Amy Cohn, PhD, Faculty Director
Amy Ellen Mainville Cohn (she/her) is an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in the Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan, where she also holds an appointment in the Department of Health Management and Policy in the School of Public Health. Dr. Cohn is the Faculty Director of the Center for Healthcare Engineering & Patient Safety (CHEPS). She holds an A.B. in applied mathematics, magna cum laude, from Harvard University and a PhD in operations research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her primary research interests are in applications of combinatorial optimization, particularly to healthcare and aviation, and to the challenges of optimization problems with multiple objective criteria.
She values teaching, mentoring, having a positive impact on society through her work, and helping to foster a vibrant, diverse, nurturing community. She and her husband Jonathan are the proud parents of two sons, Tommy and Peter.
Email: [email protected]
Website: amycohn.engin.umich.edu
Gene Kim, Administrative Assistant
Gene (they/she/he—I’ve been called them all and they all work for me) graduated with a BA from U-M and then an MBA from EMU. They have worked at the university since 2006 and at CHEPS since 2010. They enjoy dancing ballet, spending time with their dog, and gardening.
Email: [email protected]
Marina Epelman, PhD, Faculty Affiliate
Marina Epelman (she/her) is a CHEPS Faculty Affiliate as well as an IOE professor at the University of Michigan. She received a BA in Mathematics from Cornell University, a Ph.D. in Operations Research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has been a professor since. Aside from collaborating on CHEPS projects in patient and provider scheduling, Marina is working with Michigan Medicine on an improved optimization model for radiation treatments for cancer patients. Marina is an enthusiast of Apple technologies, Red Sox baseball, and dogs.
Email: [email protected]
William Pozehl, Research Manager
Billy Pozehl (he/him) is the Research Manager at CHEPS. He began working at the Center as an undergraduate student researcher and holds BSE and MSE degrees in Industrial and Operations Engineering. He has been full-time staff since 2015. He enjoys helping our student CHEPSters brainstorm the challenges they face as they work on our projects and spends his free time watching Michigan sports.
Email: [email protected]
Hooman Niktafar, Software Manager
Hooman Niktafar (he/him) is the CHEPS Software Manager who possesses over 20+ years of experience across the IT sector. Prior to joining CHEPS, Hooman earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and worked for several Fortune 500 companies. Hooman holds an extensive background involving software integration/development and cross-functional team management. In his free time, Hooman enjoys playing video games, board games, and kayaking.
Email: nhooman@umich.edu
Luke DeRoos, PhD, Senior Business Intelligence Analyst
Luke DeRoos (he/they) is a Senior Business Intelligence Analyst. He received his PhD in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan with a certificate in Precision Health. Prior to CHEPS, he worked in the automotive, produce, medical device, and software industries. Outside of work, Luke enjoys spending time with his husband and daughter, playing tennis, and watching reality TV.
Email: [email protected]
Hannah Buck, Communications Specialist
Hannah Buck (she/her) is the CHEPS Communications Specialist. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019 having majored in Creative Writing & Literature and minored in Digital Studies. After a few years of teaching middle school in New York City, she returned to Michigan to join CHEPS in March 2023. When she’s not at work, Hannah enjoys writing personal essays, conducting disability justice research, and playing pickup soccer.
Email: [email protected]
Amir Moosavi, PhD, MIDAS Postdoctoral Fellow
Amirhossein (Amir) Moosavi (he/him) is a Data Scientist at CHEPS and a MIDAS postdoctoral fellow, having joined CHEPS in late 2023. He earned his PhD in Management Science from the University of Ottawa, specializing in planning and scheduling in healthcare. Amir enjoys helping students understand healthcare decision-making challenges. He also enjoys playing and watching soccer, and going to the movie theater.
Email: [email protected]
Christine Carethers, Chief Transformation Office Fellow
Christine Carethers (she/her) is an Administrative Fellow from Michigan Medicine’s Office of Transformation. She graduated with a BS in Public Health in 2020 and a Master of Health Informatics in 2024 both from the University of Michigan. Christine is passionate about understanding and improving clinical processes to support provider and patient well-being and reduce health disparities. Outside of work, Christine enjoys doing barre exercises, reading, crocheting, and watching reality and true crime TV.
Email: [email protected]
Vincenzo Loffredo, PhD, Simulation Manager
Vincenzo Loffredo (he/him) is the Simulation Manager at CHEPS. He has a background in Economics and Policy Evaluation and received his PhD in Statistics at the University of Michigan in 2024 for his work on modeling the effects of aging. Outside of work, Vincenzo enjoys hosting friends for dinner, playing board games, and going to the movie theater.
Email: [email protected]