Meet the Team - NEIL AND ELISE WALLACE STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation

Administration

Andrew Eyre, MD, MS-HPED

Medical Director |
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Andrew Eyre serves as the Medical Director for the STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts where he is also a practicing emergency medicine physician. He attended medical school at the University of Vermont College of Medicine where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honor Societies. After completing residency at the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency (HAEMR) based out of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and The Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Eyre completed a fellowship in medical simulation at STRATUS/Brigham and Women’s Hospital and earned a master’s degree in Health Professions Education from the MGH Institute of Health Professions.

Throughout his career, Dr. Eyre has held a variety of leadership roles in medical education at both Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, including serving as the Assistant Program Director for HAEMR. Dr. Eyre has received numerous awards for teaching and education, including the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Bernard Lown Award for Excellence in Teaching. In addition to medical simulation, Dr. Eyre’s academic interests include international medical education, curriculum design, and procedure education.

Judy Phalen, MPH

Administrative Director

Judy has comprehensive experience in executive-level administration, fiscal governance, and research oversight in healthcare, non-profit, and higher education settings. Prior roles include serving as the Director of Administration at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, the Chester M. Pierce, MD Division of Global Psychiatry and the Bulfinch Program. Judy was the Deputy Director of the Robert Wood Johnson’s Health e-Technologies Initiative national program office, led college health and wellness efforts, and managed a collaboration between Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA.

Judy has previously participated in research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the US Department of Education, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Institute of Mental Health. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education.

Dustin Kenyon, BA

Program Coordinator

Dustin Kenyon is currently serving as the Program Coordinator at STRATUS. His duties include managing user data and course metrics and in helping coordinate the International Fellowship in Clinical Simulation Program. Prior to joining the team in 2022, he worked in the front end of patient care in the Orthopedics department and in Multiple Practices in at the Foxboro Mass General/Brigham Healthcare Center. He is a graduate of Saint Michael’s College.

Andie McHardy-Blaser, BA

MGB EM Communications Specialist

Andie joined the STRATUS Center as a Communications Specialist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications studies from Concordia University along with a postgraduate certificate in public relations from Humber College. With over a decade of experience, she has built a broad knowledge base in healthcare, business, education, retail, film, and entertainment that lends itself to creative and strategic communications solutions. Before becoming a member of the STRATUS team, Andie worked for the Department of Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She enjoys making jewelry, baking, and exploring Boston with her family in her free time.

Alexandra Pierre, BS

Administrative Assistant

Alexandra joined the STRATUS Center as an Administrative Assistant. Alexandra holds a bachelor’s degree in public health from Temple University. Prior to working at STRATUS, she worked for multiple hospitals including Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Orlando Health in Orlando, FL. She is currently working on obtaining her master’s in healthcare administration. In her free time, she enjoys watching documentaries and cooking recipes she finds online.

Education

Mary “Maggie” Ryan, RN, MS, CHSE

Director of Education

Maggie earned her undergraduate degree in nursing from Boston College. She worked as a bedside nurse in neuro critical care and outpatient surgery, while attending the University of Maryland for a Masters in Education. Maggie worked as a simulation educator at the University of Maryland MASTRI Center, where she fell in love with all aspects of simulation, from the operational side to the development of curriculum and educational programs, and experienced firsthand, the value of simulation education for healthcare professionals. Maggie was the Assistant Director of Education at STRATUS for three years where she worked with course directors throughout the system to transform an idea or educational need into high quality, effective simulation education programs in line with educational best practices. She was promoted to Director of Education in the summer of 2023.

Kathleen Wittels, MD

Director of the International Program in Clinical Simulation |
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Kathleen Wittels received her medical degree from Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School and completed residency in the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency (HAEMR) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH)/Mass General Hospital (MGH). She is a practicing emergency medicine physician at BWH and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

In addition to her leadership role in STRATUS, Dr. Wittels is the Director of Student Programs for the Department of Emergency Medicine at BWH. Dr. Wittels is recognized as a leading educator through her work developing new curricula for Harvard medical students and innovative emergency medicine simulation curriculum for Harvard learners. She has received multiple teaching and education awards and lectures nationally and internationally on topics including medical simulation and assessment of learners.

Elmira Andreeva, MD

Emergency Medicine Simulation Fellow

Dr. Elmira Andreeva is the current Emergency Medicine Simulation Fellow and an emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She attended medical school at Emory University School of Medicine and completed her residency training at Boston Medical Center.

During residency, Dr. Andreeva was involved in the development and implementation of multiple curricula and educational simulation projects. During her time at STRATUS, she is looking forward to exploring the numerous facets of medical simulation, including quality and process improvement, human factors research, and the use of technology to advance medical education.

Paul Jansson, MD, MS

STRATUS Lead for Quality and Safety Programs

Dr. Paul Jansson is an emergency and critical care physician at Mass General Brigham and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School in Boston. He graduated from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Magna Cum Laude in Scientia Experimentali with a dual master’s degree in healthcare quality and patient safety. He completed residency training at the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, followed by a fellowship in internal medicine – critical care medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He practices clinically in both the emergency department and critical care unit and serves as the quality improvement lead for the Division of Emergency Medicine Critical Care in the Department of Emergency Medicine. In his little free time, he can be found outside hiking with his partner Christiana, who is also an emergency physician.

Janie Nichols, RN

Senior Program Manager of Education

Janie earned her first undergraduate degree from Temple University studying strategic communications. Upon moving to Boston, she enrolled at Simmons University where she earned her bachelor’s in nursing. There, she developed a passion for educating and training others. She has experience in both pediatric and adult emergency nursing. She is driven by a passion for healthcare education, particularly leveraging simulation for enhanced learning among healthcare professionals. Janie is committed to collaborating with course directors to elevate patient care through innovative and effective educational strategies.

Audra Lewis, PhD, MSN, RN, CHSE

Director of the Patricia A. Chin Nursing Simulation Lab | BWH Center for Nursing Excellence

Dr. Audra Lewis is the Nurse Director of the Center for Nursing Excellence, Patricia A. Chin (PAC) Nursing Simulation Lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and a Ph.D. in Nursing Science from Texas Woman’s University. Dr. Lewis discovered her passion for simulation in 2012 and her career spans various teaching and leadership roles in academic and hospital-based simulation centers. Her academic and research interests include process improvement, fluency in nursing practice, D(d)eaf and hard-of-hearing communication and interaction, and trauma-informed care.

Operations

Eric Nohelty, BS, NREMT, CHSOS

Operations Manager

Eric joined STRATUS from his previous role in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Emergency Department as an ESA. He was promoted to a Senior Simulation Specialist in August, 2023. He graduated Brandeis University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Neuroscience and Biology. He has explored different fields of research including Sports Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and Infectious Disease at Massachusetts General Hospital. Outside of work he likes to be active, rock climb, and nerd out on all things outer space.

Nicole K, BS

Simulation Specialist

Nicole joined the STRATUS team as a simulation specialist in 2023. Coming from a background in biological sciences and sociology, she is interested in emergency medicine and medical simulation. As a sim specialist, Nicole appreciates being a jack of all trades and believes in learning by doing. She values providing a safe environment for healthcare professionals to gain experience without risk. She finds pleasure in being in nature and creating.

Victoria Lesser, BS, NREMT

Simulation Specialist

Victoria joined the STRATUS team as a simulation specialist in 2024. She graduated from Brandeis University with a Bachelor of Science in Health: Science, Society, and Policy and Biology. She has two years of experience working as an emergency medical technician and hopes to pursue a career as an emergency medicine physician. She is very excited to join the STRATUS team and learn more about the role of simulation in medicine. Outside of work, she loves being active outside and cooking.

Annika Markoff, BA

Simulation Specialist

Annika joined the STRATUS team as a simulation specialist in 2025. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a degree in Computer Science, and has previously worked as a software engineer and as a raft guide. Her interests in medicine include women’s health and emergency medicine, and she is excited to explore more fields of medicine through simulation. Outside of work, she loves whitewater, cooking, and running.

Nikolas Morton

Senior Simulation Specialist

Nik joined the STRATUS team as a simulation specialist in 2024. He brings a wealth of experience from his role as a Simulation Technician at Simmons University, where he maintained, repaired, and operated medical simulation equipment and systems. Prior to this, Nik held positions in audio/visual production and operations management, directing live broadcasts, designing and implementing broadcast systems, and coordinating community outreach. His background includes experience as a Central Sterile Technician, adding healthcare experience to his technical skills. Nik is passionate about supporting medical education through simulation. Outside of work, Nik enjoys fishing and playing video games.

Yinon Sadeh, MS

Simulation Specialist

Yinon joined the STRATUS team as a Simulation Specialist in 2024. He holds a Master of Science in Medical Sciences from Boston University and brings a diverse range of experiences to his role. With a background as an Emergency Medical Technician, medical scribe, and research assistant, where he contributed to bench research focused on treating brain metastases, Yinon combines practical clinical expertise with a strong foundation in research. Passionate about pursuing a career in medicine with a particular interest in surgery, he is excited to explore the transformative role of simulation in healthcare education and patient care as part of the STRATUS team. Outside of work, Yinon enjoys staying active through snowboarding and hiking, while also nerding out on all things sci-fi.

Research

Roger D. Dias, MD, MBA, PhD

Director of Research & Innovation |
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Roger Dias is a physician-scientist. His research focuses on the application of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, wearable sensors, digital biomarkers, and extended reality (XR), to assess and enhance clinicians’ performance and improve patient safety in a variety of fields, including emergency medicine, critical care, surgery and space medicine. Dr. Dias’s research is funded by the NIH, AHRQ, NASA, and DoD.

Dr. Dias was trained in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine at the University of Sao Paulo Medical School in Brazil and earned a PhD in Medical Sciences and an MBA in Hospital and Health System Administration. He completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Harvard Medical School, developing research in simulation, human factors, non-technical skills, wearable sensors, and machine learning. Dr. Dias leads the Medical AI & Cognitive Engineering (MAICE) Lab at STRATUS.

Jamie Robertson, PhD, MPH, FSSH

Senior Research Scientist |
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Jamie M. Robertson (she/her) is a Research Scientist at the STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation and an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on leadership and communication in high acuity settings, interprofessional team training, improving patient safety through simulation, and competency-based education. Her work has been funded through the CRICO Risk Management Foundation, the Translational Institute for Space Health (TRISH), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Dr. Robertson is a Fellow of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator-Advanced. Additionally, she is an Associate Editor for the Healthcare Simulation Dictionary.
Dr. Robertson completed her undergraduate education in English/Creative Writing and Political Science at Seattle University before earning her MPH in Behavioral and Community Health Sciences and PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.

Ryan Harari, PhD

Research Scientist |
Instructor, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Ryan Harari is a Research Scientist and faculty member at the Department of Emergency Medicine, Mass General Brigham, and an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. With a background in Systems Engineering, Computer Sciences, and Human Factors, Dr. Harari has developed extensive and multidisciplinary skillsets in tackling scientific problems within a variety of large-scale and federally funded research projects funded by the NSF, NASA, DoT, DoD, and NIH. Dr. Harari leverages his expertise in cognitive engineering, augmented and virtual reality development, machine learning, and sensing technologies to augment clinical capabilities and care quality in complex individual and team-based activities.

Robson Jaques Verly, PhD

Machine Learning Scientist

Dr. Robson Jaques Verly received a PhD in Space Geophysics from the National Institute for Space Research in Brazil. His previous research experience includes remote sensing, virtual/immersive reality applications, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence. As a software developer, Dr. Verly has created several applications to solve problems in the fields of automation, sensor integration, data analysis, solution optimization, cloud computing, web applications, cross-platform applications, and learning systems. During the Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School postdoc fellowship, he aims to further develop his research and leadership skills and use his technical knowledge to solve complex problems in healthcare and medical education.

Paulo Borges MD, MSc, PhD

Research Program Manager

Dr. Paulo Borges attended medical school at Universidade de Pernambuco (UPE) in Brazil. After completing a general surgery residency and a pediatric surgery clinical fellowship, he earned a master’s degree in Children’s Health from Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) and was trained in abdominal solid organs transplant. He earned a PhD in Medical Sciences at Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP) where he was a practicing emergency surgeon and head of the Pediatric Surgery Department. Dr. Borges has explored different fields of research including pediatric solid organ transplant at Boston Children’s Hospital and Neurosurgery Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston as a postdoctoral fellow.

Assistant Directors

Matthew DiFrancesco, MD
Assistant Director for Medicine – Residency

Tanzeema Hossain, MD
Assistant Director for Pediatric Newborn Medicine

Pardon Kenney, MD
Assistant Director for Surgery

Suzanne Klainer, MD
Assistant Director for Anesthesia

David Meguerdichian, MD
Assistant Director for Emergency Medicine – Residency

Michael Muto, MD
Assistant Director for OB/GYN

Helen Shields, MD
Assistant Director for Medicine – Students

Stacy Smith, MD
Assistant Director for Radiology

Michael Weaver, MD
Assistant Director for Orthopaedics

Kathleen Wittels, MD
Assistant Director for Emergency Medicine – Students

Advisory Council

Erik Alexander, MD, FACP
Vice President of Education, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Executive Director, Brigham Education Institute
Associate Dean, BWH Undergraduate Medical Education & Harvard Medical School

Helen Christou, MD
Elizabeth G. Nabel Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Newborn Medicine
Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics and Chief of Newborn Medicine
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Sonali Desai, MD, MPH
Vice President of Quality and Associate Chief Medical Officer, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Matthew DiFrancesco, MD
Internal Medicine Hospitalist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Assistant Program Director, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Internal Medicine Residency
Medical Director, Brigham and Women’s Hospital PA Fellowship

George Dyer, MD
Attending Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Pardon R. Kenney MD, MMsc, FACS
Staff Surgeon, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital

Pamela Linzer, PhD, RN, MSN
Associate Chief Nurse Officer (ACNO), Center for Nursing Excellence and Patient Care Services for BWH/BWFH

Julia Mason, DNP, MBA, RN, CENP
Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, Beth V. Martignetti Endowed Chair in Nursing

Mallika Mendu, MD, MBA
Associate Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Ali S. Raja, MD, DBA, MPH
Executive Vice Chair for MGB Emergency Medicine
Mooney-Reed Endowed Chair
Department of Emergency Medicine
Professor of Emergency Medicine and Radiology
Harvard Medical School

Brendan Russell, MBA
Enterprise Vice President of Emergency Medicine, Mass General Brigham

Douglas S. Smink, MD
Chief of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital
Vice Chair of Education, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Michael VanRooyen, MD, MPH, FACEP
Chair of Emergency Medicine, Mass General Brigham