People
Faculty
Deborah Jehu, PhD
Dr. Jehu is the director of the GAIT lab and is an Assistant Professor in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Department, College of Allied Health Sciences at Augusta University, in Augusta, GA. Her research aims to generate new insights into 1) refining therapeutic interventions; 2) refining falls-risk assessments; and 3) providing a better overall understanding of cognition and mobility in aging populations. She has worked with a wide variety of aging populations, such as: healthy older adults, and older adults who fall, as well as those with total knee arthroplasty, Parkinson’s Disease, stroke, mild traumatic brain injury, and mild cognitive impairment. She has collaborated with researchers, interdisciplinary healthcare professionals, health authorities, and industry partners across the world, which has provided her with a unique perspective on fall prevention research. Her research has implications for treatment and monitoring strategies as well as understanding fundamental concepts of cognition and mobility in aging populations.
PhD Trainee
Albert Okrah
Albert is a PhD student in the Applied Health Sciences Program. He obtained a bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) where he continued to work as a biomechanics research and teaching assistant. Currently, his research focuses on predictors of falls in older adults with mild traumatic brain injuries. He aspires to be a research and teaching professional with the ultimate goal of establishing his own research laboratory.
MSc Trainees
Coming soon!
Undergraduate Trainees
Bryson Hall
Bryson is an undergraduate kinesiology student. His thesis is examining the effects of acute exercise on cognition among obese adults. He aspires to be a physical therapist and is interested in pain rehabilitation.
Bella Ackerman
Bella is an undergraduate student majoring in Clinical Lab Science with interests in medical research. She has hopes to one day work in Pathology to improve the quality of human life, and strive towards a healthier future for all.
Amaya Sommer
Amaya is an undergraduate student majoring in Kinesiology with a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy. She has interests in pediatrics and the use of therapeutic interventions for neurological dysfunctions. She hopes to one day become a physical therapist.
Research Assistants
Stevie Lewis
Stevie is an undergraduate Kinesiology student with a focus on Exercise Science. She plans to apply to PA school after receiving her Kinesiology bachelor's degree. She has an interest in neurology and plans to specialize in neurology in PA school in the near future. She has visited neurologists since she can remember and finds the profession fascinating. She soon fell in love with it. She graduated from Worth County High School in Sylvester Georgia. She is excited about her journey to achieving her goals.
Charmi Patel
Charmi received a Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Summer Student Award. She is an undergraduate student with a major in Cellular Molecular Biology and minors in Physics and Spanish. She is a first generation Indian American. As a high-school graduate from the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology, she has interned in many medical facilities and grew a love for the field. She hopes to further her studies in pediatrics medicine.
Ricardo E. Ferreris Barreto
Ricardo secured a T35 training award from the National Institute of Health through the Program for Aging Research in the Summer (PARIS) at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. He is a medical student in the class of 2025 at Universidad Central Del Caribe in Puerto Rico. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico Campus in Aguadilla with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with concentration in Biomedical Science. He is interested in pursuing gastroenterology. He has previous research experience studying the effects of artificial light on leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) hatchling’s orientation after leaving the nest on selected northwestern beaches of Puerto Rico. He is interested in learning more about diseases related to aging and how they impact quality of life.
Research Associate
Andre Soares
Andre has a Bachelor of Physical Education and Health Programs, a Bachelor of Physical Therapy, an MBA in Business Management, a Post Graduate Degree in Physical Fitness for Special Populations and Cardiac Rehabilitation, and a Master’s in Aging Sciences. He has expertise related to the quality of life and health for diverse populations, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions, dementia, and HIV. He is a Visiting Scholar at the Georgia Prevention Institute at Augusta University, working with a community mental health center on a behavioral intervention in young adults who have type 2 diabetes. He is also leading the Otago Exercise Program intervention for people living with dementia in Dr. Jehu’s lab.
Volunteers
Melanie Jones
Melanie is a medical student in the class of 2026 at the Medical College of Georgia. She graduated from The University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science and a minor in Poultry Science. She spent one year working as a medical assistant at an Orthopedic Surgery practice where she specialized in ordering and fitting patients for durable medical equipment. She currently plans to pursue a surgical specialty in medicine. Melanie is interested in learning more about the aging process and its implications on health and well-being.
Labo Oke
Olabamibo (Labo) Oke is a class of 2025 MD candidate at the Medical College of Georgia. He graduated from The University of Georgia, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology with a minor in Sociology. He conducted research in a cellular biology lab that focused on the molecular processes of neural regeneration in the planarian flatworm. He was a former triple jumper at UGA who was a part of the 2021 South Eastern Conference Academic Honor Roll and 2021 NCAA All-Academic Team Men’s Track and Field. He is interested in learning more about the geriatric population in our society and how these diseases impact their quality of life. Labo is pursuing a surgical specialty in medicine.
Ryan Langston
Ryan is a medical student in the class of 2026 at the Medical College of Georgia. He graduated from The University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science. He spent one year working as a medical assistant at a Gastroenterology practice where he specialized in triaging patients prior to their visit. He also worked as a site representative for a mobile COVID-19 company running sites across the country from ATL to LA. He currently plans to pursue a surgical specialty in medicine. Ryan is interested in learning more about how kinesiology and the aging process intertwine and their long-term effects on quality of life.
Aubreyanna (Abby) Crose
Abby is an undergraduate student in Kinesiology with a concentration in Health Sciences. She is an aspiring Occupational Therapist with a particular interest in geriatrics and the benefits of therapeutic intervention on motor behavior and overall quality of life.
Radha Garikipati
Radha is an undergraduate student with a biology major and pre-medicine intent. She grew up in India and moved to Atlanta in 2021. She developed an interest in the field of medicine while interning at clinics in India. Her goal is to pursue a career in medicine with a special interest in surgery.
Tiffany Oberther
Tiffany is studying kinesiology with a concentration in physical therapy. She is also a pre-medical student with aspirations of working as an orthopedic surgeon with a particular interest in sports medicine. She is interested in researching how rehabilitation timelines differ between athletes vs. non-athletes and mechanism of injury to help teach athletes how to avoid reinjury.
Sophia Hamill
Sophia is a medical student in the class of 2026 at the Medical College of Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Psychology. During her undergraduate years, she worked as a Personal Care Attendant for a student with Spinal Muscular Atrophy requiring 24-hour care. Since moving to Augusta, she enjoys volunteering as a basketball coach for individuals with disabilities. Sophia is currently undecided on a particular specialty but has interests in dermatology and surgical specialties. She loves staying active, so Sophia is looking forward to the work that can be done to better understand how exercise effects cognition and overall health.
Mitchell Hanson
Mitchell Hanson is a class of 2026 MD candidate and J. Harold Harrison Scholar at the Medical College of Georgia. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 3 years where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor and Health and Medical Sciences. Before matriculating into MCG, he completed research in the modification of multi-protein nanoparticles as vaccine platforms and spent his other time pursuing teaching through pursuits like MCAT mentorship and student learning enrichment in the Kuchnir Dermatology Gap Year Program. He also is a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine with an interest to learn how exercise and lifestyle modifications can play a role in preventative health. Mitchell hopes to pursue dermatology with a focus on aesthetic and cosmetic applications for skin of color and gender affirmation.
Anthony Elengicka
Anthony Elengickal is a medical student in the class of 2026 at the Medical College of Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology with a minor in Public Health. He conducted research in regenerative medicine lab focused on stem cell mediated muscle regeneration for muscular dystrophy. Anthony is currently interested in the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is aiming to work with patients dealing with traumatic injuries.
Samantha Armas
Samantha Armas is a Class of 2026 MD Candidate at the Medical College of Georgia. She graduated from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She was a former tennis player at Davidson College representing the Women’s Tennis Team all four years and consistently made the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll. She held the position of captain her last two years and was named an ITA Scholar Athlete her senior year. After graduating, she worked as a research technician in Davidson College’s Behavioral Pharmacology Lab investigating the interaction between hormones and opioids and their effects on behavior. She is highly passionate about contributing to research that studies interventions that can positively impact disease processes in older adult populations.
Tony Berardi
Dr. Berardi is a first year Family Medicine Resident at Augusta University, in Augusta GA. He has a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Florida State University and a master’s in exercise physiology and sports nutrition from the University of Central Florida. His interest lies in the behavioral changes that impact one’s exercise and nutrition choices. His approach to many ailments of his patients, such as chronic back or knee pain, focuses on increasing one's mobility and functional status to further improve their pain.
Arjun Bhatt
Arjun Bhatt is a medical student in the class of 2026 at the Medical College of Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia with Bachelor of Science degrees in Applied Biotechnology and Psychology. He has experience leading research projects in synthetic biology and behavioral sciences at UGA and the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Arjun is currently interested in pursuing a surgical specialty and hopes to continue growing as a student, researcher, and future physician.
Sakshi Sehgal
Sakshi Sehgal is an MD candidate in the Class of 2026 at the Medical College of Georgia. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021 with Master’s of Arts and Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in Philosophy with a Chemistry minor. Sakshi also attended the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, where she graduated with an MPH in Healthcare Management and certificate in Social Determinants of Health in 2022. While in college, her research revolved around delayed gratification, temporal and semantic strategies, and memory recall through work in a Cognitive Neuroscience lab. Sakshi is interested in multiple medical specialties, but is particularly passionate about longitudinal care and long-term ramifications of exercise, diet, etc., both at the patient and public health level.
Vasu Kapoor
Vatsala (Vasu) Kapoor is a medical student in the class of 2026 at the Medical College of Georgia. She graduated from Augusta University as part of the BS/MD class with a Cell and Molecular Biology major. During her undergraduate years, she studied the effects of alcohol withdrawal on tripartite synapses in mice brains in a Pharmacology and Toxicology lab. She is formally trained in Bharatanatyam, a form of Indian classical dance, and she likes to stay active by dancing and weightlifting, among other things. She currently has an interest in neuromuscular disorders and orthopedics.
Ashna Bhardwaj
_JPG.jpg)
Ashna Bhardwaj is a medical student in the class of 2026 at the Medical College of Georgia. She graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a minor in Health & Medical Sciences. Ashna has conducted research in a perception, neuroimaging, and modeling lab and has worked as a medical assistant during her gap year prior to medical school. She is interested in maintaining the physical well-being in patient populations hindered by neurological diseases, and she hopes to aid in this endeavor as part of the GAIT lab.
Faheem Pottayil
Faheem Pottayil is a medical student in the class of 2026 at the Medical College of Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia with Cellular Biology and Psychology degrees. He conducted research projects investigating genomic technology, neurodevelopment, and behavior. During his gap year, he worked as a surgical assistant, now hoping to pursue a surgical subspecialty. He hopes to continue understanding, discovering, and implementing the intersectional facets of diet, sleep, and exercise for longitudinal well-being.
Alumnus
Somya Dutta
Somya received a Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Summer Student Award. She is an undergraduate student with a health services major and pre-Physician Assistant intent. Born and brought up in India, who moved to the States about nine years ago. She currently holds her license and certification as a medical and surgical assistant with two years of clinical experience and aspires to be a Physician Assistant being interested in Dermatology.