People Group Archives: Aging & Vulnerable Populations

Dr. Ania Lipat completed her Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and PhD in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida, specializing in Biomechanics. Throughout her training, she has gained extensive experience in gait analysis, with a specific focus on aging and chronic pain populations. During her undergraduate studies, she worked in the Orthopedic Biomedical […]

Olajumoke (Jummy) Ojeleye is a nurse‑midwife, maternal and child health nurse scientist, and perinatal mental health professional, whose work spans clinical practice, academic scholarship, and community‑engaged research. Her research focuses on advancing maternal and perinatal mental health, with a particular emphasis on improving the experiences and outcomes of pregnant and parenting adolescents. Her scholarship reflects […]

Linda Foley is a Certified Nurse Educator and associate lecturer at UCF’s College of Nursing. Her clinical nursing experience has spanned various healthcare settings, including critical care, medical-surgical acute care, community health and home healthcare. She began her role as a nurse educator during her doctoral studies and discovered a passion for teaching undergraduate pre-licensure […]

Sergi Garcia-Retortillo is an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida’s College of Nursing. He holds a BS in Exercise Science, a BS in Physical Therapy, an MSc in Physical Activity and Health, and a Ph.D. in Exercise Science. His expertise includes exercise physiology, electrophysiology, exercise testing, and physiological network analysis. His research centers […]

Marissa “Mari” Mackiewicz is an assistant professor at UCF’s College of Nursing and a nurse scientist whose work focuses on ensuring all older adults have access to healthcare. Her research interests include substance use disorders and unmet oral health needs in older adult populations. Prior to joining UCF, Mackiewicz held post-doctoral positions at the University […]

Supaporn Pathumanon is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and PhD nursing student at the University of Central Florida. She brings over 13 years of clinical and academic experience, with expertise in psychotherapy, medication management, mindfulness-based care, and nursing education. Supaporn has practiced in both U.S. and international settings and holds a Master of […]

Chitra “Chippy” Banarjee serves as a graduate research assistant in the Healthy Aging Lab at UCF’s College of Nursing while pursuing a joint MD/PhD degree at the College of Medicine. She has a broad background in biochemical and biobehavioral research, with specific training and interest in using computational techniques to process and analyze big data, […]

Kworweinski Lafontant is an NSCA-certified strength coach and an ACSM-certified exercise physiologist and personal trainer from Orlando, Florida. As a master’s student at the University of South Florida, he served as research coordinator for the Physique & Performance Enhancement Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Bill Campbell. Lafontant is currently completing his PhD in Kinesiology […]

Jethro Raphael Suarez is a Biomedical Engineering PhD student in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. As a Graduate Research Assistant in the College of Nursing, he manages all physical activity measurement devices in the Healthy Aging Lab, overseeing their continuous operation and maintenance. Suarez’s research […]

The first in his community to earn a PhD, David Asakitogum was originally educated as a nurse at the Bolgatanga Nursing Training College in his native Ghana. Over the next 15 years, he served as a nurse clinician and nurse educator in five rural districts in Ghana, advocating for prevention of malaria in pregnancy, prevention […]