Meet Our Team

Jannine Cody is the director of the Chromosome 18 Clinical Research Center. She initially became interested in chromosome 18 abnormalities after her daughter was diagnosed with 18q-. She received her PhD in genetics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She is also active in the world of advocacy and was awarded the Founder’s Service Award by the Genetic Alliance in 2008.

Daniel Hale serves as the medical director of the Chromosome 18 Clinical Research Center. He is a pediatric endocrinologist and is particularly interested in the treatment of growth hormone deficiency in children with chromosome 18 abnormalities.

Annice Hill is the research coordinator for the Chromosome 18 Clinical Research Center. She joined us in October, 2007. She is responsible for enrolling study participants, collecting medical records, and coordinating visits to San Antonio.

Minire Hasi, or “Mimi”, is a research associate. When families come to San Antonio, she accompanies them to their appointments. She also reviews the medical records of study participants. She also sorts and files medical records and enters data into our databases.

Courtney Sebold is the Communications Director for the Research Center. She writes articles for the annual newsletter and website and helps to write scientific manuscripts.

Bridgette Soileau participates in the neuropsychological assessment process by administering and scoring a number of the parent questionnaires. She also works closely with Dr. O'Donnell on coordination of the neuropsychological data base.

Catherine Cody is a social science researche associate. Her main focus is the siblings of individuals with chromosome 18 changes.

Patty Heard is a research associate. She is responsible for running experiments that tell us more about the molecular basis of chromosome 18 changes.

Erika Carter is a research associate. She is responsible for running experiments that tell us more about the molecular basis of chromosome 18 changes.

Dr. Louise O'Donnell is a psychologist who coordinates the neurocognitive and behavioral assessment procedures. The purpose of the comprehensive assessment procedures is to better understand the developmental process (infant to adult) of persons with chromosome 18 differences. The comprehensive assessment is also designed to provide feedback and recommendations to assist parents and study participants with planning for the future.

Dr. Elizabeth Roeder is a medical geneticist. She performs a dysmorphology exam. The purpose of this exam is to learn more about how chromosome 18 changes affect body and facial structures.

Dr. Robert Stratton is a medical geneticist. He performs a dysmorphology exam on patients who come to San Antonio. The purpose of this exam is to learn more about how chromosome 18 changes affect the body and facial structures.

Dr. Anna Lindley is a pediatric neurologist. She completes a neurology examination on patients who come to San Antonio. This will help us to understand how chromosome 18 changes affect the way the brain and nerves function.

Dr. Brian Perry is an Ears, Nose and Throat specialist. He examines the ears on all patients who come to San Antonio. The purpose of this examination is to look for any structural changes, such as narrow ear canals.

Dr. Martha Shatz is a pediatric ophthalmologist. She performs an eye exam for patients who come to San Antonio. Her goal is to learn more about how chromosome 18 changes affect vision.

Kent Reinker is an orthopedist. He performs a physical examination and examines x-ray films in order to understand how bony problems in people with chromosome 18 changes.

W. Burleson Daviss is a psychiatrist. He interviews families in an effort to learn about psychiatric conditions in people with chromosome 18 changes.

Dr. Jack Lancaster is a radiologist at the Research Imaging Center. He works to understand how chromosome 18 changes affect brain structure.

Dr. Jean Hardies is a radiologist at the Research Imaging Center. Along with other specialists at the Research Imaging Center, she works to understand how chromosome 18 changes affect brain structure.

Peter Kochunov is a radiologist at the Research Imaging Center. Along with other specialists at the Research Imaging Center, he works to understand how chromosome 18 changes affect brain structure.

Peter Fox is a radiologist at the Research Imaging Center. Along with other specialists at the Research Imaging Center, he works to understand how chromosome 18 changes affect brain structure.

Michelle Tejada, AuD, is an audiologist in the Hearing and Balance Center at University Hospital. She evaluates the auditory (hearing) system of individuals with chromosome 18 changes with several different kinds of tests. These tests tell us not only how well a person hears, but they also give information about how well the different parts of the ear and auditory nerve are functioning.

Miranda Null is involved in the processing of MRI’s that have been acquired for the chromosome 18 patients.  She uses different tools to assess the size of the brain.  Using these measurements, she runs statistical tests to identify differences between chromosome 18 patients and normal, healthy controls.

Charles Hermesch is a dentist at the School of Dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center.  He is working to understand how chromosome 18 changes affect the structure of the teeth.

Jonathan Gelfond, MD, PhD, is a statistician.  His main role within the research center is to help interpret the data that is collected by the Research Center.

Charmaine Grohman is a Research Nurse with Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital C.H.A.R.T. (Children's Health Advocacy Research and Treatment)Center. She now works with several research study groups, among them the Chromosome 18 research patients. She performs the growth hormone stimulation tests on these patients, draws blood samples, and monitors the children who need sedation during their MRIs. She processes the blood samples and sees that they get sent off to the laboratory. She has been with the Santa Rosa family for over 25 years before joining the CHART Team.

Ann Hamilton Newstead is a physical therapist.  She works with study participants in the GAIT lab, where she is collecting data on how people with chromosome 18 changes walk.  Someday, this will provide us with information to improve orthopedic interventions and treatments as well as physical therapy.

Gail Walden works with study participants in the GAIT lab, where she is collecting data on how people with chromosome 18 changes walk.  Someday, this will provide us with information to improve orthopedic interventions and treatments as well as physical therapy.

John Li is a radiologist at the Research Imaging Center. Along with other specialists at the Research Imaging Center, he works to understand how chromosome 18 changes affect brain structure.

Gloria Matthews serves as the Administrator for the Chromosome 18 Research Center, providing fiscal oversight for issues that occur related to the UTHSCSA component.  She has worked with the Research Center for the past four years providing assistance with grant submissions and budgetary issues as well as providing administrative support in other areas as needed.  The mission of the center is near and dear to her heart because of her own personal experience with a chromosomal abnormality: trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome.

Debra Tate is an accounting clerk for the Department of Genetics and Endocrinology.  She monitors the ledgers to ensure that charges and deposits are posted to the correct accounts.  No small feat when there are 64 different accounts to monitor.

Nora Eblen has multiple responsibilities within the Research Center, including secretarial duties, maintaining time sheets, answering incoming telephone calls, maintaining calendars for the Endocrinology and Genetics Departments. She also makes all airfare and hotel arrangements, prepares “Request for Travel” authorizations, and processes petty cash reimbursements.

David Rupert is the data manager for the Chromosome 18 Clinical Research Center.  He is responsible for building our center’s databases, as well as making sure we have access to the latest information technology.