Meet the Team: The People Behind a Safer World

The Center for Injury Research and Prevention employs researchers from a wide spectrum of specialties. Team 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. As diverse as they are in background, all Center employees are united by our common commitment to protecting and healing 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.

  • Associate Director of Field 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

View Full Bio External Website

B

Sriram Balasubramanian, Ph.D.

  • Biomechanical Research Engineer
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Impact 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

Meckenzie Behr, M.P.H., B.A.

  • Field Research Analyst
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Projects: Young Driver Research Initiative

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

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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

View Full Bio External Website

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

Rachel Cohen, M.F.T.

  • Research Associate
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Pediatric traumatic stress
    Projects: CARIT

Verna Cole Ph.D., M.Div

  • Network Manager
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

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

View Full Bio External Website

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

View Full Bio External Website

Danielle Erkoboni, B.A.

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

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

View Research Profile External Website

View Full Bio

Tara Ferguson

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

Percival Fisher, Jr ., B.A.

  • Clinical Research Assistant
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: CDC Stepped Preventive Care
    Project: CARIT

David J. Fruchtman, B.A.

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

G

Angela Gafen, B.S.

  • Clinical Research Assistant II
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Projects: YDRI

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

Karen L. Garnett, B.A. Candidate

  • Resource Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Yoganand Ghati, M.S.

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

Kenneth R. Ginsburg, M.D.

  • 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

View Full Bio External Website

Andrea Gold, B.A.

  • Field Research Analyst
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Projects: Young Driver Research Initiative

Grace Good, M.A.

  • Clinical Research Associate
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Projects: Stepped Preventive Care Study

Bette Grimes

  • Resource Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

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

Tracey Hewitt, M.S., C.H.E.S.

  • Coordinator for Outreach and Advocacy
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Projects: PCPS, Young Driver Research Initiative

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

View Full Bio External Website

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

J

Lela Jacobsohn, Ph.D.

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

Prashant Jain, M.S., Doctoral candidate

  • Computational Engineer
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Finite element and rigid body tools
    Projects: CIREN, PCPS, CChIPS, NHTSA Indefinite Quantities Contract

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

View Full Bio External Website

Sara B. Kinsman, M.D., M.S.C.E., Ph.D.

  • Adolescent Physio-Psychologist
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Risk initiation, peer attachments
    Projects: Young Driver Research Initiative
  • Attending Physician, General Pediatrics
    The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

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Kristen Kohser, LMSW

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

M

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

View Full Bio External Website

Shresta Mari-Gowda, M.S.

  • Biomechanical Crash Analyst, Crash Investigator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Biomechanical engineering
    Projects: CIREN, PCPS, CChIPS, NHTSA Indefinite Quantities Contract

View Full Bio External Website

Karen D. Matthews, M.P.A.

  • Administrative Director
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Parvathy Menon, M.A., M.B.A.

  • Program Director
    Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies (CChIPS)
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Rajiv Menon, Ph.D.

  • Associate Director, Computational Engineering
  • Director, Student Education and Training
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research interest: Computational simulations
    Projects: CIREN, PCPS, CChIPS, NHTSA Indefinite Quantities Contract

View Full Bio External Website

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

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

View Full Bio External Website

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

P

Jill Posner, M.D., M.S.C.E.

  • Investigator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Injury prevention
    Projects: PCPS, IFCK
  • Research Director
    Injury Free Coalition for Kids
  • Emergency Medicine Attending Physician
    The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

View Full Bio External Website

Q

Alex Quistberg, B.A.

  • Research Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Teen drivers
    Projects: Young Driver Research Initiative

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

View Full Bio

S

Teresa Senserrick, Ph.D.

  • Behaviorist
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Teen drivers and passengers; developmental psychology
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

View Full Bio

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

Jessica Steps-Jermakian, D.Sc.

  • Project Manager, Field Engineering
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Behavioral science, biomechanical engineering
    Projects: CIREN, PCPS, CChIPS

View Full Bio External Website

T

Carole Treston, R.N., M.P.H.

  • Program Director
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Research administration
    Projects: Young Driver Research Initiative, Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center (PCVPC)

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

View Full Bio External Website

Alana Vivolo, MPH CHES

  • Research Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interests: Violence and injury prevention, behavioral science and health education
    Project: Young Driver Research Initiative

W

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

View Full Bio

Gwendolyn Whitley

  • Resource Coordinator
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention

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

View Full Bio

Alexandra Winski, B.A.

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

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

About The Center

Staff Spotlight:

Photo
Kristy Arbogast, Ph.D.
As part of The Center for Injury Research and Prevention, my goal is to make children safer by understanding how injuries happen during every day events such as riding in a car, riding a bicycle or walking to school. I wish to understand how the products they use in their daily activities can be improved to reduce their risk of injury."
Look for Dr. Arbogast in the news this month, explaining the results of the 2006 Partners for Child Passenger Safety Fact & Trend Report.
  • Associate Director of Field Engineering
    Center for Injury Research and Prevention
    Research Interest: Pediatric Biokinematics
  • Research Assistant Professor
    Division of Emergency Medicine
    The University of Pennsylvania

 

View Dr. Arbogast’s full bio External Website