About Us
Our lab fosters a culture of creativity, kindness, and lifelong learning. Our team is comprised of physicians, biostatisticians, epidemiologists, computer programmers, user-design experts, post-doctoral trainees, doctoral trainees, and premedical trainees.
Apurv Soni, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
"My career research goal is to integrate digital health technology in clinical workflows and community-based paradigms to improve clinical outcomes and reduce health disparities. I am eager to grow UMass Chan and Program in Digital Medicine’s imprint on health disparities research locally, nationally, and globally to fulfill the promise of Digital Health Technologies as an equalizer for resource and accessibility gaps that underpin inequities in health outcomes."
Laurel O' Connor, MD, MSc
Principal Investigator
"I am an emergency physician and health services researcher at UMass Chan Medical School with expertise in prehospital care and community paramedicine. My career goal is to improve patient care delivery by developing and studying complementary mobile and digital solutions that bring healthcare into the community."
Caitlin Pretz, MS
Project Director
"I am a Project Director in the lab and lean on my master's of science training in Applied Biomedical Engineering (Johns Hopkins University) and more than five years of industry experience in product development and management to inform strategies for collaboration and growth and oversee operations and implementation of various projects in the lab."
Ibriz Moonim, MA
Lab Manager
"I have formal training in hospitality management and business administration with additional training in advertising and marketing. As the lab manager, I am intricately involved with the day-to-day responsibilities to facilitate the smooth and timely execution of projects, ensure resource availability and help with project documentation."
Leah Dunkel, MPH
Sr. Research Scientist
"I am a research scientist in the lab , relying on my master’s in public health background (University of Michigan) and experience in community engagement and health informatics. I am passionate about projects which focus on creating more equitable, inclusive, and accessible systems."
Pamela Stamegna, MD
Sr. Scientific Writer
I am a Senior Scientific Writer in the lab, having returned to UMass Chan in summer 2021, several years after graduating from Medical School. I am a physician with training in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and bring my clinical background to bear in drafting protocols, manuscripts, and grant applications for digital medicine research studies
Mary Bentley, PhD
Data Analyst
"I am a Biostatistician with PhD degree from UMass Chan’s Clinical and Population Health Research. I bring extensive experience in applying statistical methods, including structural equation and latent variable modeling, multi-level mixed modeling, propensity score analysis and longitudinal modeling to support lab’s goals in conducting pragmatic clinical studies and evaluating real-world effectiveness."
Xiang Li, MS
Biostatistician
"I am a biostatistician with a master’s degree in data science from the University of California, Irvine. I am passionate in data management, analysis, and visualization, and I am committed to applying my skills and experience to support the team's efforts and contribute to meaningful projects."
Colton Wright, MS
Clinical Research Coordinator II
"I have formal training in Physiology and Biomedical Sciences from the University of Arizona and Colorado State University, respectively. I work on projects related to the use of digital technologies in home-based settings, including SARS-CoV-2 testing, support-app for mood disorder, and remote sensing technologies. My future goal is to pursue professional medical training."
Julia Ferranto, BS
Clinical Research Coordinator II
"I have a bachelor's degree in Public Health from UMass Amherst and work on projects related to evaluating usability of digital technologies and adherence of tools that support maternal and child health. My future goals include getting advanced training in Environmental Science and investigating how Maternal/Child health outcomes are influenced by our environment."
Stephanie Behar, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator II
"I have a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Boston University. I work on projects focused on maintenance of health in home environment for patients across the life spectrum. I am also working on projects that acquire qualitative data on participants’ experience. My career aspirations include a PhD in social epidemiology and future research focused on eating disorders."
Paul Hartin, BS
Clinical Research Coordinator II
"I have a bachelor's degree in Public Health from UMass Amherst and work on projects related to evaluating usability of digital technologies and adherence of tools that support maternal and child health. My future goals include getting advanced training in Environmental Science and investigating how Maternal/Child health outcomes are influenced by our environment."
Betel Areda, MPH
Clinical Coordinator II
"I'm a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Soni Lab with a background in Public Health from the University of Maryland and Boston University. In my current role, I focus on participant recruitment and data management for the SNF at Home study, which explores the effectiveness of at-home sub-acute rehab services. My future career interest lays in clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project management in the developing world."
Alonzo Malik Agular, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator I
"I am a clinical research coordinator with a BA in Economics and Chemistry from Clark University. In the lab, I focus on developing digital technologies to enable site-less studies across multiple populations. My future goals include pursuing medical school and utilizing the skill I have obtained to deliver equitable and beneficial healthcare to people in medical desert areas."
Anushka Harne, MS
UX Designer
"I am a UX Designer with a Master's in Information Design and Data Visualization. I create intuitive experiences that make research studies more engaging and accessible. My focus is on simplifying processes, ensuring participants have a clear and seamless experience while designing flexible solutions that adapt to their needs."
Mansi Khandpekar, MS
UX Designer
"I hold a Master’s degree in Information Design and Data Visualization from Northeastern University, building on my background in architectural design from India. I am passionate about blending design and technology to create seamless user experiences, particularly in the fields of science and medicine, always prioritizing user needs at the core of my work."
Abhishek Mehra, MS
Data Analyst
"I am a graduate of Northeastern University with a Master’s in Analytics. I assist Soni Lab in research studies by providing expertise in analytics, database management, automation, and data modeling."
Harris Feldman, MD
TL1-Postdoctoral Fellow
"I am a physician scientist who recently completed my internal medicine/pediatrics residency and have been appointed as a TL1-Postdoctoral Fellow in the Program in Digital Medicine for the 2024-25' academic year. In addition, I am a current student in the Masters in Clinical Investigation (MSCI). I hope to continue my research as a future clinical gastroenterology fellow with my long-term career goal to become a gastroenterologist and researcher specializing in caring for patients with IBD."
Joseph Tejhan, MD
T32 Research Fellow / MSCI Masters Student
"I am a Cardiology Fellow at UMass and a Master’s student at the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. I completed medical school at UT Southwestern and an internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview. In the Soni Lab, I research how environmental and weather factors interact with digital medicine, including predictive algorithms, EHR data, and wearable devices, to understand their impact on cardiovascular risk and potential mitigation strategies."
Gretchen Weaver, MPH
PhD Canditdate
"I am a third-year PhD candidate in Population Health Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School. Before UMass Chan, I studied Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Global Health Program Design at Boston University. My research focuses on health equity, environmental health, access to care, and social determinants of health. I aim to serve others, advance population health science, and drive positive change through evidence. Outside the lab, I enjoy birding, volleyball, hiking, and experimenting with new recipes in my kitchen."
Hyein Sarah Lee, MD
PhD Student
“I am an MD/PhD student in the Public Health Sciences Program at UMass Chan Medical School. My research interests are in using digital phenotyping tools and qualitative methods to better understand mental illness, suicidality, and structural racism in mental healthcare. In the long-term I hope to improve current psychiatric practices and support community-based, peer-support models of care.”