Meet the Team

The PLUS Research Consortium is working to identify promising strategies for promoting bladder health and preventing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and conditions in girls and women throughout their lives.

Click on the arrows (>) below to learn more about the study coordinators and investigators working at ten universities across the US.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alayne Markland, DO, MSc

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Markland is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham(UAB). She is also a researcher at the Birmingham VA Medical Center. Her overarching goal is to enhance scientific knowledge about treatment of genito-urinary disorders, including urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and lower urinary tract symptoms in women and men.

Janice Phillips

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Janice Phillips is a Program Director in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has extensive experience working with diverse populations through clinical and community-based participatory research, recruitment and retention, engagement, and qualitative research. Janice serves as one of the research coordinators for PLUS and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations while collaborating with other PLUS members to ensure that research protocols adhere to consortium guidelines.

Emory University

Taressa Sergent, CCRC

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Taressa Sergent is a Senior Study Coordinator at the Atlanta VA Health Care System’s Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) in conjunction with Emory University. She has expertise in clinical research project management, including several bladder-focused studies. Taressa is the RISE research coordinator for the Atlanta study site.

Camille Vaughan, MD, MS

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Vaughn is an Investigator and Division Director for Geriatrics & Gerontology at Emory University. Her research looks at lower urinary tract symptoms among older adults, particularly in adults with neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson disease. Dr. Vaughn’s studies include looking at how urinary symptoms affect patients medically and in terms of quality of life, and how pelvic floor muscle exercise-based behavioral therapy works as a treatment for urinary symptoms in veterans with Parkinson disease.

Loyola University Chicago

Mary Tulke, RN

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Mary Tulke is a Clinical Research Nurse in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at Loyola University Chicago Health Science Division in Maywood, Illinois. She has expertise in running the research program for the Urogynecologist. Mary is a research coordinator for PLUS and works with Elise Levin, a coordinator at UIC (University of Illinois Chicago) School of Public Health.

Cec Hardacker, MSN, RN, CNL

INVESTIGATOR

Cec Hardacker (she/ella) is a nurse and the Director of Education at Howard Brown Health, in Chicago, IL whose work focuses on addressing the health care needs of the LGBTQ+ community. She is an adjunct instructor at Rush University College of Nursing, and a lecturer at Rosalind Franklin Medical College. She has developed a broad evidence based and community-informed curriculum on LGBTQ+ health and best practices for multidisciplinary health professionals who seek to better support their LGBTQ+ patients.

Elizabeth Mueller, MD, MSME

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Mueller is a Professor of Urology and Obstetrics/Gynecology and director of the Division of Female Reconstructive Surgery at the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. She specializes in taking care of women with pelvic floor disorders, including urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and urinary fistulas and surgical complications. Her research is focused on preventing lower urinary tract symptoms and learning about the normal urinary and vaginal microbiome in women.

Colleen Fitzgerald, MD, MS

INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Fitzgerald is the medical director of the Chronic Pain Program and an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. Dr. Fitzgerald studies and treats women for pregnancy-related low back pain and pelvic girdle pain, chronic pelvic pain, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, and pelvic rehabilitation.

Northwestern University

Oluwateniola “Teni” Brown, MD

INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Brown is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where she leads multiple diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across Northwestern Medicine. She is director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as Assistant Director for Diversity and Inclusion for McGaw Medical Center. As a clinician she focuses on pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and fistulas. Her research focuses on health and healthcare disparities, improving surgical outcomes for pelvic floor disorders, and bias and racism in medicine and medical education.

Melissa Simon, MD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Simon is Vice Chair for Research and Professor in the Department of Obstetrics at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Her research focuses on promoting health equity and eliminating health disparities among low income, medically underserved women, including interventions to reduce and eliminate such disparities. She is the founding director of the Center for Health Equity Transformation and the Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative.

Kimberly Kenton, MD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Kenton is a Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Urology, Division Chief of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, and medical director of Northwestern’s Women’s Integrated Pelvic Health Program. She leads a transdisciplinary team of specialists from urogynecology, physical therapy, and sexual health who work jointly to develop innovative, integrated care plans focused on minimally invasive, patient-centered care for women with urinary symptoms and other pelvic floor disorders. Her research focuses on improving outcomes and quality of life for women with bladder and pelvic floor problems.

University of Pennsylvania

Diane Newman, DNP, FAAN, BCB-PMD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Newman is Adjunct Professor of Urology in Surgery, and Senior Research Investigator at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Newman has over 30 years of experience practicing as a urology nurse practitioner whose specializes in treating men and women with urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders. Dr. Newman leads research studies about incontinence, pelvic floor disorders, and lower urinary symptoms.

Ariana Smith, MD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Smith is a urologist and a urogynecologist who treats women with conditions such as pelvic floor prolapse and urinary leakage with state-of-the-art surgical procedures. She provides minimally invasive and mesh-free alternatives to allow women choice and peace of mind. She also offers advanced bladder testing for men and women to solve the most challenging cases and provide the newest, most advanced treatment options available including clinical trials. Her research focuses on the promotion of bladder health and improving bladder-related quality of life.

Emily Gus

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Emily Gus is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania. She has experience in public health, sexual and reproductive health education, adolescent and LGBTQ health disparities and social determinants. Within PLUS Emily supports the University of Penn research team and community members and assists with social media content development.

University of California San Diego

Dulce Rodriguez-Ponciano

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Dulce Rodriguez-Ponciano is a Research Coordinator in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at University of California San Diego. She has expertise in the coordination and management of clinical trials supporting all aspects of protocol development, compliance, and analysis. She aims to make meaningful contributions in healthcare and advancing bladder health through the PLUS Research Consortium.

Emily Lukacz, MD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Lukaczis a urogynecologist and professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She focuses on diagnosing and treating female pelvic floor disorders such as pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence. Her research interests include evaluating surgical procedures for incontinence and prolapse, as well as studying the causes and prevention of pelvic floor disorders.

Jesse Nodora, DrPH

INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Nodora is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and a member of the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. His research focuses on primary cancer prevention among poor and underserved populations. The goal of his work is to create information and tools that can be used by individuals, communities, health care organizations, government, and non-profits to promote healthy lifestyles, increase access to care, and improve health outcomes for chronic disease, especially cancer.

Linda Brubaker, MD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Brubaker is a Urogynecologist and a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at University of California San Diego. Dr. Brubaker’s research focuses on bladder health, recurrent urinary tract infection in adult women and the urobiome. Her specialized practice focuses on recurrent urinary tract infection in adult women.

University of Michigan

Sarah Becker Hortsch, PhD, MSW, RN

INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Becker Hortsch is a clinical instructor in the Department of Health Behaviors and Biological Sciences at the School of Nursing, University of Michigan. Her research focuses on modern nutrition and chronic health, especially bladder health. In her teaching role, Dr. Becker Hortsch helps students to reflect on their biases and assumptions surrounding mental health and global health.

Janis M. Miller, PhD, RN, APRN, FAAN

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Miller is a Research Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School and School of Nursing. Her research looks at finding causes and opportunities to prevent disorders and injuries to a woman’s “private body parts.” In her clinical practice as a Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Miller specializes in helping patients with pelvic floor disorders, including incontinence, prolapse, and birth related injuries. Dr. Miller also collaborates with a research team from Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo on conflict-related sexual violence, obstetric fistula, and other related matters.

Lisa Kane Low PhD CNM FACNM, FAAN

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Kane Low is a Professor in the School of Nursing, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Women’s and Gender Studies Department at the University of Michigan. She works as a certified nurse midwife, and teaches health professional students on topics related to caring for patients during childbirth to promote the best outcomes for them and their families. She conducts clinical research on the ways in which care can be best provided during the process of normal birth to prevent pelvic floor injury and reduce the need for cesarean births.

University of Minnesota

Vanika Chary

RESEARCH PROGRAM MANAGER

Vanika Chary is a Research Program Manager in the School of Public Health at University of Minnesota. She has experience in genetics and precision medicine focused research study. Her expertise includes Program Management and Analysis, Recruiting research participants, Retention, and Administration. Vanika is the Operations lead at SDCC -PLUS and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day Operations, procurement, compliance, and analysis of PLUS program. She is passionate in empowering women and committed to contribute to healthcare research and women’s bladder health through the PLUS research consortium.

Bernard Harlow, PhD

INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Harlow is a Professor of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health at Boston University. He was previously Mayo Professor of Epidemiology and Chair of the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. His research covers abroad background of female reproductive and gynecologic disorders, including malignant and borderline ovarian tumors, adverse obstetrical outcomes, premature menopause, and benign gynecological complications.

Cynthia Fok, MD, MPH

INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Fok is a urologist and assistant professor in the Department of Urology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Her clinical and research interests include pelvic floor dysfunction with interests in pelvic organ prolapse, overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, genitourinary fistulas, urethral stricture disease, and genitourinary microbiota.

Washington University St. Louis

Ratna Pakpahan

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Ratna Pakpahan is a Staff Scientist in the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She has expertise IN quantitative and qualitative data collection, management and analysis, preparation of manuscript for publication, and also study coordination and management on a range of public health topics. Ratna is the study coordinator for PLUS at the Washington University in St. Louissite.

Siobhan Sutcliffe, PhD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Sutcliffe is an epidemiology researcher from the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The goal of her research is to identify ways to prevent health problems before they start. Dr. Sutcliffe leads studies on pelvic pain, lower urinary tract symptoms, prostate cancer, and urinary tract and sexually transmitted infections.

Yale University

Leslie Burke-Hovey

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Leslie Burke-Hovey is a Research Coordinator in the Urology Department at Yale University School of Medicine. She has a background in administrative operations and project management and an education as a patient care technician. She is the research coordinator at the Yale site for the RISE for Health study being conducted through PLUS and will be maintaining regulatory and study specific records while guiding participants throughout the research process.

Leslie Rickey, MD, MPH

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Rickey is an Associate Professor of Urology and of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at Yale Medical School. She specializes in helping women suffering from problems related to the pelvic floor, including weaknesses of the muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that support healthy bladder, vaginal, and bowel function. Dr. Rickey treats patients with urinary incontinence (urine leakage), overactive bladder (urinary urgency and frequency), pelvic organ prolapse and genital-urinary tract fistulas.