Alexandra Fahnlander 

Research Coordinator

 

Alex has been at UF since 2019 and serves as a research coordinator on the Promote UP project responsible for coordinating stakeholder engagement and project reports and communications. As someone with firsthand experience growing up around people who smoke, she’s very passionate about the potential of mHealth cessation aids to provide accessible therapies to a wide net of patients.

Brianna Nordelo, MPH

Research Coordinator

Prior to joining the team, Brianna earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration and worked as a patient scheduler and coordinator in oncology at the Miami Cancer Institute and the University of Miami for approximately three years.

She then earned her MPH degree with a concentration in Epidemiology at UF and became an intern and now research coordinator with Dr. Salloum’s team. As a study team member, Brianna looks forward to collaborating with each of our clinic sites and providers, as well as working directly with patients again as we begin enrollment into our study.

Cassie  O’Hara

Prior to coming to UF, Cassie received her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis at Aurora University and her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Indiana University. Cassie is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has extensive clinical experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Cassie is now pursuing her doctoral degree in psychology with an emphasis in behavior analysis to pursue her passion for expanding the reach of behavior science. She is a member of the Behavioral Health and Technology Lab under the advisement of Jesse Dallery and a research assistant for the Promote Up Study. Cassie is excited to grow her research skills as it relates to health behavior and work amongst such an incredible interdisciplinary team.

Mario El Hayak, MD

 

Dr. Mario El Hayak, MD is a recent graduate from the American University of Beirut. I have always been proactively engaged in public health awareness campaigns. I was born and raised in Lebanon, a country where smoking prevalence is around 38%, more than two times that of the United States or Europe. During my medical training, I have witnessed the deadly complications of tobacco, which triggered my interest in smoking cessation. Hopefully, the Promote-Up trial will help smokers improving their health outcomes.

Melissa Bou Malham, MD

 

Dr. Melissa Bou Malham received her medical degree from the Lebanese American University in Lebanon in June 2022. During her medical training, she developed a great interest in pulmonary medicine and witnessed the detrimental complications tobacco has on one’s health. Since then, she realized there is a need for new or improved smoking cessation plans.

Kathryn Pluta, PhD

Postdoctoral Associate

Dr. Kathryn Pluta is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics at the University of Florida. Dr. Pluta received her PhD in Health and Social Psychology from Iowa State University and holds graduate certificates in Quantitative Psychology and Gerontology. Her research program has three interrelated foci: identifying psychosocial predictors of health, developing and implementing accessible health behavior change interventions, and evaluating current systems to reduce health disparities. Her research focuses on populations that are at higher risk of experiencing adverse health events, such as individuals with chronic illnesses (e.g., cancer, diabetes), individuals who engage in behaviors associated with higher chronic disease risks (e.g., tobacco use, sedentary, poor medication adherence), and individuals who may have increased difficulty accessing health-related resources (e.g., older adults, individuals in rural communities, gender and ethnic minorities). Dr. Pluta is an active member of the Society of Behavioral Medicine and is the Chair of the Student Special Interest Group. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors (mostly with her two dogs), going to football games, and trying new restaurants.

Study Interns

Ryan Hossain

 

 

Ryan is currently a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Florida (UF) studying Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. He is graduating from UF in the Spring 2023 semester and will continue his studies in the M.D. Program at the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine for the Class of 2027. Ryan loves to exercise, fish, watch sports, and make music and clothes with his friends and family.

Johanna Lucas

 

Johanna is currently a second year Masters of Public Health Student with a Concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s in Public Health and a Minor in Music Performance in Spring 2021. After graduation Johanna will work in the Public Health field and later apply for medical school. Johanna has been playing the violin since the 3rd grade, loves to travel the world to broaden her horizons, meet new people, and explore different cultures.