ASCEND WI Study Team

In addition to the Principal Investigators, ASCEND WI is comprised of a transdisciplinary team of researchers, community leaders, and healthcare professionals committed to improving maternal health in Southeastern Wisconsin. The team works across the four initiatives to build partnerships, address housing instability, educate the next generation of researchers, and disseminate best practices.

Principal Investigators

Anna Palatnik, MD

Contact PI
Initiatives: BUNDLE, TEAM
ENHANCE-M Program Director

Julia Dickson-Gomez, PhD

Primary Investigator
Initiatives: HOME, TEAM

Jessica Olson, PhD, MPH

Primary Investigator
Initiatives: BUNDLE, TEAM

Joni Williams, MD, MPH

Primary Investigator
Initiatives: BUNDLE, TEAM

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BUNDLE (Clinician-Doula Partnership)

​​Dalvery Blackwell, BA, IBCLC
Executive Director, Co-Founder
the African American Breastfeeding Network 

Katherine Quinn, PhD
Associate Professor, Associate Director, Center for AIDS Intervention Research, MCW

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HOME (Housing Security)

Katherine Quinn, PhD
Associate Professor and Associate Director, CAIR​ at MCW
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​Sergey Tarima, PhD
​Associate Professor
​Biostatistics at MCW


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Jennifer Harris, M.Ed.
Deputy Director, Comprehensive Injury Center, MCW
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Tinuola Oladebo, MS
PhD Student
​Public & Community Health, MCW

Amber Chavez
​Program Coordinator III, Institute for Health & Humanity at MCW

Constance Kostelac, PhD
Assistant Professor; Director, Division of Data Surveillance and Informatics at MCW

Wendy Weckler
​Executive Director, Hope House of Milwaukee


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Arthur Kiconco, MPH
​PhD Student
​Public & Community Health, MCW

Suzette Rosas-Rogers
​Postdoctoral Researcher
MCW

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Wandalee Lutzen
Clinical Research Coordinator, Obstetrics & Gynecology, MCW

Terri deRoon-Cassini, PhD, MS
Associate Professor of Surgery, Director,  Comprehensive Injury Center, MCW

Sarah Krechel, MPH
​PhD Student
​Public & Community Health, MCW

Kirsten Beyer, PhD, MPH, MS
Professor Division of Epidemiology; Director, PhD Program in Public & Community Health; Co-Director, Global Health Pathway at MCW;
Co-Director, GEO Shared Resource; Adjunct Associate Professor, Geography, UW-Milwaukee
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ENHANCE-M Scholars Program

Janet Sue Rader, MD, FACOG
Jack A. & Elaine D. Klieger Professor and Chair
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Medical College of Wisconsin
ENHANCE-M Program Director​​

Michelle Malicki, MPH
ENHANCE-M Program Manager
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Medical College of Wisconsin

Phone: (414) 805-6638
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Ronald Anguzu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor,
Institute for Health & Humanity, MCW

Rosamaria Martinez, RD, MBA, DrPH
Director, Milwaukee Health Department, 
WI Maternal and Child Health 

 Brock Polnaszek, MD
Assistant Professor, 
Obstetrics & Gynecology, MCW

Jill Denson, PhD
Assistant Professor, UW-Madison
UW Prevention Research Center Director
General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

Erica Marion, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow,
​MCW
Obstetrics & Gynecology, MCW

Antoinette Spector, PT, DPT, PhD​
Assistant Professor,  Feinberg School of
Medicine, Northwestern University
Physical Therapy & Human Movement Science
Director, DPT-MPH Dual Degree Program