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Research Faculty and Staff

Faculty, staff, and administrators at the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research are dedicated individuals who seek to advance public health by developing knowledge and translating that knowledge to the practice of chiropractic health care.

The faculty and professional staff are the engines of success at the Center. They:

  1. Identify meaningful research questions
  2. Collaborate with investigators within and beyond the College
  3. Obtain external research funding, design and execute high-quality research studies
  4. Serve as graduate and postdoctoral research mentors
  5. Play a key role in teaching clinical research masters students
  6. Participate in evidence-based training of chiropractic students

In addition, in recognition of the growing complexity of the research conducted at Palmer College, the Center holds to the highest ethical standards for the use of human subjects and animals in its research.

Administration

Christine Goertz, DC, PhD, Vice Chancellor of Research and Health Policy
Cynthia Long, PhD, Director of Research, Davenport Campus
Liang Zhang, MD, PhD, Director of Research, Florida Campus
Robert Cooperstein, MA, DC, Director of Research, West Campus

Research Faculty

Professors
Robert Cooperstein, MA, DC
Cynthia Long, PhD
Joel G. Pickar, DC, PhD  

Associate Professors
James W. DeVocht, DC, PhD
Maruti Ram Gudavalli, PhD
Maria A. Hondras, DC, MPH

Assistant Professors
William Reed, DC, PhD
Robert Vining, DC
Ting Xia, PhD

Professional, Technical and Administrative Staff

Animal Care Unit Core
Randall S. Sozio, BS, LATG
Animal Care Manager

Paul Thorpe, BS
Animal Technician
 

Biomechanics Core
Varun Hariwan, BS
Biomechanics Research Assistant

Cell Biology Lab
Chao Hua Yao, MD
Cell Biology Laboratory Technician 

Clinic Core
James Boysen, DC, MS
Study Coordinator

Therese Devlin, RT(R), BS
Clinical Research Associate

Paige Morgenthal, DC, MS
Research Clinician
 

Jennifer Negron, BA
Office Assistant
 

Michael Seidman, DC, MSW
Research Clinician
 

Clinical Research Fellows
Nicole Homb, DC
Elissa Twist, DC
Anna Walden, DC

Office of Clinical Studies 
Gwen Abdulhafid, RN, MPH, CCRC
Clinical Project Manager
 

Amy Engel, MA, MS, CCRP
Clinical Project Manager
 

Wendy Freiberger, CCRC, RN, BSN, BA, CRCP
Clinical Project Manager

Bridget Kane, MS, CCRC
Clinical Project Manager II

Katherine Pohlman, DC, MS, CCRP
Clinical Project Manager II
 

Stacie Salsbury, RN, PhD
Clinical Project Manager
 

Office of Data Management & Biostatistics
Amanda Augsburger, MS
Data Manager

Greg Boyer, BS
Web Programmer 

Ying Cao, MS
Biostatistician 

Lance Corber, MSITM
Data Core Manager 

Research Administration
Katie Hoyt, MOL
Research Program Manager

Karen Grimm
Research Administrator 

Leah Cafer
Secretary