Our Specialists
![Healthcare professionals working together](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Team_2.png)
Meet Our Team of Brain Tumor Experts
The multidisciplinary team at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center spans the entire spectrum of specialty investigators, including neuroscientists, molecular biologists, cell biologists, pharmacokinetics specialists, animal modeling experts, biostatisticians, neurosurgical oncologists, clinical neuro-oncologists, neuro-radiation oncologists, neuropathologists, neuroradiologists, neuroscience nurses, early-phase trial navigators, program managers, and regulatory specialists. Collectively, we represent the nation’s largest early-phase clinical trials team focusing exclusively on brain tumors. Each team member brings a different perspective and background, but our team works seamlessly to accomplish the same goal through cutting-edge brain cancer research and therapies.
Clinicians
Neurosurgery
![Headshot of Nader Sanai](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Nader-Sanai-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Nader Sanai, MDDirector, Ivy Brain Tumor Center and Chief of Neurosurgical Oncology, Barrow Neurological Institute
![Michael Lawton hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Michael-Lawton.png)
Michael T. Lawton, MDPresident and CEO, Barrow Neurological Institute Neurosurgeon
![Kris Smith hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kris-Smith.png)
Kris Smith, MDNeurosurgeon
![Headshot of John Wanebo](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/John-Wanebo-Hexagon-386x458.png)
John Wanebo, MDNeurosurgeon
![Kaith Al-Mefty hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kaith-Al-Mefty.png)
Kaith Almefty, MDNeurosurgeon
![Headshot of Zaman Mirzadeh](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Zaman-Mirzadeh-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Zaman Mirzadeh, MD, PhDMetabolism Core Leader Neurosurgeon
![Randall Porter hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Randall-Porter.png)
Randall Porter, MDNeurosurgeon
![Andrew Little hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Andrew-Little.png)
Andrew Little, MDNeurosurgeon
![Steve Chang, MD](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Chang-Steve_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-2024-386x458.jpg)
Steve Chang, MDNeurosurgeon
Neuro-Radiation Oncology
Neuro-Oncology
Medical Oncology
Neuropathology
Neuroradiology
Neuropsychology
Neuro-Oncology Nursing
![Jacki Garcia](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Garcia-Jaclyn_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Jacki Garcia, RN, CNRNNurse Navigator
![Kendall Felix, RN](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Felix_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Kendall Felix, RNNurse Navigator
Neuro-Rehabilitation
![Sarah Key](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Team-Headshot-Hexagon_0074-1-386x458.png)
Sarah KeySpeech Language Pathologist
Preclinical and Translational Science
Pre-Clinical
![Headshot of Sonam Patel](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Sonam-Patel_Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Sonam Patel, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![Gozde Uzunalli, PhD](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Team-Headshot-Hexagon_4-386x458.png)
Gozde Uzunalli, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![Headshot of Anilkumar Thaghalli Shivanna](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/0227_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Anilkumar Thaghalli Shivanna, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![Susan Histed, PhD](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Histed_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Susan Histed, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![Headshot of Keely Orndorff](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/0121_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Keely OrndorffGraduate Student
![James McNamara hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/James-McNamara.png)
James McNamaraResearch Technician
![Elizabeth Hayes](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Team-Headshot-Hexagon_2-386x458.png)
Elizabeth HayesResearch Technician
![Kaitlyn Chung](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chung-Kaitlyn_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Kaitlyn ChungResearch Technician
![Generic Woman Avatar Outline](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Generic_Woman_1_Headshot_Hexagon-386x458.png)
Xu HeResearch Technician
Pharmacodynamics
![An-Chi Tien](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/An-Chi-Tien_2-395x458.png)
An-Chi Tien, PhDPharmacodynamics Core Leader
![Headshot of Siddhi Desai](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Siddhi-Desai_Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Siddhi Desai, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![Hualin Zhang, PhD](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Hualin_Zhang_Hexagon-386x458.png)
Hualin Zhang, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![Inad Rabadi](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Team-Headshot-Hexagon_0127-386x458.png)
Inad RabadiResearch Technician
![Sydney Canning](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Canning-Sydney_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Sydney CanningResearch Technician
Pharmacokinetics
![Artak Tovmasyan Headshot](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Tovmasyan-Artak_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Artak Tovmasyan, PhDPharmacokinetics Core Leader
![Headshot of Tigran Margaryan](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Tigran-Margaryan-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Tigran Margaryan, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![Vahuni Karapetyan, PhD](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Karapetyan_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Vahuni Karapetyan, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![Murugesh Kandasamy](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kandasamy-Murugesh_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Murugesh Kandasamy, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![William Knight](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Knight-William_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
William KnightResearch Technician
![Brett Rudolph](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Rudolph-Brett_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Brett RudolphResearch Technician
Pharmacogenomics
Cellular Metabolism
![Headshot of Zaman Mirzadeh](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Zaman-Mirzadeh-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Zaman Mirzadeh, MD, PhDMetabolism Core Leader Neurosurgeon
![Shilpa Kommaraju hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Shilpa-Kommaraju.png)
Shilpa Kommaraju, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![Headshot of Chelsea Faber](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Chelsea-Faber-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Chelsea Faber, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
![Arati Sridharan, PhD](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Team-Headshot-Hexagon_0104-386x458.png)
Arati Sridharan, PhDResearch Engineer
![Elaine Cabrales hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Elaine-Cabrales.png)
Elaine CabralesResearch Technician
Biostatistics
Clinical Operations
![Jocelyn Harmon hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Jocelyn-Harmon.png)
Jocelyn HarmonClinical Operations Director
![Amy Hong hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Amy-Hong.png)
Amy HongData Management Specialist
![Generic Woman Avatar Outline](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Generic_Woman_1_Headshot_Hexagon-386x458.png)
Shannon KellyRegulatory Project Manager
![Headshot of Jamie Sanders](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/0036_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Jamie SandersProject Manager
![Diana Maleyeva](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Team-Headshot-Hexagon_5-386x458.png)
Diana MaleyevaProgram Manager
![Headshot of Kristin Hendrickson](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Kristin-Hendrickson-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Kristin HendricksonResearch Nurse
![Jake Nighswander-Will](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Nighswander-Will-Jake_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Jake Nighswander-WillResearch Nurse
![Anastasia Mishchenko](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mishchenko-Anastasia_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Anastasia MishchenkoResearch Nurse
![Deborah Mulholland](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mulholland_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Deborah MulhollandClinical Research Specialist
![Ciara Avelina Lugo](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lugo_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Ciara Avelina LugoClinical Research Specialist
![Sarya Reid-Tate](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Reid-Tate_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Sarya Reid-TateRegulatory Specialist
![Tearra Sheidler](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Team-Headshot-Hexagon_0061-1-386x458.png)
Tearra SheidlerData Management Specialist
![Audrey Wong](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Wong-Audrey_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Audrey WongResearch Data Coordinator
![Alicia Nguyen](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Nguyen-Alicia_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Alicia NguyenPhase 0 Navigator
Business Operations
![Rima Woo hexagon cutout](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rima-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Rima WooChief Administrative Officer
![](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Parker-Christina_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Cristina ParkerPersonnel Manager
![Headshot of Aja Pendersen](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/0179_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Aja PedersenAdministrative Coordinator
![Christine Rozell](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Rozell-Christine_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-6-2024-386x458.png)
Christine RozellExecutive Admin
Leadership
![Headshot of Steve Papadopoulos](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Papadopolous_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Steve Papadopoulos, MDChief Executive Officer
![Tom Bour](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bour_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-1-386x458.png)
Tom BourChief Operating Officer
![Headshot of Nader Sanai](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Nader-Sanai-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Nader Sanai, MDChief Scientific Officer
![Headshot of Shwetal Metah](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Shwetal-Metah-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Shwetal Mehta, PhDDeputy Director and Pre-Clinical Core Leader
![Yoshi Umemura](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/unnamed-386x458.png)
Yoshie Umemura, MDChief Medical Officer
Communications
![Melinda Langdon](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Team-Headshot-Hexagon_0090-386x458.png)
Melinda LangdonDirector of Marketing and Communications
![Headshot of Michelle Palacino](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Palacino_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Michelle PalacinoMarketing Specialist
![Headshot of Jennifer Keeler](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Jenny-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Jennifer KeelerCommunications Specialist
![Brooke Bondi](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bondi_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)
Brooke BondiMarketing Coordinator
Philanthropy
![John Pennant](https://www.ivybraintumorcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Pennant_Team-Headshot-Hexagon-386x458.png)