Meet the Pediatric NeuroCog Lab Team
Donald J. Bearden, PhD
Donald J. Bearden, PhD
Donald J. Bearden, PhD
Dr. Bearden is a behavioral neuroscientist dedicated to improving children’s lives through research and clinical work. He is a pediatric neuropsychologist and division chief of psychology and behavioral health at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, where he is the recipient of the Trish Ring Endowed Chair of Psychology. Dr. Bearden is also an
Dr. Bearden is a behavioral neuroscientist dedicated to improving children’s lives through research and clinical work. He is a pediatric neuropsychologist and division chief of psychology and behavioral health at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, where he is the recipient of the Trish Ring Endowed Chair of Psychology. Dr. Bearden is also an associate professor of pediatric neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine. His primary research interests include the neuropsychology of epilepsy, epilepsy surgery, and pediatric pain.
Nicole Kubinec, PhD
Donald J. Bearden, PhD
Donald J. Bearden, PhD
Dr. Nicole Kubinec is a pediatric neuropsychologist dedicated to optimizing cognitive and educational outcomes for children facing neurodevelopmental challenges. She is an assistant professor of pediatric neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and a pediatric neuropsychologist at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Dr
Dr. Nicole Kubinec is a pediatric neuropsychologist dedicated to optimizing cognitive and educational outcomes for children facing neurodevelopmental challenges. She is an assistant professor of pediatric neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and a pediatric neuropsychologist at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Dr. Kubinec serves as the co-director of the Pediatric Neuroscience & Cognition Laboratory. Her primary research and clinical interests include evaluating medically complex children, pediatric oncology survivorship, and the intersection of sleep and physical activity on cognitive development.
Coralie Bergeron
Dr. Ashley Galanti
Dr. Ashley Galanti
Coralie graduated with a bachelor's in neuroscience from Georgia State University. Her research interests include neuropsychology and neuroimaging, epilepsy, ADHD and ASD, abnormal psychology, and psychopathology. She started working at CHOA in 2021, and since has done research on epilepsy surgery, language lateralization, and sickle cell
Coralie graduated with a bachelor's in neuroscience from Georgia State University. Her research interests include neuropsychology and neuroimaging, epilepsy, ADHD and ASD, abnormal psychology, and psychopathology. She started working at CHOA in 2021, and since has done research on epilepsy surgery, language lateralization, and sickle cell disease. When Coralie grows up, she wants to be a clinical neuropsychologist.
Dr. Ashley Galanti
Dr. Ashley Galanti
Dr. Ashley Galanti
Dr. Galanti is a collaborator in our lab. She completed her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Georgia. Her research focuses on developing wearable biosensing platforms for seizure prediction. She previously earned dual B.S. and B.A. degrees in Electrical & Electronics Engineering and Journalism, along with a minor in Sp
Dr. Galanti is a collaborator in our lab. She completed her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Georgia. Her research focuses on developing wearable biosensing platforms for seizure prediction. She previously earned dual B.S. and B.A. degrees in Electrical & Electronics Engineering and Journalism, along with a minor in Spanish and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship. Her interdisciplinary background bridges engineering, science communication, and translational research, which she applies to advancing wearable point-of-care health technologies. She is also the Founder and CEO of AMG Detection, a company translating this work into the first wearable device for seizure prediction, and collaborates with Dr. Bearden to advance the translational and clinical aspects of her research.
Samantha Monroe
Dr. Ashley Galanti
Samantha Monroe
Samantha is a medical student at University of Tennessee Health Science Center interested in pursing neurology. Before medical school, Sam graduated with two degrees in neuroscience and psychology from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Her research interests include neuropsychology, epilepsy treatment, TBIs, and dementia.
Minahil Qadeem
Dr. Ashley Galanti
Samantha Monroe
Mina is a freshman at Fordham University pursuing a major in Integrative Neuroscience and a minor in Public Health. Her research interests lie in neuropsychology, with a broader focus on how systemic and environmental factors impact global health and safety. Driven by a passion for health awareness, Mina hopes to undertake a larger outloo
Mina is a freshman at Fordham University pursuing a major in Integrative Neuroscience and a minor in Public Health. Her research interests lie in neuropsychology, with a broader focus on how systemic and environmental factors impact global health and safety. Driven by a passion for health awareness, Mina hopes to undertake a larger outlook on the health network through research milestones and collaboration.
Emily Stephens
Blakely Wilkinson
Blakely Wilkinson
Emily Stephens (she/her) recently earned her B.S. in Psychology at Virginia Tech. She hopes to go to graduate school for clinical psychology and eventually receive her PhD. Her main research interest is in psychosis and she hopes to make a difference in psychosis research and its stigma. Her career goal is to become a psychologist. In her spare time, Emily likes to read and hike.
Blakely Wilkinson
Blakely Wilkinson
Blakely Wilkinson
Blakely is a current medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine. Before medical school, she graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2021 with degrees in neuroscience and psychology. She is passionate about neuroscience, patient care, and the ways clinical medicine and research can work togeth
Blakely is a current medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine. Before medical school, she graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2021 with degrees in neuroscience and psychology. She is passionate about neuroscience, patient care, and the ways clinical medicine and research can work together to improve outcomes for patients. Blakely is enthusiastic about her work in the lab and is excited to be engaging in research that helps bridge scientific discovery with clinical application.
Lab Alumni - Where are they now?
Demy Alfonso
Zachary Bernstein
Demy Alfonso
Dr. Alfonso was a lab member from 2023-2026 and is now a Pediatric Neuropsychologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine. Demy continues to be a collaborator in our lab.
Amber Allen
Zachary Bernstein
Demy Alfonso
Amber was a lab member from 2024-2026 and is now a graduate student in clinical psychology at Nova Southeastern University.
Zachary Bernstein
Zachary Bernstein
Zachary Bernstein
Dr. Bernstein was a lab member from 2024-2026. He completed medical school at Emory in 2026 and is now a neurosurgery resident at UCLA. Zach continues to collaborate in our lab.
Ivan Cernokova
Evie Davalbhakta
Zachary Bernstein
Dr. Cernokova has been working with Dr. Bearden since 2019. She completed her PhD at the University of North Texas. Ivana is a collaborator in our lab and is currently completing her postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the Kennedy Krieger Institute.
Evie Davalbhakta
Evie Davalbhakta
Evie Davalbhakta
Evie was a lab member from 2023-2024. She completed her Bachelor degree in 2024 at Georgia Tech, majoring in neuroscience and minoring in psychology and Spanish. In the future, she plans to attend an MD/PhD program that focuses on neuropsychiatric research.
Nina Fuji
Evie Davalbhakta
Evie Davalbhakta
Nina was a lab member in 2023-2024 and worked on multiple projects. She completed training and is now a registered behavior technician working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Christopher Luongo-Zink
Christopher Luongo-Zink
Christopher Luongo-Zink
Chris was a lab member in 2020-2022. Currently, he is based in Boston, MA, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist.
Sarah Maddox
Christopher Luongo-Zink
Christopher Luongo-Zink
Sarah worked as a research coordinator in the lab for two years and has since transitioned out of the lab. She is currently a Performance Marketing Coordinator at Waystar.
Ronnise Owens
Christopher Luongo-Zink
Samali Wijetunga
Dr. Owens is is a lifespan neuropsychologist at Grady/Emory. Ronnise is now a collaborator in our lab.
Samali Wijetunga
Samali Wijetunga
Samali Wijetunga
Samali was a lab member from 2022-2026 and is now a medical student at the University of California, Irvine. She intends to focus her career in behavioral pediatrics.
Nicole Semaan
Samali Wijetunga
Nicole Semaan
Nicole was a lab member from 2022-2024. She is currently a first-year medical student at Emory University School of Medicine. Her research interests include pediatric neuropsychology and neurology.