Meet Our Team

 Leadership

Han C. Phan, MD

  • Dr. Phan is a pediatric neurologist and sleep specialist with years of clinical experience. She is passionate about clinical research, specifically clinical research in rare diseases. Her passion and motivation to improve access to clinical trials for patients with rare diseases led her to establish Rare Disease Research, LLC. Dr. Phan earned her MD at Morehouse School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of Alabama.

Scott Batchelor, MD, MPH

  • Dr. Batchelor is a board-certified pediatrician specialized in pediatric emergency medicine. He earned his MD at Mercer University, completed his residency at Emory University, and earned his MPH from Johns Hopkins University.

Edward Smith, MD

  • Dr. Smith is a pediatric neurologist specialized in neuromuscular clinical trials and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at Duke University. Prior to joining RDR, he served as a faculty member in the Duke Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology from 2007-2023, and he founded and directed the Duke Children’s Neuromuscular Program, which continues to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care to patients with muscle and nerve disorders. He received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Tony Giordano, MD

  • Dr. Giordano is board certified in Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology and Epilepsy. He is excited to extend the opportunities offered by Rare Disease Research to residents of Florida and beyond. Dr. Giordano has worked in a variety of locations and settings, including Penn State Hershey Medical Center, New Hampshire Hospital for Children/Elliot Hospital, Nemours Children's Hospital - Florida and Shriners Hospital for Children, Florida. He earned his Medical Degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine after proudly serving in the United States Marine Corps.


Trang Vo, PharmD

  • Dr. Vo has been with RDR since its inception, managing regulatory affairs and pharmacy operations. A graduate of Mercer University College of Pharmacy and with prior experience in a community pharmacy setting, Dr. Vo greatly enjoys being in research now. When not working, she enjoys discovering new things and spending time with her family.

Miro Pastrnak, PhD

  • Miro joined RDR in 2021 and brings twenty years of experience in business development, marketing, finance, and research operations. He earned his Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology from University of California at Berkeley and remains a geek at heart.

Tom Powell

  • Tom brings to RDR broad expertise in IT development, IT infrastructure, full-stack applications, and much more. He has served as CTO for numerous other companies since 1992, building and leading teams, developing and deploying software products, and overseeing regulatory compliance. Tom earned his degree in international business from Kennesaw State University.

Amy Chestnut

  • Amy brings nearly 20 years of human resources and leadership experience from a variety of industries. She holds a Bachelors in Organizational Development. Amy is passionate about giving back to her community and has held multiple Board positions at a variety of non-profit organizations. She and her husband are avid tennis players and enjoy traveling with their daughters when they are home from college.

Alpa Khushalani

  • Alpa, a rare disease mom, brings her family's lived experience with hybrid and decentralized clinical trials to RDR. Passionate about improving patient access and accelerating drug development, she's also a dedicated board member of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), focusing on support groups and advocacy. She has a background in computer science and multinational client management. Alongside her husband, she manages a nonprofit school providing free education to underprivileged children in rural India and loves traveling with their 3 sons and service dog.

Sub-Investigators

Meg Hudspeth, DNP, CPNP-PC

  • Dr. Hudspeth brings extensive knowledge of pediatric care from her previous role as a registered nurse at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Hudspeth obtained her bachelor’s in health promotion from the University of Georgia, and earned her Master’s in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from Augusta University.

Kallie Platt, MSN, CPNP-AC

  • Kallie is an Atlanta native, and she was previously a Registered Nurse at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for over seven years. Kallie attended the University of Georgia, Medical College of Georgia, and Emory University for her nursing degrees. Kallie enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, traveling, and trying new restaurants.

Emily Murray, MSN, FNP-BC

  • Prior to joining RDR, Emily worked as a nurse at Emory Healthcare and as a family nurse practitioner CVS MinuteClinic. She earned her Master of Science in nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Georgia State University. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her husband and son.

Pharmacy Team

Darwin Nguyen, PharmD

  • Dr. Darwin Nguyen was born in California and settled in Atlanta in 2003, bringing his previous experiences in retail pharmacy to RDR in 2022. Dr. Nguyen earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Mercer University. When not at work, he loves driving around Atlanta with the windows down on cool, breezy days.

Christian Hanson, MSc, CPhT

  • Christian is a native of Sierra Leone, and brings prior experience from the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, WellStar and Emory. Christian attended the University of Sierra Leone and China Pharmaceutical University, where he earned his Bachelor of Pharmacy and MSC in Pharmacology. Christian speaks Mandarin and several African languages.

Ashanti Smith, CPhT

  • Starting in 2020 during the COVID epidemic, Ashanti's career in pharmacy brought her from overseeing team members in an allergy compounding position at Innovation Compounding Pharmacy to assisting hospice patients and managing compounding and dispensing for assisted living facilities at Guardian Pharmacy. Her career path demonstrates her proficiency in a range of pharmacy practice areas. When Ashanti has free time, she likes to go on competitive date nights with her fiancé and spends time with their dog Milo.

Research Team

Dazia Campbell

  • Dazia was born in Michigan and later moved to Johns Creek, Georgia. She earned her bachelor’s in biology from Howard University and is currently working toward her master’s in biology from Georgia State University. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career as a radiologist.

Jessica Bowman

  • Jessica is a native of Richmond, VA and moved to Atlanta, GA in 2019. She has worked in various research specialties including spinal cord injury, rare disease, and infectious disease. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Old Dominion University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida. In her free time, she enjoys quality time with her family, trying local restaurants, and outdoor activities.

Valery Sevillanos

  • Valery joined the RDR team in 2022 as a Regulatory Specialist. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Kennesaw State University and hopes to expand her knowledge and experience throughout her time at RDR. In her free time she enjoys reading, going to the gym and traveling.

Laura Sutton

  • Laura brings to RDR her extensive experience as a Clinical Research Coordinator having previously managed clinical trials in pediatric and adult Endocrinology as well as pediatric Gastroenterology. In her free time Laura enjoys spending time with her wife Amber and their two dogs, Xander and Bob, brewing beer with her friends, and fishing.

Lily Goggans

  • Lily brings to RDR research experience through the University of Georgia (UGA) Youth Development Program and the Department of Kinesiology. Lily earned her bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences from UGA. In her free time, Lily enjoys reading, cooking, playing badminton, and watching Formula 1.

Kim McAllister

  • Kim is a dedicated Clinical Research Coordinator and a proud US Air Force veteran. With a passion for advancing healthcare and a background in military service, she brings a unique blend of discipline, organization, and compassion to her role at RDR.

    Having earned her master’s degree from Ashford University in 2020, Kim is committed to continuous learning and professional growth. Her academic background equips her with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the fast-paced world of clinical research.

    Outside of work, Kim is an avid fitness enthusiast who finds solace and strength in regular workouts. She also channels her creativity into event decorating, bringing vibrancy to every occasion. Her love for traveling and outdoor adventures fuels her sense of exploration, while cherished moments with her family are the cornerstone of her happiness.

Julia Zhu, PharmD

  • Julia was born in Georgia and moved around within the state throughout her life. After earning her PharmD degree at Mercer University, she wanted to pursue a career in clinical research and joined RDR in 2023. In her free time, Julia enjoys baking, cooking, doodling, and spoiling her dog.

Aseya Siddiqua

  • Aseya was born in Bangladesh and later moved to Missouri at the age of 12. She has been an Atlanta resident since 2021. A recent grad from GSU, Aseya is excited to expand her knowledge in clinical trials. In her free time, she likes to watch movies, play video games and learn new languages.

Maureen Ikpeoha

Neona Ni

  • Neona grew up in Maryland and moved to Atlanta, GA in 2019 to finish her undergraduate degree at Clayton State University. She now holds a Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences while pursuing her Master of Public Health-concentration in Epidemiology degree from Drexel University. Her background in Clinical Research comes from her experience at a CRO, as a study start up maintenance associate. Outside of school and work, Neona likes to spend her free time with her two dogs; Goose and Luna, trying new restaurants, and traveling.

Zacch Adenipekun

  • Zacch Adenipekun is a dedicated Clinical Research Coordinator with a background in Biology.  Having earned his Master's degree from GSU in 2021. He had extensive research experience as an Oncology Research Coordinator at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.  His passion for science and research further his interest in Neuromuscular Research here at RDR. Outside of work, Zacch enjoys creating music, photography and spending time with his family.

Zaira Khan

Debbie Berry

Mesfin Asheber

Kendra Askins

Anitra Lyons

Physical Therapy Team

Lynette Slovensky, MS, PT

  • Lynette has over 30 years of experience as a pediatric physical therapist including acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient, and research. She earned her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of South Carolina and her master’s in physical therapy from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. She enjoys traveling with her family, hiking, and reading.

Cindy Ferrante, PT

  • Cindy comes to RDR with pediatric experience as a physical therapist specializing in treatment of medically complex patients and premature infants. Cindy also works with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta serving children in both the hospital and outpatient settings. Cindy earned her degree in physical therapy at Georgia State University.

Operations

Marcial Almaraz

  • A jack of all trades, Marcial joined RDR in 2019, bringing a decade of experience as a hospital pharmacy technician. He earned his bachelor’s from Shorter University. Marcial loves the work he does at RDR and is even working on getting his 4-year-old daughter to eventually join our team as an intern!

Olga Tenyuta, MBA

  • Olga is originally from Russia, where she previously served as CFO of a large company. Olga earned her bachelor’s degree in engineering and MBA at Ural Federal University. Olga is an avid traveler, and on the weekends, she enjoys hiking in the north Georgia mountains with her dog.

Janesha Noelsaint, RN

  • Janesha brings a strong background in both inpatient and outpatient clinical practice to RDR, complemented by her prior role as a Clinical Research Nurse. With a proven track record in managing healthcare teams, she embodies a commitment to excellence and collaborative teamwork. An alumna of Albany State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Janesha extends her passion outside of healthcare, finding joy in gardening, staying active through workouts, and exploring new destinations with her husband.

Brooke Llena

  • Brooke comes from a background of 5 years of Human Resources Experience. She obtained her Masters Degree in Human Resources from the University of Denver. Brooke also holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology. Outside of being at RDR, she and her husband love to spend quality time with their children.

Nancy Lopez

  • Nancy, a Georgia native, has a diverse background in clinical research, with experience as both a regulatory specialist and a clinical research technician. She is a first-generation college graduate with a bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science from the University of California. In her free time, Nancy enjoys spending time in nature, with her dog and with her family. 

Ryan Petty

  • Ryan is a Georgia native with diverse interests and skillsets. After graduating from GSU with a BFA in Drawing and Painting, her lived experience and professional development lead her to pivot toward the biopharmaceutical industry. While working as a Sr Quality Assurance specialist in biologics manufacturing, she became certified as a Biomedical Auditor and completed a UGA Graduate School program in Biopharma Regulatory Affairs. Ryan is excited to finally be working in a dedicated research environment, which is her ideal career. Outside of work, she loves spending time in nature, listening to neuroscience podcasts, and cooking.

Aileen Cunningham

Margaret Barnett

  • Margaret grew up near Boston and graduated from Emory University.  For over 10 years she traveled and worked with hospitals installing and supporting their computer systems.  Most recently, she spent three years as the Front Desk Receptionist at the same school her daughters attended.  In her free time she is an avid reader, loves to cook and feels lucky when she gets to see her busy daughters.