Meet the Pediatric NeuroCog Lab Team
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.
Dr. Demy Alfonso
Zachary Bernstein
Dr. Demy Alfonso
Dr. Alfonso is a Pediatric Neuropsychology Post-Doctoral Fellow at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, where she also completed her doctoral internship. Her primary research and clinical interests include neuropsychology as it relates to bilingualism (Spanish/English), epilepsy, and epilepsy surgery.
Dr. Alfonso is a Pediatric Neuropsychology Post-Doctoral Fellow at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, where she also completed her doctoral internship. Her primary research and clinical interests include neuropsychology as it relates to bilingualism (Spanish/English), epilepsy, and epilepsy surgery. She recently received the Warshaw Fellow Research Award from Emory and CHOA, on which Dr. Bearden is her mentor.
Amber Allen
Zachary Bernstein
Dr. Demy Alfonso
Amber is an Emory undergraduate student double-majoring in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology and Psychology. She is most interested in pediatric neuropsychology, specifically in the areas of autism and epilepsy. In the future, Amber hopes to become a clinical pediatric neuropsychologist.
Coralie Bergeron
Zachary Bernstein
Zachary Bernstein
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.
Zachary Bernstein
Zachary Bernstein
Zachary Bernstein
Zach is a fourth-year medical student at Emory applying into Neurosurgery for residency. Before medical school, Zach graduated with a degree in Neuroscience from the honors college at the University of Michigan. In our lab Zach will be pursuing his project via the NIH TL1 grant mechanism and the Masters of Science in Clinical Research (MS
Zach is a fourth-year medical student at Emory applying into Neurosurgery for residency. Before medical school, Zach graduated with a degree in Neuroscience from the honors college at the University of Michigan. In our lab Zach will be pursuing his project via the NIH TL1 grant mechanism and the Masters of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) degree at Emory. His project is titled “Social Determinants of Neuropsychological Outcomes and Quality of Life Following Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery“ with Dr. Bearden as a lead mentor. Zach is passionate about clinical neuroscience and using research to improve patient outcomes.
Ivana Cernokova
Dr. Ronnise Owens
Dr. Ronnise Owens
Ivana is a Ph.D. student in clinical psychology with a specialty in neuropsychology at the University of North Texas. She is currently completing her clinical internship in neuropsychology. Her research interests include epilepsy, epilepsy pre-surgical evaluations, TBI, and complex neurological disorders. She is also interested in functio
Ivana is a Ph.D. student in clinical psychology with a specialty in neuropsychology at the University of North Texas. She is currently completing her clinical internship in neuropsychology. Her research interests include epilepsy, epilepsy pre-surgical evaluations, TBI, and complex neurological disorders. She is also interested in functional imagining and neural connectivity in DRE patients. She has been working with Dr. Bearden since 2019. When Ivana grows up she wants to be a pediatric neuropsychologist.
Dr. Ronnise Owens
Dr. Ronnise Owens
Dr. Ronnise Owens
Dr. Owens is a Post-Doctoral Clinical Neuropsychology Fellow at Emory University’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine/Emory Rehabilitation Hospital. She is establishing a career as a neuropsychologist serving patients across the lifespan. Dr. Owens is a collaborator in our lab.
Samali Wijetunga
Dr. Ronnise Owens
Samali Wijetunga
Samali is an Emory undergraduate student double-majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology and psychology. She is most interested in child developmental neuropsychology, specifically in the areas of memory development and autism. When Samali grows up, she hopes to work in developmental-behavioral pediatrics.
Lab Alumni - Where are they now?
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.
Sarah Maddox
Nicole Semaan
Nicole Semaan
Sarah worked as a research coordinator in the lab for two years and has since transitioned out of the lab. Although she is no longer working in direct patient care, she will continue utilizing her analytical skills and curiosity in her new role as a Performance Marketing Coordinator at Waystar. Sarah's interest in pediatric medical resear
Sarah worked as a research coordinator in the lab for two years and has since transitioned out of the lab. Although she is no longer working in direct patient care, she will continue utilizing her analytical skills and curiosity in her new role as a Performance Marketing Coordinator at Waystar. Sarah's interest in pediatric medical research remains the same and she plans to stay connected with the lab's progression in the future.
Nicole Semaan
Nicole Semaan
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.