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Our Team

Madalyn Wheeler, MSEd
Doctoral Research Fellow
Exercise Physiology
mxw1071@miami.edu
Madalyn has her B.S. in Biochemistry and Biology from Roanoke College. She recently graduated at the University of Miami with an M.S.Ed. in Applied Physiology and began working toward a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology. Madalyn has been an active contributor for a number of programs, including Believe in You, You Got This, and the clinical trial OnPoint within the lab.
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

Federika Garcia, MS RDN LDN CNSC
Oncology Dietitian/
Clinical Nutrition Manager, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Clinical Nutrition Manager, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Leslie Beth Klein, RD
Oncology Dietitian/Clinical Nutrition Manager, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Jessica Moya, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, CNSC
Oncology Dietitian,
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
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.
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.

Rachel Kimble, MPH
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
Rachel is a clinical research coordinator at the CRANE Lab with the LIFE-L study. She graduated with a Master in Public Health from the University of Miami in the spring of 2024 and transitioned from her role as a graduate research assistant into a fulltime position with the lab.
Rachel is a clinical research coordinator at the CRANE Lab with the LIFE-L study. She graduated with a Master in Public Health from the University of Miami in the spring of 2024 and transitioned from her role as a graduate research assistant into a fulltime position with the lab.

Ali Sari
Undergraduate Research Intern

Jesminder Pongnon
Undergraduate Research Intern

Jasmin Grewal
Undergraduate Research Intern

Isabel Lueck
Undergraduate Research Intern

Julian Cerro, Data Science Certified
Graduate Research Assistant

Eleniz Espina
Graduate Research Assistant

Michelle Orozco, BS
Graduate Research Assistant

Michael Grecco
Undergraduate Research Intern

Ella Yakir, MD Candidate
Graduate Research Assistant
Ella is an incoming fourth year medical student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She holds a bachelor's degree in Human Biology, Health, and Society from Cornell University. She is interested in the impact of lifestyle interventions on health outcomes and plans to pursue a career in internal medicine.
Ella is an incoming fourth year medical student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She holds a bachelor's degree in Human Biology, Health, and Society from Cornell University. She is interested in the impact of lifestyle interventions on health outcomes and plans to pursue a career in internal medicine.

Minnu Vaddeman, MBBS
Graduate Research Assistant

Juan Photo
Clinical Research Coordinator
Juan is a doctor of medicine (MD) from Colombia and graduated with a Master of Public Health from the University of Miami. He is clinical research coordinator with the Life-L study and is also a certified respiratory therapist (RRT) with clinical experience in trauma, cardiac, and respiratory intensive care unit.
Juan is a doctor of medicine (MD) from Colombia and graduated with a Master of Public Health from the University of Miami. He is clinical research coordinator with the Life-L study and is also a certified respiratory therapist (RRT) with clinical experience in trauma, cardiac, and respiratory intensive care unit.

Nicole Saldarriaga Vargas
Clinical Research Coordinator

Sophia Crandall
Undergraduate Research Intern

Dominique Thomas
Undergraduate Research Intern

Jordon Thomas
Graduate Research Assistant

Marion Piazza
Graduate Research Assistant

Alysaa Deale
Undergraduate Research Intern

Cameron Jacobsen, MD/MBA Candidate
Graduate Research Assistant

Coral Levkovitz, MD/MBA Candidate
Graduate Research Assistant

Raul Valdes
Undergraduate Research Intern

Joseph Gemellaro, M.S. Ed.
Exercise Physiologist, Cancer Support Services

Sidney Donzella
CRANE Lab Consultant
Doctoral Research Fellow
Epidemiology, University of Washington
Doctoral Research Fellow
Epidemiology, University of Washington

Mary Martos, MD, MPH
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
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