Principal Investigators
Director and Principal Investigator
Dr. Reisner is a pediatric neurosurgeon. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Emory University and a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. He has been an attending neurosurgeon at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for almost 30 years. He has a large clinical practice and has averaged over 400 surgical cases annually over this period. Dr. Reisner’s research activity has focused on neurotrauma. He established the severe TBI and concussion clinical programs at CHOA as well as the translational research-focused Pediatric Neurotrauma Lab. He has authored over 150 papers, abstracts and book chapters and given over 300 presentations nationally and internationally. Dr Reisner was appointed Elaine and John C. Carlos Chair of Neurotrauma at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and was awarded the Children’s Care Network "Award of Merit" for significant contributions to Pediatrics. He is currently Chair, Neurotraumatology, of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS).
Principal Investigator
Laura Blackwell, PhD, ABPP-CN, is a Pediatric Neuropsychologist and Co-Director of the Pediatric Neuropsychology Fellowship Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and serves as Associate Professor at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Blackwell primarily cares for children and adolescents following an acquired brain injury, including moderate and severe head injuries, concussion, and stroke. She joined Children’s and Emory in 2016 following her fellowship training in clinical neuropsychology at Boston Children's Hospital. Prior to her fellowship, she completed her doctoral degree at the University of Miami followed by a predoctoral internship at Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, with primary rotations in neuropsychology and pediatric psychology. As a principal investigator in the Pediatric Neurotrauma Lab, her research focuses on examining different types of biological biomarkers that could help provide information about management and predictors of outcomes in pediatric traumatic brain injury.
Key Scientific Collaborators
Morehouse School of Medicine
Dr. Kevin Wang is the Director of the Center for Neurotrauma, MultiOmics and Biomarkers (CNMB), Professor and Vice Chair of Neurobiology, and serves as faculty for the Neuroscience Institute at Morehouse School of Medine. His research interests include CNS translational biomarker research, neurotrauma, Epilepsy, molecular diagnostics, and neurotherapeutics. Dr. Wang has authored 330 papers.
Morehouse School of Medicine
Dr. Firas H. Kobaissy is the Associate Director of the Center for Neurotrauma, MultiOmics and Biomarkers (CNMB), Professor of Neurobiology, and serves as faculty for the Neuroscience Institute at Morehouse School of Medine. His research interests include Animal Models of Brain Injury, Assessing Molecular Mechanisms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Neurotherapy in TBI and Epilepsy, Mechanisms of Drug Abuse and Neuronal Injury, Proteomics and Systems Biology. Dr. Kobaissy has authored 345 papers.
Research Team LeaD |
CO-Investigator
Meena Verma, MD, CCRP
Meena is a pediatrician and clinical researcher with 20+ years of clinical experience with subject matter expertise in design-execution of clinical research studies. A public health professional and passionate servant leader who led an acclaimed 501(c)(3) non-profit. As an Executive Director and Chief Mentor, she led extensive domestic and global public health work. Meena is currently the Neurosciences Research Team Lead at the Scottish Rite Campus. She oversees several studies under Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neuropsychology, Craniofacial, and Urology.
Clinical Research Manager
Marco Benoit, MS, CCRP
Marco Benoit serves as the Clinical Research Manager for the Scottish Rite and Hugh Spalding campuses overseeing the Neurosciences and Behavioral Health research portfolio at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Marco facilitates multidisciplinary research at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta by managing financial tasks, budgets and grant submissions, fostering relationships across all departments to enhance resource accessibility, conducting feasibility analyses, and managing clinical and non-clinical staff to conduct research protocols.
CO-Investigator
Dr. Lepard completed neurosurgical training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, during which time he participated in Paul Farmer Global Surgery Fellowship at the Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change. He then went on to complete post-graduate fellowships in complex spine surgery at the UAB Department of Orthopedics and Pediatric Neurosurgery at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine. He now practices at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta/Emory University School of Medicine.
CO-Investigator
Dr. Lindsay R. Jaeger, MD, is a board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician specializing in pediatric EMS and ultrasound. She earned her MD from Tulane University School of Medicine, completed her pediatric residency at Northwestern/Lurie Children’s Hospital, fellowships in pediatric emergency medicine and ultrasound at Washington University–St. Louis, and an EMS fellowship at UChicago. After working as an attending for 2 years at UChicago Comer Children's Hospital in the ED, she is now an assistant professor and attending working in the pediatric ED and is the EMS Medical Director and Transport Medical Director at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
CO-Investigator
Dr. Baer is an assistant professor of radiology and imaging sciences and a pediatric neuroradiologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Her research focus is on investigating the role of advanced diagnostic techniques in assessment of microstructural and functional brain changes in health and disease. She is a recipient of RSNA Research Resident and RSNA Research Fellow grants for investigating functional brain connectivity changes underlying vestibular symptoms persistence after mild traumatic brain injury. Dr. Baer earned her medical degree from Saint Petersburg State Medical University and a PhD from S.M. Kirov Medical Military Academy, both in Russia. She completed diagnostic radiology residency as well as fellowships in neuroradiology and pediatric neuroradiology at Emory University School of Medicine. She is board certified in both diagnostic radiology and neuroradiology.
CO-Investigator
Dr. Nina Fainberg MD is a pediatric intensivist with additional specialization in neurocritical care. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 2009 and her Doctor of Medicine degree from Duke University School of Medicine in 2015. Dr. Fainberg completed her residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 2018, followed by a year as Chief Resident. She continued at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to complete her fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine in 2022, as well as an additional fellowship in neurocritical care, completed in 2023. Dr. Fainberg's academic interests are in biomedical ethics, effective communication, and end-of-life care for critically ill children with neurologic disease. Her work has been published in a number of leading journals, including Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Critical Care Explorations, JAMA Pediatrics, and Neurology.
Dr. Joshua J. Chern is a board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon and the Chief of Neurosurgery at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He earned his MD and PhD at Baylor College of Medicine, completed his neurosurgical residency at Baylor College of Medicine as well, and finished his fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama.
Dr. David Wrubel is a board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He earned his medical degree from the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, completed his residency in neurological surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and finished his fellowship in neurological surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Wrubel serves as Program Director for the Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship at CHOA.
Amanda Pierzchala, MD
Dr. Amanda Pierzchala, MD, is a pediatric critical care specialist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She obtained her medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine, completed her pediatrics residency at Mercer University School of Medicine, and finished her fellowship in pediatric critical care at Emory University School of Medicine.
Dr. Michael Steven Sawvel is a board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He earned his medical degree from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed his residency in neurological surgery at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, and finished his fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at CHOA. Dr. Sawvel specializes in surgical care for children with complex neurological conditions and is part of the Children’s Physician Group–Neurosurgery team.
Lab Team Members
Mahwish, Javed, MS, MPH
Mahwish Javed is a Program Manager in Neurosciences. Her primary focus is to provide effective leadership and management of four multidisciplinary outpatient clinics. She oversees all clinical and non-clinical operations including, tracking clinical goals, facilitating coordination among partners, evaluating clinical data, coordinating submission of new project proposals, preparing manuscripts, and reporting project status to leadership. She is also responsible for strategic planning, program design/implementation, marketing, and identifying new funding opportunities. She obtained her MPH in Public Health Informatics from University of Illinois and MS in Health Communications from University of Peshawar
Leslie Velasquez, MPH
Leslie Velasquez joined the lab as a Research Coordinator in July 2025. Leslie graduated from the University of Georgia with an MPH in epidemiology and BS in Health Promotion. Much of Leslie’s educational and professional interests revolve around the social determinants of health.
Maria Muhammad joined the lab as a Research Coordinator in August 2025. Prior to this role, she served as a Patient Safety Supporter at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, advocating for patients and acting as a direct liaison to clinical teams. She has served in research roles as a Specialist at Emory School of Medicine, supporting bench science research studying HSV-1, and also as an undergraduate Research Assistant. Maria is a graduate of Spelman College, where she majored in Biology. Ultimately, Maria plans to enter medical school, working towards a career in Pediatric Anesthesiology.
Myer Khan
Myer Khan is an undergraduate at the Georgia Institute of Technology, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience along with a minor in Computational Data Analysis. In the Pediatric Neurotrauma Lab, Myer serves as a Research Assistant focusing on the TORCH study, with aspirations of working towards a career both as a practicing physician and clinical researcher.
Jai Trivedi
Jai Trivedi is an undergraduate Biology major at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Since joining the lab in August 2024, he has served as a research coordinator—guiding participants through the consent process, managing study logistics, and data analytics. Jai plans to enter medical school after graduation and ultimately pursue a surgical career.
Kelsey Frost, PT, DPT, CBIS
Kelsey Frost is a Physical Therapist within the Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit and Robotics units within Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Her role focuses on providing rehabilitative care for children and adolescents with a variety of diagnoses including acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurological conditions, and musculoskeletal conditions. Prior to beginning her professional career, she earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Since beginning her role at Children’s Healthcare, Kelsey has become a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) with a passion for using her clinical background and knowledge to contribute to the advancement of pediatric neurotrauma research.
Jibola Isinkaye
Jibola Isinkaye is an undergraduate at Emory University studying Neuroscience. Within the Pediatric Neurotrauma Lab, Jibola serves as a Research Assistant on the TORCH study and engages in research on the social determinants associated with traumatic brain injuries. Jibola plans to enter medical school, working towards becoming a physician.
