MCHI Investigators
Shannon D. Simonovich, PhD, RN
Shannon D. Simonovich, PhD, RN
Shannon D. Simonovich, PhD, RN
Dr. Shannon D. Simonovich is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health Nursing Science at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing. She earned her PhD in the Philosophy of Nursing Science from the University of Washington. Dr. Simonovich’s mixed methods program of research focuses on addressing per
Dr. Shannon D. Simonovich is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health Nursing Science at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing. She earned her PhD in the Philosophy of Nursing Science from the University of Washington. Dr. Simonovich’s mixed methods program of research focuses on addressing perinatal mental health in at-risk and marginalized childbearing populations. She is the founder of the Maternal Child Health Initiative and actively collaborates with colleagues in social work, epidemiology, public health, and medicine towards improving health outcomes for childbearing populations. Her research has been supported by several interdisciplinary mechanisms including federal, foundation-based, and international funding agencies.
Karen Tabb Dina, PhD, MSW
Shannon D. Simonovich, PhD, RN
Shannon D. Simonovich, PhD, RN
Karen Tabb Dina, PhD, MSW is Associate Professor in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work and faculty affiliate at Carle Foundation Hospital, the Lemann Institute for Brazilian Studies, and the Women and Gender in Global Perspectives. Her research agenda focuses on identifying risk factors for morbidity and
Karen Tabb Dina, PhD, MSW is Associate Professor in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work and faculty affiliate at Carle Foundation Hospital, the Lemann Institute for Brazilian Studies, and the Women and Gender in Global Perspectives. Her research agenda focuses on identifying risk factors for morbidity and mortality among perinatal women and clinical factors to improve minority health. Currently, she is Principal Investigator (PI) of a PCORI-funded project to engage pregnant and postpartum women as collaborators in perinatal depression research. In 2019, Dr. Tabb received the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Thought Leader Award for Leading in Peer-Reviewed Publications, the New Connections Program’s premier honor for early career faculty.
Karen Tabb Dina received her PhD in Social Welfare and a Certificate in Demographic Methods from the University of Washington in Seattle. She received her Master of Social Work, concentrating in Social Policy and Evaluation, from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Eastern Michigan University. In addition to scholarship, she is a biological mother of two and has been screened for depression more than three dozen times.
Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH
Shannon D. Simonovich, PhD, RN
María Piñeros-Leaño, PhD, MSW, MPH
Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School where he directs the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship and the Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration Program. He is a collaborator on the Global Burden of Disease Study, Seattle, WA. He is a 2015 Fulbright Scien
Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School where he directs the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship and the Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration Program. He is a collaborator on the Global Burden of Disease Study, Seattle, WA. He is a 2015 Fulbright Scientific Mobility Scholar, researching Collaborative Care models in the Brazilian public health system. From 2015-2019, he served as a Master Trainer in collaborative care as part of the CMS funded Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative, which has trained more than 3,500 U.S. psychiatrists in this evidence based health care delivery model. He has co-authored more than 75 peer-reviewed articles.
María Piñeros-Leaño, PhD, MSW, MPH
María Piñeros-Leaño, PhD, MSW, MPH
María Piñeros-Leaño, PhD, MSW, MPH
María Piñeros-Leaño is an Associate Professor at Boston College. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, a Master of Social Work, a Master of Public Health, and a doctorate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Maria’s research interests are related to maternal and infant health and early maternal
María Piñeros-Leaño is an Associate Professor at Boston College. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, a Master of Social Work, a Master of Public Health, and a doctorate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Maria’s research interests are related to maternal and infant health and early maternal risk and protective factors for child obesity. Specifically, she explores the role that maternal depression has on the development of childhood obesity among minority groups.
Amelia R. Gavin, PhD
María Piñeros-Leaño, PhD, MSW, MPH
Amelia R. Gavin, PhD
Dr. Amelia R. Gavin is a health and mental health disparities researcher. She has over 16 years of experience conducting epidemiological and clinical research studies. Dr. Gavin’s primary research examines the pathways linking maternal lifecourse risk exposures to offspring preterm birth. Dr. Gavin received a five-year NIH clinical traini
Dr. Amelia R. Gavin is a health and mental health disparities researcher. She has over 16 years of experience conducting epidemiological and clinical research studies. Dr. Gavin’s primary research examines the pathways linking maternal lifecourse risk exposures to offspring preterm birth. Dr. Gavin received a five-year NIH clinical training grant award to fund the Depression and Anxiety in Pregnancy Study. The study is designed to address unanswered questions about the prevalence and course of perinatal depressive and panic disorders and the impact of antenatal major depression on pregnancy outcomes. The research findings from the study have been published in peer-reviewed journals including General Hospital Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Journal of Women’s Health. Dr. Gavin’s secondary research area examines the social, structural, and cultural contexts associated with racial/ethnic differences in health and mental health outcomes. Most recently, Dr. Gavin has published studies that explore the role of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in explaining how racial discrimination adversely affects racial differences in chronic health outcomes and offspring preterm birth. Dr. Gavin received her master’s in public policy, master’s in social work, and doctorate at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Brandon Meline, RD
María Piñeros-Leaño, PhD, MSW, MPH
Amelia R. Gavin, PhD
Brandon S. Meline is the Director of the Division of Maternal and Child Health at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD). He is a licensed and registered dietitian, and holds a Masters in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Bachelors in Human Biology from Illinois Wesleyan University
Brandon S. Meline is the Director of the Division of Maternal and Child Health at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD). He is a licensed and registered dietitian, and holds a Masters in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Bachelors in Human Biology from Illinois Wesleyan University. He is interested in research related to the built environment, planning, education, and health policy changes to benefit the health of the local and regional community schools. He has published collaborative research on salivary bacterial microbiome diversity in infants and mothers, and non-nutritive food components and cancer prevention. In his free time, Brandon enjoys being physically active with his dog Floyd and traveling the entirety of Champaign County to watch his children’s sporting events.
MCHI RESearch Trainees (Present)
Ashley Jones (2022-Present)
Ashley Jones is an undergraduate student at Xavier University of Louisiana majoring in Public Health. Her formal research interests include health disparities within the Black community, reproductive health, and mental health. In the future, she hopes to become a health administrator to promote positive patient care and health equity.
Saher Rehmani, BSN, RN (2022-Present)
Saher Rehmani graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2018. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner at DePaul University. Saher has been working as a perinatal nurse for several years. Formal research interests include maternal and child health, perinatal mental health, and breastfeeding. She plans to continue research focused on addressing health inequalities among pregnant women with effort to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality rates.
Miriam Kanan, BSN, RN, CBC (2022-Present)
Miriam Kanan earned her Bachelor's Degree in nursing from St. Xavier University and is currently pursuing her Doctoral in Nursing Practice with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner at DePaul University. Miriam has several years in bedside perinatal nursing. She joined our team for her doctoral focus with formal research interests in pregnancy, perinatal mental health, breastfeeding and postpartum care. Her future goals involve continuing research in women's health care while serving the underserved communities to promote woman’s and infant health care.
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Nadia Quad (2020-Present)
Nadia Quad joined our team while pursuing her bachelor’s degree at DePaul University College of Science and Health, majoring in Biological Studies with a concentration in Bio Medicine and Health and a minor in General Psychology. Her future plan is to become an OBGYN serving Chicago and the nation's perinatal Muslim populations.
Nadia is now a medical student at Rosalind Franklin University College of Medicine .
Lauren Ables-Torres (2020-Present)
Lauren Ables-Torres joined our team while pursuing their bachelor’s degree at DePaul University College of Science and Health where they is majored in Neuroscience with a minor in Cinema and Media Studies. Plans for the future include attending graduate school to pursue a PhD in integrative neuroscience. They worked with our research team to describe population-level disparities in perinatal mood and birth outcomes research.
Lauren is now employed by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease as a member of their Primary Progressive Aphasia team.
MCHI Research TrAINEES (Past)
Gilliane Nwafor (2020-2022)
Gilliane Nwafor graduated from UC Davis in 2018 with her Bachelor's of Science in Global Disease Biology. She worked with our team while pursuing her Master's Degree at DePaul University School of Nursing. Formal research interests include health disparities especially pertaining to the Black community, reproductive health, food insecurity and public health. In the future, she hopes to continue doing research and pursue further schooling in nursing to become an APRN.
Gilliane is now working at Rush University Medical Center as a Registered Nurse in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.
Madeline Reid (2020-2022)
Madeline earned her Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicine) from the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. She worked with our team while pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing from DePaul University, Chicago, alongside a Master of Women’s Health Medicine at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Formal research interests are maternal-child disease prevention, health promotion, health disparities, standards of care, maternal mortality and perinatal psychology. Her future aspirations are to work within the field of labor and delivery and pursue further education to be a WHNP/ CNM to contribute to positive women’s health outcomes. disparities especially pertaining to the Black community, reproductive health, food insecurity and public health.
Madeline is now working as a Women's Health Nurse Coach and as adjunct faculty for DePaul University School of Nursing.
Heysel Serra (2020-2021)
Heysel Serra received her bachelor's degree at DePaul University College of Science and Health where she majored in integrative neuroscience with a minor in biology. She worked with our research team to increase awareness of perinatal depression during the COVID-19 crisis. In the future, she plans to attend medical school with the goal of becoming a neurologist.
Heysel is now working in healthcare in the Chicago area.
Asma Y. Ali (2019-2020)
Asma Y. Ali graduated Magna Cum Laude from DePaul University where she double majored in Arabic and Islamic World Studies with a focused concentration in Islamic Law, Hadith, and Qur’an. Her formal research interests include psychological effects of organ transplants and analgesic alternatives to opioids in post-operative pain control. Her plans for the future include graduating from a doctoral nurse anesthesia program. Currently, she volunteers with a variety of organizations and individuals to help secure financial endowments for students pursuing graduate degrees. She is an intern at Compassionate Care Network, a Master’s in Nursing Science candidate, and a graduate research assistant at DePaul University’s School of Nursing.
Asma is now a Registered Nurse working in Intensive Care in the Chicago area.
Olanrewaju Awosika (2019-2020)
Olanrewaju Awosika has her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish for the Professions from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Nursing from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Formal research interests include poster presentations at Marquette University on the Perceptions of Latina Undergraduate Students on People Living with HIV/AIDS. Currently, she works with a research team developing a systematic review of the physiological health outcomes associated with food insecurity in early childhood. In the future she plans on pursuing more research projects concerning maternal and child health outcomes, specifically as a result of adverse childhood experiences (ACE).
Olanrewaju is now a Registered Nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Claire Klement (2019-2020)
Claire Klement has a degree in Biomedical Sciences from Marquette University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing. Formal research interests include food insecurity and perinatal mood disorders. Plans for the future include working as a nurse in women’s health, with a goal to become a nurse midwife.
Claire is now a Registered Nurse at Loyola Medicine.
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Mary Ellen Ostrowski (2019-2020)
Mary Ellen Ostrowski has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Benedictine College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in nursing from DePaul University. Formal research interests include food insecurity and other health disparities and how these issues need to inform clinical practice. Plans for the future include becoming a Registered Nurse and continuing education to better serve children and families.
Mary Ellen is now a Registered Nurse at Ascension.
Anna Tanaglia (2018-2019)
Anna Tanaglia has a Bachelor's Degree in Advertising and a Master's Degree in Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She will complete her Master's Degree in Public Health from George Washington University in December 2019. Formal research interests include food insecurity and health disparities.
Anna is now an Associate Director of Operations for the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Kristen Hench (2018-2019)
Kristen Hench is a Cardiac ICU RN at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, CA. She earned her M.S. in Nursing from DePaul University and B.S. in Kinesiology (emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy) with a minor in Personality & Social Psychology from San Diego State University. Formal research interests include health in pediatric populations, maternal-child health promotion/disease prevention, food insecurity, health disparities, and public health. Plans for the future include working towards clinical mastery, completing advanced certifications (i.e., CCRN), engaging in more pediatric-focused research, and obtaining an advanced nursing degree (i.e., DNP).
Kristen is now a Registered Nurse at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, California.
Kristal Kim (2018-2019)
Kristal C. Kim has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Science-Dietetics from The University of Arizona, and a Master of Science degree in Nursing from DePaul University. Formal research interests include maternal and infant mortality rates, birthing practices in rural Southeast Asia, and malnutrition in children under the age of five in developing countries. She plans to pursue doctoral studies in public health, specializing in maternal health.
Kristal is now a Registered Nurse in Labor and Delivery at Saint Anthony Hospital in Little Village, Chicago.
Shira Prero (2017-2018)
Shira Stromer has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Touro College. She also has a Master's Degree in General Nursing from DePaul University. Her formal research interests include women's health topics specifically focused on the perinatal time period.
Shira is now a labor and delivery nurse in Chicago.
Maya Fishbein-Bass (2017-2018)
Maya Fishbein-Bass studied perinatal health outcomes with our team.
She is now Chief Nursing Officer at Swiftest Health