Who We Are:

Our Team

Click on the name of the team member you would like to learn more about:

Team Bios

Hao Bao, PhD
Clinical Data Manager

Hao is responsible for implementing GAPPS data management system as well as maintaining and tracking GAPPS repository data. She holds a master’s degree in Computer Science and a PhD in Chemical Engineering. Hao’s previous experience includes working at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Biopathology Center, America’s only pediatric solid tumor repository where she was responsible for designing and developing the biospecimen tracking and reporting system.

Gail H. Deutsch, MD
Director of the GAPPS Repository

Gail Deutsch provides direction and technical oversight for the GAPPS Repository, including operations and expansion of collections both domestically and globally. The GAPPS Repository was established for the prospective collection, processing and storage of high-quality prenatal specimens. This critical research resource helps create the infrastructure for investigating the biology and epidemiology of pregnancy. Dr. Deutsch is a Pediatric Pathologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at University of Washington School of Medicine. She has thirteen years of experience in perinatal and pediatric pathology at tertiary children’s hospitals and has served as director of the perinatal autopsy service for several years, providing autopsy support and placental consultation. Dr. Deutsch is also a recognized expert in lung development and pulmonary pathology with an emphasis on lung disorders that occur in early childhood. She is chair of the pathology group for the Childrens’ Lung Disease Research Network and has established a data and lung tissue repository through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center from where she relocated in 2008.

Terri Dumala
Administrative Assistant Sr.

Terri assists Dr. Rubens, Donna Russell and other team members with scheduling, travel arrangements, and preparing documents. She also assisted with the Global Report on Preterm Birth & Stillbirth (7 of 7): mobilizing resources to accelerate innovative interventions. Prior to joining GAPPS in March 2009, Terri was Executive Assistant to the CEO, CMO, VP of Business Development, VP of Sales, VP of Finance and Administration, and VP of Engineering at Cenzic Inc., in Santa Clara, CA.

Jaime Ellis
Program Assistant

Jaime assists members of the GAPPS team with various administrative tasks including event management and coordination, scheduling and document preparation. She is currently creating a strategy and implementing a plan for GAPPS to effectively utilize social media. Prior to joining the GAPPS team in June 2010, Jaime worked at the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She provided behavioral coaching to the patients, demonstrated effective coping skills for the children, and provided tutorial support during school sessions. Jaime earned her BS in Psychology with a minor in Human Development from Washington State University.

Michael G. Gravett, MD
Scientific Director

Dr. Gravett is professor and vice-chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the University of Washington and a core investigator and the Scientific Director for GAPPS. Dr. Gravett completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology and fellowships in maternal-fetal medicine and in infectious diseases/immunology at the University of Washington. His research interests center on infectious and inflammatory causes and consequences of preterm birth. He developed the first experimental non-human primate model for infection-induced preterm birth. He has won numerous awards for his research and currently serves as president of the Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Sharon Hennessy, MSW
Research Study Coordinator UWMC

Sharon Hennessy, Research Study Coordinator at UWMC, has an MSW from the UW with a healthcare focus, as well as a BA in Womens Studies. She has lots of program coordination experience in the areas of women' health, Hispanic healthcare services, and family literacy programs, as well as experience working as a social worker with patients in the UWMC, City of Seattle Aging and Disability Services, and DSHS, and also working with the NIH Ryan White grant with the Psychiatry Dept. at Harborview Medical Center.

Khris Kline
Repository Manager

Khris Kline, Repository Manager, has worked in research laboratories for more than 18 years. She has worked on multiple projects at the University of Washington, including work on HDL lipoproteins at the Lipid Research Center, and as a lab manager in the Immunology Department researching T-Cell receptors. She has recently spent 4 years developing clinical trial labs as well as specimen and data collection systems for HIV prevention studies in multiple countries within Africa. She is currently working with GAPPS to develop a multiple site labs and specimen repository focused on preterm birth.

Toni Nunes, MA, MPH
Director of Creative Projects

Toni has 15 years of experience overseeing projects relating to maternal and child health. While consulting for nonprofits in Washington, D.C., she collaborated with researchers, healthcare practitioners, policymakers, the media, businesses, and the general public. During her career, Toni has helped research, write, edit, design, produce and evaluate technical and educational materials, videos, books, and Web sites for health and environmental organizations. She received a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Master of Arts in Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University. At GAPPS, she edited the Global report on preterm birth and stillbirth and is currently overseeing development of the Web site, a newsletter, and technical content.

Louis Paolella, BA
Research Scientist

Louis Paolella is a Research Scientist at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. He is assisting with the GAPPS Repository, implementing processes and performing quality control of collected prematurity samples. Prior to joining GAPPS, Louis completed an enology internship at Mercer Estates Winery monitoring wine quality. Additionally, Louis worked as a student researcher at Middlebury College investigating the role of oxidative stress in mammalian folliculogenesis, a significant factor in IVM and IVF therapies. Louis received his bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College in molecular biology and biochemistry where he completed his senior honors thesis on antioxidant activity in developing bovine follicles. Louis also performs research on mammalian mediators of preterm labor.

Craig E. Rubens, MD, PhD
Executive Director

Craig Rubens is co-founder and executive director of the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS), an initiative of Seattle Children’s. GAPPS was established in 2007 to increase awareness and accelerate innovative research and interventions that will improve maternal, newborn and child health outcomes. Dr. Rubens, an internationally recognized infectious disease expert leads GAPPS work in program development and strategic partnerships that leverage cross-disciplinary science to accelerate a discovery-to-delivery pipeline for preventing prematurity and stillbirth. Dr. Rubens is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington, School of Medicine; and the endowed chair of Pediatric Infectious Diseases sponsored by Seattle Children’s Hospital. He is a member of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and has been a consultant and reviewer for the FDA, CDC and NIH. His long-term research interests include diseases afflicting low-, middle- and high-income countries and he serves on the Executive Committee of the Washington Alliance for Global Health. His specific area of expertise is in exploring the mechanisms of infection during pregnancy and in the early newborn period that lead to poor pregnancy and newborn health outcomes. Insights from his work have begun to identify new opportunities for vaccine development. Dr Rubens is a graduate of the University of Washington, School of Medicine and received a PhD from the Department of Basic and Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina.

Donna Russell, MHA
Director of Research Development

Donna Russell co-founded GAPPS in 2007, helping to launch the new interdisciplinary initiative of Seattle Children’s focused on reducing preterm birth and stillbirth. As Director of Research Development, Donna develops partnerships to strengthen global research capacity, to establish a structure for a global research network of investigators, and to build a global collection network to support perinatal research. Before joining GAPPS in 2007, she served as a senior policy analyst and consultant for the Washington State Department of Health, and the State Board of Health. She has also served as a consultant to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and Seattle hospitals, in health advocacy, policy development and analysis on a broad range of issues—including public health financing, health workforce shortages, tribal health, and health disparities. She has a strong background and special interest in neonatal Group B Streptococcus disease prevention and her collaborative efforts with the CDC have contributed to adoption of universal prenatal screening for Group B Strep. Ms. Russell serves on the Board of Directors of Group B Strep International.

Gretchen Sorensen
Strategic Advisor

Gretchen Sorensen helps organizations transform challenges into measurable, positive results. In 25 years working in the United States and internationally, Sorensen’s problem solving and organizational skills have helped catalyze a broad range of initiatives. In 2006, Sorensen launched an independent consulting practice in life sciences, technology and global health. Sorensen’s expertise in strategic initiatives, communications, philanthropy, advocacy and policy help her clients translate paradigm-shifting ideas and discoveries into tangible value for funders, public policy makers and the marketplace. Sorensen has served in numerous leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. She has served as a member of Dr. Leroy Hood’s team at the Institute for Systems Biology; in senior legislative and policy positions on Capitol Hill and an advisor for three Presidential campaigns. She served as Regional Administrator at the US Small Business Administration and White House Liaison for the Pacific Northwest region during the Clinton Administration. At Turner Broadcasting, she was the corporate communications liaison throughout the Asia Pacific region. She currently serves as a strategic advisor to GAPPS.

Christy Van Pelt
Senior Business Manager

Christy has 15 years of research administration experience. She provides business and operational expertise, ensuring the maximization of available revenue to achieve strategic goals and business objectives. She focuses on developing budgets for funding applications, developing and implementing contracts, partnership actualization, financial performance and office operations.

Catherine Waszak
Program Coordinator

Catherine coordinates advocacy, communications, and fundraising efforts at GAPPS. She assisted in proofing and editing the Global Report on Preterm Birth & Stillbirth. Prior to joining GAPPS in July 2008, Catherine worked at Seattle Children’s Consulting Nurses providing clinical support for patients, families, and nurses. In 2008, Catherine earned her BA from the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington after completing her thesis: Le Cout d’une Bonne Santé: Suggestions for Health Care Reform in the United States.

Jennifer L. Weber
Fundraising Consultant

In her 12 years of fundraising experience, Jennifer Weber has worked for the University of Washington, Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Global Fund for Women. At Children’s Hospital, Jennifer was instrumental in raising six and seven figure gifts for the Hospital’s $350 million campaign. Serving as Vice President of Philanthropy for the Global Fund for Women, Jennifer led a fundraising team of 15 people, raising $15-17 million a year for women’s human rights around the world. In these roles, Jennifer created donor education programs, developed board fundraising committees, and worked directly with individual donors, learning about their interests, their desire for impact, and motivations for giving. Her experience in the fields of education, healthcare, and human rights gives her knowledge of a variety of philanthropic circles. Jennifer founded Cornerstone Consulting in 2009 to assist non-profit organizations in building strong major gift programs and donor education strategies. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Occidental College and an M.A. in Education from San Jose State University.

Kurt E. White, MCP
Information Services

Kurt’s background is in Enterprise Class IT project management and support. Prior to joining GAPPS he worked with companies such as Occidental Chemical, NOKIA and Microsoft focusing on project rollouts or support. Currently, he is responsible for resolving and coordination of all technical issues at GAPPS.


© 2008-2010 Seattle Children's Hospital, Research and Foundation. Photographs courtesy of Richard Lord and Paul Joseph Brown.