The Shiley-Marcos ADRC’s multidisciplinary team includes:
Douglas R. Galasko, M.D., Director of the Shiley-Marcos ADRC. Professor In Residence, Department of Neurosciences. Joined the ADRC in 1987. Medical Degree: 1979 Johannesburg General Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. Field of interest: Clinical research pertaining to Alzheimer’s disease and neurological problems associated with aging.
Edward H. Koo, M.D., Professor, Department of Neurosciences; Associate Director of the ADRC. Joined the ADRC in 1996. Medical Degree: 1980 Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina. Completed Neurology residency at University of California, San Francisco. Field of Interest: Cell and molecular biology of AD and neurodegeneration, mechanisms of neuronal and synaptic damage, and translation medicine in AD therapeutics.
Jody Corey-Bloom M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Professor, Department of Neurosciences. Joined the ADRC in 1990. Medical Degree: 1986 UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA. Field of Interest: clinical research pertaining to Alzheimer’s disease and neurological disorders in the elderly.
Jim Brewer, M.D. Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Neurosciences. Joined the ADRC in 2004. Medical Degree: Stanford University and his neurology residency training at Johns Hopkins University. He joined the Department of Neurosciences in 2004, in a joint recruitment of the Departments of Neurosciences and Radiology, and is a leading investigator at the interdisciplinary Multimodal Imaging Laboratory. Field of interest: Structural and functional brain changes in early Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Brewer was recently featured in an Apple Computer advertisement for his cutting edge research methods in the realm of neuroimaging.
Michael Rafii , M.D., Ph.D. Fellow, Department of Neurosciences. Field of Interest: Memory and Aging, Clinical Trials and Neuroimaging of Cognitive Disorders. Joined the ADRC in 2006. Medical Degree: Brown University School of Medicine and completed his Neurology Residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Mark Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Neurosciences. Joined the ADRC in 1991. Medical Degree: 1983 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn. Field of Interest: trophic factor effects on neurons in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, clinical trials of cholinergic agonists in Alzheimer’s disease, gene therapy, nervous system growth factors, and spinal cord injury.
John Daly, M.D. Assistant Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Director of the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at UCSD. He is also the Consultant Geriatrician to the Senior Behavioral Medicine inpatient unit at UCSD Thornton Hospital in La Jolla, CA. Medical Degree: University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM. Field of Interest: Rheumatology and Geriatrics with a specialization in dementia care. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Daly conducts research and teaches medical students. He is also a UCSD SOCARE (Seniors Only Care) physician.
Roberto Malinow, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Neurosciences. Malinow came to the UC San Diego School of Medicine in March 2008 from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a private, non-profit research institution in New York, where he held the Alle Davis and Maxine Harrison Endowed Chair of Neurosciences since 1998. His research focuses on synaptic transmission and plasticity, learning and memory. He received his medical degree from New York University and his Ph.D. degree from UC Berkeley. Malinow has received numerous awards including the MetLife Foundation Award for Medical Research and has been keynote speaker in several venues including the Einar Hille Memorial Lecture, KAC Elliot Lecture and Gordon Conference on Synaptic Transmission.Nursing Staff
Deborah Olasin Fontaine, M.S, G.N.P. is a B.S.N. graduate of Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. After practicing in Philadelphia for several years, she attended Boston University. There she became a Nurse Practitioner and received her M.S. in Gerontology. She is AMA certified and has, since joining the ADRC in 1992, concentrated on working with AD, Parkinson’s disease (PD), and other movement disorders
Susan M. Frye, G.N.P. certified by the ANA, has worked at the ADRC since 1992. She earned her B.S.N. & M.S. in Nursing from the University of Delaware and B.S. (in Neurobiology and Behavior) from Cornell University.
Mary Margaret Pay , G.N.P. received her degree in Nursing from Madonna University in Livonia Michigan and her Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the ADRC in 1984, she worked in a state facility for psychiatric disorders. She provided admission assessments as well as annual evaluations, which included neurological exams, for an adult population that included geriatric patients. This experience provided a great background for the development of the nursing role in research at the ADRC.
Judith A. Rivera, A.N.P. certified Family Nurse Practitioner, has worked at the ADRC since 1997. She received her B.S.N. in Nursing from San Diego State University, and M.S.N. from University of San Diego. Bilingual/bicultural and fluent in Spanish, Judith has more than 10 years of experience in nursing and assisting research patients and families in San Diego.
Helen Vanderswag , R.N. earned an Associate degree at Palomar College and B.A. from the University of Phoenix . She joined the ADRC in 2002. In her 22 years of nursing experience she has worked in psychiatric inpatient and home care, and clinical research. She comes to us from the Geropsychiatry Unit at the VA Medical Center.
Christina Ortiz, Clinical Research Associate. Native of Argentina. Received a teacher’s degree and License in Journalism from University of Buenos Aires, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences. Is fluent in Spanish and Italian. Has been with UCSD, School of Medicine for 10 years. For the last 2 years, she was part of the Clinical Research team under the direction of Tony Reid M.D and Barbara Parker M.D., Oncology Director, at the UCSD Moores Cancer Centre, specializing in preventive and therapeutic breast and prostate studies. Previously, she was responsible for Adherence and Retention for The Woman’s Health Initiative WHI (a nation wide study sponsored by The National Institute of Health; San Diego chapter with 5600 subjects) for 8 years. She volunteers for the Hospice of the North County, Meals on Wheels and is an avid hiker. She is a Coordinator for ADRC Clinical Studies
Karen Wetzel, P.A.-C, M.P.A.S, received her B.A. as a physician assistant (P.A.) from the University of Nebraska. She joined the ADRC in 2002. She further pursued her studies earning degrees in both psychology and P.A .Studies, and has been working in research for the last eight years.
David P. Salmon, Ph.D.
Professor in Residence in the Department of Neurosciences and Co-Director of the Clinical Core of the ADRC. Dr. Salmon received his Ph.D. in Biopsychology from Rutgers University in 1984 and completed post-doctoral training in Animal and Human Neuropsychology at UCSD in 1986. He has been affiliated with the ADRC since 1985. His research focuses on the neural basis of memory and cognition examined through the psychological and neurological analysis of the cognitive deficits associated with diverse dementing disorders. He was awarded the prestigious Helen A. Jarrett Chair Award in Alzheimer's Research in 2000.
Guerry M. Peavy, Ph.D., is a licensed neuropsychologist and faculty member of the UCSD Department of Neurosciences. She obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut and has worked at the ADRC since 1990. Her research has focused on cognitive functioning in patients with Alzheimer's disease. She initially studied patients in severe stages of dementia, and is currently examining the effects of chronic psychological stress on the development of Alzheimer's disease. Of particular interest are those subjects who are already experiencing some memory loss but are otherwise functioning normally (MCI).
Cecily Jenkins, Ph.D., is a licensed neuropsychologist who received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Clark University in 1999. She completed her internship and post-doctoral training at UCSD and has been employed in UCSD’s Alzheimer’s Research Center since 1995, first serving as a psychometrist and then as a post-graduate researcher and co-facilitator of the support group for early stage Alzheimer’s patients. She is now Project Director of the center’s Memory in Aging Project (MAP), a focused recruitment initiative geared toward increasing research involvement of seniors experiencing Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Tamar H. Gollan, Ph.D. Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD. Dr. Gollan investigates how bilingualism affects cognitive functioning by working primarily with the Hispanic Cohort at the ADRC. Dr. Gollan is a life-long Hebrew-English bilingual and is also fluent in Spanish. Dr. Gollan received her Ph.D. in clinical and cognitive neuropsychology from the University of Arizona. She is a faculty member of the UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, and also mentors undergraduate research as part of the Faculty Mentor Program and the McNair Program for students who are underrepresented in graduate education. Dr. Gollan’s research is funded by a Career Development Award (K23) from NIDCD/NIH.
Sandra Jerkins, B.S., received her B.S. in psychology from UCSD in 1998. She has since worked as part-time psychometrist for our longitudinal study and is currently involved in the Memory in Aging Project.
Rosa Montoya received her B.A. in human development from UCSD in 2002, same year she joined the ADRC. Rosa was born in Mexicali and has been in the States since she was two years old. She utilizes her excellent Spanish language skills as a part-time psychometrist for the Hispanic component.
Chi Kim, B.S. received his degree from the University of California, San Diego in Cognitive Science. He administers neuropsychological testing for several ADRC studies as well as the SOCARE clinic. He also supervises weekly outings for the Out and About Program. Additionally, he provides technical and computer expertise for the ADRC and SOCARE program staff.
Eileen DaPena, B.A., PsyD., received her B.A. in psychology from UCSB in 1994, and her M.A. in Psychology and PsyD.at CSPP. Eileen is a Panama native who arrived in the United States in 1991. Bilingual and bicultural, she is a part-time psychometrist for the Hispanic component of the ADRC.
Tracie Caccavale, Ph.D. received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Washington, Seattle in 1996 and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Pacific Graduate School of Psychology in Palo Alto in June 2006. Tracie came to the ADRC from the UCSD Department of Psychiatry where she administered neuropsychological testing on the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. She has joined the ADRC as a full-time psychometrist.
Lynn de Paur, M.S.received her bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from Stanford University. She received master’s degrees in Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, and in Health Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University where she is a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology. Her clinical focus includes neuropsychological assessment and consultation for patients with brain injury and stroke, as well as behavioral medicine intervention for patients with pain and stress related disorders. She joined the ADRC in 2007 where she has worked on a variety of projects and studies including the Hispanic Program, Psychometry, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Home Based Assessment, and the Community Health Program.
Frances Martinez Goodrich, M.S.W., has worked at the ADRC since 1995. She received her B.A. in Behavioral Sciences from New Mexico Highlands University in 1973, and her M.S.W. at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. As a social worker for the Hispanic Program of the ADRC, she works closely with our 100 participants in the Program and their families, establishes strong and committed professional working relationships with other allied health professionals, magnifies the importance of support for the Alzheimer patient and caregiver through the Guidelines for Alzheimer’s Disease Management.
Lisa Snyder, L.C.S.W., has worked at the ADRC since 1987. She received her B.A. in fine arts from Humboldt State University in 1983 and her M.S.W. from San Diego State University in 1987. Lisa provides counseling, education, information and referral services to our patients and families. She is recognized nationally and internationally for her work in early-stage Alzheimer's and for understanding the subjective experience of the disease.
Steven D. Edland , B.S., M.S., Ph.D. , Core Leader of Data Management and Statistics Core. Dr. Edland received his B.S. in Environmental Studies from Western Washington University in 1983, his M.S. in Statistics and Ph.D. in Epidemiology from University of Washington (UW) in 1986 in 1986 and 2000, respectively. He is an Associate Professor in Biostatistics with Appointments in the departments of Family and Preventive Medicine and Neurosciences. Prior to joining the ADRC in 2004, Dr. Edland was Director of Data Management and Statistics Core of the Mayo Clinic ADRC.
C. Richard Hofstetter, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School of Public Health at San Diego State University. Since joining the ADRC in 1986, he has worked as programmer, analyst, and statistician the ADRC. He received his Ph.D. in Political Sciences and Sociology from Indiana University in 1967, and his current fields of interest are data processing, statistical applications, survey research and design.
Alicia Booth, joined the ADRC in 1985 and currently works as computer programmer. She received her undergraduate degree in Legal Translations from Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1975.
Tim Gahagan, M.S., Data Manager. He joined the ADRC in 2007 after 10 years of work at UCSD on the Parkinson’s Dementia Complex of Guam project. He received his B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Computer Science from California State University at Fullerton.
Administration Staff
Mary Sundsmo, M.B.A., Shiley-Marcos ADRC Program Director, started her career at UCSD in 1980 in the labs of Drs. Miller and Saitoh, and joined the Shiley-Marcos ADRC in 1998 as Program Director. She earned her undergraduate degree in Microbiology and her M.B.A. from the University of California, Irvine in 1969 and1999, respectively. Ms. Sundsmo was an integral part of the UCSD-initiated legislation of assembly bill AB 2328, bill that called for expanding research opportunities for affected individuals, and was recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the UC Office of the President and the California Department of Health Services. She has been elected to the Administrators Steering Committee of the 30 nationwide National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded Alzheimer’s Research Centers and serves as a liaison between the NIA and members of the Committee. Mary is a contributing writer for the George G. Glenner Center newsletter and serves as their Community Ambassador and on their Medical Advisory Board. She volunteers as a speaker for community caregiver, patient support, Kiwanis, and Rotary groups.
Pamela Bell, joined the ADRC in 1990. She provides Office Management support in the areas of administration, human resources, logistics, space planning, clerical staff and student supervision. Pam also provides expertise and assistance with computer hardware, software, webmaster and network administration for the ADRC faculty and staff.
Sue Johnson Sue Johnson has been with the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) since 1997. Sue has been the assistant for the ADRC's founder and now Professor Emeritus of Neurosciences, Dr. Robert Katzman since 1997 and her projects have been numerous. Ms. Johnson is currently a data manager for special projects, and she is the Conference Coordinator for the ADRC's annual Continuing Medical Education conference; attended by medical professionals from all over the world to learn of the most recent advances in Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders from the ADRC faculty as well as internationally-known guest speakers.
Beata Santiago, Administrative Assistant, handles participant scheduling and administrative tasks required to effectively operate the dynamics at the ADRC. She has been a vital part of the ACRC since 1988. She is the friendly voice you hear when you contact our center.
Dennis Nowak, Fiscal Assistant, earned an A.S. degree in Electronic & Electrical Technology from Penn State University. He joined the ADRC after eight and a half years at the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) here at UCSD.
Christina Gigliotti, Ph.D., received a B.S. in Human Development (2000), a B.S. in Horticulture (2001), and her M.S./Ph.D. in Human Development (2006) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where she also earned a certificate in Gerontology. Her research focus was on non-pharmacological interventions that enhance well-being for people with dementia, including Horticulture Therapy. She is the Community Health Program Supervisor at the ADRC and is involved with facilitating community programs, giving talks, and developing and disseminating outreach materials. She is the liason between the ADRC and the community, as she is responsible for providing outreach and education to physicians as well as potential participants about AD and related dementias, as well as our center's ongoing and new research projects.
Diane Coseo, B.A., Sponsored Projects Analyst, received her B.A. in Applied Art from San Diego State University. She began her career in research administration in 1999 working in pre and post award administration for a federally-funded Center at San Diego State University Research Foundation. She relocated to the Bay Area where she worked as a Financial Analyst in sponsored research administration at San Francisco State University and University of California, San Francisco. Diane joined the ADRC in October of 2008 and manages the complex financial records of the ADRC Cores, Pilots, and Projects as well as other affiliated research projects.