{"id":3567,"date":"2019-06-20T16:29:52","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T16:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/?page_id=3567"},"modified":"2025-01-14T15:30:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T15:30:42","slug":"clinical","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/clinical\/","title":{"rendered":"Clinical Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0|0px|0|0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;||2px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_4424-v2-scaled.jpeg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_4424 v2&#8243; show_bottom_space=&#8221;off&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.3&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;-23px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_id=&#8221;director&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"page-head\">Clinical Research Team<\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0|0px|1px|0|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0|0px|0|0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text module_class=&#8221;people_button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; link_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;40px||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; link_text_color__hover=&#8221;#e02b20&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Clinical Research Team Member Links<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#beth\">Beth Rosen Sheidley, MS, CGC<\/a> | <a href=\"#heather\">Heather Olson, MD, MS<\/a> | <a href=\"#christelle\">Christelle Moufawad El Achkar, MD<\/a> | <a href=\"#kim\">Kimberly Wiltrout, MD<\/a> | <a href=\"#catherine\">Catherine Salussolia, MD, PhD<\/a> | \u00a0<a href=\"#candice\">Candice Marti, MSN, CPNP<\/a> | <a href=\"#lacey\">Lacey Smith, MS, CGC<\/a> |\u00a0<a href=\"#sonal\">Sonal Mahida, MGC, CGC<\/a> |\u00a0<a href=\"#abbe\">Abbe Lai, MS, CGC<\/a> | <a href=\"#rozalia\">Rozalia Valentine, MS, CGC<\/a> | <a href=\"#gillian\">Gillian Prinzing, MS, CGC<\/a> | <a href=\"#ivan\">Ivan Ruiz<\/a>\u00a0| <a href=\"#anastasia\">Anastasia Kokhanova<\/a> |<a href=\"#maya\">Maya Davis<\/a> | <a href=\"#mariela\">Mariela Cadena Hernandez<\/a> | <a href=\"#cesar\">Cesar Urzua<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_id=&#8221;kirby-faculty&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|0px|0|0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_divider _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; height=&#8221;0px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|0px|0|0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Beth Rosen Sheidley, MS, CGC&#8221; position=&#8221;Co-Director of Epilepsy Genetics Program, Senior Genetics Counseling Program Manager&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Beth_Sheidley-e1561403257797.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;beth&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Beth Rosen Sheidley is a licensed genetic counselor with over 25 years of experience in clinical genetic counseling, research and teaching. Her areas of expertise include epilepsy, autism, psychiatric illness and both prenatal and pediatric genetic counseling.\u00a0 As Co-Director of the Epilepsy Genetics Program, Beth is involved in all aspects of program planning and development.<\/p>\n<p>Beth provides genetic counseling to families seen in our Epilepsy Genetics Clinical Consultation Program, supervises the genetic counseling and clinic\/clinical research staff, oversees the implementation of our research efforts, and coordinates our involvement in several collaborative research projects. She is a founding member and Co-Chair of EpiGC, an international network of genetic counselors who specialize in epilepsy genetics and who are dedicated to the education of both providers and families.\u00a0 Beth also serves on the Epilepsy Foundation&#8217;s Professional Advisory Board, and is the Co-Editor of genetics content for the Epilepsy Foundation&#8217;s website, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epilepsy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.epilepsy.com<\/a>.\u200b<\/p>\n<p>Beth received her BS degree from Cornell University in 1990 and her MS in Genetic Counseling from Brandeis University in 1994.\u00a0 She joined the Department of Neurology at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital in 2010.\u00a0 In addition to her role in the Epilepsy Genetics Program, Beth is a member of the Advisory Board for the Brandeis University Genetic Counseling Graduate Program, where she served as Professor of the Practice\/Co-Director of Research and Professional Development from 2005 through June of 2014.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Heather Olson, MD, MS&#8221; position=&#8221;Attending Physician&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Olson_Heather-e1561402691478.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;heather&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Olson is a neurologist and epileptologist at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital with board certification in neurology and special qualification in child neurology.\u00a0 She has fellowship training in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology, as well as in neurogenetics, with a focus on epilepsy genetics.\u00a0 She also has experience and interest in neonatal neurology.\u00a0 She is an attending physician in the Epilepsy Genetics Program, through which she sees patients for consultations and management of epilepsy. \u00a0She sees additional patients for consultation as part of the Brain Development and Genetics Program, and she is an attending\u00a0physician\u00a0in the Neonatal Neurology Follow-up Program with a focus on epilepsy and neurogenetics. \u00a0Dr. Olson is also Co-director\u00a0of\u00a0the CDKL5 Center of Excellence.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Olson has ongoing related research projects that focus on understanding and determining the underlying genetic causes of epilepsy, including the overlap of inflammatory and genetic mechanisms of epilepsy. She has expertise in both phenotypic and genotypic analysis. She is the local contact for the Rasmussen Encephalitis Research Consortium and neurologist for The Angelman Natural History Study. In 2013, Dr. Olson was selected as the recipient of the Logan Infantile Spasms Award and Research Grant by the Child Neurology Foundation.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/connects.catalyst.harvard.edu\/Profiles\/display\/Person\/77358\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harvard Catalyst Profile &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Christelle Moufawad El Achkar, MD&#8221; position=&#8221;Attending Physician&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Achkar_Christelle-e1561403454304.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;christelle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Achkar is an attending physician in the Epilepsy Genetics Program and the Division of Epilepsy and Neurophysiology. She is fluent in English, Arabic and French, and studied Biology before attending the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) for medical school. Prior to coming to Boston Children\u2019s for her child neurology residency, Dr. Achkar completed her pediatric residency at Rainbow Babies and Children\u2019s Hospital-Case University in Cleveland\u00a0as well as a research fellowship on the use of\u00a0scalp EEG recording of high frequency\u00a0waves in mapping\u00a0eloquent cortical areas at University Hospitals of Cleveland- Case Medical Center. She completed an additional clinical fellowship year under Drs. Annapurna Poduri and Heather Olson in the Epilepsy Genetics Program, during which she focused on the diagnosis and management of multiple causes of epilepsy genetics. Her training also includes autism spectrum disorder clinics under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Spence.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Achkar\u2019s main research and clinical interest is the connection between epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder as well as other co-morbidities including developmental delays and behavioral problems. Currently Dr. Achkar is closely involved with clinical research projects involving genetic disorders that are known to cause epilepsy along with other neurodevelopmental disorders, such as 16p11.2 copy number variations and PCDH19.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/connects.catalyst.harvard.edu\/Profiles\/display\/Person\/100388\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harvard Catalyst Profile &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 12px; text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">BACK TO TOP ^<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|0px|0|0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Kimberly Wiltrout, MD&#8221; position=&#8221;Attending Physician&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Picture1-e1691508504533.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;kimberly&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span>Dr. Wiltrout is a neurologist and epileptologist at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital with board certification in neurology with special qualification in child neurology. Dr. Wiltrout obtained her Bachelor of Arts in neuroscience at Franklin &amp; Marshall College and her MD degree at the University of Rochester. She completed her child neurology residency and epilepsy fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis before completing a fellowship in the Epilepsy Genetics Program at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital. In addition to seeing patients in the Epilepsy Genetics Program, she is actively involved in clinical research projects with a focus on SYNGAP1 Related Disorder.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/connects.catalyst.harvard.edu\/Profiles\/display\/Person\/198914\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Harvard Catalyst profile &gt;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Catherine Salussolia, MD, PhD&#8221; position=&#8221;Attending Physician&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Salussolia_Catherine_1.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;catherine&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Salussolia is a neurologist and epileptologist at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital with board certification in neurology and special qualification in child neurology. She has fellowship training in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology, as well as in neurogenetics, with a focus on epilepsy genetics and tuberous sclerosis. She is an attending physician in the Epilepsy Genetics Program and the Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic, through which she sees patients for consultations and management of epilepsy.<span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Salussolia obtained her\u00a0Bachelor of Arts\u00a0in Psychology with a minor in Biology from Swarthmore College. She\u00a0completed a Masters in Science at Albany Medical College in the Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience, and then\u00a0received her MD\/PhD degrees through the MSTP program at Stony Brook University. Her\u00a0doctoral work utilized molecular techniques to identify and characterize the biogenesis of\u00a0ionotropic\u00a0glutamate receptors (NMDA and AMPA receptors) and its effects on disease states. She completed her\u00a0pediatrics training at Stony Brook University followed by child neurology residency and\u00a0fellowship training in\u00a0clinical neurophysiology and\u00a0neurogenetics\u00a0at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital. Her current research focuses on the molecular mechanisms\u200b of inhibitory signaling, specifically parvalbumin interneurons, in tuberous sclerosis-associated epilepsy.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/connects.catalyst.harvard.edu\/Profiles\/display\/Person\/149385\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Harvard Catalyst Profile &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"subtitle\"><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Candice Marti, MSN, CPNP&#8221; position=&#8221;Certified Neurology Nurse Practitioner&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Picture1-e1691508504533.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;candice&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span>Candice Marti is a certified neurology nurse practictioner in the Epilepsy Genetics Program and the Division of Epilepsy and Neurophysiology. She received her MSN from Simmons College in Boston, MA in 2008 and has been a member of the epilepsy team at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital since that time. She has a special interest in families with chronic conditions and currently follows a wide variety of patients with genetic conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 12px; text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">BACK TO TOP ^<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|0px|0|0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Lacey Smith, MS, CGC&#8221; position=&#8221;Genetic Counseling Program Manager&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Lacey_smith-e1561403188194.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;lacey&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span>Lacey Smith is a clinical and academic genetic counselor who joined the Epilepsy Genetics Program in May of 2014, where she serves as the Genetic Counseling Program Manager for Epilepsy Genomics. She provides genetic counseling services to families seen in our Epilepsy Genetics Clinical Consultation Program. Her research interests aim to better understand the genetic contributions to the epilepsies, particularly through our genome-wide sequencing studies and collaborative gene discovery efforts. She is a coordinator of the ClinGen Epilepsy Sodium Channel Variant Curation Expert Panel, incorporating both gene- and disease-specific expertise into modifying variant classification rules. Lacey is a founding member of EpiGC, an international network of genetic counselors who specialize in epilepsy genetics and who are dedicated to the education of both providers and families, and is a member of the professional advisory board of the Epilepsy Foundation of New England. Lacey received her BS in Biological Science from the University of Vermont in 2009 and her MS in Genetic Counseling from Brandeis University in 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Sonal Mahida, MGC, CGC&#8221; position=&#8221;Senior Genetic Counselor&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Mahida_Sonal-e1561403132203.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;sonal&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Sonal\u00a0<span>joined the Epilepsy genetics program in June of 2018. Her area of expertise is Neurogenetics. She provides counseling to families seen in our Epilepsy Genetic Clinical Consultation Program as well as our Neonatal Epilepsy Clinics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Sonal received her BS in Biology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2012 and her Masters in Genetic Counseling from the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2014. She worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in the Department of Neurogenetics before transitioning to Boston Children\u2019s Hospital in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"subtitle\"><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Abbe Lai, MS, CGC&#8221; position=&#8221;Senior Genetic Counselor&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Lai_Abbe-e1561403167646.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;abbe&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Abbe provides clinical genetic counseling to individuals in the Brain Development and Genetics Clinic at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital and helps manage their participation in genetic research at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n<p>Abbe obtained her undergraduate degree in Genetics at Rutgers University before pursuing her Masters in Genetic Counseling at Brandeis University in 2014.\u00a0Abbe previously worked as a laboratory genetic counselor in Boston where she classified and interpreted variants for a clinical diagnostic laboratory.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 12px; text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">BACK TO TOP ^<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|0px|0|0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Rozalia Valentine, MS, CGC&#8221; position=&#8221;Genetic Counselor&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Valentine_Rozalia.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;rozalia&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Rozalia Valentine joined the Epilepsy Genetics Program in July 2021. As an expert in pediatric neurogenetics, Rozalia works with the families of children with neurological disorders to help find genetic etiologies.<\/p>\n<p>Rozalia received her BA in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2015 and her MS in genetic counseling from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, in 2021. While earning her degree, she provided genetic counseling services to families of children with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.childrenshospital.org\/conditions\/angelman-syndrome\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Angelman syndrome\">Angelman syndrome<\/a><span>\u00a0<\/span>at the Center for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. She credits her background in research in frontal lobe inhibition in ADHD with sparking her interest in neurogenetics.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to her clinical work, Rosie volunteers in variant curation and looks forward to future research opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Gillian Prinzing, MS, CGC&#8221; position=&#8221;Genetic Counselor&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Prinzing_Gillian1.png&#8221; module_id=&#8221;gillian&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span>Gillian Prinzing (she\/her) joined the Epilepsy Genetics Program in July of 2022. She provides genetic counseling to families in the the Neurogenetics Program and Epilepsy Genetics Program clinics. Gillian received her BS in Biological Sciences from Cornell University and her MS in Genetic Counseling from Boston University.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Ivan Ruiz&#8221; position=&#8221;Genetic Counseling Assistant&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Ruiz_Ivan2.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;ivan&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span>Ivan joined the Epilepsy Genetics Program as a Genetic Counseling Assistant in June of 2023. In this role, he serves as a liaison between providers, patients, insurance companies, and genetic testing laboratories. Additionally, he assists with genetic counseling research within the Neurology Department. Ivan is particularly interested in disparities in health and healthcare, especially in genetic counseling. Ivan graduated with a BS in Biology from Haverford College in May 2023. Ivan plans to attend genetic counseling graduate school with the ultimate career goal of becoming a genetic counselor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 12px; text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">BACK TO TOP ^<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|0px|0|0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 12px; text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">BACK TO TOP ^<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;|auto|100px|auto||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|0px|0|0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Mariela Cadena Hernandez&#8221; position=&#8221;Bilingual Clinical Research Assistant&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Cadena-Hernandez_Mariela-new.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;mariela&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span>Mariela<\/span> joined the Epilepsy Genetics Program as a Bilingual Clinical Research Assistant in June of 2023. At Boston Children&#8217;s Hospital, she consents and informs families on the variety of research opportunities they and their children are eligible for. She recently graduated from Williams College in 2023 where she received her B.A in Chemistry with Honors and Public Health. In the future,<span>\u00a0<\/span><span>Mariela<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span>will pursue an MD and a Master of Public Health in the aim of increasing equity and access to resources.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Maya Davis&#8221; position=&#8221;Clinical Research Assistant&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Picture1-e1691508504533.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;maya&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Maya joined the Poduri lab and Epilepsy Genetics Program in June 2023. She is currently recruiting and enrolling families into research studies, including the CACNA1A registry.\u00a0Maya graduated from Wellesley College in 2023 with a BA in Biological Sciences and a minor in Psychology.\u00a0She\u00a0is a New Hampshire native and\u00a0has worked extensively with people with disabilities. Maya is\u00a0thrilled to be working closely with genetic counselors\u00a0and, in the future, hopes to become a genetic counselor herself.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Cesar Urzua&#8221; position=&#8221;Bilingual Clinical Research Assistant&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Urzua_Cesar-new.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;cesar&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Cesar joined the Poduri Lab and the Epilepsy Genetics Program as a Bilingual Clinical Research Assistant in June 2023. He is currently recruiting and enrolling families and patients into our research studies, including the KCNQ2 registry. He is also the co-chair for a PRADA committee, IMPaCt, a group of BCH research assistants, who visit Children\u2019s in-patient psychiatry unit to sing a mix of songs with the children.\u00a0Cesar\u00a0graduated from Tufts University in May of 2023 with a major in Biology and a double minor in Child Study and Dance. In the coming years, he plans to pursue an MD\/MPH for a career in medicine and public health\/health equity.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Anastasia Kokhanova&#8221; position=&#8221;Program Coordinator&#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Kokhanova_Anastassiya-scaled-e1667839388594-768&#215;1024.jpg&#8221; module_id=&#8221;mariela&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span>Anastasia joined the Epilepsy Genetics Program in September of 2022 as our program coordinator. She manages the clinical program and is the primary point person, both for referrals and for communicating with families about intake information. Anastasia was born in a city of Almaty in Kazakhstan. She received her B.S in Management and Psychology minor from Bridgewater State University in 2021. Anastasia aspires to get her Master\u2019s in Administration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_team_member name=&#8221;Anna Dong, BA&#8221; position=&#8221;Clinical Research Assistant\u00a0 &#8221; image_url=&#8221;https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Dong_Anna-v2.jpg&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; position_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; position_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; position_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; position_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; position_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Dong_Anna v2&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>Anna joined the Poduri Lab and Epilepsy Genetics Program at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital as a Clinical Research Assistant in 2024. In her role, she collaborates with families to enroll them in genetic testing studies and conducts genomic variant analysis to uncover genetic causes of epilepsy. Anna graduated from Harvard College in 2024 with a B.A. in Neuroscience and is passionate about pursuing an M.D. to build upon her interest in pediatric neurology. Outside of her research, Anna enjoys baking, taking long walks with her golden retriever, and trying her hand at knitting.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/connects.catalyst.harvard.edu\/Profiles\/display\/Person\/170587\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Harvard Catalyst Profile &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Clinical Research TeamClinical Research Team Member Links Beth Rosen Sheidley, MS, CGC | Heather Olson, MD, MS | Christelle Moufawad El Achkar, MD | Kimberly Wiltrout, MD | Catherine Salussolia, MD, PhD | \u00a0Candice Marti, MSN, CPNP | Lacey Smith, MS, CGC |\u00a0Sonal Mahida, MGC, CGC |\u00a0Abbe Lai, MS, CGC | Rozalia Valentine, MS, CGC [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3567","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3567"}],"version-history":[{"count":137,"href":"https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5015,"href":"https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3567\/revisions\/5015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kirbyneuro.org\/PoduriLab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}