The interdisciplinary staff at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center contributes immeasurably to the successful operations of our health care services and clinical research.
Allison Ardolino, MA
Administrator
After Ms. Ardolino received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Monmouth University, she worked as a research assistant in the Center for Human and Social Development at the College of St. Elizabeth. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in General Psychology with a specialization in Neuroscience from NYU. At the ADRC, she has served as the lead research coordinator on numerous ADRC trials and studies and has administered neuropsychological testing for a national longitudinal study on memory and aging through the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC). Ms. Ardolino currently serves as administrator for the ADRC, overseeing operations, staffing, and grant applications.
Dimitri “Jimmy” Akrivos, PhD
Data Manager
Dr. Akrivos received his doctoral training in clinical translational research at Mount Sinai’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on socioeconomic, racial and environmental factors that may explain inequities in cognitive health and that may be used to optimize healthcare approaches for the benefit of historically marginalized patients and communities at large. In addition, Dr. Akrivos’ work at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center focuses on designing, implementing, and managing electronic data capture solutions for the Center’s observational studies, clinical trials and administrative needs, in collaboration with Data Core leadership and Mount Sinai’s Scientific Computing group.
Génesis Burgos-Rivera, BA
Research Coordinator
Ms. Burgos-Rivera received her BA in Neuroscience and a pre-medicine track from Drew University in May of 2019. In 2023, she joined the ADRC where she conducts neuropsychological testing bilingually (English and Spanish) for a national longitudinal study on memory and aging through the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC).
Shehan Chin, LMSW
ADRC Social Worker
Ms. Chin received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from CUNY, Hunter College and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Fordham University. After the completion of her Master’s degree Ms. Chin transitioned from being an intern at the ADRC to becoming a full-time Social Worker. She provides psychosocial support services and care management to caregivers/research partners in English and in Chinese. Furthermore, she also conducts community presentations to help engage and sustain underrepresented minorities in dementia research participation.
Kirsten Evans, BS
Research Coordinator
Ms. Evans received her BS from Utica College in 2016, majoring in biology with a minor in Chemistry. Ms. Evans joined the ADRC in early 2017 where she is currently the lead coordinator on the MAD Project (Memory And Diabetes)– a multi-site study with the James J. Peters VA Medical Center and Mount Sinai studying the correlation between Type 2 Diabetes and cognitive impairments, particularly, Alzheimer’s disease in the minority population. Her roles include recruitment, performing phlebotomy techniques and administering neuropsychological testing for ADRC studies.
Gina Garcia-Camilo, BS
Clinical Trials Manager and Regulatory Expert
Ms. Garcia-Camilo is a Clinical Trials Manager and regulatory expert for the ADRC. Her ADRC responsibilities involve acting as a regulatory-ethics liaison, and overseeing grants and contracts for industry and academic studies. Ms. Garcia-Camilo is a general medical graduate from the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo and she earned a Bachelor’s in Science degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She worked in the past as a lead clinical monitor for clinical trials.
Alexa Groome, BA
Research Coordinator
Ms. Groome is a graduate of Wake Forest University, where she received her BA in Psychology in 2019. She is currently in a post-baccalaureate program to complete her pre-medical school requirements and intends on pursuing psychiatry. She joined the ADRC in 2021 and conducts neuropsychological testing for a national longitudinal study on memory and aging through the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC).
Elisha Israel, BA
Research Coordinator
Ms. Israel received her BA in December 2022 from Cornell University, where she majored in Biological Sciences (with a concentration in Neurobiology and Behavior) on a pre-med track, pursuing a career as a physician and researcher who treats patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She began her involvement with the ADRC as a summer intern in 2022, then became a full-time clinical research coordinator in January 2023. Her roles include recruitment and neuropsychological testing for a national longitudinal study on memory and aging through the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC).
Joanne Lim, MA
Research Coordinator
Ms. Lim received her BS in Psychology from Saint Louis University in 2018, and earned her Master’s degree in Psychological Sciences from The Catholic University of America. She joined the ADRC in 2021 and conducts cognitive testing for a national longitudinal study on memory and aging through the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC).
Xiomara Mendoza Apuango, BS
Research Coordinator
Ms. Mendoza graduated from Brandeis University in May of 2020, where she double majored in neuroscience and biology on a pre-medicine track. She joined the ADRC in December of 2021 where she administers neuropsychological testing in English and Spanish for a national longitudinal study on memory and aging through the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC). Her roles include recruiting participants from the community, attending outreach events for underrepresented minorities, and performing phlebotomy techniques.
Nadia Ramsingh, BA
Research Coordinator
Ms. Ramsingh graduated from Lehman College May of 2022 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Biology. She joined the ADRC as a recipient of an NIH diversity administrative supplement. Ms. Ramsingh is working with several ADRC researcher’s projects including Dr. Michal Beeri (diabetes and cognitive decline) and Dr. Laili Soleimani (apathy, language and cognitive decline). She also conducts neuropsychological testing for a national longitudinal study on memory and aging through the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC).
Faye Sheppard, BS
Research Coordinator
Faye Sheppard received a BS in Psychology and a BS in Behavioral Neuroscience from Lehigh University in 2018. She also received a minor in Health, Medicine, and Society. Ms. Sheppard works as a Clinical Research Coordinator for the ADRC working primarily for the national longitudinal study on memory and aging.