Clinical Investigator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Injury prevention, public health
    Projects: CIREN, PCPS, CChIPS

Verna Cole Ph.D., M.Div

  • Network Manager
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Allison Curry Ph.D., M.P.H.

  • Director, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Core
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Epidemiology
    Projects: Young Drivers Research Initiative, NCOSS

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D

Dennis R. Durbin, M.D., M.S.C.E.

  • Co-Scientific Director
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Epidemiology, emergency medicine, injury prevention
    Projects: PCPS, CIREN, CChIPS, Young Driver Research Initiative
  • Director of Research, Division of Emergency Medicine
    The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Epidemiology
    Director, Section on Research, Division of Emergency Medicine
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

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E

Michael R. Elliott, Ph.D.

  • Biostatistician
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Bayesian models, child injury risk; industrial injuries
    Projects: PCPS, CChIPS, CARIT
  • Research Affiliate, Population Studies Center
    Assistant Professor of Biostatistics
    Assistant Research Scientist, Survey Research
    The University of Michigan

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F

Joel A. Fein, M.D., M.P.H.

  • Investigator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Epidemiology, emergency medicine, injury prevention
    Projects: PCPS, CARIT, Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center
  • Principal Investigator
    Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center
  • Emergency Medicine Attending Physician
    The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

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Robert Freeth B.S.

  • Biomechanical Crash Analyst
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

David J. Fruchtman, B.A.

  • Web Project Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

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G

Felipe J. Garcia-Espana, Ph.D.

  • Biostatistician
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
  • Biostatistician
    Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Claudia Garcia-Leeds, M.A., M.Phil

  • Clinical Research Associate II
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Karen L. Garnett, B.A. Candidate

  • Resource Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Kenneth R. Ginsburg, M.D., M.S. Ed.

  • Investigator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Adolescent behavior and development
    Projects: Young Driver Research Initiative
  • Attending Physician, Adolescent Medicine
    The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

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Bette Grimes

  • Receptionist
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

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H

Jessica S. Hafetz, Ph.D.

  • Behavioral Researcher
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Applied Developmental Psychology
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

Patricia Harris, B.A.

  • Resource Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Suzanne D. Hill, B.A.

  • Program Director, Outreach and Advocacy
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Health policy
    Projects: PCPS, Young Driver Research Initiative, CARIT, CChIPS, CIREN, Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center

Kare C. Holm, MHS., B.S.Ed.

  • Outreach Manager
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Eileen Houseknecht, R.N., B.S.N., C.R.A., L.N.C.

  • Research Nurse
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Trauma Research Coordinator
    The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

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J

Lela Jacobsohn, Ph.D.

  • Behavioral Researcher
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

Calvin James, M.P.H., B.A.

  • Research Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

Shloka Joshi, B.A.

  • Clinical Research Assistant I
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

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K

Michael J. Kallan, M.S.

  • Biostatistician
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
  • Biostatistician
    Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Nancy Kassam-Adams, Ph.D.

  • Associate Director of Behavioral Research
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Pediatric traumatic stress
    Projects: CARIT
  • Co-Director, Center for Pediatric Traumatic Stress
    The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

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Kristen Kohser, LMSW

  • Research Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interestes: Pediatric Traumatic Stress
    Projects: CARIT

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L

Yi-Ching Lee, Ph.D.

  • Human Factors Researcher
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

M

Meghan Marsac, Ph.D.

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Matthew R. Maltese, M.S.

  • Biomechanical Research Engineer
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Experimental biomechanics
    Projects: CIREN, PCPS, CChIPS, NHTSA Indefinite Quantities Contract

Karen D. Matthews, M.P.A.

  • Administrative Director
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Dana Mortensen, B.A.

  • Media Relations Specialist
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Projects: PCPS, Young Driver Research Initiative, CARIT, CChIPS, CIREN, Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center

Tara Mullins

  • Resource Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

Jennifer A. Munch, MSEd, Certified School Counselor

  • Research Assistant
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Carol Murray, M.S.S., M.L.S.P

  • Sr. Research Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

Rachel K. Myers, B.A.

  • Research Assistant
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention and the Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center
    Research Interests: Violence Prevention, Adolescent Health, Intimate Partner Violence, Child Passenger Safety, Public Health
    Projects: Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center, National Child Occupant Special Study (NCOSS)

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N

Shashidhar Nagaral, M.S.

  • Network Administrator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Projects: PCPS, CIREN, CChIPS, Young Driver Research Initiative, CARIT

Michael L. Nance, M.D.

  • Investigator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Pediatric trauma
    Projects: PCPS, CIREN
  • Attending Surgeon
    Director, Pediatric Trauma Program
    The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Gloria Newsome, B.A.

  • Business Manager II
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Christine Norris, B.A.

  • Writer/Editor
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

Lisa Norton, B.A.

  • Research Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

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R

Daniel Romer, Ph.D.

  • Investigator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Influences on adolescent risk-taking behaviors
    Projects: Young Driver Research Initiative
  • Research Director
    Institute for Adolescent Risk Communication
    Annenberg Public Policy Center
    University of Pennsylvania

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Felicia Rowe M.P.H., B.A.

  • Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Projects: CChIPS


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S

Thomas Seacrist, M.BE

  • Biomechanical Research Engineer
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Philadelphia
    Projects: CChIPS, NHTSA

Angela Sim-Laramee, M.S.W.

  • Program Coordinator
    Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Philadelphia
    Research Interest: Community health, injury prevention, asthma prevention
    Projects: IFCK

Teena Smith, B.A., A.S.

  • Resource Coordinator, Human Resources
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

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V

Marla L. Vanore, R.N., M.H.A.

  • Senior Advisor
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Trauma systems, injury prevention
  • Co-Director
    Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Philadelphia
  • Trauma Program Manager
    The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

W

Gwendolyn Whitley

  • Resource Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Donna Wilson

  • Administrative Assistant
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Projects: Young Driver Research Initiative, Philadelphia collaborative Violence Prevention Center (PCVPC)

Flaura Koplin-Winston, M.D., Ph.D.

  • Scientific Director and Founder
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Biomechanical engineering, injury prevention, post traumatic stress disorder
    Projects: PCPS, Young Driver Research Initiative, CChIPS, CARIT, NHTSA Indefinite Quantities Contract, IFCK
  • Co-Principal Investigator
    Partners for Child Passenger Safety
  • Director
    Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies
  • Attending Physician
    The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics
    Division of General Pediatrics
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

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Douglas Wiebe, Ph.D.

  • Epidemiologist
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Firearm-related trauma
  • Epidemiologist
    Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

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Alexandra Winski, B.A.

  • Research Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: At-risk populations
    Projects: PCPS, NHTSA Indefinite Quantities Contract

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X

Dawei Xie, Ph.D.

  • Biostatistician
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Bayesian modeling
  • Biostatistician
    Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

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About The Center

Staff Spotlight:

Joel Fein, MD, MPH
Joel Fein, MD, M.P.H.
Our overall vision is to reduce violent injury and exposure in West and Southwest Philadelphia.  We want to create effective interventions that can be sustained locally.