University of Texas Medical Branch

Regions Served: Galveston, Texas

Site Contact Information

Elena Volpi, MD, PhD:

evolpi@utmb.edu or 409-772-1977

Clinical research coordinator

Eloisa S. Martinez, BS, CCRP

Eloisa Martinez, BS, CCRP is a Research Project Manager at University of Texas Medical Branch who coordinates multiple clinical studies. She has experience with recruitment and coordination of study participants who communicate in English and/or Spanish.

Clinical Research Coordinator

Roxana Hirst, MS, CCRP

Roxana Hirst, MS is the OAIC Research Operations Manager and Recruitment Manager and the Lead Research Project Manager in the Sealy Center on Aging at UTMB. She was was instrumental in development and progress of our Local Patient and Stakeholder Council.

Principal Investigator

Elena Volpi, MD, PhD

Elena Volpi, MD, PhD is PI of the UTMB Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) and co-director of the UTMB Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA). She is the UTMB PI for STRIDE and D-CARE. Dr. Volpi has published > 130 journal articles.

Research Manager

Rafael Samper Ternent, MD, PhD

Rafael Samper Ternent, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor at UTMB in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Sealy Center on Aging and attending faculty in the Geriatric Outpatient Clinic. He is a Co-Investigator in several grants and has published 30 manuscripts. His clinical/ research interests are resilience at older ages, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, multi-morbidity and frailty.

Sue Minello, Adult NP

Alice Williams, LBSW, MS

Adetutu Odejimi, RN, FNP-C

Ann Marie McDonald, LMSW

Ann Marie McDonald, LMSW is the Chief Program Officer of the Houston & Southeast Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. An experienced executive, Ann Marie provides strategic development, implementation, and oversight of community programs and client services for 36 counties in Houston & Southeast Texas. She has a passion for educating the community on dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and or related dementia.

Emily Castillo

Emily Castillo is a Care Consultant at the Alzheimer’s Association in Houston, TX. She is passionate about helping people and seeing them succeed. She enjoys learning new things, gaining new skills, and seeking experiences. She like seeing the positive in every situation and using that energy to encourage others and is a Care Consultant on the DCARE Study.

Denise Gibson

Denise Gibson is a senior care and dementia professional dedicated to raising greater awareness of dementia care residents’ quality of life while bringing compassion and resources that preserve dignity and respect to the larger community. She passionately believes educating caregivers, professionals and the community as a whole is imperative to successfully create a meaningful life for the person with dementia. Ms. Gibson has worked with people living with dementia and their families for over 20 years and is currently a Care Consultant on the DCARE Study.

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