Christine Carethers, MHI
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]
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. Amy is the Faculty Director of CHEPS. She holds an AB 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
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 PhD 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]
Gene Kim, MBA
Administrative Assistant
Gene (they/she/he—I’ve been called them all and they all work for me) graduated with a BA from the University of Michigan and then an MBA from Eastern Michigan University. 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]
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]
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]
Hooman Niktafar
Software Manager
Hooman Niktafar (he/him) is the CHEPS Software Manager possessing 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
William Pozehl, MSE
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 a full-time staff member 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]
Adam VanDeusen, PhD, MPH
Veterans Affairs Research Affiliate
Adam VanDeusen (he/him) is a quantitative methodologist with the Center for Clinical Management Research at the US Department of Veterans Affairs. At CHEPS, Adam works on projects related to improving access to care, especially among veteran populations. He completed his undergraduate and PhD at the University of Michigan in Industrial and Operations Engineering. Adam’s previous professional employment includes Indiana University, Mayo Clinic, and The Health Management Academy. For fun, Adam enjoys running, watching movies, and visiting libraries.
Email: [email protected]
Rebecca Journigan, MBA
Executive Assistant, Chief Transformation Office
Rebecca Journigan is the executive assistant in the Michigan Medicine Chief Transformation Office. Her office is in CHEPS where she helps coordinate the center activities. Prior to UM, Rebecca was the director of operations in the division of Academic Student Affairs and Global Engagement at Wayne State University. Rebecca has a degree in public affairs from Wayne State and an MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy. She is a committed parent spectator at lacrosse and football games.
Email: [email protected]