Our Team
David Hamer, MD
David Hamer is the PI for INSECT. He is a Professor of Global Health and Medicine at the BU School of Public Health and School of Medicine, and Adjunct Professor of Nutrition at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Dr. Hamer, a board-certified specialist in infectious diseases with a particular interest in tropical infectious diseases. During the last 20+ years, he has supervised and provided technical support to more than 50 studies in developing countries that evaluated interventions for improving neonatal survival, improving access for pregnant women to emergency obstetrical care, treatment and prevention of malaria, HIV/AIDS, micronutrient deficiencies, diarrheal disease, and pneumonia. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and the International Society of Travel Medicine. Dr. Hamer is the PI for the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network, a global network of 70 sites in 31 countries that conducts surveillance of emerging infectious diseases using returning travelers, immigrants, and refugees as sentinels of infection.
Daniel Bourque, MD
Daniel Bourque is a co-investigator for INSECT. He is a Clinical Educator working in The Center of Infectious Diseases, The Tuberculosis Clinic, and on the inpatient medicine and consult services at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Bourque served as a Clerkship Director and Infectious Disease Attending at Mount Auburn Hospital. His interests include medical education, global health, travel, and tropical medicine.
Alyse Wheelock, MD
Alyse Wheelock is a a medical fellow in the Infectious Disease Department of Boston Medical Center. She is passionate about infectious diseases, global health, and refugee health. During residency at BMC, she was active in the Refugee and Immigrant Health Program, Global Health Pathway, and projects on Chagas disease at BMC. Her work on Chagas disease includes research on local diagnostic testing as well as educational programs to encourage screening for Chagas disease in people from endemic regions. She is a member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Student/Trainee Leadership Group.
Madolyn Dauphinais, MPH
Maddie currently works as the research coordinator for INSECT. She is an MPH graduate from Boston University School of Public Health with a functional certificate in Environmental Health. Maddie also works as the study coordinator for related Chagas disease research and tuberculosis research at Boston Medical Center.
Maja Carrion, MPH
Maja Carrion is the former PI for INSECT. Maja spent many years leading and managing public health projects and research in Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, and the US. Her primary research interests are innovative infectious disease surveillance, development and implementation of screening and treatment programs, and disease and vector control. She is particularly focused on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and their control, elimination, and eradication.
Student Spotlight
Past Students
Raghavee Neupane
Raghavee Neupane is a former research coordinator for INSECT. Raghavee completed her MPH at Boston University. She completed her undergraduate majoring in microbiology with Pre-Med at Miami University. She helped to raise Chagas awareness and increase Chagas screening programs in New England and throughout the country.
Johnny Rezendes, BS
Johnny Rezendes is a former project coordinator for INSECT. He is working towards earning an MPH in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health. He helped INSECT fulfill their goals of spreading Chagas awareness and increasing Chagas screening programs in New England and throughout the country. His research interests include toxicology and vector-borne diseases.
Meghan MacAskill, MS, MPH
Meghan is a former research assistant for INSECT. Meghan worked on increasing national awareness for Chagas disease through developing twitter and website content. Meghan also assisted developing screening materials and promoting focus group discussions. Meghan earned her MS/MPH at Boston University School of Public Health studying epidemiology and biostatistics. Meghan holds a BS in Biology and Public Health from Muhlenberg College.
Taylor Paiva, MPH
Taylor Paiva is a former study coordinator for INSECT. She ensured that throughout 2021-2022 we were hitting milestones and deadlines. Taylor earned her MPH at Boston University School of Public Health focusing on epidemiology, biostatistics and infectious disease. She currently works as an epidemiologist at the Rhode Island Department of Health
Contact Us:
To contact the team please send all inquiries to chagas@bu.edu and we will get back to you shortly!