Ruch Lab Staff

Donna Ruch, PhD
Principal Investigator
Donna.Ruch@NationwideChildrens.org

Donna Ruch, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Her research focuses on behavioral health and healthcare disparities, the epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behavior and strategies for suicide prevention in youth involved with child-serving systems (juvenile justice, child welfare, Medicaid). Dr. Ruch’s work has been published in several leading academic journals and featured in national media outlets including CNN, NPR and The New York Times.

Cassandra Hartman
Clinical Research Program Coordinator
Cassandra.Hartman@NationwideChildrens.org

Cassandra Hartman is a Clinical Research Program Coordinator in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research. She received a double Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Psychology from the University of Texas – Dallas, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the University of Dayton. Cassandra has been an advocate for mental health and suicide since 2011, volunteering with organizations such as American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, North American Alliance for Mental Illness, and Local Outreach for Suicide Survivors. Her research interests include health disparities, risk factors among children and adolescents, and accessibility of services for under-served populations. 

Carol Wygant
Clinical Research Program Coordinator
Carol.Wygant@NationwideChildrens.org

Carol Wygant is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in Social Work. She has a passion for social justice initiatives and is particularly interested in addressing disparities pertaining to mental health and access to care through her work with CSPR. She hopes that her research contributions will create a better, more equitable world for all, specifically for vulnerable and historically underserved populations.  

Noor Abdulhay, PhD
Postdoctoral Scientist
Noor.Abdulhay@NationwideChildrens.org

Noor Abdulhay, PhD, MPH, is a postdoctoral scientist in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s. She has experience conducting research using large national datasets, electronic health records and real-world data, with expertise in statistical analysis, health outcomes research and epidemiologic methods. Her research interests include identifying risk and protective factors for mental health outcomes and suicide-related outcomes among vulnerable populations, including justice-involved youth, immigrant children and families and other underserved communities.

Dr. Abdulhay earned her PhD in epidemiology from West Virginia University. She also holds a master of public health in health education and a bachelor of science in health sciences from the University of Michigan–Flint.