Pediatric Obesity & Health Behavior
A Pennington Biomedical Research Center Laboratory
A Pennington Biomedical Research Center Laboratory
Amanda E. Staiano, Ph.D., M.P.P.
Assistant Professor, Population & Public Health Sciences
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, LSU
Director, Pediatric Obesity & Health Behavior Laboratory
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA
Telephone 225/763-2729 | Fax 225/763-2887
2007 | Louisiana State University | Bachelor of Science | Psychology
2009 | Georgetown University | McCourt School of Public Policy | Master of Public Policy
2010 | Georgetown University | Doctor of Philosophy | Developmental Psychology
2017 | Tulane University | Master of Science | Clinical Research
Dr. Amanda Staiano is a faculty member and Director of the Pediatric Obesity & Health Behavior Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. She earned her PhD in developmental psychology and master of public policy at Georgetown University, followed by a master of science in clinical research at Tulane University.
Dr. Staiano currently serves as PI of two epidemiological studies of children’s body composition and physical activity: a study of 175 preschool-aged children in daycare centers (U54MD008602-P02UAB) and a study of 342 adolescents 10 to 16 years of age, including 41% ethnic minority and 50% with overweight or obesity (USDA 3092-51000-056-04A). Due to her specific interest in using technology to improve the delivery and acceptance of weight management and physical activity counseling, she was recently PI of a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a 6-month, home-based physical activity trial for children’s weight management delivered via exergames and videochat counseling (AHA 15GRNT24480070) and PI for a family weight management program that enrolled 105 families over 2 years and incorporated pedometers and step goals.
Her team is launching a new technology-based trial that delivers a physical activity promotion app to parents of preschoolers to promote fundamental motor skill acquisition (NIH R21HD095035). She also serves as Site Principal Investigator and Director of the Data Coordinating Center for the PCORI-funded TEAM UP study, "A Pragmatic Family-Centered Approach to Childhood Obesity Treatment."
Drawing from her public policy training, Dr. Staiano participates in scientific advocacy at the national, state, and local level.
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Key Pediatric Team Members
Chelsea Kracht, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Telephone 225-763-3133
2018 | University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center | PhD | Nutritional Sciences
2015 | University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center | MS | Epidemiology
2013 | University of Central Oklahoma | MS | Exercise Science
2010 | Drake University | BA | Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology
Chelsea Kracht is a post-doctoral researcher in the Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Laboratory since 2018. Her interests are in social and environmental factors of children's screen time, sedentary behavior, diet, and weight-related outcomes. She is currently working with the TIGERKids and Pause & Play studies.
Chelsea Hendrick, B.S.
Project Manager
Telephone 225/763-2918
2007 | Louisiana State University | Bachelor of Science | Kinesiology
Chelsea Hendrick is a Project Manager in the Intervention Resources Unit. In addition, Chelsea manages the operations of the Fitness Center, which includes overseeing interventions, quality improvement, students, and staffing. Working at Pennington Biomedical, she has been involved in a variety of NIH funded, AHA funded and privately funded clinical trials over the past 5 years. She has worked with many external collaborators within the Baton Rouge community to aid in participant recruitment and to oversee the maintenance of sub-awards, budgets, interventions, and assessments conducted off-campus. Chelsea earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University and spent the first 3.5 years of her career working in Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation at Our Lady of the Lake. She currently serves as Project Manager for the TIGER Kids study and the Fit to Learn study. She previously served as the Project Manager for GameSquad, a study working with 10-12 year old kids to determine if exergaming reduces body fat and improves health factors in overweight and obese children. In addition, she was the Project Manager of the ARTIIS study, a 5 month exercise program to reduce the risk of developing diabetes in African American men; the SPRINT trial, a multicenter, randomized clinical trial to test whether reduced systolic blood pressure lower than current recommendations will reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease; and WorkACTIVE-P, a pilot study that will test the long-term impact of a behaviorally supported walk more and pedal desk intervention program in the workplace.
Mary Jessica St. Romain, B.A.
Project Manager
Telephone 225/763-2921
2004 | Louisiana State University | Bachelor of Arts | Communication
Mary “Jessica” St. Romain has worked at Pennington Biomedical for a total of 6 years. In 2015, she rejoined the Pennington Biomedical team as a Research Specialist II, providing management and intervention support for GameSquad. She managed the Pause & Play project and provides pre-award grant support. She currently manages the Painted Playground project and SUNRISE preschool study collaborations.
Clinical Site Team Members
Natalie Malek
TEAM UP Project Manager
Telephone 225/763-2899
Natalie is a Project Manager in the Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Laboratory since 2018. Previously she has worked on health and wellness research for commercial insurers and management of FDA regulated clinical trials for medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Currently, she works on the PCORI Pediatric Obesity Project called TEAM UP.
Erika Rodriguez-Guzman
TEAM UP Research Specialist
Telephone 225/763-3197
Erika.Rodriguez-Guzman@pbrc.edu
Erika Rodriguez-Guzman is a Research Specialist in the Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Laboratory since 2018. Her background is in weight management and sexuality education interventions in underserved Hispanic communities in southern Arizona. She currently works on the PCORI Pediatric Obesity Project.
Angelle Graham Ullmer, RDN
TEAM UP Master Health Coach
Telephone 504/533-4485
Angelle Graham is the Master Health Coach for the Louisiana clinics participating in the PCORI Pediatric Obesity Project called TEAM UP. She is certified in Family Based Treatment- the leading treatment for adolescent eating disorders. After graduating Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, Angelle began working in the outpatient clinic at Pennington Biomedical as a study coordinator. She went back to school to become a Registered Dietitian and completed a Master in Science Health and Human Performance at McNeese. She returned to PBRC as a health coach for the Propel Study in New Orleans and currently works with the TEAM UP study.
Data Coordinating Center
Lindsay Hall, M.A.
TEAM UP Database Manager
Telephone 225/763-3111
Lindsay earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in Theoretical Psychology from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She has 15 years of clinic research experience including, but not limited to, Research Coordinator, Behavioral Interventionist, Health Writer, Psychometrician, and Database Manager. Her clinical research experience has been predominantly with technology-directed health and wellness interventions. These interventions often included direct contact with vulnerable populations including children, pregnant women and older adults.
Ken Singletary, M.H.S., CCRA, CCRC
TEAM UP Regulatory Research Specialist
Telephone 225/763-2822
Ken earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and a Master of Health Science from Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has a diverse clinical research background, including experience as a Research Coordinator, Data and Regulatory Monitor, Data Manager and Clinical Research Quality Control Manager. He has 19 years of clinical research experience in numerous therapeutic areas including Oncology, Hematology, Dermatology, Cardiovascular/Vascular Diseases, Musculoskeletal, Nutrition/Weight Loss and Solid Organ Transplant. He served as a voting Institutional Review Board member at the University of Iowa for 7 years and holds certifications from the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) as a Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA) and Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC).
Ricky Brock
TEAM UP Director of Operations
Telephone 225/763-2592
Ricky is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, following with an RN Diploma from the Baton Rouge General School of Nursing. He trained in Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care working at a large, local medical center, and then as a travel nurse in hospitals across the U.S. for a couple of years. From his start at Pennington Biomedical as a Nurse Coordinator, he has moved into several diverse roles helping set up and manage the Inpatient Metabolic Unit at Pennington and managing the Clinical Trials Outpatient Unit for over 8 years. Also, during this time he managed several larger, multi-center trials helping to establish a Coordinating Center at Pennington Biomedical along with a network of physicians and clinical sites across Louisiana, and helped create a private company to expand the Coordinating Center capabilities for Pennington. After working as a Senior Research Associate with a group of research consultants based in New Orleans for a few years, he returned to Pennington Biomedical in 2011 as Director of Medical Services, working as the Project Director for Heads Up, a large, multicenter behavioral and bariatric surgery program for state employees. He is managing the Data Coordinating Center and clinical operations for the TEAM UP study.
Students
Sai Pochana
Undergraduate Student Worker, 2018-
2021 (Candidate) | Louisiana State University | Bachelor of Science | Biological Sciences
Sai Pochana joined Pennington as an undergraduate student worker in 2018. She is currently a biology major with an interest in going into medicine. She loves working with kids and is very excited about learning more and getting involved with the research.
Jordan Wilburn
Undergraduate Student Worker, 2019-
2021 (Candidate) | Louisiana State University | Bachelor of Science | Psychology | Bachelor of Arts | Sociology
Jordan Wilburn is a Student Worker in the Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Laboratory since 2019. She is currently working towards a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Louisiana State University. She is interested in doing research in Clinical Psychology and is very thankful for the opportunities being given to her at Pennington.
Graduate and Undergraduate Trainees
Graduate Alumni
Erica Joseph, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, NP-C
Research Trainee, 2018
DNP, 2015, Southern University & A&M College
Post-Masters, 2012, Southeastern Louisiana University
MSN, 2008, Southern University & A&M College
BSN, 1999, Southern University & A&M College
PhD Candidate, 2019, Southern University & A &M College
Caroline Barbaree, MBA, BS
Policy Intern, 2016-17
M.B.A., 2017, Flores MBA Program, Louisiana State University
B.S., 2015, Business, E. J. Ourso College of Business, Louisiana State University
Client Associate at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Neelima Gonugunta, MBBS
Research Trainee, 2014
Amber Jarrell, BS
Medical Student Trainee, 2016-17
B.S., 2012, Biology, Southern University and A&M College
M.D. Candidate, 2019, LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
Michelle Liu, BS, BA
Research Assistant, 2015
B.S., 2013, Neuroscience, Tulane University
B.A., 2013, Anthropology, Tulane University
Currently an MD candidate (2018), Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Arwen Marker, BA
Project Manager, 2012-15
B.A., 2012, Psychology, Emory University
Currently a PhD Candidate (2020), University of Kansas
Madeline Morrell, MPH, BS
Graduate Trainee, 2015
MPH, 2015, Epidemiology, Tulane University
Formerly a Data Management Specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Currently a Health Informatics Epidemiologist with the State of Tennessee Department of Health's Outbreak and Chronic Disease Division
Jessica Seay, BS
Graduate Trainee, 2019
MD/MPH (Candidate), 2021, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Amanda Weathers-Meyer, MS
Graduate Trainee, 2017-19
Currently pursuing a PhD in Kinesiology and M.Ed. in Counseling, Louisiana State University
Undergraduate Alumni
Hannah Abney, BS
Undergraduate Trainee, 2014
B.S., 2017, Pre-Dental and Biology, Minor in Psychology, Louisiana State University
Maggie Bain
Undergraduate Trainee, 2014
B.S., 2016, Kinesiology, Louisiana State University
Currently a Science Teacher at Houston ISD (2016-)
James Burns Jr., BS
Undergraduate Trainee, 2017
B.S. Candidate (2017), Kinesiology / Fitness Studies, Louisiana State University
Gabriella “Gabbi” Chauvin
Undergraduate Trainee, 2017
B.S. Candidate (2021), Biology, University of Louisiana, Lafayette
Alexandra DeWitt, BS
Graduate Trainee 2017
Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate (2020), University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy
B.S., 2016, Biology, Louisiana State University
Nicole Dominique, BS, BA
Medical Student Trainee, 2018
B.S., 2017, Microbiology, Louisiana State University
B.A., 2017, English Literature, Louisiana State University
Pursuing concurrent M.D. and MPH degrees, 2021, Louisiana State
University Health Sciences Center- New Orleans
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Recipient
Beatriz Fernando-Coelho
Undergraduate Trainee, 2018-19
Pursuing B.S., 2021 (Candidate), Kinesiology, Louisiana State University
Johannah Frelier, BS
Research Assistant, 2014-2015
B.S., 2014, Psychology, Louisiana State University
MPH, 2017, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Currently Research Assistant at Harvard School of Public Health with Dr. Sara Bleich
Alexandra Gillio, BS
Undergraduate Trainee, 2014
B.S., 2015, Kinesiology, Louisiana State University
Hayden Guidry
Undergraduate Trainee, 2017
B.S. Candidate (2020), Biology, Louisiana State University
Hannah Haddad
Undergraduate Trainee, 2016-
B.S. Candidate (2018), Pre-Medical, Nutrition and Food Sciences Minors in Health Sciences and Sociology, Louisiana State University
Ogden Honors College
Ellery Hayden
Research Assistant, 2015
B.S. candidate (2018), Rhodes College
Enrolled in LSUHSC Medical School for 2018-
Alex Henderson
Undergraduate Trainee, 2017
B.S. Candidate (2018), Microbiology, Louisiana State University
Cullen Hodges, BS
Student Worker, 2014-2015
B.S., 2017, Pre-Med, Biology, Louisiana State University
Elizabeth Joseph, BS
Undergraduate Trainee, 2017-19
Ogden Honors College Graduate
Recipient of the LSU Undergraduate Distinguished Researcher Medal
Currently pursuing a PhD in psychology at Texas Christian University
Amelie Kramer, BS
Undergraduate Student Worker, 2016-19
Currently pursuing a masters in higher education at Louisiana State University
Molly Mallory
Undergraduate Trainee, 2016
B.S., 2017, Psychology, Minor in Kinesiology, Louisiana State University
M.H.A. Candidate (2021), Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Annie McLemore, BS
Undergraduate Trainee, 2016
B.S., 2016, Nutrition & Food Sciences: Dietetics, Louisiana State University
Currently a radiobiologist at Baylor College of Medicine Houston
Paige Menier, B.S.
Undergraduate Student Worker, 2017
B.S., 2013, Business Management, Louisiana State University
B.S., 2017, Dietetics, Louisiana State University
Currently a Clinical Research Coordinator at Ochsner Heath Center - Summa
Ansleigh Thibodeaux
Undergraduate Trainee, 2016
B.S. Candidate (2019), Psychology, Minors in Health Sciences and Sociology, Louisiana State University
Currently a secretary at Lisa Jordan Dale - Attorney at Law
Aimee Troxclair, BS
Undergraduate Trainee, 2015
B.S., 2015, Kinesiology, Southeastern University
Zoe Wilhelm
Louisiana Service and Leadership (LASAL) Trainee, 2017
B.S. Candidate (2018), Pre-Medical, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Minor in Music, Louisiana State University
Ogden Honors College
Courtney Wright, BS
Undergraduate Trainee, 2014
Robert Noyce Research Scholar, Summer 2014
B.S., 2016, Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University
Currently a student teacher at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School (2016-)