Our Team

Meet the researchers and community partners that make ELLAS possible.

Leadership

• Erica Elizabeth Marsh, MD, MSCI, FACOG | Principal Investigator

  

  Dr. Erica E. Marsh is the Principal Investigator (PI) of the ELLAS study. She is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Chief of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  
  Dr. Marsh is a champion of reproductive health for all individuals. Her nationally recognized research has a focus on uterine fibroids, ovarian reserve, and health disparities and inequities.

• Donna Baird, PhD | Co-Investigator

  

  Dr. Donna Baird is a Senior Investigator with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Dr. Baird received a B.A. from Macalester College, a Ph.D. in evolutionary ecology from the University of Minnesota and an M.P.H. in epidemiology from the School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was a postdoctoral fellow in epidemiology, working in cardiovascular disease under Dr. Al Tyroler at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before beginning work in reproductive epidemiology at NIEHS in 1983. Her research interests include fertility, hormones, early pregnancy events, and uterine fibroid epidemiology.

• Lia Bernardi, MD, MSCI | Co-Investigator

  

  Dr. Lia Bernardi is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern University. She also did a one year fellowship in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss at the University of Illinois as this is one of her main clinical and research interests. She is currently developing a clinical Recurrent Pregnancy Loss program within Northwestern’s Fertility and Reproductive Medicine division. Her other research interests include identifying causes of decreased ovarian reserve and fertility preservation in adolescents who have the potential for impaired fertility. Clinically, she cares for patients with an array of reproductive issues including couples with infertility, women with primary ovarian insufficiency and individuals with disorders of sexual development.

• Mercedes Carnethon, PhD | Co-Investigator

  

  Dr. Mercedes Carnethon is the Mary Harris Thompson Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine, as well as the Chief of Epidemiology in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University. Her research focuses on the epidemiology of chronic diseases and health behaviors in diverse populations. Through nationwide collaborations, Dr. Carnethon and her team examine the contribution of health behaviors such as diet, physical activity, and sleep on obesity, diabetes, reproductive health, and cardiovascular disease risk across population subgroups defined by race/ethnicity, geography, socioeconomic status, and sex/gender.

• Lisa M. Neff, MD, MS | Co-Investigator

  

  Dr. Lisa M. Neff is an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology) at Northwestern University. Her clinical practice is dedicated to the management of obesity and related metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Neff has an active research program focusing on metabolic adaptation to weight loss and nutritional interventions for obesity-related conditions.
  
  
  
  

Community Advisory Board

• Sonia Acosta, PhD

  

  Dr. Sonia Acosta is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Centro Multicultural La Familia (CMLF), an organization located in Pontiac, Michigan whose mission is to provide culturally competent support services to families with a holistic approach in order to improve their quality of life. She is a fully licensed bilingual/bicultural psychologist with 28 years of experience in the fields of mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence. She was the first supervisor of Centro La Familia when it was part of Community Mental Health. At that time, Centro only had two staff and with her grant writing abilities, Dr. Acosta was able to grow the program to 35 bilingual/ bicultural staff members. When the parent organization wanted to focus on one area of service, she decided to found Centro Multicultural La Familia to provide a broader array of programming and serve a multicultural community. She is interested in the areas of behavioral health, health equity, cultural competence, and community-based participatory research projects.

• Richard Bryce, DO

  

  Dr. Richard Bryce is the Chief Medical Officer at CHASS, a Detroit-based non-profit providing quality primary healthcare to all residents. He is also Senior Staff Faculty in the Department of Family Medicine at Henry Ford Health System. Dr. Bryce is originally from East Lansing and attended Michigan State University (MSU) where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. At MSU, he discovered his passion surrounding the Spanish language and the many Latino cultures. Dr. Bryce went on to attend MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and later completed a residency in Family Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital. In 2016, he was awarded the MSU Young Alumni Award, the highest recognition awarded by the MSU Alumni Association, for his work as a primary care physician and with medically underserved populations. At CHASS, Dr. Bryce is able to follow his passion by taking care of both English- and Spanish- speaking patients who may otherwise not have access to medical care.

• Maricela Castillo Mackenzie, MD

  

  Dr. Maricela Castillo MacKenzie was born and raised in Mexico City and is fully fluent in Spanish. She received her medical degree from Westhill University, affiliated with the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and completed her residency in Family Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital. She has worked in the Metro Detroit area, providing primary care for underserved patients and the Hispanic community. Dr. Castillo Mackenzie also has experience teaching residents and medical students. Staying close to her Hispanic heritage, Dr. Castillo MacKenzie is an active participant in the Hispanic community, volunteering and supporting the Mexican consulate. She joined the University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine in 2018, where she provides the full-spectrum of family medicine. She currently sees patients at Michigan Medicine’s Livonia Health Center.

• Charo Ledón

  

  Charo Ledón is a Latino community leader, advocate, and Certified Legal Interpreter. Having lived in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area since 1974, she has seen the community grow and diversify. She has owned and operated several businesses in the area and has had the opportunity to serve the community in a variety of venues for three decades. She is particularly well acquainted with the challenges, struggles, and strengths of Latinos. With passion for service she is willing to pursue many different approaches to advocate for the personal growth, advancement, and well-being of all members of her community. Ms. Ledón is currently working with a group of Latino community members calling themselves Buenos Vecinos to ignite ideas, foster involvement, and promote leadership in the Latino community.

• Gloria Rosas

  

  Gloria Rosas is the Director of Community Relations and Advocacy at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC). She is a life-long activist and community organizer in Southwest Detroit. Ms. Rosas is a co-founder of Mana de Metro Detroit and has worked for over thirty years as the owner of Xochi’s Gift Shop. She is a recipient of the 2019 Spirit of Frida Kahlo Award and is a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

   

• Felix Valbuena, MD, FAAFP

  

  Dr. Felix Valbuena is the Chief Executive Officer of the Community Health and Social Services Center (CHASS) in Detroit, MI. He is also a faculty member in the Department of Family Medicine at Henry Ford Health System.

   

• Leseliey Rose Welch, MPH, MBA

  

  Leseliey Rose Welch has over a decade of progressive leadership experience in public health, serving as a leader, administrator, strategist, and consultant in state, city, and national nonprofit health organizations. Her experience includes: serving as executive director of Birthing Project USA, a grassroots maternal-child health movement working to improve women’s well-being and birth outcomes; serving as Deputy Director of Public Health for the City of Detroit, where she led the operational reconstitution of the post-bankruptcy health department and started SisterFriends Detroit; and providing concept development and community engagement consulting in the development of Corktown Health Center, Southeast Michigan’s first comprehensive LGBT health center. She is currently working to open Detroit’s first community birth center, and lecturing at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Community Partners

• Centro Multicultural La Familia (CMLF)

  Centro Multicultural La Familia (CMLF), also known as the Multicultural Family Center, is a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive community services to Oakland County residents. CMLF provides bilingual services including mental health counseling, health workshops, parent education workshops, victims of crime and domestic violence programs, and assistance with medicaid/health insurance applications.

• Community Health and Social Services Center (CHASS)

  The Community Health and Social Services Center (CHASS) is a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive and affordable health services to residents in Southwest Detroit. CHASS provides bilingual health services and wellness services to local residents. CHASS focuses on serving underrepresented African-American and Latino populations.

• Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC)

  Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC) is dedicated to fostering the Latino community in Detroit by creating transformative opportunities serving youth and adults. DHDC provides several innovative programs including family education, youth services, family services, and reentry services, as well as advocating for community needs.

Research Staff

The ELLAS team is comprised of a diverse group of experienced leaders and researchers. We are proud to have several Spanish-speaking bilingual members on our team.

• Arthi Ramakrishnan, MS, CCRP, onWHARD Operations Manager
• Kirsten Trzeciak, BS, Clinical Research Coordinator
• Gina Aliste, AAS, Medical Assistant/Research Assistant
• Esperanza Ingram, MPH, Medical Assistant/Research Assistant
• Bindu Desai, BA, Ultrasound Technologist
• Isabella Rondon Begazo, BS, Research Assistant
• Marielia Camacho Martin, BS, Research Assistant
• Sarah Caston, Student Research Assistant
• Ronald Schindler, BS, Research Lab Technician
• Ernesto Quiroz, BS, Research Assistant
• Charley Jiang, MS, Statistician Lead
• Kun Yang, MD, Lab Manager
• Sydney Serra, BS, Research Lab Technician
• Kelly van Frankenhuyzen, MA, BA, Communication Specialist