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 falls and Alzheimer’s disease study. She also 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 as needed for the COMPASS study.

Sherdonna Denholm manages the office of the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory, where she is also the personal assistant to Dr. Stark. Sherdonna graduated from Clayton State University and writes and records her own music. In the lab, Sherdonna supports the administrative needs of ongoing studies and oversees student training and work. She also co-coordinates the Missouri Aging and Disability Research Network (MADRN).

Megen Devine is a medical editor and technical writer with the WashU Medicine Program in Occupational Therapy. 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. She coordinates and conducts home visits for multiple studies.

Holly Hollingsworth is a research statistician in the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory. He also supports the research activities of other laboratories in the WashU Medicine Program in Occupational Therapy. 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. 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 that support older adults to age in place.

Dana Sutter currently works as the lab manager for the Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory (PEPLab). She holds an MSOT from WashU Medicine and a 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. Dana also brings management experience from previously owning and running an orthotics and prosthetics company.

Selena Washington is an assistant professor of occupational science and occupational therapy at Saint Louis University. She holds a PhD in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, a master’s degree in public health from Meharry Medical College, and a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Tennessee State University. Selena’s areas of interest include rehabilitation, community health, aging and older adults, and occupational therapy policy and administration.

Stacy West-Bruce is an instructor in occupational therapy and medicine at WashU Medicine. She holds an OTD from Saint Louis University, a master’s degree in social work from WashU, and a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Saint Louis University. Stacy is interested in research and interventions aimed at healthy and supportive aging-in-place strategies for older adults.

Yan Yan is a Professor of Clinical Epidemiology in the WashU Medicine Division of Public Health Sciences and a Professor of Biostatistics in the Division of Biostatistics. Yan was a physician in China and holds a doctorate in epidemiology and a master’s degree in biostatistics from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health as well as a master’s degree in applied demography from Georgetown University. He routinely uses updated epidemiological/biostatistical methods to support clinical and population health research in the medical community.