Meet the Team
![Mehul Raval, MD MS](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2020/06/download-200x250.jpg)
Mehul Raval, MD MS
Principal Investigator
![Salva Balbale, PhD](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2022/11/Salva-headshot-4-265x265.jpg)
Salva Balbale, PhD
Assistant Professor
![Willemijn Schaefer, PhD](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2020/07/willemijn.jpg)
Willemijn Schaefer, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
![Yao Tian, PhD MPH](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2020/07/yao-140x200.jpg)
Yao Tian, PhD MPH
Senior Biostatistician
![Erin Wymore, MS](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2020/07/erin-e1695932691702-140x200.jpg)
Erin Wymore, MS
Project Administrator
![Deysi Paniagua-Perez, BA](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2022/11/Deysi-Headshot-265x265.jpg)
Deysi Paniagua-Perez, BA
Project Coordinator
![Kirsty Engelhardt, BA](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2022/11/Kirsty-Headshot-4-260x265.jpg)
Kirsty Engelhardt, BA
Project Coordinator
![Lynn Huang, MS](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2022/03/Headshot-265x265.jpg)
Lynn Huang, MS
Data Analyst and Biostatistician
![Charesa Smith, MD](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2022/11/Charesa-Smith-Headshot-265x265.jpeg)
Charesa Smith, MD
Pediatric Surgical Research Fellow
![Alison Lehane, MD](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2023/09/Alison-Lehane-Headshot-1-e1695933320596-265x265.png)
Alison Lehane, MD
Pediatric Surgical Research Fellow
![Mallory Perez, MD](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2023/10/Mallory-4-265x265.png)
Mallory Perez, MD
Pediatric Surgical Research Fellow
Current Research Fellows:
Charesa Smith, MD (July 2022 – June 2024) – University of Illinois at Chicago General Surgery Resident
Alison Lehane, MD (July 2023 – June 2025) – Wake Forest University School of Medicine General Surgery Resident
Mallory Perez, MD (July 2023 – June 2025) – University of Alabama at Birmingham General Surgery Resident
Collaborators
![](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2020/07/jane-200x252.jpg)
Jane Holl, MD
![](https://sites.northwestern.edu/ravalresearch/files/2020/07/julie-214x265.jpg)