Chavez Lab Staff
Laura Chavez, PhD, MPH
Principal Investigator
Laura.Chavez@NationwideChildrens.org
Laura Chavez, PhD, MPH, is a health services researcher and health policy expert. Her research uses mixed-methods and quasi-experimental study designs to understand social drivers of differences in adolescent and young adult behavioral health outcomes. She works with large health care administrative datasets including national and state Medicaid data to understand behavioral health outcomes of vulnerable youth.
Colleen McLaughlin, PhD, MPH
Research Scientist
Colleen.McLaughlin@NationwideChildrens.org
Colleen C. McLaughlin, PhD, MPH, is a research scientist in the Chavez Lab at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She earned her doctorate in epidemiology from the School of Public Health at SUNY Albany and her master of public health from Emory University. She previously worked as an applied epidemiologist at the New York State Department of Health and as the founding chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Jesse Hawke
Biostatistician II
Jesse.Hawke@NationwideChildrens.org
Jesse joined the Center for Child Health Outcomes Research in January 2024. He earned his doctorate in psychology with an emphasis in statistical genetics from the University of Colorado – Boulder. He previously worked as a statistician at the Colorado Department of Health & Environment and as a senior data analyst at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Jesse is interested in quality improvement methodologies and analytics and healthcare outcome inequalities among vulnerable pediatric populations and ways to reduce/eliminate them.
Stefany Cinco, MAS
Clinical Research Coordinator II
Stefany.CincoRivera@NationwideChildrens.org
Stefany is a passionate advocate for maternal and child health, driven by her multicultural background and expertise in nutrition. Originally from Mexico, she holds a master's degree in advanced studies in maternal and child nutrition from the University of California, Davis, completed in June 2023. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Stefany's bilingualism allows her to bridge cultural divides and address the diverse needs of families. With a focus on the holistic well-being of mothers and children, she is dedicated to understanding the multicultural factors that influence health outcomes. As an expert in nutrition and breastfeeding, Stefany strives to empower families to make informed choices for a healthier future. With her sights set on further academic pursuits, she aspires to pursue a doctorate in public health, aiming to drive systemic change and improve health outcomes on a larger scale.
Grace Theodore
Clinical Research Coordinator II
Lanika.Theodore@NationwideChildrens.org
Lanika graduated April of 2024 with her bachelors in public health education and minor is psychology. In the past she has worked on research projects discussing risk behaviors in bi/multiracial college students and research analyzing prenatal visit discussions and how that impacts maternal and child health outcomes. A passion of hers is using evidence-based research to improve child health outcomes. During her free time she enjoy volunteering and mentoring.
Michael Caniglia, PhD, MPA
Postdoctoral Fellow
Michael.Caniglia@NationwideChildrens.org
Michael joined the Chavez lab in August 2025 as part of the Patient-Centered Pediatric Research Program. Michael uses quantitative methods to examine rural-urban differences in health care access and child wellbeing. He earned a PhD in sociology and demography from Penn State, a master of public affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Bowling Green State University.
