The HOPE lab team consists of faculty/staff, students, and our lab partners.
Faculty/Staff
Kelly M. Harris, PhD CCC-SLP, Principal Investigator
Dr. Harris is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Surgery (Public Health Sciences) at Washington University School of Medicine and the PI of the Health Equity, Opportunity, and Education Research Lab. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from the University of Kansas, her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northwestern University, and her PhD in Education from Washington University in St. Louis, with concentrations in the Social Context of Urban Education, Public Health, and Child Development.
Dr. Harris’ research examines equity in health, education, and opportunity in communities impacted by systems of oppression, the interdependence of chronic disease, opportunity and educational outcomes for youth in urban and suburban contexts, and the use of dissemination and implementation science to advance health and educational equity in school and community settings. Her work incorporates neighborhood and environmental factors to examine health disparities, inequity, and academic outcomes among youth, specifically among populations with sickle cell disease and asthma. She is an NIH/NHLBI and NIH/NCATS KL2-funded mixed methods researcher with expertise in quantitative and geospatial analysis, and qualitative methods particularly in youth-serving institutions and with adolescents.
Lindsay Spell, OTD, OTR/L, Postdoctoral Research Associate
Dr. Lindsay Spell is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the HOPE Lab, earning her Clinical Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Originally from central Arkansas, Dr. Spell completed her undergraduate studies at Arkansas State University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and World Languages (Spanish).
Dr. Spell’s areas of interest include investigating the occupational impact of chronic disease in adolescent and youth populations, studying the role of occupational therapy in community practice with a focus in urban and suburban contexts, and identifying and remediating environmental factors that negatively impact participation for youth with asthma.
Julia Gassert, MS, CCC-SLP, Clinical Research Coordinator
Julia is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the HOPE lab. She received her Bachelor’s in Communication Disorders from Truman State University and her Master’s in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University. She is a certified speech-language pathologist with years of experience working with children across various educational and healthcare settings. Julia continues to work as a practicing speech-language pathologist and is eager to make a larger impact on the community through her involvement in research in the HOPE lab. Julia’s interests include spending time outdoors with her Siberian Husky, reading and listening to podcasts, and playing board games.
Madelyn Yoo, MSOT, OTR, Clinical Research Coordinator
Madelyn is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the HOPE Lab originally from the Chicagoland area. She received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine. Her interests include the intersections between occupational therapy, climate change, and environmental justice. Madelyn enjoys reading, crocheting, listening to music, and volunteering in the community.
Sarah Shyres, BS, Clinical Research Study Assistant
Sarah completed her B.S. in Psychological Science and certificate in Neuroscience at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is planning on pursuing a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology. She is passionate about health equity and is excited to be a part of the HOPE Lab . Her hobbies include knitting, crocheting, and reading.
Aakarsh Rai, Research Assistant
Aakarsh received his bachelor’s in biology from Washington University in St. Louis with a minor in sociology. He is currently applying to medical school and aiming to combine patient care with research investigating associations between health outcomes and environments in underserved neighborhoods. In his free time, he likes to watch and play sports, listen to music, and go on runs.
WU OT Students
Elva Lin, Graduate Research Assistant
Elva is a first-year Master’s student in the Occupational Therapy program and graduate assistant of the HOPE Lab. Elva received her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from University of Florida. She is excited to learn how occupational therapy can improve environmental justice and the well-being of youth with asthma.
Avery Pyle, Graduate Research Assistant
Avery is a first-year doctoral student in Occupational Therapy and a graduate assistant at the HOPE Lab. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science at the University of Arizona. Avery is enthusiastic about exploring how occupational therapy can promote environmental justice and profoundly improve the well-being of young people with asthma. Avery’s interest includes spending time with friends and family, traveling to new places, hiking, spending time outdoors, dancing, exercising, and trying new foods.
Summer 2024 Students
Kate Litton, Undergraduate Student
Originally from Houston, Texas, Kate is a Colonel Carroll A. Ockert Scholar and rising junior at Tulane University studying Public Health and Political Economy. In the future, she plans to combine these interests in a career focused on promoting healthcare accessibility and equity with a specific concentration on the disparate burden of disease among marginalized groups and the study of various social determinants of health. By developing a solid foundation in both policymaking and evidence-based public health research, she hopes to play a role in ensuring that good health is recognized as a universal right and not a privilege. She is so excited to gain experience as a part of the Public and Global Health cohort and cannot wait to spend the summer in St. Louis!
Aleezah Mufti, Undergraduate Student
Aleezah Mufti is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Biomedical Sciences as part of the BS/DO program at Missouri Southern State University. Interested in how racial and social disparities can impact health opportunities and outcomes for individuals in different communities, she has found researching at the HOPE lab to be an amazing opportunity to explore these relationships further. In her free time, Aleezah likes to read books, write poetry, and travel to different countries.
Anika Mulkanoor, High School Student
Anika is currently a rising high school senior at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS). She has a strong interest in health sciences and is passionate about promoting healthcare equality in underserved areas. Anika is dedicated to understanding the disparities in healthcare access and aims to contribute to creating solutions that ensure everyone receives the care they need, regardless of their location or resources. She is excited to engage in research at the lab, focusing on the healthcare challenges specific to STL and identifying strategies to improve health outcomes in her community.
Sammie Lee, Undergraduate Student
Sammie is an undergraduate student at Cornell University and a part of the Advanced Summer Program for Investigation & Research Education (ASPIRE) in the HOPE lab. She is a pre-med student pursuing a B.S. in Health Care Policy. A St. Louis native, she is deeply engaged in exploring how policy can create growth and prosperity while driving equitable outcomes. Currently a phlebotomist, Sammie is actively gaining firsthand experience in patient care while pursuing her aspiration to become a physician-scientist.