Staff - The Center on Aging and Health

Don Baughman
Senior Programmer Analyst
Education: BS, Mathematics, Fairmont State College; MS, Management Science, Johns Hopkins University
Job description: Database management

Don is a member of the Biostatistics Core here at the Center on Aging and Health.

Raymond works directly for Dr. Linda Fried, Director, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology and Center on Aging and Health. His position is multifaceted by nature, since Dr. Fried facilitates the oversight of all clinical, teaching, research, financial, and administrative functions of both, as well as other positions which she chairs within The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions community. Raymond is responsible for coordinating and prioritizing Dr. Fried's activities and handling the initial development for writing/editing scientific publications and proposals. Raymond resolves problems and questions regarding policies and procedures in the absence of Dr. Fried.

Brian Buta
Senior Research Assistant
Academic Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Goucher College, 2003
Honors and Awards: Phi Beta Kappa, 2002

Brian is a Senior Research Assistant at COAH. He is the Administrator for the Johns Hopkins Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC), the Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Aging Training Grant, and the Certificate in Gerontology. Brian is currently a part-time MHS student in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society.

Additional Experience and Research:
Research Assistant to Dr. Sidney Mintz, Anthropology Department, Johns Hopkins University, 2003-2005

Stephanie Caldwell
Senior Research Service Analyst
Education: BS, Towson University, 1993 (major: psychology)
Stephanie works on grant management and preparation and financial analysis of budgets, including forecasting and trend analysis. She is responsible for payroll administration and setup and is the human resources administrator for the Center. She supervises staff members and sets policy and procedures.

Gene Graves
Recruiter
Additional Experience and Research:
Education: BFA, MA
Liaise with partners in the community and schools to positively represent the EC Trial. Recruit and screen older adults for volunteering in schools as well as comparison group.

Gene has a background of graphic design/instructor; He was a Recruiter for MESA, a large multi-ethnic epidemiologic study of atherosclerosis. Performed all recruitment and interviews according to MESA protocols. Worked with data lists from which to draw study subjects.

Long He
Senior Program Analyst
Education: D.Sc, Computer Science, Towson University

Long plays a key role in the Center's data management, managing the Center's database, backup/mirror/secure and the Center's dataset. He designs databases based on applications, generates reports based on faculty requirements, designs web based data processing and management applications and maintains the web application projects and database application projects in various platforms.

Tommy Kim
Research Program Assistant
Education: Economics, Johns Hopkins University

Tommy administer’s research procedures for the Women's Health and Aging Study II (Core and Ancillary). Prepares and correlates data collection materials for both core and ancillary study visits. He conducts interviews for proxy and follow up visits via telephone. Tommy reviews clinical research data collected from study visits for consistency and accuracy. Assists with the preparation for all social events (Luncheons) for participants. Updates phone tracking systems as well as other data tracking systems.

Marcia assists the Biostatistics Core Director in creating and updating publication listings and project progress reports. She collects and updates the COAH website. She is also responsible for database design and development, assists with the development of educational materials for the COAH online training program, and in designing and supporting a local archive of datasets. She aids in the preparation and completion of codebooks for analytic datasets, tracks data requests from submittal to completion through DAS system, and coordinates completion of all materials/forms with requesting investigators.

Faith is a Research Program Assistant for the Baltimore Experience Corps Study and a member of the COAH West.

Tova Reichel
Interim Experience Corps Project Manager
Education: BA, The University of Vermont (Psychology and Environmental Studies double major) MPH, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (International Health and Development) DrPH candidate, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (Global Health)

She is currently serving as the Interim Project Manager of the Center on Aging and Health's Baltimore Experience Corps Program Project, a community-based intervention research project promoting healthier communities by placing older adult volunteers in elementary schools.

Pamela Shepherd
Administrative Coordinator

Pam is a member of the Center on Aging and Health West.

Marines Terreforte
Senior Research Program Coordinator
Education: BS, University of Maryland, 2005 (Family Studies)

Marines Terreforte is responsible for the overall progress of the Baltimore Experience Corps Study. To that end she, assists with overall management of the Cores and acts as a resource for problem identification and resolution.

Vijay Varma
Research Assistant
Education:

Vijay is a Research Assistant on the Brain Health Study and a member of the Center on Aging and Health West.

Kate Walls
Office Administrator
Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Academic Degree(s): Masters of Business Administration, University of Baltimore, 2004
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Mary Washington College, 1996

Kate Walls serves as the Administrator for COAH and a Sr. Financial Analyst for the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. As COAH Administrator, Kate assists the Director in coordinating the HR, administrative and financial operations of the Center. In her role as Sr. Financial Analyst for the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, she helps prepare the annual budget, monitors cost sharing agreements and analyzes data to improve the financial effectiveness of the Division.

Tao Wang
Biostatistician
Education: Ph.D. Candidate, The University of British Columbia

Tao implements statistical methods for analysis of longitudinal multi-dimensional data, and assists in the study design and analytic strategies to address scientific objectives for multidisciplinary epidemiologic and health research projects. Tao also reports and interprets results for investigators and collaborates with epidemiologists, social scientists, and clinicians on scientific papers, seminars and grant submissions.

Ora White
Project Director
Women’s Health & Aging Study II
Education: AA, Pre-pharmacy, Baltimore City Community College, BS, Natural Science, Towson State University

Ora is responsible for project and operational management of a large population-based longitudinal study; working closely with the Investigators to manage logistic and operational details related to the development of multiple simultaneous sub study projects and initiatives of WHAS II. She handles development of strategic plans for successful implementation of projects and acts as a resource for problem identification and resolution. She assists with the development of study protocol and procedures, through protocol review and assessing protocol for clarity, thoroughness, logistical feasibility. She handles IRB study related issues and preparation of study reviews and annual reports. She provides procedural training as needed to research assistants and other study staff and outside entities on frailty measures.

Jin implements methods for analysis of longitudinal multi-dimensional data related to aging research, manipulates and edits data according to the analysis requirements, performs statistical data analysis and programming. She also prepares reports and interpret results for scientific investigators and collaborators.

Wenling was a Research Associate at the National Institutes of Health and brings with him wide range of statistical and research knowledge. He will design and implement methods for analysis of longitudinal multi-dimensional data related to aging research, manipulates and edits data according to the analysis requirements, and prepares reports and interpret results for scientific collaborators.