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Lab Members

Charles Kamen

Charles Kamen (he/him) is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Psychiatry and principal investigator of the HERO lab, which is part of the Division of Supportive Care in Cancer in the Department of Surgery.  He received a PhD in Clinical Psychology as well a Masters of Public Health and a Certificate in LGBTQ+ Health and Policy.  As a health equity researcher, he focuses on assessing and addressing disparities across the cancer continuum, with particular expertise in working with LGBTQ+ communities, dyadic interventions, and multifactorial modeling of predictors of disparity.  He also serves as Chair of Health Equity Research for the University of Rochester NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Base and Assistant Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at Wilmot Cancer Institute. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his partners and two tiny dogs, working out, and playing board games.

Hala Awad

Hala Awad is a PhD student in Translational Biomedical Science at the University of Rochester. She holds both a Master of Total Quality Management and a Master of Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Jordan, along with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Philadelphia University.

Hala's commitment to continuous learning is evident in her completion of medication safety and healthcare quality management internships at the University of Rochester. She has also participated in advanced reproductive health training and workshops on health technology assessment, pharmacovigilance, and quality healthcare practices. Her dedication is further demonstrated by her certification as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and her specialized training in hematology and oncology at Jordan University Hospital.

\Before joining the University of Rochester, Hala dedicated her expertise to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceuticals as a Pharmacist at the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA). Before that, she worked with non-profit organizations, focusing on enhancing health outcomes in local communities, particularly among refugees. Hala's passion for oncology and cancer research was sparked during her early career as a pharmacist at the King Hussein Cancer Center, where she focused on improving care processes for cancer patients.

In addition to her clinical experience, Hala has served as a Teaching Assistant at Philadelphia University. Her academic contributions include multiple publications in the areas of access to health, health equity, drug shortages, and polypharmacy.

In the lab, Hala is particularly interested in research that seeks to understand the factors contributing to health disparities. She aims to identify these factors and implement strategies to modify practice guidelines to mitigate them.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Hala is a multifaceted individual. She enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, hiking, exploring new adventures, learning new skills and languages, and discovering new cultures. She also enjoys reading and cooking.
 

Viktor Clark

Viktor Clark (he/they) is a Research Assistant Professor and Postdoctoral Fellow in the HERO Lab. They received their Doctoral degree in Social Behavioral Science and a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Innovation from Virginia Commonwealth University. Viktor has a clinical background in predominantly helping support people with substance use disorders and mood disorders. They have conducted research in the topics of HIV, substance use, and cancer across various minoritized communities. They have carved out an expertise in applying innovative technology in the prevention of second cancers among minoritized communities. Viktor prioritizes community relationships in their development of research initiatives and is currently a Co-Chair on a seminar entitled “Empowering Futures: Navigating Family Building, Intimacy, and Choices in Sexual Health among Adolescents and Young Adults, an educational seminar for oncology providers” in collaboration with 13thirty Cancer Connect a Rochester-based adolescent and young adult community organization addressing supportive resources for cancer survivors. Viktor also is the PI on the SHAYDES project a three-phase project to improve HPV vaccine uptake and reduce HPV exposure among young adult (ages 18-26) cancer survivors. Within the SHAYDES project Viktor is also using crowdfunding to support the salary of a young adult cancer survivor community scientist.  In their free time, you can find Viktor training for their upcoming Musselman half-Ironman, doing yoga, paddle-boarding, or at a dog-park with their Australian Cattle dog Rapha.

Milena Insalaco

Milena Insalaco (she/they) is a Human Subjects Research Coordinator in the HERO Lab. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a double major in Psychology and Philosophy and with a certificate in Queer, Trans, and Sexuality Studies. Milena is passionate about using qualitative methods and analyses to explore the impact stigma and discrimination has on LGBTQ+ people’s physical, mental, and sexual health. Currently, they are working with Dr. Kamen on research projects about the cancer care experiences of LGBTQ+ patients/survivors and their caregivers. Outside of research, you can find Milena reading, caring for their (way too many) plants, and cooking different vegan pasta recipes.

Alia Khamis

Alia Khamis (she/her) is a master's student at the HERO Lab. She received her medical degree from the University of Jordan. For three years, she did cancer research for the King Hussein Cancer Center and, most notably, worked in the Cancer Control Office, which aims to mitigate the cancer burden in Jordan by tackling the tobacco endemic. Afterward, she pursued a master's degree in clinical investigation from the University of Rochester, focusing on epidemiology. Alia’s work at UR involves examining health disparities in minoritized and underserved populations, assessing barriers to health equity, and implementing culturally informed changes through community engagement - particularly in the refugee population. Alia is excited to start residency training in internal medicine soon. In her free time, Alia enjoys cooking, amateur photography, and scrapbooking.

Zeinab Mohamed

Zeinab Mohamed (she/her) is a PhD student in Translational Biomedical Science at the University of Rochester and holds an MSC in Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology from the University of South Florida (2021) and a BSc in Pharmacy from the British University in Egypt (2017). As a Fulbright Scholar in 2021, she was recognized for her academic excellence and dedication to her field. Specializing in nanocarrier design for ocular drug delivery, along with expertise in cell culture, oxidative stress, inflammation, and animal studies, Zeinab is deeply passionate about cancer research, health disparities, and patient education. Joining Dr. Kamen's lab in July 2023, Zeinab contributes to reviewing immune checkpoint inhibitor outcomes in Dr. Kamen’s DiRECT study. In the lab, she is particularly interested in health disparities research, with a focus on understanding the impact on minorities. Beyond academia, she finds joy in spending time with loved ones, watching shows, walking, reading, and volunteering as a mentor to help students enhance their CVs and apply to grad schools. Zeinab also enjoys decorating her home and engaging in teaching activities, particularly inspiring children about science. She embodies a commitment to both scholarly pursuit and community enrichment.

Lelaina Nagle

Lelaina Nagle (she/her) is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the HERO Lab. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology from The College at Brockport. She worked in cardiology at UR for 5 years before making the leap to cancer research. After joining the Division of Supportive Care in Cancer, she worked on studies of nutritional supplements (with Dr. Gilmore) and CAR-T cell therapy (with Dr. Belcher) and disparities in immune checkpoint inhibitor outcomes (Dr. Kamen’s DiRECT study). She continues to work with Dr. Kamen on multiple LGBTQ+ studies. Lelaina has been with the University for 8 years. In her free time, you can find Lelaina running, lifting weights or exploring with her Golden Retriever, Kai.