Gerhardt Lab Staff

Cynthia Gerhardt, PhD
Principal Investigaor
Cynthia.Gerhardt@NationwideChildrens.org

Cynthia A. Gerhardt, PhD, is chief clinical research officer and a psychologist in the Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital, a principal investigator in the Center for Biobehavioral Health at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and a professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She is the Janet Orttung-Morrow, MD and Grant Morrow, III, MD, Endowed Chair in Pediatric Behavioral Health. Her primary focus is research on child and family adjustment to cancer and bereavement.

Katy Kerby
Clinical Research Coordinator Team Lead
Katy.Kerby@NationwideChildrens.org

Katy Kerby graduated from Loyola University of Chicago in December 2017 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. Following graduation, Katy gained five and a half years of research experience working in Oncology clinical trials at Northwestern University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. In her time at Northwestern, Katy also earned her master's degree in Public Health from the Feinberg School of Medicine in June 2023. Her practicum work while earning her degree focused on increasing diversity in research participation and advancing health equity in clinical trials.

Angel Chua
Clinical Research Coordinator I
Angel.Chua@NationwideChildrens.org

Angel Chua graduated from The Ohio State University in 2025 with her bachelor’s of science in psychology and human development and family science. Throughout her undergraduate career, Angel gained valuable experiences working with multiple psychology labs, which strengthened her interest in the development of family-centered interventions as well as psychosocial and behavioral outcomes among children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions. Angel hopes to further explore these psychological constructs and refine her skills as a clinical researcher under the guidance of Dr. Gerhardt, setting her up for success in obtaining a doctorate in clinical psychology with a focus in pediatric psychology.

Luke Finkelstein
Clinical Research Coordinator I
Luke.Finkelstein@NationwideChildrens.org

Luke Finkelstein graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2025 with a bachelor's degree in political science and minors in environmental studies and italian studies. While initially interested in pursuing environmental law, Luke became increasingly passionate about the interconnections between mental and physical illness and began dedicating himself to psychology research. As a clinical research coordinator under Dr. Gerhardt, Luke hopes to further explore his research interests and support children and their families throughout the illness experience. His longer-term goal is to obtain a doctorate in clinical psychology, empowering families on the individual and policy level.

Maria Brown
Postdoctoral Baccalaureate Research Associate
Maria.Brown4@NationwideChildrens.org

Maria Brown is a 2026 graduate of Duke University, where she earned her BS in psychology and minors in statistical sciences and sociology. Her research interests focus on pediatric health psychology, specifically the development of behavioral interventions to improve the wellbeing and mental health outcomes of adolescents. Currently, she is working in both the Skeens Lab and the Gerhardt Lab, where she hopes to strengthen her research skills through exposure to new clinical populations and methodologies. After her time in the lab, Maria plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology to continue research.