Meet the Team

TEAM OVERVIEW
Our multidisciplinary team includes program leadership, investigators, research staff, analysts, trainees, and administrative support personnel dedicated to advancing stroke prevention and brain health through collaborative, equity-driven work.

DIRECTOR
Anjail Sharrief, MD, MPH
Dr. Sharrief serves as Director of the Stroke Prevention & Community Brain Health Program, providing overall scientific and strategic leadership. She oversees research development, community engagement efforts, and training initiatives, with a focus on stroke prevention, health equity, and improving outcomes for historically underserved populations.

KEY INVESTIGATORS
Stroke
Anjail Sharrief, MD, MPH
Chigozirim Izeogu MD, MPH
Jerome Jeevarajan, MD
Sishir Mannava, MD
Munachi Okpala, DNP, PhD, NP-C, MBA, MSN, APRN

LBJ
Shivika Chandra

UT Neuropsychology
Kendra Anderson

UTMOVE Clinic
Cherisse Onuigbo

RESEARCH STAFF
Gabretta Cooksey
Program Management
Oversees day-to-day program operations, coordinates study activities, and ensures communication across teams remains aligned and efficient. Provides operational oversight to keep initiatives on schedule, within scope, and aligned with institutional priorities.

Ariana Aquino Hernandez
Regulatory Management / Research Coordinator III (RCIII)
Leads regulatory compliance and documentation oversight for research initiatives. Manages IRB submissions, continuing reviews, protocol amendments, and regulatory reporting. Ensures all study activities meet institutional, ethical, and federal guidelines while supporting cross-team compliance coordination.

Caitlynn Carter
Community Outreach Lead / Research Coordinator I (RCI)
Leads community engagement initiatives and coordinates outreach events in alignment with research and program objectives. Supports participant recruitment efforts, assists with study-related documentation, and facilitates communication between community partners and the research team.

Louis Gonzales
Scheduler / Research Coordinator I (RCI)
Manages participant scheduling and appointment coordination for study visits and screening events. Supports study workflow by maintaining organized calendars, tracking visit timelines, and ensuring smooth operational flow for both research and community-based activities.

Mariel Flake-Rojas
Community Brain Health Project Manager / Research Coordinator III (RCIII)
Provides strategic leadership for Community Brain Health initiatives while overseeing advanced research coordination responsibilities. Manages project timelines, regulatory adherence, cross-functional collaboration, and community-based research integration to ensure successful program execution and measurable impact.

Layomi Oladunjoye, RCI
Supports research implementation through participant interaction, informed consent support, data collection, study documentation, and event assistance. Assists with protocol adherence, maintains accurate records, and contributes to both research and community screening operations.

Apneet Kaur, Research Assistant
Provides direct support for Community Brain Health initiatives, including participant engagement, data collection, and documentation related to screenings. Assists with organizing materials, maintaining accurate records, and supporting operations to ensure smooth execution of project activities.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
Phillip Gonzales
Administrative Assistant
Supports program operations, scheduling, communications, and coordination across research and community initiatives.

MENTORSHIP & TRAINING
The Stroke Prevention & Brain Health Program is committed to mentoring trainees and early-career professionals through structured research opportunities, interdisciplinary collaboration, and hands-on engagement in community-focused initiatives. Please contact us at … for mentoring and training opportunities.