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Sylvia Haigh, MPH
Sylvia Haigh has worked as a qualitative methodologist and research coordinator/project manager at the COIN since 2021. Her research interests include health equity among minoritized and vulnerable Veteran communities, and she has supported VA studies across multiple areas including social determinants of health, behavioral health, LGBTQ+ health, and Long-Term Services and Supports. Sylvia obtained a BA in Science, Technology, and Society Studies from Vassar College in 2016, followed by an MPH in Health Services Research from the Brown University School of Public Health in 2020.
Nathalie McIntosh, PhD
Nathalie McIntosh, PhD, is a health services researcher with experience doing mixed-methods and implementation science projects. She began working at THRIVE in 2023, but was not new to working at VA, having worked at CHOIR at VA Boston Healthcare System from 2008 to 2017. Her research interests include guardianship, food as medicine, and improving the quality of care and quality of life for older Veterans. Dr. McIntosh received her Ph.D. in Public Health (Health Policy and Management) from Boston University, and an M.Sc. in Genetic Counseling, an M.Sc. in Molecular Biology, and a B.Sc. in Biology from McGill University.
Rachel P. Riendeau, MA
Rachel P. Riendeau, MA (she/her) joined THRIVE as a qualitative analyst in 2024 after time as a project manager at the VA Boston Center for Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR) and additional training in community organizing and writing. Her research interests include critical disability studies, mental health, especially suicide prevention and social connection, care work, community-engaged research and evaluation, qualitative methods, and implementation science. A born-and-raised Rhode Islander, she balances health systems research ideas with a wicked lot of gardening, mothering, and other forms of community care work. She received a BA in Anthropology with Honors from Rhode Island College and an MA in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Iowa.
Wendy Hathaway, MA
Wendy Hathaway, MA, is a medical anthropologist who has been specializing in health services research at the VA since 2015. She has provided qualitative expertise for research grants and quality improvement projects. In 2023, Wendy joined the VA Providence Medical Center to support the THRIVE qualitative core and Veteran engagement activities. Her current work focuses on evaluating the national implementation of the GEC Veteran Directed Care (VDC) program, examining burnout and turnover among Homeless Program staff, and assessing the impact of COVID-19 on case management, healthcare utilization, and housing outcomes for HUD-VASH Veterans. She received her doctoral training and MA in Applied Anthropology from the University of South Florida, and a BS in anthropology in Anthropology from the University of Florida. Wendy enjoys birding and growing native plants. She can often be found hanging out at the local shuffleboard social club.
Katherine Rieke, PhD, MPH, MA
Katherine Rieke joined the VA in 2023 as part of the Providence Evidence Synthesis Program. She holds a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and MPH from Loyola University Chicago, and an MA from Adler University.
Lan Jiang, MS
I have 15+ years experience working with the VA data, with a master's degree in applied statistics. I provide data management and analytic assistance to many principal investigators and physicians. I worked on many interesting projects that made contribution to the improvement of veterans' mortality and quality of life.
Malisa Barber, BS
Malisa Barber, BS, joined the COIN in 2017 as a Data Analyst. Based out of Indianapolis, IN, she has been with the VA since being recruited as an analyst through the student pathways program in 2009. Malisa is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Web Application Development & Data Management.
Frank DeVone, ScM (MS), BS
Frank DeVone (He/Him/His) is a biostatistician that joined the COIN in 2020. He has worked with Dr. James Rudolph and co. primarily in SARS-CoV-2 research, as well as with Dr. Eric Jutkowitz on his research into Veterans experiencing homelessness. His research is not limited to these areas, and he has been involved in projects related to non-COVID Infectious diseases, ADRD, and mixed methods projects involving quality of care. Personal research interests include gender non-conforming veterans and their intersection with health outcomes and care. Frank DeVone received his bachelor's degree from Ursinus College, and his master's from Brown University.
Vrishali Lopes, MS
Vrishali Lopes originally from India, where she obtained her Master of Science degree in Statistics. She has more than 15 years of research experience and has over 50 published peer-reviewed articles. Vrishali joined the Providence VA in 2016 and has extensive experience in the use of many data sources including VA data sources. She works part time for Infectious Diseases Research Program and COIN at the Providence, VA. She has worked with many Investigators, Fellows, and their teams throughout the research process, on complex data analysis, statistical support, and manuscript preparation.
Christopher Halladay, ScM
Christopher Halladay leads/mentors COIN's analytic core. He Serves as lead analyst/statistician on epidemiological studies and VA data knowledge expert and works closely with study Principal Investigators to write data query specifications, statistical analysis plans, and conduct statistical analyses.
Daniel Hackert, MPH
Daniel Hackert is an analyst at the Providence COIN-THRIVE. He develops programs in the R statistical software, including development of appropriate SQL queries as needed for extracting, preparing, analyzing, verifying, and interpreting data from VA's Central Data Warehouse (CDW) or other relevant data sources.
Igor Vishnepolskiy MS, CCRP
Igor Vishnepolskiy, MS, CCRP, is the Administrative Officer for THRIVE COIN, where he provides lead administrative support, including hiring staff, serving as the HR liaison, assisting leadership with budget management, and working on the strategic goals of the center. He joined THRIVE COIN in 2024, after serving as a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital. Igor holds an MS in Experimental Psychology from Saint Joseph's University and a BS in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island. He is a U.S. Army veteran, having served as a Medic and Practical Nurse from 2003 to 2012. In his free time, Igor enjoys long trail runs and competes in ultramarathons.
Regina Bartlett, MCSE
As the COIN OSRI Coordinator, I bridge the COIN with Ocean State Research Institute which is the Non-Profit Corporation associated with the Providence VA that provides a flexible funding mechanism for VA Investigators to be able to have access to non-VA funding. I help PIs looking to get NIH, DoD, Pharmaceutical, or private funding to work through the many administrative requirements so they can focus on the science. I am Microsoft Certified and love looking for new ways to reduce waste, improve processes, and keep everything on time and under budget!
Liz Archambault, MSW, LICSW
I completed my training with the VA Boston GRECC in 2007, and began a position with the VA Boston Geriatric Mental Health Clinic as a Dementia Care Coordinator. I transitioned to Delirium Research from 2011-2018 and have been a part of the Providence VA COIN since 2018. My Mother was a social worker, and my Dad was a Navy Commander and Physician, so I combined their vocations to become a Medical social worker for Veterans.
Taylor Rickard, MSCJ
Taylor Rickard, MSCJ, joined THRIVE as a Health Science Specialist in 2017. Prior to joining THRIVE, she was with the VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology. She splits her effort between the Providence Evidence Synthesis Program and THRIVE teams, assisting in an administrative capacity. She also assists the Geriatric & Extended Care Strategic Priority Workstream: "Expand Geriatrics and Palliative Care Workforce and Expertise", a national VA initiative to address the anticipated needs and preferences of our aging Veterans. Taylor received her master's degree in criminal justice from Roger Williams University.
