Alison Miller, PhD
Lab Director
Sara Stein, PhD, LMSW
Research Assistant Professor
Sara is a Research Assistant Professor. The central aim of her research is to identify mechanisms of trauma-related risk transmission across generations to increase effectiveness of evidence-based treatments and mitigate detrimental long-term physical and mental health outcomes in families and children. Sara is also currently a fully licensed, practicing clinical social worker in the State of Michigan with expertise in the treatment of complex trauma.
Olivia Halabicky, PhD, RN
Assistant Research Scientist
Olivia is an Assistant Research Scientist at the UM School of Nursing with a joint appointment in the Nutritional Sciences Department in the UM School of Public Health. Olivia is a children’s environmental health nurse scientist who studies early life exposures and human development. Her research broadly examines how inequitable environmental (e.g., heavy metals) and social exposures (e.g., adversity) at sensitive periods together shape health trajectories and disparities, as well as physiological mechanisms that may mediate these effects. Her goal is to mitigate developmental and health risks for children who have already experienced harmful exposures in their early lives.
Hurley Riley, MPH
Lab Manager
Hurley received his MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 2019. Prior to graduate school, Hurley received his BS in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. Hurley is interested in promoting health equity among youth.
Wadad Itani, MPH
Project Coordinator
Wadad received her MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan in 2024. She did her undergraduate studies in Biology and Education at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon. She is passionate about child and family health of immigrants
Odalys Arbelaez, MA
Doctoral Student
Odalys is a second-year doctoral student in the department of Health Behavior and Health Equity at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Prior to beginning her doctoral program, Odalys received her MA in the Social Foundations of Health from Vanderbilt University. Her research interests broadly focus on firearm injury prevention among youth and adolescents. Odalys is particularly interested in understanding how we can best engage and communicate with parents of young children around secure firearm storage to reduce unintentional firearm injuries.
Hailey Tursak
Research Associate
Hailey is a current MPH student in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity. In 2022, Hailey graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Biology, Health, and Society and a Minor in Gender, Race, and Nation. Hailey is most interested in studying the roots of health inequities in pediatric populations, focusing on pediatric developmental disorders and pediatric surgery. Currently, she is a research associate in the Child Health and Development Lab and is working on the ASSIST Michigan Families Study. Previously, she was the Clinical Research Coordinator for the Craniofacial Anomalies Program at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and a Behavior Technician for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Julia Plawker
Research Assistant
Julia is a current MPH student in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan. In 2023, Julia graduated from University of Michigan with a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Julia is passionate about promoting health equity and addressing root causes of public health issues. She is interested in the communal level risk, protective, and promotive factors that influence childhood development. Currently, she works for the Michigan School Safety Initiative within the National Center for School Safety in the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention. Previously, she worked with families in a clinical psychology lab, and worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Fransisca Anozie
Research Assistant
Fransisca is a second-year MPH student in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity. Her research interests center on improving mental health and wellness among children, particularly through community-based approaches to prevention and care. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Physiology with minors in Bioethics and Health Promotion from Michigan State University. She is currently a summer intern with the Injury Prevention Center, working on the SAFE ARMS initiative to promote firearm safety in households with children. She also supports the Healthy Ypsilanti Project, where she assists in identifying and addressing barriers to accessing community resources and health services. Her work reflects a strong interest in child and family wellness and a commitment to community-centered public health efforts.
Del Sumlar
Research Assistant
Del is a second-year MPH student in Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology. Prior to pursuing a master’s degree, she received a B.S. in Exercise Science- Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology from Auburn University, and worked in an elementary education setting. She is interested in the environmental factors affecting child development, and is excited to bring her background in education to the lab.
Danielle Zube
Research Assistant
Danielle is a first-year MPH student in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity at the University of Michigan. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a B.A. in Psychology in 2020. Danielle’s research interests focus on development, assessment, implementation, and adaptation of evidence-based parenting interventions particularly for underserved communities to address mental health diagnoses and improve overall wellbeing of children and families. She has previous experience as a clinical research coordinator on studies focusing on telehealth substance use prevention brief interventions.
Sophia Martinez
Undergraduate Student Intern
Sophia is a rising senior at the University of Michigan, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Community and Global Public Health through the School of Public Health. She is currently an intern with the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, where she is working on the SAFE ARMS study under the guidance of Dr. Alison Miller. Sophia is on the pre-med track with aspirations of becoming a physician and is deeply committed to advancing health equity. Her previous work with IFIP on the Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) project focused on preventing youth violence through community engagement and empowerment strategies. She is especially interested in the intersection of healthcare and community-based policy and hopes to apply her background to advocate for more inclusive, community-informed healthcare systems within medicine.
Margrette Dawoud
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Margrette is an undergraduate student in the School of Public Health, majoring in Public Health Sciences with a minor in Education for Empowerment. She joined the lab to pursue her passion for supporting children and families affected by health disparities. Outside of the lab, Margrette is actively involved in the Arab Student Association and Pages for Pediatrics. She also volunteers as a camp counselor and medical intern with Camp SkyWild, an organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering neurodivergent children through summer camps and more! Margrette is deeply committed to advancing child health equity through community-based public health initiatives, and hopes to improve access to care and promote healthier futures for children and families in underserved communities.
Christian Loza
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Christian is an undergraduate at the University of Michigan pursuing a double major in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) and Sociology. He joined the lab to deepen his understanding of firearm access, usage, and safety among children and adolescents, with a particular focus on the psychological effects of firearm exposure and injury. Outside of the lab, Christian is actively involved in the Michigan Marching Band, the Barger Leadership Institute, and volunteers with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Christian plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, where he hopes to continue exploring these topics.
Anna Choi
Behavioral Coder
Anna is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan pursuing a major in Public Health Sciences and a minor in Community Action and Social Change. Anna has a passion for environmental justice and advocating for maternal health as a birth doula. She is eager to gain a better understanding of child health and development in this lab to make meaningful impacts in the field of social justice.
Oreen Morag
Behavioral Coder
Oreen is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan majoring in Cognitive Science with a minor in User Experience Design. She is passionate about understanding the processes and factors that drive human decision-making and behavior. In joining the lab, Oreen looks forward to exploring child-parent dynamics and the complexities of decision-making.
Gillkaitlyn Palao
Behavioral Coder
Kaitlyn is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan. She is majoring in Public Health Sciences. She joined the lab in August 2022. Her passion for maternal and child health stems from her experiences in Hawaii, where she was born, and the Philippines, where she grew up. She is interested in integrating public health and medicine to advocate for preventative and quality health care for families.
Gilkevyn Palao
Behavioral Coder
Kevyn is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan pursuing a degree in Psychology. He joined the lab in February 2023. Kevyn is passionate about child development and mental health. He works closely with pediatric patients diagnosed with chronic illness. He is interested in providing children with psychosocial support and therapeutic free play.