Back to Weil Institute
Weil Institute People
We're all about the team, the team, the team.
Executive Leadership
Kevin Ward, MD
Director
Weil Institute
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Medical School
Weil Institute
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Medical School
Robert Pickett Dickson, MD
Galen B Toews M.D. Legacy Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Associate Fellowship Director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Medical School
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Associate Fellowship Director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Medical School
Kathleen A Stringer
Albert B Prescott Professor
Professor of Clinical and Translational Pharmacy
College of Pharmacy
Professor of Internal Medicine and Program Associate
Emergency Medicine
Medical School
Professor of Clinical and Translational Pharmacy
College of Pharmacy
Professor of Internal Medicine and Program Associate
Emergency Medicine
Medical School
Sardar Ansari, PhD
Associate Director of Weil Institute
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Medical School
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Medical School
Xudong (Sherman) Fan, PhD
Associate Director, Weil Institute
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Heidi Flori, MD, FAAP
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
Associate Director, Weil Institute, Medical School
Associate Director, Weil Institute, Medical School
Lena Marie Napolitano, MD, FACS, FCCP, MCCM
Joyce and Don Massey Family Foundation Professor
Professor of Surgery and Program Assistant
Emergency Medicine
Medical School
Professor of Surgery and Program Assistant
Emergency Medicine
Medical School
Kenn Oldham, PhD
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Michael William Sjoding, MD, MSc
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Program Associate
Emergency Medicine Research
Medical School
Emergency Medicine Research
Medical School
J Scott VanEpps, MD, PhD
Associate Director of Weil Institute
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Medical School
Associate Professor of Macromolecular Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Medical School
Associate Professor of Macromolecular Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering
Rodney C Daniels, MD, FAAP
Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Scientific Director, Weil Institute
Medical School
Scientific Director, Weil Institute
Medical School
Frederick Korley, MD, PhD
Associate Chair of Research
Massey TBI Grand Challenge Scientific Director-Weil Institute
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Medical School
Massey TBI Grand Challenge Scientific Director-Weil Institute
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Medical School
Team Leaders
Sardar Ansari, PhD
Associate Director of Weil Institute
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Medical School
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Medical School
Justin Jones
Financial Manager, Clinical Research Unit
Kait McMurray
Operational Manager, Clinical Research Unit
Meagan Ramsey, PhD
Manager, Proposal Development Team
Jay Semerad
Senior Project Manager, Commercialization Coach
Hakam Tiba, MD, MS
Research Associate Professor
Director, Pre-clinical Critical Care Laboratory
Director, Pre-clinical Critical Care Laboratory
Megan VanStratt
Director, Marketing & Communications
Peter Walczyk
Team Lead, Data Operations
Support Team
Brittany Baur, PhD
Senior Data Scientist
Brittany Baur is a Senior Data Scientist for the Weil Institute's Data Science Team. She obtained her Ph.D. in Computational Sciences from Marquette University in 2017 and was previously a Postdoctoral Researcher at UW-Madison. Her research interests include integrating different data modalities to predict and improve patient outcomes.
Brittany Baur is a Senior Data Scientist for the Weil Institute's Data Science Team. She obtained her Ph.D. in Computational Sciences from Marquette University in 2017 and was previously a Postdoctoral Researcher at UW-Madison. Her research interests include integrating different data modalities to predict and improve patient outcomes.
Drew Bennett
Licensing Liaison
Drew is the Associate Director of Licensing at Innovation Partnerships. He acts as the interface between the Weil Institute and outside counsel for intellectual property protection matters.
Drew is the Associate Director of Licensing at Innovation Partnerships. He acts as the interface between the Weil Institute and outside counsel for intellectual property protection matters.
Loc Cao
Data Scientist
Loc Cao is a data scientist working for the Weil Institute Data Science team. Her role is developing machine learning and statistical models to support clinical decisions.
Loc Cao is a data scientist working for the Weil Institute Data Science team. Her role is developing machine learning and statistical models to support clinical decisions.
Lisa Coon
Special Events Manager
Lisa leads the planning for and execution of all Weil events. She work closely with our Events Coordinator on administration of member retreats, visiting scholar seminars, industry events, and the growing Grand Challenges. In addition, she provides material and outreach support to the greater marketing team.
Lisa leads the planning for and execution of all Weil events. She work closely with our Events Coordinator on administration of member retreats, visiting scholar seminars, industry events, and the growing Grand Challenges. In addition, she provides material and outreach support to the greater marketing team.
Alexis Davis
Research Laboratory Specialist
Alexis is a Laboratory Specialist in the Weil Institute Pre-clinical Critical Care Lab.
Alexis is a Laboratory Specialist in the Weil Institute Pre-clinical Critical Care Lab.
Courtney Dennis
Photo and bio coming soon!
Negar Farzaneh, PhD
Research Investigator/Data Scientist
Negar Farzaneh is a Research Investigator in the Department of Emergency Medicine as well as a Data Scientist with the Weil Institute’s Data Science team. Her research interest centers on the application of computer science to develop clinical decision support systems and solve medical problems.
Negar Farzaneh is a Research Investigator in the Department of Emergency Medicine as well as a Data Scientist with the Weil Institute’s Data Science team. Her research interest centers on the application of computer science to develop clinical decision support systems and solve medical problems.
Nicholas Greer
Research Intermediate Supervisor
Nicholas is part of Weil’s Preclinical Critical Care Laboratory and assists in the operation of protocols, inventory and supplies, and all general laboratory duties.
Nicholas is part of Weil’s Preclinical Critical Care Laboratory and assists in the operation of protocols, inventory and supplies, and all general laboratory duties.
Bella Johnson
CRC Tech
Sai Likhita Mamillapalli
Photo and bio coming soon!
Kate Murphy
Marketing & Communications Specialist
Kate Murphy is a graphic designer and creative copywriter. She helps with design needs related to proposal development, web design, and event collateral, in addition to supporting the overall work of Weil’s Marketing team through newsletters and other content needs.
Kate Murphy is a graphic designer and creative copywriter. She helps with design needs related to proposal development, web design, and event collateral, in addition to supporting the overall work of Weil’s Marketing team through newsletters and other content needs.
Suranjan Ottikutti
Data Architect Intermediate
Suranjan Ram Ottikkutti received his B.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, India, in 2018, and his M.S. degree in Engineering Design, track, Mechatronics from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, in 2021, where he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. degree in Mechatronics and Embedded Control Systems with the Unit of Mechatronics and Embedded Control Systems, School of Industrial Engineering and Management. His research interests include biomechanics of human movement, finite element analysis, embedded sensor systems, assistive agents, and stochastic system modeling.
Suranjan Ram Ottikkutti received his B.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, India, in 2018, and his M.S. degree in Engineering Design, track, Mechatronics from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, in 2021, where he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. degree in Mechatronics and Embedded Control Systems with the Unit of Mechatronics and Embedded Control Systems, School of Industrial Engineering and Management. His research interests include biomechanics of human movement, finite element analysis, embedded sensor systems, assistive agents, and stochastic system modeling.
Mike Ranella
Business Development Liaison
Mike is the Senior Director of Business Development in the Medical School Fast Forward Medical Innovation program. He works with industry partners to catalyze productive partnerships for Weil research collaborations
Mike is the Senior Director of Business Development in the Medical School Fast Forward Medical Innovation program. He works with industry partners to catalyze productive partnerships for Weil research collaborations
Zachary Sharpe
Research Laboratory Specialist
Zachary is a former critical care paramedic and Army MEDEVAC flight medic who now serves as a Research Laboratory Specialist at Weil’s Preclinical Critical Care Laboratory. His responsibilities include executing experimental procedures, data processing & analysis, and general laboratory duties.
Zachary is a former critical care paramedic and Army MEDEVAC flight medic who now serves as a Research Laboratory Specialist at Weil’s Preclinical Critical Care Laboratory. His responsibilities include executing experimental procedures, data processing & analysis, and general laboratory duties.
Denise Wieck
Administrative Specialist
Denise is responsible for managing day-to-day operations at the Weil Institute by providing administrative support to the team and directly supports Kevin Ward.
Denise is responsible for managing day-to-day operations at the Weil Institute by providing administrative support to the team and directly supports Kevin Ward.
Sue Wozniak
Events Specialist
Sue is part of the Weil Institute's office team, specializing in events. Sue ensures that all events, small or large, run smoothly and are executed to a high level. She is also responsible for day-to-day administrative duties for the broader team.
Sue is part of the Weil Institute's office team, specializing in events. Sue ensures that all events, small or large, run smoothly and are executed to a high level. She is also responsible for day-to-day administrative duties for the broader team.
Hongyi Yang
Data Scientist
Hongyi is a data scientist with the Weil Institute's Data Science team. His work focuses on applying machine learning and advanced data analysis to predict patient outcomes and improve patient monitoring.
Hongyi is a data scientist with the Weil Institute's Data Science team. His work focuses on applying machine learning and advanced data analysis to predict patient outcomes and improve patient monitoring.
Justin Yates
Research Area Specialist Sr
Justin is a Research Area Specialist Sr with the Weil Institute. As part of his role within Emergency Medicine Research, Justin performs research-oriented tasks including screening for potential participants, obtaining informed consent, and collecting data for various studies. Justin is a PhD candidate with a dissertation focused on barriers to treating rural patient populations.
Justin is a Research Area Specialist Sr with the Weil Institute. As part of his role within Emergency Medicine Research, Justin performs research-oriented tasks including screening for potential participants, obtaining informed consent, and collecting data for various studies. Justin is a PhD candidate with a dissertation focused on barriers to treating rural patient populations.
Ava Zarewych
Clinical Research Coordinator Technician
Ava recently graduated from U-M with a B.S. in Biology, Health, and Society, as well as a minor in Gender and Health. She previously worked as a research assistant in emergency medicine on clinical trials focused on reducing firearm-related injuries among urban youth. This experience ignited her passion for clinical research and paved the way for her journey with Weil. Ava is driven by her passion for patient-centered care and advancing healthcare equity.
Ava recently graduated from U-M with a B.S. in Biology, Health, and Society, as well as a minor in Gender and Health. She previously worked as a research assistant in emergency medicine on clinical trials focused on reducing firearm-related injuries among urban youth. This experience ignited her passion for clinical research and paved the way for her journey with Weil. Ava is driven by her passion for patient-centered care and advancing healthcare equity.
