Alumni

2022 alumni

Samantha F. Wallerich, M.H.A., Senior Program Coordinator and Research Lab Manager

Samantha completed her Master of Healthcare Administration at Walden University in August of 2020. For the last four years, she has been coordinating complex clinical trials within the Division of Hematology, Acute Leukemia and Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Disease Group. She has been an integral part of implementing education for fellows and inpatient advanced practice providers to improve study accrual and understanding of clinical research.

Samantha was drawn to the Neuro-Informatics Laboratory, as the team is creating new, innovative spaces within the research field. She joined the lab in December of 2020 as a program coordinator and moved into the senior program coordinator and lab manager positions in August 2021. Her interests are in data collection to improve patient care and collaborations between clinicians and patients.

Chibueze S. Ezeudu, Research Trainee

Chibueze (Simon) is a medical student with Texas A&M University School of Medicine. Born and raised in Enugu, Nigeria, he moved to the U.S. for college. He graduated with a doctorate in pharmacy from Texas Southern University, where he researched maternal child and health outcomes. Now, Simon is pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a neurosurgeon. To strengthen his research skills, he joined the Neuro-Informatics Lab. Simon is interested in spine surgery and neuro-oncology and hopes to serve as an advocate for minority students.

Sally El Sammak, M.D., Research Fellow

Dr. El Sammak was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and is a graduate of the American University of Beirut. She obtained her medical degree in 2020 and became a research fellow at the Nehme & Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center at the American University of Beirut Medical Center.

Dr. El Sammak became familiar with the Neuro-Informatics Lab through its pioneering achievements in spinal cord injury and became eager to expand her research career under the mentoring of Dr. Bydon. She joined the lab as a research fellow in 2021. As a research fellow, her primary clinical research interest focused on improving patient care, establishing new treatments, and working as a catalyst between neurosurgery and neurology to improve patient outcomes.

After the successful completion of several impactful projects, Dr. El Sammak graduated from the Neuro-Informatics Lab in May 2022. She is currently a neurology resident at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

William J. Mualem, B.S., Research Trainee

William joined the Neuro-Informatics Lab in summer 2021 after completing his third year of medical school at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He joined the lab with years of experience in basic science and clinical research, which he gained both as an undergraduate student and as a medical student. As an undergrad at Georgetown University, he researched within the Laboratory for Brain Injury and Dementia with Mark P. Burns, Ph.D., and Sonia Villapol, Ph.D. As a medical student, he worked with the neurosurgery department at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

William was drawn to the Neuro-Informatics Lab particularly for its focus on improving surgical outcomes for patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures. Following completion of his year as a research trainee, William plans to submit his application to neurosurgical residency programs.

Brandon C. Trammell, B.S., Program Coordinator — Research

Brandon is a graduate of Creighton University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in biology. Since graduating in 2016, he has been heavily involved in all aspects of clinical trials and patient care. Brandon brings knowledge of proper study conduct of complex, phase 1 clinical trials. Brandon is currently working on his Master of Public Health from George Washington University.

Other alumni

• Alex (Yohan) Y. Alexander, B.A., intern, 2021
• Yagiz U. Yolcu, M.D., M.S., research fellow, 2021
• Allie J. Canoy Illies, M.P.H., laboratory manager, 2020-2021
• Chiduziem E. Onyedimma, research trainee, 2020-2021
• Anshit (Ansh) Goyal, M.B.B.S., M.S., research fellow, 2017-2021
• Mohammed Ali Alvi, M.B.B.S., senior research fellow, 2016-2021
• Jad Zreik, research trainee, 2020
• Waseem Wahood, research assistant, 2018-2020
• Sandy Goncalves, M.S., laboratory manager, 2017-2020
• Mohamed Elminawy, M.B., B.Ch., research fellow, 2019
• Panagiotis Kerezoudis, M.D., M.S., research fellow, 2019
• Benjamin F. Mundell, Ph.D., medical student, 2019
• Ryan M. Naylor, M.D., Ph.D., neurologic surgery resident, 2019
• Mohammed Adeeb Sebai, M.B.B.S., research collaborator, 2018
• Redab Alkhataybeh, M.B.B.S., research trainee, 2018
• Marcus J. Gates, M.D., resident, 2017-2018
• Joseph R. Kapurch II, M.D., resident, 2017-2018
• Dennis Kurian, B.S., medical student, 2017-2018
• Jenna Meyer, M.S., medical student, 2017-2018
• Siham (Susu) Almousa, undergraduate research trainee, 2017
• Joseph (Joe) Cesare, undergraduate research trainee, 2017
• Alice E. Huang, B.S., medical student, 2017
• David V. Ivanov, B.S., medical student, 2017
• Amika Kamath, undergraduate research trainee, 2017
• Jeremie D. Oliver, B.S., B.A., medical student, 2017
• Jessica Zacher, high school research intern, 2017
• Daniel L. Shepherd, M.D., resident, 2015-2017
• Jennifer Grauberger, B.S., medical student, 2016
• Jeffrey S. Hakim, M.D., Ph.D., resident (University of Virginia), 2016
• Amanda L. Porter, B.S., medical student, 2016
• Kenan Rajjoub, B.A., medical student, 2016
• Hannah E. Gilder, B.S., medical student, 2015-2016
• Meghan E. Murphy, M.D., resident, 2015-2016