Faculty and Staff

Rebecca Bollinger is a registered and licensed occupational therapist in the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory. She holds an OTD from WashU Medicine and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Emory University. Rebecca has prior research experience with home modifications and assistive technology for adults and older adults, as well as in family-based behavioral treatments for children and their families. Rebecca serves as the study coordinator and occupational therapist for the Home Hazard Removal Program research study (HARP III) and the Falls and Alzheimer’s disease study (Falls and AD). She coordinated the project on retention of participants in longitudinal studies of Alzheimer’s disease, co-coordinates the Missouri Aging and Disability Research Network (MADRN), and assists with home visits across multiple studies.

Sherdonna Denholm earned her BA from Clayton State University in Atlanta, Ga., and supports day-to-day operations for Dr. Stark and the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory. She leads the recruitment efforts for the Community Participation Transition After Stroke research study (COMPASS III) and supports administrative needs across multiple studies. Sherdonna also oversees training efforts for students and their work in the lab and co-directs the Missouri Aging and Disability Research Network (MADRN).

Megen Devine is a medical editor and technical writer. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University. She manages the lab’s publications, both pre- and post-acceptance, and knowledge translation activities, including developing newsletters, social media content, infographics, and lay-friendly summaries of projects and publications.

Tyra Fowler is a certified licensed occupational therapy assistant in the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory. She holds an associate of applied science degree from the occupational therapy assistant program at St. Louis Community College Meramec. Tyra has prior knowledge working with older adults, holding over seven years of clinical occupational therapy experience working in the acute care setting. She serves as an interventionist for multiple studies, assisting with recruitment, conducting residential engagement activities, and implementing interventions with participants.

Brianna Holden is a registered and licensed occupational therapist in the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory. She holds an MSOT from WashU Medicine and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and religious studies from Regis University. She previously worked as an occupational therapist in acute care and as a fieldwork student under Dr. Stark, where she developed an interest in both research and clinical intervention in the areas of geriatrics, environmental modifications and community accessibility. Brianna coordinates the Community Participation Transition After Stroke research study (COMPASS III), conducts home visits across multiple studies, and trains occupational therapists across the country to deliver the evidence-based Home Hazard Removal Program.

Holly Hollingsworth is a research statistician in the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory. He also supports the research activities of other laboratories at WashU. Holly holds a doctorate in applied statistics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He recently retired as an Associate Research Professor in the WashU Medicine Program in Occupational Therapy, where he contributed to the development of instruments and analyses of measures of activity participation in the community for people with disabilities. He has reviewed nearly 300 papers for Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and has reviewed grant applications for the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research for over 20 years.

Missy Krauss is a senior statistical data analyst in the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory and oversees data management and analyses for the lab’s research studies. She earned a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology and biostatistics from Saint Louis University School of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Fontbonne University. Missy has prior research experience in a wide range of clinical and public health areas including patient safety, mental health and evaluation of community programs. She is especially interested in interventions that aim to improve physical and mental well-being and support older adults to age in place.

Dana Sutter serves as the lab and project manager for the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory and is responsible for administrative and financial management of all research studies conducted in the lab. Dana earned her MSOT degree from Washington University School of Medicine and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas Christian University. She has clinical occupational therapy experience in inpatient rehabilitation, acute care and skilled nursing. Her previous research experience with Dr. Stark and the late Dr. David Gray, looking at home modifications and community accessibility for persons with disabilities, laid the foundation for much of the current research being done in the PEPLab.