Meet the Team Driving State-Wide Change 

Learn more about our dynamic group of researchers and cross-sector collaborators transforming Pennsylvania’s sexual and reproductive health landscape.  

Four women standing together at a conference, smiling, wearing badges around their necks. They are indoors with blue and purple lighting.

Powered by CONVERGE

Our PA Catalyst team, led by CONVERGE , is a multidisciplinary community of researchers united by a shared vision of sexual and reproductive health equity. We bring together diverse expertise in health services, policy and law, public health, pharmacy practice, and the social sciences to drive comprehensive and sustainable change in Pennsylvania and beyond.

Portrait of a woman with long dark hair smiling against a purple background.

Sonya Borrero, MD, MPH
Principal Investigator

A woman with short brown hair, glasses, and a black blazer smiling against a purple background.

Marian Jarlenski, PhD, MPH
Principal Investigator

A smiling woman with gray hair, wearing a floral blouse, against a purple background.

Dana Loll, PhD, MHS
Program Director

A young woman with dark brown hair wearing a black shirt and a black embroidered apron, smiling against a purple background.

Selena Anjur-Dietrich, PhD
Research Scientist

A man with blond hair and blue eyes, smiling, wearing a burgundy shirt and a gray checkered blazer, against a purple background.

Lucas A. Berenbrok, PharmD, MS, FAPhA
Co-Investigator

A woman with dark hair wearing a light-colored blouse with gold buttons, posing against a purple background.

Mehret Birru Talabi, M.D., Ph.D.
Co-Investigator

Portrait of a young woman with curly red hair, wearing glasses, a nose ring, a black top, and a rust-colored blazer, smiling against a purple background.

Lotte Brewer, MPH
Communications Coordinator

A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, smiling, wearing a black top and light blue blazer, with her arms crossed, against a purple background.

Sarah Burns, MSW, LSW
Research Coordinator

A portrait of an Asian man wearing glasses, a gray collared shirt, and a black leather jacket, against a purple background.

Kar-Hai Chu, PhD
Co-Investigator

A young woman with long brown hair, smiling, wearing a black top, against a purple background.

Kirsten Crowhurst, MPH
Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator

Portrait of a smiling woman with short blonde hair, glasses, and a purple button-up shirt against a purple background.

Doris Dick, MSW
Business Manager

Portrait of a woman with curly blonde hair, smiling, wearing a black blazer with a Pitt Public Health pin, and layered necklaces, against a purple background.

Haley Director, MPH
Doctoral Student Researcher

A woman with long brown hair and a big smile, wearing a beige blazer and a black top, against a purple background.

Greer Donley, JD
Co-Investigator

A woman with long, wavy brown hair smiling at the camera, wearing a black blazer and a tan top, against a purple background.

Kelsey Hake, PharmD
Pharmacy Liason

A smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a black top against a purple background.

Carrie Haney, MSPH
Data Analyst

A woman with shoulder-length red hair and fair skin, wearing a black ribbed sweater, smiling softly, against a light purple background.

Kristen Kamp, MPH
Doctoral Student Researcher

Headshot of a woman with blonde hair, smiling, wearing a pink blazer, a pearl necklace, and a gold pendant with the letter 'K', against a light purple background.

Kate Kelsey, MPH
Research Coordinator

A woman with long dark hair, wearing glasses and a black top, smiling with arms crossed against a purple background.

Tamar Krishnamurti, PhD
Co-Investigator

A smiling woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, wearing a black blazer and a white top, against a lavender background.

Christine Larkin
Research Coordinator

Headshot of a woman with red hair, smiling, wearing a black blazer and a gold necklace, against a purple background.

Nicole Luche, MD MS
Fellow

Placeholder silhouette of a person on a purple background.

Emma Mairson, MPH
Data Analyst

A woman with long brown hair and earrings, smiling, wearing a black shirt, against a purple background.

Rebecca Meiksin, PhD, MPH
Co-Investigator

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a red blazer and white top, smiling against a lavender background.

Lucrecia Mena-Meléndez,
MA, PhD
Co-Investigator

A woman with brown wavy hair and light skin, wearing a black floral blouse, posing against a purple background.

Elizabeth Mosley, PhD MPH
Co-Investigator

A woman with short dark hair smiling, wearing a patterned black and white top, against a purple background.

Cristina Murray-Krezan, PhD
Biostatistician

A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair and bangs, wearing a red top, black jacket, pearl earrings, and a delicate pearl necklace, against a purple background.

Deirdre Quinn, PhD, MSc, MLitt
Co-Investigator

A woman with short, wavy hair dyed in shades of blue and purple, wearing glasses, a yellow sweater, and a brown overall with patches, smiles at the camera against a purple background.

Samantha Rodriguez, MS
Data Analyst

A woman with long brown hair and glasses smiling, wearing a denim jacket, with a purple background.

Sonia Rupcic, PhD, MPH, MIA
Post-Doctoral Researcher

A smiling woman with long blonde hair wearing a green top and teardrop earrings, against a solid purple background.

Jaime Sidani PhD, MPH, CHES
Co-Investigator

A portrait of an older man wearing black-rimmed glasses, a black suit, a white shirt, and a striped tie, set against a purple background.

Kenneth J Smith, MD, MS, FACP Consultant

A woman with curly, shoulder-length hair, smiling, wearing a brown blazer and a light gray shirt, against a lavender background.

Riley Steiner, PhD, MPH
Co-Investigator

A woman with curly red hair wearing a blue lace top smiling against a purple background.

Holly Thomas, MD, MS
Co-Investigator

Student Collaborators :

  • Hadeel Abdalmageed

  • Allison Barham

  • Jessica Boccio

  • Devin Douglass

  • Katie Ferriby

  • Stacey Johnson

  • Divya Katti

  • Erin Lamirande

  • Siddhi Shockey

Multiple levels of bridges and highways crossing a river in an urban area with buildings and trees.

Building Our Network

Working collaboratively with key stakeholders is core to CONVERGE’s approach. In 2015, we launched the Reproductive Bridges Coalition to advance contraceptive access in Western Pennsylvania. In 2022, following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision,  we convened a statewide group of champions across Pennsylvania’s sexual and reproductive health ecosystem to coordinate our immediate responses and align our long-term strategies.

Drawing on those coalitions, we have established the PA Catalyst network to inform our work and maximize the impact of our findings. The network now includes over 40 organizations and 80 individuals, including policymakers, advocates, service providers and others. These partnerships play an integral role in ensuring our collective work remains timely, equity-centered, and grounded in real-world contexts.  

Does your work align with PA Catalyst?

Are you interested in learning more about what we do?

Let's Connect ▸
Let's Connect ▸
Two women sitting at a University of Pittsburgh booth at an event, smiling at the camera. The booth has a blue tablecloth with the university's logo and various informational materials and devices on the table.