Our Team

Tracy E. Crane, PhD, RDN

Associate Professor, Medical Oncology
Co-Lead, Cancer Control Research Program
Director, Digital Health and Lifestyle Medicine

tecrane@miami.edu
(305) 243-8255

Dr. Crane is an Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at the Miller School of Medicine. As the Director of Lifestyle Medicine and Digital Health at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, she is committed to building an evidence-based foundation for mobile health interventions to reach the greatest number of cancer survivors.

Loren Yavelberg, PhD, CEP

Post-Doctoral Associate

l.yavelberg@med.miami.edu

Dr. Loren Yavelberg is a graduate of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University. He completed his PhD on the effects of intermittent fasting and exercise.

Dr. Loren Yavelberg's master's research work revolved around wearable technology during varying intensities and modalities of physical activity, and artificial pancreas investigations for individuals with Type 1 Diabetes.

Dr. Yavelberg has had the opportunity to work with a range of persons across the health continuum, including elite and professional athletes, as well as individuals with chronic disease. In addition to his role in searching for ground-breaking weight loss techniques, Dr. Yavelberg has been extensively involved in a number of research projects such as the development of a National Fitness Standard for Canadian Wildland Firefighters and Police Officers, as well as, The Pre-diabetes Physical Activity Intervention Project.

Harleen Kaur, PhD

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Training to Reduce Burden across the Cancer Control Continuum (TRACC)

hxk629@med.miami.edu

Your brief, informal third-person bio – Harleen is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her dissertation training encompassed the implementation of both digital and community-based diet and physical activity interventions tailored for cancer survivors. The focus of her dissertation was to elucidate the operative mediators of web-based interventions for cancer survivors, to advance the understanding and efficacy of lifestyle interventions to enhance dietary and physical activity behaviors. As a researcher, her ultimate aspiration is to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors through the provision of personalized diet and physical activity interventions across the cancer continuum.

Ross Johnston, BSc

Senior Software Developer

rxj574@miami.edu

I'm Ross Johnston, a full-stack software developer with a BSc in Computer Science and a minor in Software Engineering from Western University, Ontario Canada. My career has taken me through diverse industries, including financial services, food and beverage (Restaurant Brands International - Burger King & Tim Hortons), and gaming (Ubisoft). I have built and optimized high-traffic web and mobile applications used by millions, ensuring top-notch performance, stability, and user experience. Outside of coding, I'm passionate about playing guitar and running, drawing on my background as a varsity sprint hurdler.

2026 Summer Internship Program

This inaugural training initiative provides students with exposure to the operational, clinical, and behavioral components of cancer research. Interns are learning alongside our multidisciplinary team, spanning
clinic operations, clinical research coordination, behavioral intervention delivery, and patient support services.

Madeline Schatz

Madeline is currently a junior at NYU studying data science and sociology. She is excited to learn!

James Brown-Urmeneta

As a Miami native and rising junior at Boston College, James is pursuing a major in Neuroscience with a minor in Hispanic studies while working toward his long-term goal of becoming a pediatrician. Passionate about both science and community, he is driven by a desire to make meaningful connections with others and create a positive impact through healthcare. Outside of academics, James is deeply interested in sports, especially basketball, where his love for the game extends beyond the court into the world of sports analytics. Whether breaking down player efficiency metrics or debating clutch performances, he enjoys reading into the numbers and strategy just as much as the game itself. James also enjoys cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, always looking for new recipes and flavors to try. He proudly considers himself a cereal connoisseur (yes, Cinnamon Toast Crunch is the greatest cereal of all time. In his free time, he likes to go to the movie theatre with his friends. This summer, he has promised himself to pick a new hobby: crocheting, and is always open to any tips!

Grace Starrs

Grace is an undergraduate summer intern. She received her Associate in Arts from Oakland Community College in Rochester Hills, Michigan in 2025. During her time at Oakland Community College, she was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and Phi Theta Kappa. She found that she was interested in applying statistical methods to public health.

Grace is looking forward to working at CRANE Lab and being a part of and observing clinical operations. Her curiosity is especially piqued by the variety of clinical studies being conducted at the CRANE Lab. She is interested and excited in learning from the study participants and how oncology can be affected by nutrition.

Other interests of hers include mental health advocacy and being involved in the community. She recently became involved in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), where she volunteered for their annual mental health awareness walk and discussed with locals about the importance of mental health.

In Grace’s spare time, she enjoys baking and trying new recipes, reading, watching movies, and spending time with friends. She is also working on improving her fluency in French and American Sign Language, to expand her ability to communicate with others.

Nathen Chen

Nathan Chen is an incoming student at Vanderbilt University pursuing a pre-medical track with interests in clinical research, preventative medicine, human performance, lifestyle interventions, and longevity science. He is passionate about understanding how exercise, nutrition, recovery, and evidence-based healthcare strategies can improve long-term health outcomes and overall quality of life.

Nathan has developed much of his passion for healthcare through hands-on experiences in both clinical and wellness settings. At BLU by ThriveWell, a performance and longevity-focused wellness center, he worked as a NASM-certified personal trainer and assisted with VO2 max testing, Lunar iDXA body composition scans, recovery protocols, and client wellness interventions. Through this experience, he saw firsthand how structured exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle changes could dramatically improve people’s health, confidence, and quality of life. He also shadowed an orthopedic surgeon both in clinic and in the operating room, where he enjoyed seeing patients recover mobility, reduce pain, and regain independence through medical care.

Since the age of five, Nathan has participated in medical mission trips to Nicaragua, helping support healthcare initiatives and serving underserved communities through rural clinics and outreach programs. Those experiences played a major role in shaping his desire to pursue medicine and continue serving others throughout his career.

Outside of academics and healthcare, Nathan enjoys strength training, skiing, climbing, wrestling, MMA, hiking, diving, spearfishing, and playing sports with friends. A former state finalist wrestler, he has always been drawn to discipline, competition, and personal growth. He also enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and serving through his church and community. In the future, Nathan hopes to attend medical school and work within the longevity, health, and wellness space, combining medicine with preventative health and lifestyle-focused care to serve people and help them live healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Marin Nottingham

Marin Nottingham will be a rising freshman at Emory University. It has been her lifelong dream to pursue a career in medicine. Some areas she is interested in are orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, and dermatology. For her entire high school career Marin was the Boys Varsity coxswain of the crew team, participating at the state and national level. Some of her other hobbies include reading, scuba diving, and spending time with family and friends. Marin is eager to start this research opportunity and delve into the field of medicine.

Our Partners

We have the privilege of collaborating with a diverse team of healthcare professionals from Sylvester Cancer Center. Our collaborative efforts extend to physicians, dietitians, exercise physiologists, and many other experts in their respective fields. Their expertise and passion enable us to provide comprehensive and holistic care to cancer survivors, and we are honored to have them as part of our team.

Jessica MacIntyre, ARNP NP-C AOCNP

Executive Director, Clinical Operations, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Past Team Members

LaShae Rolle, PhD, MPH, CPH

Doctoral Research Fellow
Prevention Science and Community Health

LaShae is a Caribbean-born certified public health professional. She earned her BSc in Chemistry, and MPH in Epidemiology and Global Health. She is currently working toward her Ph.D. in Prevention Science and Community Health.