People
Staff
Principal Investigator: Eric Rubenstein, PhD, ScM
Eric Rubenstein, PhD, ScM, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University. He received is PhD from the University of North Carolina Gillings Schools of Public Health and his ScM from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public health. His research focuses on improving health and well-being in the population with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the life course. Dr. Rubenstein’s research is motivated and continually inspired by his friends, Special Olympic athletes, and fellow advocates in the intellectual and developmental disability community.
Project Manager: Ashley Scott, MPH
Ashley Scott, MPH is a project manager in the Department of Epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health where she supports research on racial and ethnic disparities in maternal/child health and determinants that affect the health of individuals with Down syndrome. She received her MPH from Boston University in 2020. Prior to joining the Epidemiology department, she managed the BU Healthway Contact Tracing team to support students, faculty, and staff to curb the spread of COVID-19. Ashley is interested in research management, qualitative research methods, and community based participatory research. She is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish and also volunteers with the Brazilian Women’s Group, an immigrant-led community organization in Allston.
Project Coordinator: Deena Afana, MPH
Deena Afana, MPH is a Project Coordinator in the Department of Epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health. She helps facilitate research on racial and ethnic disparities influencing maternal health outcomes amongst minoritized groups in Massachusetts. She also helps facilitate research dedicated to improving health outcomes among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Before joining the Rubenstein Lab, Deena earned a Master of Public Health degree with concentrations in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Infectious Disease from the Boston University School of Public Health. She is devoted to academia and is passionate about public health and epidemiology. Her additional research interests include pandemic preparedness and response and utilizing statistical modeling methods to investigate infectious respiratory disease outbreaks, transmission patterns and mitigation strategies. She is devoted to reducing health disparities and helping create healthier communities.
Senior Data Analyst: Salina Tewolde, MSc
Salina Tewolde, MSc, is a Senior Data Analyst in the Department of Epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health where she supports data management and statistical analysis for the DS-TO-THE-MAX project. She received her Master of Science in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2020 and her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Maryland in 2015. Prior to joining BU, she was involved in analyzing the efficacy and impact of the “NHS COVID” app in England, as well as working as a consultant for a public health firm. Salina is interested in quantitative research methods and bridging the gap of health inequities in vulnerable populations. She is also an avid traveler and has been to over 40 countries.
Co-Researchers
Summer Co-Research Intern: Dan O’Donnell
I’m Dan O’Donnell. I live in Boston, Massachusetts. I am an athlete of Brookline Special Olympics. I’ve been doing Special Olympics for 12 years. I’m known as the Mayor of Special Olympics MA Brookline Recreational Therapy and my adult program, Nashoba Learning Group. I’m very passionate about Down syndrome and the IDD community. I’ve known Eric for 3 or 4 years. I met him at a Brookline program on Zoom. I’m so excited for being a Rubenstein Lab intern for the summer. I like hanging with family, taking selfies, and photos. I’m an avid sports fan. I like all NLF NHL MLB College sports, Boston sports teams, and am a big Cape Cod baseball league follower. I like hanging out and facetiming my amazing girlfriend Maddy. I’m hoping to help with research on individuals with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy disabilities and doing social media.
Co-Researcher: Augusta Edouard
Augusta ‘Gus’ Edouard is a summer intern and co researcher. She lives in Maryland and comes to Boston in the summers. She enjoys going for walks, watching TV, bagging groceries at Giant Foods, working in her math and reading workbooks, doing crafts and listening to the radio. Gus is a member of the co-research team for DS-TO-THE-MAX helping to explore questions about the health of people with Down syndrome. She became part of Eric’s lab through her sister-in-law, Vanessa Boland Edouard, who is Director of idea hub at Boston University School of Public Health. In summer 2022, Gus completed and presented a photo voice project called ‘Being Health with Gus’ and helped around the office. Her interest in mental health led her to complete an interview project about support that students receive to handle stress. She interviewed Robyn Volcy-Lee, the Wellness and Communications Manager in Graduate Student Life. Some of her more memorable moments have included going out to eat with Ashley, Eric and the friends she has made in the lab. Gus feels that her experience as a co-researcher has been invaluable and hopes that her contributions ultimately can help others with disabilities.
Co-Researcher: Alexis Sokoloff
My name is Alexis Sokoloff. When I am not working, I enjoy watching sports, swimming, kayaking, working out with friends, listening to music and reading. I was introduced to Eric through Special Olympics. I enjoyed going to the conference in Boston with Eric’s group. I like meeting and chatting with the lab group every month via zoom. We have a lot of fun talking about research and getting to know each other.
Co-Researcher: Caley Versfelt
Hello, I’m Caley Versfelt. I encourage acceptance and inclusion as a public speaker, actress, model, correspondent., and as an advocate representing many organizations, I dream big and never gives up. I promote, “Kindness is Contagious,” through my business Tides of Kindness. I met Eric at a T-21 conference and learned about his lab. We work as a team to get a better understanding of people with Down syndrome’s commonalities. I have learned about the experiences of people with depression and having anxiety attacks. We need to be prepared to help where we can. I’ve learned it’s best to get 8-9 hours sleep to help our bodies perform best. My favorite memories are about planning for a fulfilled future, and the importance of having meaningful relationships. It’s fun surprising people with my talents, multiple interests, and outgoing personality. I inspire people to believe in themselves and the abilities of others, affirming we all have talents and value.
Co-Researcher: Benjamin Golden
My name is Benjamin Golden and I am born in Waterville, Maine. I am now 30 years old. I enjoyed being a researcher from Boston University School of Public Health that Eric asked me to be in a research group back 2 years ago since 2022 in June at the t21 conference in Long Beach when I got started on Sunday July, 17th 2022. I really enjoyed it. My memory in Eric’s Lab is testing the grips at the Adult Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio and helping others to test their grip strength.
Co-Researcher: Kaethe Sigelko
My name is Kaethe Sigelko and something I enjoy doing is using my public speaking skills as a way to become more confident when sharing my story or opinion with others. I became a part of Eric’s lab in May 2022 when he had asked me to be a part of the co-research team after knowing that I would be a great addition to the team. As a confident co-researcher, I feel very proud of accomplishing the RE4ALL training that I completed. My favorite experience I’ve had at Eric’s Lab was being in Cincinnati, OH as a part of the conference we were at and working alongside Eric on the data collection at our Grip Strength table.
Co-Researcher: Eden Rapp
Eden has just graduated from a 3-year post-secondary vocational program (Shepherds College) and is in the process of starting the stage of her life by making a schedule for herself and growing towards her independence and is hoping one day to use those skills in an apartment down the street from her parents. Eden has been a part of Doctor Eric Rubenstein’s Co-Research project for Boston University for the last 2 years. She helps and participates by interviewing professionals and gets asked to help write/speak assignments that have been given to her and she loves it.
Co-Researcher: Staci Christensen
Research Assistants
Graduate Research Assistant: Alex A. Levine, MPH
A. Alex Levine is a PhD candidate in Health Services Research at the Boston University School of Public Health. Their research focuses on evaluating access and equity in aging and disability policies and programs. Alex is a Senior Research Associate at the Center for the Evaluation of Risk in Health (CEVR) at Tufts Medical Center, where they study Medicaid and commercial health insurance coverage and access to specialty drugs. Alex received their MPH from the Boston University School of Public Health and their BA in Health & Human Biology from Brown University.
Graduate Research Assistant: Yuan Zhang, MPH
Yuan Zhang, MPH, is a PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University. She received her MPH in General Epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Her research interest is maternal/child medication use. Before joining Boston University, Yuan worked as a senior data analyst at Brown University Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, focusing on medication use in nursing homes using Medicare data and Electronic Health Records (EHR). Outside of work and school, she enjoys exploring restaurants with friends.
Graduate Research Assistant: Alianna Higgins
Alianna Higgins is a recent MPH graduate in Epidemiology & Biostatistics with a context certificate in Infectious Disease. She received a BA in Biochemistry from Hastings College in 2022. As a physically disabled person, Alianna is a strong disability justice advocate who founded a student organization for disabled students at Hastings College and worked to improve accessibility on campus. She also has experience working at the South Heartland District Health Department, where she helped organize and promote COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination clinics. Currently, Alianna also serves as the Tutoring Team Lead at BUSPH. Outside of school and work, Alianna enjoys weightlifting, live music, and playing with her cat, Tee.
Graduate Research Assistant: Amanda Lanciault
Amanda Lanciault (she/her) is an MPH student pursuing a certificate in Health Policy and Law. She received her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University in 2023 majoring in Public Health and Social Justice and Social Policy. Amanda’s experience ranges from research, advocacy, and direct service work with those throughout the Commonwealth. When not working or studying, Amanda enjoys crocheting, watching video essays, and visiting independent bookstores.
Undergraduate Research Assistant: Aniqua Mehdi
Aniqua Mehdi is currently an undergraduate student majoring in Health Science at Boston University. She is from Hawai’i & Bangladesh. Her interests include enhancing the well-being of children through health and education, specifically those in disadvantaged populations. She enjoys working with children and is currently part of the Boston University Initiative for Literacy Development as a lead tutor. She wants to further her education with an MPH and PhD and learn more about Epidemiology, Healthcare Management, and Program Management. Aniqua has worked in Chemistry laboratories before and has traveled to many countries and loves it. She is involved in community engagement/development projects, and in her free time, she loves to explore the city, shop, go to concerts, and try different cafes/restaurants.
Research Assistant: Emily Bock
Emily Bock recently graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in Cellular, Molecular, and Genetic Biology. She minored in Public Health and worked on projects related to special education for children experiencing homelessness with a grant from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Office. After wrapping up that project in June, she will be shifting to work on the Down Syndrome Co-Researcher project. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, biking, and spending time with her dogs and cat.
Graduate Research Assistant: Jacquelin Sauer
Jacquelin (Jacq) Sauer (she/they) is an MPH student pursuing a functional certificate in Epidemiology & Biostatistics and a context certificate in Sex, Sexuality, & Gender. Jacq received a BA in healthcare management and health sciences from Stonehill college in 2023. During their undergraduate career, Jacq worked as a research assistant and advocate for disability rights, accessibility, and inclusion. Jacq is passionate about reproductive and sexual health, disability justice, LGBTQ+ health, and pandemic response. Outside of work and school, Jacq enjoys crocheting, gardening, and collecting silly trinkets.
Graduate Research Assistant: Sophie Rowland
Sophie is a recent MPH graduate with certificates in CAPDIE and Maternal and Child Health. She received her BA in Biological Sciences and Classical Civilization from Wellesley College in 2017. Sophie previously worked on microbiology research investigating the relationship between the gut microbiome and human neurocognitive development. In her studies, Sophie is passionate about reproductive health, disability justice, and program design. Outside of work or school, Sophie enjoys crafting, singing, and bird-watching with her husband, Connor.
Visit the Research Team Alumni to see past members of the Rubenstein Lab.