GCAFH Staff

New York Office

David Abramson PhD MPH – Principal Investigator
Tasha Stehling-Ariza MPH – Project Director
Yoon Soo Park MS – Data Manager
Akilah Banister MPH – Research Assistant
Jonathan Sury MPH CPH – Research Assistant
Richard Garfield DrPH, RN, FAAN – Study Co-Investigator
Irwin Redlener MD – NCDP Director

Gulf Coast Office

DeAnn Gruber PhD – Field Coordinator
DeAnn Gruber, PhD, LCSW, is an Assistant Professor at LSUHSC School of Public Health in the Behavioral and Community Health Sciences Program. She earned her doctorate in Social Work from Tulane University in 2003 and her Masters in Social Work from Southern University at New Orleans in 1991. Her recent research projects include collecting behavioral data of three different populations at-risk for HIV in New Orleans and identifying the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the health status of persons living in the Gulf Coast area. In 2008, she joined the Gulf Coast Children and Family Health (GCAFH) Study research team as Co-Investigator/Field Coordinator to oversee the data collection efforts of interviewers in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Currently, Dr. Gruber is the Interim Administrative Director for the Louisiana Office of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Program. Dr. Gruber has worked in the field of HIV/AIDS for more than 20 years, initially working with HIV-infected women, children, youth and families at the FACES Program of Children’s Hospital from 1989-1999. Since 2003, she has worked with the OPH HIV/AIDS Program and her areas of expertise include program planning and evaluation, resource development and grant writing, and program management/administration.

Jyaphia Christos-Rodgers MA – Deputy Field Coordinator
Jyaphia Christos-Rodgers lives in New Orleans where she is a research consultant, program evaluator, adult educator, and facilitator. She completed her masters degree in sociology and her doctoral coursework in Urban Studies at the University of New Orleans. For over twenty five years, she has served in the fields of workforce development, environmental health, youth development, anti-oppression initiatives, HIV prevention, and disaster recovery. Currently she is the Program Director and a co-founder of the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal (CELSJR), a faith-based non profit that operates the Rebirth Volunteer Program. CELSJR was founded after Hurricane Katrina and is dedicated to the recovery of the Gulf Coast region. The Center strives to empower, inform and help build sustainable, equitable, and inclusive community.

Team Captains & Interviewers from G-CAFH

Sara Abbas
Arthur Baker
Barbara Bennet
Elvin Breaud
Rossi Bridges
Caitlin Cavalletto
Nathaniel Cavalletto
Jeanne Campbell
Hannah Carliner
Haydee Cespedes
Aygul Charles
Evelyn Choudhoury
Sheena Daffin
Janet Densmore
Kate Detch
Danae DiRocco
Catherine Dowdy
Betsy Elmes
Amber Goff
Pat Gorell
Mary Gravenstuk (aka Suzi G)
Tawanna Hardy
Robert Holdorf
Caitlin Horne
Elisa Ignatius
Lauren Jewell
Terrance Johnson
Daryl Knox
Susanne Langston (aka Susi L)
Carleetha Lankster
Rachel McClendon
Carrie Melancon
Ryan Miller
David Norman
Kwanza Price
Michael Radcliff
Anthony Ray
Jonell Rhodes
Loraine Riley
Constance Ruiz
Sara Sahl
Lorie Seruntine
Catherine Shaw
Judy Smith
Kevin Smith
Beverly Steiner
Malcolm Suber
Yoni Sunshine
Gloria Thomas
Catherine Trimbur
Mishka Vertin
Stephanie Warran
Donya Williams
Herschel Williams

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