Lab Members

Biography

Gia Badolato, MPH, has a master of public health degree in epidemiology from The George Washington University. She has an interest in disparities, firearm injury prevention, sexual health, adolescent health and computer-based tools. Gia currently serves as the senior clinical research data manager for the emergency department and data analyst for the ADAPT lab. Her goal is to use data from multiple sources to support or demonstrate a need for public health interventions. Gia’s work involves data management and analysis. With Dr. Goyal, Gia has worked on 40 published publications. She is knowledgeable in survey development, survey administration, research methodology, statistics and complex survey data analysis. Gia loves spending time with her one-year-old son and hopes to get him started in research early! In her spare time, Gia loves to watch Bravo, cook, ride her Peloton and go to the Jersey Shore.

Biography

Meleah Boyle, PhD, MPH, is a staff scientist with the ADAPT Research Lab and an assistant research professor at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Her background is in public health. She received her master of public health (MPH) and PhD in environmental health science and her bachelor of science (BS) in community health from the University of Maryland. Dr. Boyle has more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in the areas of environmental health, occupational health, social determinants of health, firearm violence and sexual health. Dr. Boyle is interested in developing interventions to address social determinants of health and disparities using an environmental health lens. As staff scientist for the ADAPT Research Lab, Dr. Boyle works closely with Dr. Goyal and the team to oversee ongoing studies, support data analyses, develop manuscripts, and write grant proposals. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Biography

Emma G. Duling, MSW, has a bachelor of arts in psychology and a master of social work from North Carolina State University. She has previously worked in roles analyzing health and socioeconomic disparities and most recently research investigating behavioral health interventions in primary care settings. Emma is currently a data analyst for the ADAPT lab and supports data needs across all studies. She is passionate about using data to drive change and inform interventions to reduce disparities and create equitable outcomes. Outside of work, Emma enjoys skiing, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Biography

Eden Efrem has a bachelor's degree in molecular biology and a certificate in global health and health policy from Princeton University. As a Clinical Research Assistant for the ADAPT lab, she primarily works on the research initiatives “Building an Anti-Racist Health System” and “Mitigating Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities in the Pediatrics Emergency Department”, which aim to address inequities in care within the ED. She is interested in addressing health disparities and developing interventions to improve care for an overall positive impact on patients. In her spare time, Eden enjoys working out, playing the violin, and spending time with her dogs.

Biography

Shannon Fletcher has a bachelor of arts in psychology from Gettysburg College. She has previously worked in the inpatient psychiatry setting working with youth and adolescents to implement behavioral health therapies. Shannon is a clinical research assistant for the ADAPT Lab and works mainly on the project to address disparities in adolescent sexual health outcomes through screening and treatment of STIs in the Emergency Department. Her interests include health equity research, mental health, and social justice advocacy. Outside of work, Shannon enjoys cooking, listening to live music, practicing yoga, and caring for her ever growing collection of houseplants.

Biography

Natasha Kaushal, MSPH, has a bachelor of arts in public health policy and political science from the University of California, Irvine, and a masters of science in public health in health systems from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Natasha has prior work experience in health security research at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, and in global COVID-19 program implementation in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Currently, she is a clinical research project manager for the ADAPT Lab and works with teams at Children’s on research addressing disparities in adolescent sexual health outcomes. Her interests include health systems strengthening, global health and infectious disease outbreaks, and community-based models of care. Natasha also enjoys traveling, dancing salsa, and playing volleyball.

Biography

Alix Mahon, MPH, has a bachelor of science in human development and psychology from the University of California, Davis and a master of public health in maternal, child and family health from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. She has prior work experience managing both clinical and qualitative projects investigating the impact of type 1 diabetes (T1D) on brain health in children and ways to support youth with T1D transitioning from pediatric to adult care. Alix is a clinical research coordinator for the Pediatric Emergency Medical Services: Preventing Analgesia INequities (PEMS: PAIN) project. Her interests include health equity research, chronic disease/disabilities, pain management, and program implementation and evaluation. In her free time Alix enjoys exercising, looking up old homes on Zillow, and spending time with her family, especially her three siblings.

Biography

Jessica Marshall, MPH, has a bachelor of science in biology from Spelman College and a master of public health in epidemiology from The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. Jessica has previously worked in research with several populations at Children’s National including teens with cancer and patients within the pediatric intensive care unit. Additionally, Jessica spent several years as a public sector consultant working on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services projects and addressing value-based care models. Currently, she is a clinical research project manager for the ADAPT lab and works closely with Dr. Goyal to oversee project development and execution of the Project Addressing INequities in the Emergency Department. Her interests include health equity research, advocacy, qualitative analysis, value-based care, and change management. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys cooking, traveling, and completing puzzles.

Biography

Tayla Smith, MPH, has a bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Minnesota and a master of public health from the University of Toronto. She is currently a senior clinical research coordinator for the ADAPT lab and program manager of the Youth Violence Intervention Program at Children's National Hospital. With nearly a decade of experience working in hospitals, Tayla is interested in the implementation and evaluation of public health interventions designed to address firearm injury prevention, mental health, health equity, and health system improvement. Tayla also enjoys trying new recipes, hiking, crocheting, reality tv and spending time with her family.

Biography

Carrigan Rice has a bachelor of science in global health from Georgetown University. Before joining the ADAPT team, she worked on population health, health policy, and community health outreach projects. Specifically, she worked on initiatives to improve health accessibility for under-resourced communities in DC and rural communities. Carrigan is a clinical research assistant on the Project Addressing Inequities in the Emergency Department (PAINED) and supports other projects implemented by the ADAPT team. Her interests include healthcare accessibility, patient advocacy, and health equity. Carrigan also enjoys reading, hiking, and listening to live music.

Biography

Daniel Zhang has a bachelor of science in physiology and neurobiology from the University of Maryland. He has previously worked at One Tent Health, a community-based health clinic that offers free HIV and COVID testing to D.C., residents with the help of college student volunteers. Daniel is currently a clinical research assistant and works primarily on the Project Addressing Inequities in the Emergency Department (PAINED) and the project for Improving Sexual Health Outcomes for Youth with screening and treatment of STIs in the Emergency Department. His research interests include studying interventions and tools to reduce health disparities in the pre-hospital emergency and emergency department settings. Daniel enjoys watching and playing soccer, cooking and discovering new coffee spots.