Meet Inspira Advantage’s Research Mentors

Dr. Godinich is a radiation oncology resident physician, researcher, and educator with a distinctive academic background spanning medicine, public health, and healthcare leadership. He earned an MD and MPH from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, and also completed an MBA and MHA through the University of Houston and the University of Texas School of Public Health. Dr. Godinich is currently completing his residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Before pursuing a PhD in environmental health sciences at the University of California, Irvine, Wajeeha earned a BS in environmental sciences from Kinnaird College and a Master’s of Philosophy in environmental sciences and policy from the Lahore School of Economics in Pakistan. At UC Irvine, Wajeeha is a graduate student mentor who leads the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program’s (UROP) Interdisciplinary Research Team.

Dr. Das is a veterinary epidemiologist and research scientist specializing in infectious disease epidemiology, spatial modeling, and One Health systems. Dr. Das earned a DVM and a Master’s degree in epidemiology and public health from Sylhet Agricultural University in Bangladesh. She completed a PhD in veterinary medicine (epidemiology) at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where she also completed residency training in veterinary public health and preventive medicine.

Dr. Nair is a behavioral scientist and professor at the University of South Florida. Her research centers on health equity and social justice, with a focus on using evidence- and theory-based interventions to reduce cancer-related health disparities in minoritized populations. She earned a PhD in kinesiology from Temple University, where she also completed postdoctoral training.

Dr. Stanic is a physician-scientist with over 15 years of experience in clinical research, translational medicine, and academic mentorship. She completed her undergraduate and MD training at the University of Novi Sad School of Medicine in Serbia, where she also earned an MS in biomedical sciences (pediatrics) and a PhD in biomedical sciences. She completed postdoctoral training in neuroscience and endocrinology at Georgetown University Medical Center, supported by the Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Research Training Award from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Sharma attended the University of Pennsylvania before attending the Perelman School of Medicine and the Wharton School to pursue an MD/MBA. She is now an internal medicine and preliminary dermatology resident at Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women’s Hospital. With 10 years of research mentorship experience, 20+ peer-reviewed journal articles, and multiple abstracts and presentations, Dr. Sharma is well-equipped to help students navigate the challenges of creating an original research paper.

Christian has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and an MPH from Brown University. He is the Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Policy Manager at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Office of the General Counsel, and has worked as a clinical research coordinator, Health Technology Project Manager, and public health researcher at institutions including Brigham and Women’s Hospital, UC Irvine Health, the Mayo Clinic, and UCLA Health.

Dr. Ng is a spine surgery fellow at Rothman Orthopaedics, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he is also a Senior Research Investigator. He was previously a Chief Resident and Research Chief in orthopedic surgery at the Maimonides Medical Center. Dr. Ng has an impressive portfolio of 190+ published manuscripts, 350+ poster/podium presentations, and five book chapters. With 10 years of research mentorship experience, Dr. Ng has led or supervised 200+ research projects.

Dr. Korch graduated with a PhD in microbiology from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences on a full-tuition scholarship and stipend, and has over 20 years of research mentorship experience. Dr. Korch has served as a Professor of Pharmacology at Midwestern University for over 16 years, and has served as the Principal Investigator for several Master’s students in Midwestern University’s Master of Biomedical Sciences program.

Dr. Pastewait is a board-certified orthodontist who works in the public and private sectors. As an Air Force Officer, Dr. Pastewait is a Flight Commander, AEGD-1 Course Director, and Chief of Orthodontics. He also works as an associate orthodontics professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He has worked as a rocket propellant chemist at the Air Force Research Laboratory, graduate research mentor for the AEGD-1 Program, and Principal Researcher at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Dr. Saltzberg is an emergency medicine physician and educator with over 40 years of clinical, medical education, and admissions experience. He served as an undergraduate pre-med advisor at Northwestern University, and has taught pre-meds and medical students at Northwestern and Chicago Medical School. Dr. Saltzberg currently works as an associate professor in the University of Chicago Medical School’s Department of Emergency Medicine, where he also completed post-doctoral work.

Dr. Lingaya is a family medicine resident and graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School. With over five years of mentorship experience, Dr. Lingaya has successfully mentored students who have attended some of the nation’s most competitive medical schools, including UCSF, Northwestern, and the University of Michigan.

Dr. Ford is a physician-scientist and biotechnology consultant who attended Emory University’s MD-PhD program on a full scholarship and stipend, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. He also served on the Emory University MD-PhD program admissions committee. Combining the insider knowledge of a former admissions committee member, the technical expertise of a professional scientist, and the clinical training of a medical doctor, Dr. Ford offers a unique and highly advantageous perspective as a research mentor.

Dr. Hooks is an internal medicine physician with more than 15 years of clinical and research experience. She earned an MD from Creighton University School of Medicine after completing her undergraduate studies in biochemistry with honors at Loras College, both on full-ride academic scholarships. Dr. Hooks completed an internal medicine residency at CHI Mercy and has conducted extensive surgical and nephrology research as a transplant hospitalist.

Dr. Robert Shafton is a physician and research mentor with a diverse academic and professional background spanning clinical medicine, scholarly research, and student mentorship. He graduated with an MD from the University of Illinois College of Medicine before completing his residency at Rambam Hospital in Israel, and began specialty training in neurosurgery, during which he wrote a chapter for a neurosurgical textbook on a novel topic.

Dr. Painter graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Richmond before earning an MD from Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School. He has published more than 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts, textbook chapters, and abstracts, and has presented his research nationally and internationally. Dr. Painter has worked as a Lab Manager at Harvard Medical School and has mentored students through the Collegiate Research Initiative at New York University, also serving as a Principal Investigator and mentor to NYU sophomores.

Dr. Malige is an orthopedic surgeon and partner at Advanced Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. He graduated with a BS from the University of California, San Diego, before earning an MD from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. Dr. Malige has served as a research mentor and Co-Investigator at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Advanced Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, and St. Luke’s University Health Network, where he also completed his residency.

Dr. Reddy completed a highly selective seven-year accelerated BS/MD program on a four-year merit-based scholarship from Augusta University and the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta. Following medical school, Dr. Reddy trained as a neurosurgery resident at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. With 10 years of research experience, Dr. Vamsi has led 50+ research projects, has published 150+ peer-reviewed publications, and has been the Lead Author on dozens of papers.

Dr. Offenbacher completed her undergraduate studies at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at CUNY School of Medicine and an MD at SUNY Downstate School of Medicine. She completed a pediatric residency and pursued a pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore/Albert Einstein School of Medicine, where she also served as a research mentor. Dr. Offenbacher is a Principal Investigator at Sheba Medical Center, where she runs a translational sarcoma lab.

Dr. Mohanty is an orthopedic surgery resident at Mass General Brigham through the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency Program. A BS/MD graduate, he earned an MD from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Mohanty has led research teams that have produced 35 publications and presentations. He has mentored students in research through the University of Pennsylvania, the Hospital for Special Surgery, the Columbia University Och Spine Center, and Mass General Brigham and Massachusetts General Hospital through Harvard University.

Dr. Akwii is a translational scientist with extensive experience spanning academic research and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Makerere University before earning a Master’s and PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She works as a Senior Scientist, supporting translational research programs that bridge pre-clinical and clinical development, integrating biological insight, data interpretation, and real-world application.

Dr. Ewen graduated with a BA from the University of Rochester, an MPH from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a PhD in behavioral and community health from the University of Maryland. She is a Research Investigator at the University of Michigan and a recipient of the American Diabetes Association Scholars Program Award. With 12 years of mentorship experience, Dr. Ewen has led studies funded by the National Institutes of Health and has mentored students across all academic levels.

Dr. Sabblah is a biomedical scientist, educator, and medical communications professional with experience in research, higher education, and the biopharmaceutical industry. He completed a BS in biochemistry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, and earned an MS and PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of Central Florida. He currently works as a postdoctoral scientist at the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute at the University of South Florida.

Dr. Wang is a health data scientist, biotechnology entrepreneur, and former Indiana University School of Public Health professor with a strong record of interdisciplinary research, public impact, and academic mentorship. He earned a BS in bioengineering from Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in China before graduating with a PhD in environmental sciences from the University of Michigan and an MBA on a full scholarship from Duke University. Dr. Wang also pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University.

Dr. Rosenfeld is a public health researcher, program leader, and mentor with over a decade of experience advancing reproductive health, behavioral health, and health equity through applied research and strategic partnerships. She earned an MPH and PhD in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Women’s Health Research in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Dr. Lee earned a PhD in social sciences from the University of California, Los Angeles, and now works for the UCLA Department of Medicine. Dr. Lee serves as Project Director for several National Institutes of Health-funded multi-site research projects, and as a Program Lead for a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute-funded research mentorship initiative. She has 13 years of experience mentoring researchers and leads clinical, translational, and human-computer interaction studies in academic medicine.

Dr. Gardas is a physical therapist, neuroscientist, and educator with extensive experience in neurorehabilitation research and mentorship. He earned a PhD in rehabilitation sciences from East Carolina University, where he conducted advanced research in neuroplasticity, motor learning, and innovative rehabilitation interventions. Dr. Gardas received competitive funding to support his research and national conference travel, including the College of Allied Health Sciences Dissertation Grant and American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Travel Grant.

Dr. Cahill is an immunologist and life sciences research leader with over a decade of experience spanning academic medicine, trauma immunology, and pharmaceutical drug development. She earned a PhD in immunology from the National University of Ireland. Dr. Cahill completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where she served as a research mentor to Master’s students and visiting fellows.

Dr. Habil is a physician-scientist who earned a medical degree (MB ChB) and a Master’s in basic medical sciences (pharmacology) from Cairo University’s Kasr Al-Aini Faculty of Medicine. She earned a PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Louisville after completing doctoral training through a Cairo University–University of Louisville partnership. Dr. Habil is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Louisville, where she also serves as a Lab Manager.

Dr. Van is a postdoctoral fellow at SUNY Upstate Medical University with a decade of laboratory research experience in cancer and cell biology. She earned a PhD in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology from Cornell University and a BS in biochemistry from Spelman College. Dr. Van served as a lab mentor at Spelman College and as a graduate research mentor at Cornell University.