Sleep & Health Research Program

Students and Trainees

POSTDOCS

Ghani Sadia Ghani MD MBA

sghani@psychiatry.arizona.edu

Sadia Dr. Ghani obtained her MD from Medical University of the Americas and completed her residency training in Psychiatry at the University of Arizona. She also completed a certification with the University of Arizona Integrative Medicine distinctive track. She obtained her M.B.A. in Business Administration while studying at Davenport University in Grand Rapids, MI. Upon graduating from her residency training, she joined as a postgraduate research associate with the goal of becoming a physician-scientist. Her professional interests include neuroscience/neuropsychiatry, diet and nutrition, sleep medicine and behavioral health. Her interest in research focuses on reducing health disparities and improving mental health. Her personal interests include spending time with friends and family, traveling, cooking, painting, yoga and zumba.

Gorovoy Suzanne Gorovoy PhD

sgorovoy@email.arizona.edu

Dr. Gorovoy completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Case Western Reserve University, with dual specializations in Child Clinical and Pediatric Psychology. She completed her predoctoral psychology internship in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona. Dr. Gorovoy also earned her EdM from Teachers College, Columbia University and worked for 14 years as a school psychologist (including here in Tucson). Her broad research interests include behavioral sleep medicine, treatment adherence, neuropsychological assessment, and pediatric psychology. Specific to behavioral sleep medicine, Dr. Gorovoy's research interests focus on adolescent adherence to CPAP, improving identification and screening of children with sleep problems in the community, and neurocognitive and behavioral sequelae of obstructive sleep apnea in children. When she is not working, Dr. Gorovoy loves to spend time with her three rescue dogs, volunteer at PACC, read, and bake treats for colleagues and friends.

GRADUATE AND MEDICAL STUDENTS

Rebecca Campbell

beccacampbell@arizona.edu

Becca is a clinical psychology predoctoral intern. Her main research interests involve investigating the effects of sleep loss on emotion regulation with the goal of using this knowledge to inform approaches to psychotherapy. Specifically, her dissertation aims to illuminate the effects of acute sleep deprivation on the ability to reappraise negative situations. Her interests also expand into sleep interventions in integrated primary care settings. Her aim is to quantify patient need and leverage the interdisciplinary team to increase access to evidence-based interventions. In her free time, Becca enjoys playing boardgames and tabletop roleplaying games, reading, and camping.

D'Andre Gomez

dmgomez@email.Arizona.edu

D'andre is a first year medical student. For fun he likes to hike, watch tv, read, and do Brazilian jiu jitsu. He has two dogs named Kona and Max.

Kat Kennedy

katkennedy@email.arizona.edu

Kat Kennedy is a PhD candidate in the Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Program. She is interested in sleep and nutrition, women’s sleep health, and the use of novel therapeutics and wearables. Kat is a science communicator and has written about sleep and health for multiple outlets including The Conversation, Elemental, Medium, and more.

Elizabeth Rasmussen

efr@email.arizona.edu

Elizabeth is a Clinical Translational Sciences Ph.D. student at the University of Arizona and faculty associate with Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions. She graduated with a B.S. in Physiology from the University of Arizona, College of Medicine, in 2017, and holds an M.S. in Healthcare Delivery from Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions (2018). Elizabeth currently works in healthcare analytics and consulting aimed at improving the quality of care and overall health of underserved communities. She is interested in external impacts (environmental, social, behavioral) on health outcomes.

Alissa Stanley

alissastanley@email.arizona.edu

Alissa graduated from UCLA with a degree in Human Biology and Society with a concentration in Bioethics and Public Science Policy. She is currently a medical student at UA COM-T. She is interested in pursing psychiatry as her future specialty with a particular focus in serving underserved populations. Her research interests include insomnia, sleep and memory, anxiety/depressive disorders, addiction, behavioral sleep interventions, and health disparities.

Isadora Thesz

ikethesz@email.arizona.edu

Isadora (Izzy) Thesz is a master's student in the physiological sciences GIDP program at the University of Arizona. She completed her BS degree in 2021, with a major in physiology and a double minor in biochemistry and french. She spent the duration of her undergraduate career competing on the UA wildcat club cheer team, serving on the team's executive board her final season. Izzy is very excited to begin her next journey as a researcher in the SHRP. In the future, she hopes to continue on to medical school, with the aspiration of becoming a surgeon.

Andrew Tubbs

atubbs@email.arizona.edu

Andrew is an MD/PhD student who recently completed the PhD portion of his training in the SHRP. He is still collaborating on several projects as he completes his medical training. Broadly speaking, Andrew is interested in the development, maintenance, and treatment of mental illness. Since sleep often features prominently in mental illness, Andrew's focus in the SHRP is on how sleep acts as a risk factor for mental illness development and disease course, as well as how therapies targeting sleep may improve mental illness symptomology. Ultimately, Andrew hopes to complete his residency in Psychiatry, fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and work as a clinical research physician at an academic medical center. Outside of the lab, Andrew enjoys cooking, writing short fiction, and discussing theology.

Dora Valencia MPH

dyvalencia@email.arizona.edu

Dora is a Ph.D. student in the Clinical Translational Sciences program at the University of Arizona. She obtained her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Global Health from the University of Arizona in 2019. Dora completed her undergraduate career in 2017, obtaining her BSHS in Physiology, BA in French and Francophone Studies and a minor in Biochemistry also from the University of Arizona. She wishes to be a part of the generation of researchers that increase minority representation in research, that promote disease prevention through the adoption of positive health behaviors, that advance the equitability of the health care system and lead public health and medicine to be more community and identity-centered. Dora’s research interests include chronic disease prevention and control, increasing the representation of underserved populations within search through community-based work, and utilizing the human experience as portrayed in literature and in spoken language to improve clinical research and clinical practices. Dora’s ultimate career goal would be to work as a Global Health Researcher that travels often to all of Latin America, France, and French speaking African nations.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS & RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Sabrina Arevalo

sarevalo23@email.arizona.edu

Sabrina is an undergraduate honors student majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences and Nutritional Sciences, minoring in Emergency Medical Services, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Sports Nutrition. She is an active member in the Physiology Honors Academy and in a Panhellenic soroity, Kappa Alpha Theta. In the future, Sabina hopes to become a physician in the military. In the lab, she is interested in investigating the connection between sleep and mental health.

Manasi Awasthi

mawasthi@arizona.edu

Manasi is an undergraduate freshman majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, on the premedicine track. Having done prior research on dementia, she is interested in exploring different areas in neurology, including sleep disorders and Alzheimer's. In her free time, she loves to dance, spend time with family and friends, and

Rockwell Bortz

rockwellbortz@arizona.edu

Rocky is from Colorado and a biology major undergraduate at UA. He enjoys playing guitar, hockey, and longboarding.

Jacob Brown

jbrown45@arizona.edu

Jacob is an undergraduate student at UA studying Physiology. He is currently in Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-health honorary, as well as playing for the club baseball team. He is interested in learning more about the research process and broadening his skillset.

Annie Chen

anniechen@arizona.edu

Annie is a Physiology Major at the UA. Her goal is to become an oncologist. She is excited to start getting into research with the Sleep and Health Research Program, and is looking forward to new experiences!

Victor Chiquette

vachiquete@arizona.edu

Victor is an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with a minor in biochemistry. His hope is to pursue a career in medicine and specialize in Neurology. As part of the sleep lab he hopes to learn everything he can about sleep and the processes of the brain that make it happen. Being from a rural border town he hopes to one day improve specialty care for those areas in need.

Brandon Fuentes

brandonfuentes@email.arizona.edu

Brandon was born and raised in Northwest Indiana. He is a physiology student at the UofA with a minor in biochemistry. He has always loved the natural sciences and wants to further his education past his undergraduate degree. He also enjoys playing soccer and sand volleyball during his free time.

Sofia Garber

sofiagarber@arizona.edu

Sofia is a junior at the University of Arizona. She is majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences with a minor in Spanish. Her long term goal is to be a doctor.

Emma Hawkins

emmaghawkins@arizona.edu

Emma is pursuing a degree in psychology and then plans to go to medical school for psychiatry. She is interested in assisting and/or participating in any psychology and behavioral health research activities, especially sleep.

Catie Holt

holtc@email.arizona.edu

Catie Holt is a junior majoring in Physiology & Medical Sciences and also has a minor in Health & Human Values. She is also involved on campus as an RA and a DA. Catie also is involved in several different clubs around campus and holds a few leadership positions.

Ariana King

aking3@email.arizona.edu

Ariana is currently majoring in Neuroscience & Cognitive Science with minors in Biochemistry and Information Science, Technology, and the Arts. She is interested in learning more about how disruptions of the circadian system can lead to sleep disorders. By being a part of the lab, she hopes to learn more about the neurobiology of sleep. She then hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience.

Cassandra Kuhler

ckuhler23@email.arizona.edu

Cassie is an honors student at the University of Arizona. She is a senior majoring in Physiology and minoring in Psychology. She is interested in sleep deprivation-related research because she would like to contribute to the academic and medical communities respective understandings of the nuanced ways that sleep influences mental health. Post-graduation, she intends to continue her higher education and pursue a career as a Physician Associate (PA).

Javier Mendoza

Javmendoza1215@email.arizona.edu

Javier Mendoza is an Undergraduate Student majoring in Psychology with a double minor in Spanish and Studio Art. Javier plans on attending graduate school post-undergrad. He is interested in the relationship between sleep and mental health.

Nathalia O'Brien

nathygc@live.com

Nathalia is an undergraduate student majoring in Physiology & Medical Sciences. She is involved in a few other campus activities including Save the Cord Foundation Internship and the sorority Delta Gamma. Outside of this she has enjoyed time shadowing physicians and will continue expanding this during summers. She also hopes to explore the connections between sleep and health.

Sayani Shah

sshah3@email.arizona.edu

Sayani is an undergraduate honors student in the neuroscience and cognitive science major with a minor in biochemistry. She was born in Fort Worth, TX and hopes to attend medical school in 2023 with goals of going into neurosurgery. She looks forward to learning more about how light pollution affects sleep, and in her free time enjoys travelling, hiking, and watching comedy shows.

Ellen Watkins

ellenwatkins@email.arizona.edu

Ellen is a Physiology and Medical Sciences major and Biochemistry minor at the University of Arizona. She is interested in connections between sleep and mental health and her goal is to be a Physician Assistant.