New Staff - April 2021
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Andy Rivera, CCRP Andy (he/him) returns to the CV research team after spending some time with the Department of Family & Preventative Medicine. Originally from CA, he relocated to Utah to pursue higher education at the UofU. It was during an assigned project with Dr. Linda Edelman that he realized he had a passion for medical research. Andy has worked in various departments across the University, furthering his knowledge of research over the past 8 ½ years. In his spare time, Andy and his partner can be found globetrotting or spending time outdoors with their 2 pups, Bella & Chicho. One of his favorite accomplishments has been traveling to Antarctica, where he was persuaded to do the polar plunge, diving into 29-degree water. |
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Brant Whitehead Currently at home in Lake Point, UT, Brant will be at the SOM when able to return to work at the hospital. Brant grew up in Sandy, UT and attended Jordan High School (Go Beetdiggers!). He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and is currently enrolled in their Master of Healthcare Administration program, focusing on operations, revenue cycle, finance, and post-acute care. He’s worked full-time at U Health since 2017, previously as a Patient Relations Coordinator. This is his first role in the School of Medicine, where he’s enjoying his new role and team. When he’s not at work, he enjoys time with family and friends, golfing, playing basketball, grilling/smoking delicious foods, cheering for the Jazz, and watching college football. Brant recently became a Dad to a beautiful baby girl, Emerson, who just turned 2 months old. She and Mom are doing great! |
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Brooke Cooper |
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Dave Zobell |
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Davey Li |
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Elisabeth Kimball, M.S. Elisabeth (affectionately known as Ellie) is from Dayton, OH. Born and raised in the Midwest, Ellie traveled to Utah to study human development at BYU. She continued her studies there to receive her M.S. in Marriage, Family, and Human Development, where she primarily focused on qualitative research methods. Currently, Ellie lives in South Jordan and works on various qualitative projects for the University of Utah and will also work alongside the VA. In her free time, Ellie enjoys being with Alex (her forever sweetheart), playing games, and cooking various new recipes. She is excited to be a part of the U, to further her research skills, and to make a difference to various programs and initiatives to help others. |
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Erinn Geyer, BA Erinn grew up in the Boston area and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Tufts University in 2016. She is a current, two-year Master of Social Work Student at the University of Utah. She moved to Utah in 2017, where she worked for a wilderness therapy program as a field instructor for several years, and grew a passion for working with adolescents who struggled with a variety of clinical diagnoses, more specifically substance use related disorders. She transitioned to working at a substance use recovery program in Salt Lake City, where she worked with mothers in recovery, and their children. She worked as a substance use recovery counselor at a residential treatment center for adolescent boys for her first-year practicum experience. Erinn loves to be outside and could be found exploring canyons down in the desert! Her favorite season is summer and she’s excited to consume copious amounts of ice cream. Erinn is thrilled to be a part of the PARCKA team! |
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Evelyn Bowen |
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Hannah Clem |
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Katherine Zukor, RN, BSN Kat is originally from the DC area and began her adult life getting a degree in math and biology and serving in the Air Force. Her long path to becoming an RN included experience with climbing/mountaineering accidents, getting an EMT certification, working as a technician on a neuro/ortho hospital floor, doing research on spinal cord injury/regeneration, and then wishing for a return to direct patient care. She finished Utah State University's new BSN program at the height of the COVID era and got some intense training in the Neuro ICU at the University of Utah hospital. In her free time she enjoys rock climbing, trail running, snowboarding, and meditating. She is excited to serve the dialysis community and help empower patients and co-workers alike to live their healthiest and happiest lives possible. |
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Matthew Neeley |
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Monica Verma |
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Rachel Carroll |
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Sam Shewan |
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Santiago Mercadal Vilchez, MD Dr. Santiago Mercadal is a kind hematologist from Barcelona, Spain and a researcher mainly in the field of lymphomas and cellular therapies. |
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Stella Puckett |