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Christine Baugh graduated from Harvard College (2010) and from BU School of Public Health (2012). She previously served as the BU CTE Center’s Clinical Research and Program Coordinator and as a Research Instructor in BU School of Medicine's Department of Neurology. Christine is pursuing her PhD in Health Policy at Harvard University. She is continuing her concussion-related research as an NCAA Graduate Student Grant Award Recipient, a Graduate Student Researcher in the Division of Sports Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, and a member of the Health Policy Data Science Lab.
Contact Christine at: cbaugh@g.harvard.edu
Ms. Bourlas completed her undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University and her Master’s degree at Boston University. Her Master’s thesis examining the effect of age of first exposure on later-life mood, behavior, and executive function was completed at the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center under the supervision of Dr. Robert Stern. She is currently a medical student at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Contact Alexandra at: ab508214@ohio.edu
James is an undergraduate Biochemistry major at University of Massachusetts Boston. He’s a non-traditional student, and veteran of the U.S. Air Force. During his enlistment he worked as an intelligence analyst and has supported military operations around the globe including Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, counter narcotics operations in South America, and special operations units in the Middle East and Africa. James developed an interest in neuroscience from witnessing the impact of PTSD in troops returning from warzones.
Sienna graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2018 with a B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in neuroscience. Throughout her time as an undergrad, Sienna worked in a neuroscience lab that studied the effects of sleep on cognition and memory in pre-school aged children. During her senior year she also completed her research thesis on early childhood attachment and how that impacts human behavior in relationships later in life. Sienna joined the ADC Clinical Trials team in June of 2018 as a Research Assistant and is currently working on a variety of studies that all work to further our understanding, prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
Kim is a graduate of Connecticut College, where she majored in psychology. After graduation, Kim worked as a psychometrician, where she was first exposed to neuropsychology and diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Kim is currently a research assistant/psychometrician at the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, where she works on the HOPE Study. Kim is currently attending a doctoral program in clinical psychology. She enjoys cooking, running, and spending time with family and friends.
Saba is a first year student in the Behavioral Neuroscience Ph.D. program at the Boston University School of Medicine. Saba completed her undergraduate training at Case Western Reserve University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in cognitive science and psychology. She then completed her Master of Arts in psychology at New York University, focusing on neuropsychological and rehabilitative clinical research in focal lesion, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury populations. Saba joined the CTE Center at Boston University in September 2015. She hopes to focus her doctoral research on the development of biomarkers and other diagnostic criteria to detect CTE during life.
Originally from Washington, DC, Ben Coleman is a senior in the undergraduate neuroscience program and Kilachand Honors College at Boston University. As a member of the Brain Plasticity and Neuroimaging Lab at BUMC, he started collaborating with BU’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center in December 2014. His research interests include subjective cognitive complaints in healthy older adults and early detection methods for Alzheimer’s disease. He also studies history, sings in Boston University’s Marsh Chapel Choir, and is an avid swimmer, biker, and runner.
Clara is investigating systemic microvascular abnormalities in Alzheimer’s disease as well as mild cognitive impairment in a collaboration between Boston University’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI). She is a research assistant/ study coordinator at MEEI and uses nailfold video capillaroscopy to evaluate nailfold capillary morphology in glaucoma.
Contact Clara at: Clara_Cousins@meei.harvard.edu
Dr. Damman graduated in 2008 with a degree in neuropsychology. In the same year she began working as a neuropsychologist in a nursing home, where she worked with patients who were recovering from a stroke or suffering from Alzheimer's disease, other causes of dementia, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and cancer. In 2013 she finished her postdoc in psychology, and since 2014 she has run her own practice.
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Dan Daneshvar completed the degree requirements for a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2013, en route to M.D./Ph.D. dual degrees expected in 2016. He received a Bachelor of Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Brain and Cognitive Sciences with Concentrations in Cognitive Neuroscience and Poetry. He joined the CTE Center at Boston University School of Medicine in January 2009.
Contact Dan at: ddanesh@bu.edu
Diane Essis completed her Bachelors of Art in Biological Sciences with a Cellular and Molecular Concentration at Connecticut College in 2012 and her Master of Science in Management with a Concentration in Eldercare Administration at Lasell College in 2013. Diane joined the ADC in August of 2013, serving as a member of the ADC Clinical Core where she was in charge of research recruitment and retention across all BU ADC research studies and clinical trials. She also helped create the bi-annual newsletter and worked closely with the ADC Education Core to promote Alzheimer’s disease outreach and education. Diane is currently attending Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Clinical Research Assistant, DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project
Chris graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2021 with a B.S. in Psychology and Certificate in Trauma Studies. During his studies, Chris completed independent undergraduate research focused on alcohol use, narcissism, and archival neurophysiological data. He also enjoys adventures in freelance photography and the arts. Combining passions in neuroscience, ethics, and psychology, he joined the Stern Lab in January of 2022 as a Clinical Research Assistant for the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project.
Steven graduated from the Boston University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program in 2016. Prior to that, he obtained a Master of Science degree from the University of South Florida. He also completed his undergraduate studies at BU where he majored in human physiology. His interests include sports and hiking.
Nate joined the CTE Center team in June, 2012, after graduating from Bowdoin College. At Bowdoin, Nate earned a B.A. in biology while playing four years of NCAA Division III lacrosse and singing in a collegiate a cappella group. As a Research Assistant, and later Research Coordinator, he directed the CTE Center’s DETECT Study through May of 2015. Nate is now a member of the class of 2019 at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine.
Kristin Galetta completed her undergraduate degree at Barnard College in 2008 and earned her medical school degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 2015. She worked at the CTE center during the summer of 2014 as an intern investigating the use of visual tests in CTE and Alzheimer’s disease. She is now a resident in the Partner’s Neurology Program at Brigham and Women’s and Massachusetts General Hospitals.
Contact Kristin at: Kristingaletta@gmail.com
Danielle graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University in 2014 with a B.S. in biopsychology and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She had completed 1.5 years of undergraduate research experience when she joined the BU CTE Center. Danielle is currently in medical school at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine as a member of the Class of 2019.
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Contact Danielle at: dgillard@ucsd.edu
Sarah earned a B.S. in Health Science from Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. In 2014 she interned at the World Health Organization while studying abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, and she joined the CTE Center in January 2015 shortly after returning to the US. Currently, she is pursuing an MPH from the BU School of Public Health with a concentration in epidemiology.
John Hayden graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in 2014 from Vassar College, where he conducted research in a neuroendocrinology lab. John’s undergraduate research focused on the impact of hormone therapy on behavioral recovery following traumatic brain injury. He received his Master of Medical Sciences at Boston University School of Medicine in 2016. He is currently attending Boston University School of Medicine as a first year medical student.
Dr. Jennifer C. Hunter is an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Hunter has 10 years of public health experience working in government and academic settings. At CDC, Dr. Hunter's work has focused on the prevention of and response to emerging infectious diseases, including Ebola virus disease, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), and antimicrobial resistant infections. She received a doctorate in public health from the University of California, Berkeley and earned an MPH at Boston University School of Public Health.
Johnny Jarnagin served in the United States Army from 2007 to 2011 as a Combat Medic. He served in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009-2010. He is currently attending The University of Massachusetts Boston, where he will be receiving a B.S. in Psychology in December 2015. He joined the CTE Center in November 2014. Johnny is currently attending University of Massachusetts School of Medicine.
Brian is a 2014 graduate of Boston University’s Questrom School of Business and is currently working in the Office of Financial and Grants Administration at the Boston University School of Medicine, an office that specializes in post award financial management of federal and non-federal research funding. Along with managing Dr. Stern’s grants, Brian works with principal investigators in the departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology. During his time at the Questrom, Brian concentrated in Organizational Behavior and Business Law. Outside of work, Brian is an avid Boston sports fan and enjoys writing and performing music. Brian is currently working towards his MBA and has recently started a new position as a Financial Analyst at Harvard Medical School.
Megan graduated from the University of Delaware in 2016 as a double major, with a B.S in Neuroscience and B.A in Psychology. She has had diverse research experience, allowing her to explore neurocognitive processes in both clinical and healthy populations. She completed her Masters in Public Health at Boston University with a focus on health care management in May 2021.
Brian graduated from Boston University in 2019 with a B.S. in Health Science. He joined the ADC in March of 2018 as a Research Assistant for the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project. Brian has been a youth football coach for the past 5 years, with previous research focused on the perceived and demonstrated impacts of traumatic head injury in youth sports. In May 2021, he completed his Masters in Public Health with a focus in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and plans to pursue a doctoral program in neuropsychology.
Sam Neveu is a senior studying Neuroscience at Boston University. He joined the CTE Center as a LEGEND intern in August 2015. Originally from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Sam enjoys biking, skiing and playing the saxophone. His research interests include determining the specific risk factors for CTE and the use of biomarkers to help diagnose the disease.
Kait first joined the CTE Center as a graduate research intern with Christine Baugh while completing her MPH at Boston University. Kait then began working full time as the LEGEND Study Coordinator, while also assisting with the DETECT study, managing the CTE Center intern program and other various side projects. After completing her MPH in May, she has since moved back to her alma mater, The University of Kansas. Kait is still involved in projects at the CTE Center, both clinical and legislative. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
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Contact Kaitlyn at: kaitlyn.iris.perry@gmail.com
Alyssa graduated from Cornell University with degrees in psychology and business. While at Cornell, she worked in neuroethology and cognitive neuroscience labs and was a member of the varsity volleyball team. Alyssa joined the Stern Lab in 2017 and currently manages several studies, including the Independent Notre Dame Footballers Medical Research Project and the HOPE Study Repetitive Head Impact cohort.
Cliff Robbins began his work in concussion and CTE with Dr. Stern as the study coordinator for the LEGEND program and the Brain Donation Registry. He has authored and co-authored several publications with the BU CTE center team on CTE and repetitive brain trauma. He currently manages educational and research programs for the Concussion Legacy Foundation, where he regularly speaks around the world about the long term consequences of repetitive brain trauma and proper concussion management.
Contact Cliff at: crobbins@concussionfoundation.org
Alyssa Schmitt attended Clemson University for the southern football experience and for her undergraduate degree in Psychology. Alyssa is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Anatomy and Neurobiology at Boston University School of Medicine. She joined the CTE Center to write her thesis on the risks factors of weight gain/loss on cognitive functioning among NFL players. She suffers from chronic wanderlust and is always planning her next adventure!
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Graduate Student
Éimear is an Irish graduate student who joined the ADC in November 2018. She completed her B.S. in Psychology at Leiden University, the Netherlands in 2017 and is currently pursuing her Research Master’s degree in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, specialising in Neuropsychology from Maastricht University, the Netherlands. In her spare time she likes to play the Irish sports of camogie and gaelic football.
Student Intern, HITSS
David Madzivanyika is a Class of 2023 A.B Candidate in Neuroscience at Harvard College. As a lifelong football player, David has developed a passion for brain research and has aspirations to improve the game of football. He joined the Stern Lab in January 2022 as a research volunteer for the Head Impact and Trauma Surveillance Study (HITSS).
Hanaan Bing-Canar graduated from Haverford College in 2015 with a major in psychology and a minor in neuroscience. While at Haverford, Hanaan had the experience of working in cognitive psychology, social psychology, and cognitive neuroscience labs, as well as completing a year-long thesis examining the effects of mindfulness meditation on the brain's response to performance errors. Hanaan is currently applying to graduate programs.