Staff

The staff at the UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases is made up of passionate professionals dedicated to stroke care and research. From program management and research coordination to nursing, therapy, and administrative support, each member plays a vital role in advancing stroke treatment and prevention.

Administrative Staff

Assol Kavtorina, MA

Program Manager – Research
UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

assol.v.kavtorina@uth.tmc.edu

Barbara E. Lewis

Administrative Assistant
UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

barbara.lewis@uth.tmc.edu

Diamond Smith, BS

Marketing & Communications Coordinator UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Diamond.Smith@uth.tmc.edu

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Joynita Willis

Senior Grants & Contracts Specialist UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Joynita.S.Willis@uth.tmc.edu

Charmaine D. Wilson Martin, M.S.

Director, Institute Administrative Services
UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

charmaine.wilson@uth.tmc.edu

Program Staff

Melika Abrahams, RN, BSN, CPN

Cerebrovascular Nurse, Pediatric Stroke Program
UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Melika.A.Abrahams@uth.tmc.edu

Ariana Aquino, IMG (international Medical Graduate)

Research Coordinator II
Stroke Prevention Research at the UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

ariana.victoria.aquinohernandez@uth.tmc.edu

Susan Atwood, PT, DPT

Senior Physical Therapist
UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

susan.m.atwood@uth.tmc.edu

Antoinette W. Bernal-Tent

Research Coordinator I Center for the Treatment of Pediatric Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Pediatrics | Division of Child & Adolescent Neurology at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School

antoinette.bernaltent@uth.tmc.edu

Jordan Broussard

Research Coordinator I | Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston

jordan.broussard@uth.tmc.edu

Anna Clearman, OTR, MOT, CLT

Occupational Therapist
UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

anna.h.clearman@uth.tmc.edu

Gabretta Cooksey

Program Manager
UTHealth Houston

gabretta.cooksey@uth.tmc.edu

Caitlin Farrington

Research Assistant
UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

caitlin.e.farrington@uth.tmc.edu

Catherine Gonzales

Programmer Analyst I
UTHealth Houston

catherine.gonzalez@uth.tmc.edu

Tia Lal

Data Control Analyst, PhD Candidate in Biostatistics
UTHealth Houston

Tia.S.Lal@uth.tmc.edu

Prasen Marella, M.B.B.S, MPH

Research Coordinator II
UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

prasen.r.marella@uth.tmc.edu

Francis Nkansah

Data Control Analyst
UTHealth Houston

francis.nkansah@uth.tmc.edu

Deondra L. Pattum

Community Outreach Specialist

deondra.l.pattum@uth.tmc.edu

Maria Poblete

Research Coordinator II, Clinical Trials Program | Center for the Treatment of Pediatric Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Pediatrics | Division of Child & Adolescent Neurology at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School

maria.poblete@uth.tmc.edu

Heather Smith, MA, CCC-SLP, CBIS

Speech-Language Pathologist | Research Coordinator
UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Heather.Smith.1@uth.tmc.edu

Spencer Solberg, BS

Research Assistant I UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Spencer.C.Solberg@uth.tmc.edu

Emily Stevens, OTR, MOT, CSRS

Research Occupational Therapist
Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist, Lead, Motor Recovery Trials
UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

emily.a.stevens@uth.tmc.edu