Meet the Pediatric NeuroCog Lab Team

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Omar is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Wright State University, currently completing his predoctoral internship in adult neuropsychology at the University of Missouri. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Toledo and has clinical experience evaluating patients with epilepsy, movement disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and neuro-oncological conditions. His research interests include performance validity, epilepsy, neuropsychological outcomes following neurosurgical interventions, and emerging technologies in clinical practice. He is currently involved in research examining cognitive and seizure outcomes following neuromodulation for epilepsy. His long-term goals include expanding access to culturally responsive neuropsychological care, particularly for Arab American communities, and advancing the field through evidence-based innovation and integration with modern medical practice.

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. 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. 

 Robert is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Mercer University College of Health Professions in Atlanta, GA, specializing in pediatric neuropsychology. Before graduate school, he earned a bachelor's degree in neuroscience and psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Robert completed training in clinical neuropsychology at Shepherd Center and is currently receiving training in pediatric neuropsychology at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), where he is rotating through various medical populations. Robert's research interests involve the neuropsychology of epilepsy, including developing models to predict neurocognitive outcomes following epilepsy surgery, with a particular focus on language functioning. While Robert's primary goal is to provide high-quality clinical care to children and their families, he hopes to stay involved in research and further the field's understanding of the brain, cognition, and behavior.  

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. 

 Zaria Samuel is a senior at Spelman College pursuing a double major in Psychology and  Spanish. Her research interests lie in neuroscience and bilingualism, with a broader focus on how  biopsychosocial factors shape language, cognition, and identity among historically  underrepresented populations. Driven by a passion for understanding how language shapes  human experience, Zaria hopes to contribute to the lab while working toward a career as a  clinical psychologist who bridges neuroscience and culturally responsive mental health care.  

 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.