Johns Hopkins Brain Health Program Team
Program Directors/Principal Investigators
Leah Rubin, PhD, MA, MPH
BHP, Co-Founder, Co-Director
Background: Dr. Leah Rubin is a Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Rubin received her BA from Franklin and Marshall University, a MA in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland, and a Ph.D. and M.P.H. from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Dr. Rubin’s work is dedicated to improving the cognitive and mental health of several vulnerable populations, including women and men living with HIV (both nationally and, more recently, internationally), individuals with serious mental illness, dementia, and traumatic brain injury. Her broad training background allows her to use an interdisciplinary approach in her research program that incorporates epidemiological, mechanistic (e.g., structural and functional neuroimaging) and intervention science (e.g., pharmacologic challenge studies).
Jennifer Coughlin, MD
BHP, Co-Founder, Co-Director
Background: Dr. Jennifer Coughlin is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, with joint appointment in Radiology. She directs the Young Adult Affective Disorders Inpatient Service and the Young Adult Affective Disorders Consultation Clinic.
Dr. Coughlin’s research focuses on molecular neuroimaging techniques, with focus in the use of positron emission tomography (PET) to study markers of neuroinflammation and receptor systems in the living brain. Her work spans the study of NFL players, healthy aging, inflammatory conditions, psychosis, and dementia. She aims to inform the molecular understanding of neuropsychiatric conditions, and identify novel, precision therapies guided by imaging results.
Faculty Team Members
Clinical Research Coordinators
Sam Bronckers
Hometown: Blaricum, The Netherlands
University: Johns Hopkins University (2023)
Department: Neurology
Studies: BRAIN
Career Interests and Goals: To go to medical school and pursue my passion for medicine, with a particular interest in neurology and surgery.
Fun Fact: I am a practice player for the Hopkins field hockey team and used to play with Izzy!
Skylar Rucci
Christina Della Pena
Daisheau Player
Hannah Parker
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
University: University of Richmond (graduated 2023)
Department:Department of Neurology
Studies: BRAIN and COVID-BBB
Career Interests and Goals:In the future I hope to pursue a career in medicine. Specifically, I am interested in psychiatry, emergency medicine, and the intersection between these two fields.
Fun Fact: I recently learned how to bake my own bread :)
Olivia Fox
University: Johns Hopkins University (2023)
Sarah Kanner
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
University: Johns Hopkins University (2023)
Department: Neurology
Career Interests and Goals: To become a physician and work within pediatrics in psychology or oncology.
Fun Fact: I am scuba certified and also have the same name as the character from The Terminator! I am running the Baltimore Marathon in October as well!
Katherine Haas
Hometown: Annapolis, MD
University: St. Mary's College of MD (2022)
Department: Molecular and Comparative Pathology
Career Interests and Goals: Getting my masters one day, but right now I am figuring out what I like to do within the medical field.
Fun Fact: I love to read steampunk Victorian murder mysteries.
Katelyn Jenkins
Hometown: Williamsburg, VA
University: College of William & Mary (2021)
Department: Psychiatry
Studies: BRAIN, PASEM, CPDEP
Career Interests and Goals: To get a Ph.D. in Clinical/Developmental Psychology to work in pediatric mental health.
Fun Fact: I know how to Tango!
Hannah Lee
Hometown: Rockville, MD
University: Case Western Reserve University (2022)
Department: Neurology
Studies: IMPACT
Career Interests and Goals: To conduct psychological assessments and mental health research, and practice therapy.
Gabriela Molestina
Hometown: Bristow, VA
University: Johns Hopkins University (2022)
Department: Neurology
Studies: COC4, BRAIN
Career Interests and Goals: To pursue a career in public health centered toward improving children and adolescent health.
Hayley Romero
Hometown: Joppa, MD
University: St. Mary's College of Maryland
Department: Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology
Career Interests and Goals: Attend medical school in the near future.
Fun Fact: I have a pet axolotl that I've raised since it was an embryo!
Isabel Santiuste
Hometown: New York, NY
University: Yale University (2022)
Department: Neurology
Career Interests and Goals: To attend medical school and pursue a career in medicine. I'm particularly interested in neurology, psychiatry, and studying the effects of stress and trauma on brain health.
Fun Fact: I love to roller-skate!
Shannon Sweeney
Hometown: Plainfield, CT
University: Wesleyan University (2021)
Department: Psychiatry
Studies: PET imaging with FNDP, NFL, CPHIV, IMPACT, CPDEP
Career Interests and Goals: To apply to medical school in the near future and pursue a career as a physician.
Andre Vu
Hometown: Stanton, CA
University: Johns Hopkins University (2022)
Department: Neurology
Studies: Charter Plus, BRAIN, COC4
Career Interests and Goals: To work with Doctors without Borders, with a keen interest in addressing issues within Southeast Asia. Currently, a goal that I am pursuing is starting a nonprofit childcare center at Johns Hopkins' Homewood Campus that provides affordable and accessible childcare services to Hopkins employees and students, specifically graduate students.
Fun Fact: I broke a couch the first day at Hopkins!
Ekema Anjorin, MBChB, EMBA
Department: Medicine, Internal Medicine
Administrative Support
Cassidy Dixon, MBA
Program Administrator
Department: Neurology
Universities: Eastern University (MBA, 2023); Johns Hopkins University (MM, 2021); University of Delaware (BM, 2019)
Fun fact: I am a professional opera singer!
Trainees
Jasper Adams
Hometown: San Clemente, CA
University (grad year): Johns Hopkins University (2024)
Department: Neurology
Career Interests and Goals: Getting my Master's in Public Health, Environmental Science, or a mix of both!
Jayda Fomengia
Hometown: Beltsville, MD
University: University of Maryland, College Park (2023) in Neuroscience and Human Development.
Department: Neurology, Scholar in the Johns Hopkins NeuroHIV Comorbidities Scholars Program (JHNeurophytes)
Favorite Quote: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman
Lang Lang
Hometown: Beijing, China
University: Johns Hopkins University (2022)
Department: Applied Math & Stat
Studies: Statistics
Career Interests and Goals: To pursue a PhD program in Stat/Biostat and pursue a career as Biostatistician.
Fun Fact: A world-class Chinese pianist is also called Lang Lang.
Wenxuan Lu
Hometown: Nanjing, China
University: Johns Hopkins University (2023)
Department: Applied Mathematics and Statistics
Career Interests and Goals: To pursue a Ph.D. degree in Biostatistics and conduct applicable studies in health sciences.
Fun Fact: I found figure skating to be my biggest hobby during the pandemic.
Natalie Smith
Hometown: Los Altos Hills, CA
University: Johns Hopkins University (2026)
Department: Neurology
Studies: IMPACT
Career Interests and Goals: To go to medical school after college and possibly become a pediatric neurosurgeon!
Fun Fact: I have a pet lizard named Leonel Messi.
Eran Shorer, MBChB, MSc
Postdoctoral Fellow, Computational Neuroscience
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
Universities: University of Cape Town (MSc in Computational Neuroscience (2021); Medical Doctor (2020) and BSc(Med) Neurophysiology (2017)
Department: Neurology
Career Interests and Goals: To establish a career as a physician-scientist by pursuing a neurology residency and possibly a future fellowship in electrophysiology. I’m passionate about academic medicine and have a particular interest in neuromodulation and neuroinfectious disease.
Fun Fact: I have a Maltese named QT – referencing both “Cutie” and the period of heart contraction and relaxation on an electrocardiogram.
Rebecca Easter
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Universities: University of Illinois at Chicago (PhD, MA – Clinical Psychology), College of William and Mary (BA – History, Government)
Department: Neurology
Career Interests and Goals: To examine the relationships between sociocultural factors and cognition in mental health, particularly in underserved populations
Fun Fact: I spent two years living and teaching in an elementary school in Seoul.
Collaborators
Researchers
Alumni
Abigail Matthews
Sr. Clinical Research Coordinator
Michelle Santangelo
Clinical Research Coordinator
Arianna Konstantopoulos
Hometown: Boulder, CO
University: Johns Hopkins University (2022)
Department: Neurology
Studies: IMPACT
Career Interests and Goals: To start medical school next fall. Ultimately, I'd like to work in clinical academic medicine where I can see patients and conduct meaningful community-based research. My current interests in the field of medicine include neurology, orthopedics, and otolaryngology.
Fun Fact: I am a dual citizen- United States and Greece!
Zoe Taswell
Hometown: Bethesda, MD
University: University of Michigan (2022)
Department: Psychiatry
Studies: BRAIN, MASEM
Career Interests and Goals: To pursue a PhD in clinical psychology. Eventually, I hope better understand child and adolescent development, specifically in the context of trauma and resilience.
Fun Fact: I love hiking, backpacking, and being in the outdoors!
Courtney Harrington
Hometown: Chicago, IL
University: Johns Hopkins University (2021)
Department: Molecular Psychiatry Program
Studies: PASEM, CPDEP, Brown Study, PET imaging with FNDP, CPHIV
Career Interests and Goals: To attend medical school next fall and I am interested in psychiatry.
Fun Fact: I have a twin brother, Conor, who is a biochemist!
Izzy Thompson
Hometown: Dallas, TX
University: Johns Hopkins University (2022)
Department: Neurology
Studies: COC4, BRAIN
Career Interests and Goals: To pursue a career in business working with people and applying cognitive science into projects.
Fun Fact: I've met President Obama's dogs!
Asante Kamkwalala, PhD
Research Associate
JH-BHP Postdoctoral Fellow (2022)
Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD
Universities: Emory (BS, 2009), Vanderbilt (PhD, 2019)
Department: Neurology
Fun Fact: I love plants!
Riley O'Toole
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Universities: Johns Hopkins University (BA 2021), Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health (MHS 2022)
Department: Molecular Psychiatry Program
Studies: NFL, CPHIV, IMPACT
Career Interests and Goals: To attend medical school starting in Fall 2023 and pursue a sports-related field.
Fun Fact: I have been working for Dr. Rubin since I started as a research assistant in 2018!
Cykyra Thomas
Hometown: Rocky Hill, CT
University: Dickinson College (2021)
Department: Psychiatry
Studies: NFL, MASEM, SZ MRI
Career Interests and Goals: To attend a school of dental medicine, become a dentist, and exercise creativity in my daily work.
Chantal Riggs
Hometown: Olympia, WA
University: Johns Hopkins University (2022)
Department: Neurology
Studies: Ms.SCORE
Career Interests and Goals: To focus on climate resilience and empowerment within environmental health.
Fun Fact: I played on the women's soccer team at Johns Hopkins during undergrad!
Divya Inaganti
Hometown: Dallas, TX
University: Johns Hopkins University (2023)
Department: Neurology
Career Interests and Goals: To attend medical school and make the healthcare industry more equitable and accessible for patients from all backgrounds.
Fun Fact: I have been scuba diving, and want to sky dive next!
Sophie Liu
Hometown: Boston, MA
University: Johns Hopkins University (2023)
Department: Neurology, Neuroimmunology
Studies: COC4, BRAIN
Career Interests and Goals: To continue the pre-med track and plan to attend medical school in the future. I am interested in neuroscience and neurology research. I'm particularly interested in bridging social determinants of health into medicine.
Fun Fact: I've met President Biden in person before!
Ava Neijna
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
University: Dartmouth College (2023)
Department: Neurology
Career Interests and Goals: To pursue a career in medicine, specifically surgery.
Fun Fact: I am running the NYC Marathon in November!
Megha Salvi
University: Johns Hopkins University (2026)
Yacine Si
Hometown: Bethesda, MD
University: Johns Hopkins University (2023)
Department: Neurology
Studies: Charter Plus, BRAIN, COC4
Career Interests and Goals: To pursue a career in medicine while integrating my public health background to find sustainable solutions that can effectively address health disparities on a national and international scale.
Fun Fact: I spent the majority of my life outside of the United States and was raised in eight countries on four continents namely Senegal, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Jordan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, The United Kingdom, Canada, and Saudi Arabia.[No text in field]
Jason Creighton
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
University: Gettysburg College (2001)
Departments: Neurology and the School of Public Health
Life Interests and Goals: To achieve a healthy, balanced lifestyle of spiritual and mental health, and assorted sports activities.
Fun Fact: I play golf.
