Lab Staff and Students

Adam Boukind: Adam is a 1st year MD student at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Originally from Casablanca, Morocco, Adam obtained his bachelor’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology with a certificate in Engineering biology in 2022 from Princeton University. After his undergraduate studies, Adam completed a master’s degree in biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University where he deepened his knowledge and interest in Immunoengineering and Tissue engineering. He is currently working on understanding neuropathic pain and immune environment changes in a chronic constriction nerve injury model.

Xiaojuan Han, MD: Dr. Han is a visiting post-doctoral scholar from China.  She is a trained neurologist and holds the post of associate chief physician.  She is working on projects related to stimulation of neural regeneration in a SARM-1 KO animal model.

Roy Horowitz, MD: Dr. Horowitz is an international orthopedic resident and a current visiting researcher at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. He joined the team that is developing ways to assess nerve injury intra-operatively and to enhance nerve repair and regeneration after injury using animal models. In his spare time, Dr. Horowitz enjoys hiking and running in nature.

Dan Hunter, Senior Scientist, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery: Dan received his initial training in Medical Laboratory Science Program Re: Pathology and Electron Microscopy at St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada. His exams were taken at Michener Institute of Education, Toronto, Canada where National Certification with Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Sciences. (CSMLS) was obtained. He obtained the level of Charge Medical Technologist at St Michael’s Hospital /Toronto General Hospital (University Hospital Network), Toronto. (University of Toronto teaching hospital) while working in peripheral nerve with Dr. Alan R Hudson, Chairman Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto and Dr Susan Mackinnon, Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Sunnybrook Hospital/Toronto General Hospital, Toronto. Pre-1991. He currently performs research in peripheral nerve with Dr Susan Mackinnon and Dr Matt Wood, Plastic Surgery Research laboratory, Washington University School Medicine in St Louis and Dr. David Brogan, Orthopedic Nerve Research Lab. His focus is on peripheral nerve research utilizing Electron Microscopy and histomorphometry techniques for binary imaging and stereology analysis.

Alexandra Jaeger: Alex is currently a rising Junior at Washington University in St. Louis studying Biomedical Engineering on the Pre-Medicine track. She is from Westchester, NY and assists with lab tasks. Outside of the Brogan lab, Alex enjoys playing soccer and running in Forest Park. 

Jordyn Krinsky: Jordyn is currently a rising senior at Washington University in St. Louis studying Neuroscience on the Pre-Medical track. She is from Long Island, NY and is working on a project assessing how various degrees of nerve injury influence muscle contractility and calpain expression. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing with her dogs, and running.

Gabi Marushack: Gabi is from Wilmington, North Carolina and completed a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering at Duke University. She is now a second year medical student here at WashU, and joined our lab in January 2023. She was inspired by her engineering background to study the mechanical and electrical processes that influence the nervous system and movement. In addition to Dr. Brogan’s lab, she is involved with the medical student chapter of the Association of Woman Surgeons and volunteers with the Saturday Scholars program. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing with her dog Ellie, and running. 

Ron Perez: Ron started working with Washington University in 1997 and never considered any other employment after that. He has been with a few laboratories within the university and learned different skill sets. He feels that every single day is an opportunity in learning new experiences.

Marie Spezia: Mia is currently a rising M3 at the University of Missouri Columbia School of Medicine. She is from St. Louis, MO, and attended the University of Chicago for her undergraduate degree where she studied Literature. She completed a Masters’ of Medical Sciences at Brown University and spent 2 years working in research as a postbacc at the NIH where she discovered her love of both clinical and bench research.

Senior Research Coordinator: Liz Wilson

Research Coordinator: Michelle Moore

Peripheral Nerve Research Fellow: Stephen DeMartini – Stephen is from Gillespie, Illinois and attended Millikin University for his bachelor’s degree in biology. He is currently an MD candidate at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria and joined our lab in June of 2023 as a research fellow. Following a biceps injury in 2021, he was inspired to pursue peripheral nerve research; he is likewise interested in patient care outcomes research and investigating the impacts of healthcare disparities on orthopaedic surgery. Stephen is an avid powerlifter and enjoys the outdoors, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

TL1-funded Research Scholar: Amanda Faust – Amanda is a St. Louis native who attended Baylor University for her undergraduate studies and is currently an MD candidate at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. She joined our lab in May of 2023 as a 1-year TL1 Predoctoral Scholar. During her time at WashU she has contributed to both qualitative and quantitative work while completing a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation through the Clinical Research Training Center. She is inspired by the nervous system and plans to continue investigating it as her career progresses. After completion of the TL1 program, she will return to the University of Missouri to complete her last two years of medical school. Amanda is an avid foodie and is fulfilled by maintaining strong relationships with her friends and family that live near and far.