Kushang V. Patel, PhD, MPH

Research Professor

Adjunct Research Professor, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine

Elise Hoffman, MPH

Research Consultant

Elise is a Research Consultant in the Pain, Aging, and Physical Activity Lab and has worked with the team since 2019. After graduating from her undergraduate degree in Public Health from the University of Washington, she joined the team to work on the PACIFIC Study. Since then, she has worked on a variety of projects coordinating physical activity and behavioral interventions, as well as collecting and analyzing qualitative data. She received her Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2023 and continues her work at the lab. Elise is interested in expanding access to non-pharmacologic treatments, particularly in rural areas, and engaging with communities through qualitative methods to advance these goals. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors through running and backpacking.  

Aspen Avery, MPH

Research Scientist

Aspen Avery, MPH, is a Research Scientist and Director of Training Programs at the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center (HIPRC) and is a member of Dr. Patel’s lab in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of Washington. She has experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods and coordinating community-engaged injury and violence prevention research. Aspen is passionate about growing the next generation of injury and violence prevention researchers and strives to increase student access to educational and training activities in this field. Outside of work, Aspen enjoys running throughout the Seattle area and reading mystery books. 

Shannon Jajko, MPH, MSW

Research Coordinator

Shannon, a community engagement research coordinator, supports the Early Phase Pain Investigation Clinical Network (EPPIC-Net) at the University of Washington. With a Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, Shannon brings a unique perspective to her role. Growing up in Detroit, she witnessed health inequities firsthand, sparking her passion for community-based work. Shannon’s background includes working in social services with individuals experiencing homelessness and as a research coordinator for a peer-based diabetes prevention program and a community-based participatory research (CBPR) collective. At EPPIC-Net, she focuses on improving diversity and inclusion in pain clinical trials. To achieve this, Shannon conducted qualitative interviews with 20 leaders of community-based organizations serving minoritized populations in the Greater Seattle Area. She also enjoys engaging with seniors at educational events and health fairs to share the team’s work with a diverse audience. In her free time, Shannon explores the vast landscape of Washington State, reads various genres of literature, and tries new boba spots around Seattle.

Sophia Jawort, BS

Research Coordinator

Sophia is a research coordinator supporting the PACIFIC Study. She joined the team as a student assistant in 2022. Sophia graduated with a B.S. in Human Centered Design & Engineering from The University of Washington. With a background in technology Sophia recognizes the importance of accessibility in healthcare and aims to ensure that underrepresented populations are connected to helpful programs and services. Outside of work Sophia enjoys spending time in the mountains, knitting, trying new restaurants , and going to the movies. 

Tasha Parman

Tasha is a postdoctoral scholar-fellow and a physical therapist supporting the PAPA Lab. She is also associated with the UW Clear Center through her mentorship relationship with Dr. Sean Rundell. Before joining the team, she worked in a clinical capacity, providing care to patients with various orthopedic, chronic pain, and pelvic health conditions. She graduated from the University of Kansas Medical Center with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2012. Her research interests involve designing and refining interventions for people with various chronic pain conditions, focusing on interventions that are accessible, sustainable for the patient, and implementable across health systems. Further, she hopes to develop interventions that integrate multiple aspects of pain management (for example, physical activity and mindfulness) to address whole person health. She is currently funded by the NCCIH through the BRIDG program at UW. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outside with her family,  playing ultimate frisbee, and watching basketball.

Karen Sverdrup

Karen is a researcher and postdoc fellow from the Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health. She joined our team in January 2025 as a visiting research scholar to learn more about the epidemiology of pain, implementation research and non-pharmacologic treatments to improve pain management among older adults.

Karen graduated from the Oslo Metropolitan University with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy in 2011. She worked in a clinical capacity, primarily within the primary health care system in Norway, providing rehabilitation services to older adults with mobility and functional impairment until 2022. In 2022, she completed her PhD at the University of Oslo’s Faculty of Medicine with the thesis “Mobility in older adults with cognitive impairment and dementia.” Since then, she has been a full-time researcher at Ageing and Health where she currently holds a postdoc grant from the Norwegian Health Association. Her postdoc research centers on physical activity in people with pre-dementia syndromes and dementia. Her overarching research goal is to improve health equity for older adults and advance our understanding of healthy aging through population-based research. She hopes her work can contribute to policy development and guide interventions to improve health outcomes for older adults.

Outside work, Karen enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and embracing the invigorating contrast of a hot sauna followed by a cold plunge in natural waters.

Brianna Zhou

Brianna Zhou is a Research Coordinator leading the BEST Trial and supporting EPPIC-Net studies in the Pain, Aging, and Physical Activity Lab. Growing up in the South Seattle area, Brianna is passionate about improving access to healthcare in diverse communities through research. Before joining the team, she worked in various research specialties – sleep, behavioral health, and development in pediatric patients, and renal-cell carcinoma with melanoma in adults. Additionally, during her undergraduate studies, she worked in Transplant Services at UWMC to support patients in the pre-kidney transplant process amid the covid pandemic. Brianna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Washington and she is pursuing a career in medicine. Outside of work, Brianna enjoys skiing, learning new music, and exploring food scenes.

Minju Kim

Minju is a Research Study Coordinator, supporting data analysis and management for the Patel Lab. Prior to this role, she contributed to research on drowning prevention among older adults and analyses of e-scooter injuries in Washington State. She hopes her work would leverage injury prevention research to address health challenges before they escalate, aiming to reduce costs and improve outcomes, ultimately making healthcare more accessible and affordable for the public. She is currently en route to pursue a Master’s degree in Epidemiology to deepen her expertise and skills in injury prevention. Outside of her professional work, Minju enjoys crocheting, knitting or watching baseball—particularly cheering for the LA Dodgers. 

Naeha Geogy

Naeha is a Research Assistant for the MAP Study, which investigates movement-evoked pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Prior to this, she aided the BEST Trial and DEFT Study through pre-screening of participants. Naeha is also a graduating senior at the University of Washington and majored in Public Health-Global Health, with a minor in Political Science. She is passionate about health equity and improving the standard of health for minority and vulnerable populations. Outside of work, Naeha enjoys visiting museums and trying new food places around Seattle. 

Allysa Valdez

Allysa Valdez is a Student Research Assistant for the DEFT study on Enhanced Fitness. She is currently a Junior in the Public Health-Global Health major hoping to attend medical school in the future. Prior to working with the DEFT study, Allysa was a student peer-mentor for the CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program) at UW, mentoring first-year first-generation Latino students during their freshman year of college. Allysa was also a Dare to Dream Health Sciences Mentor for high school students in Washington state, helping expose students to what college looks like, as well as various careers in the healthcare setting. Growing up in rural Washington, Allysa’s passions in research are mainly focused on providing equitable access to treatments and health services to those in underserved areas, especially within Latino/Hispanic communities. In my free time she enjoys exploring the city with friends, trying out new food spots, and volunteering and mentoring other first-generation Hispanic students in my community.