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CERA is led by a multi-disciplinary team with advanced expertise in genomics, bioethics, legal analysis, social science research, and related fields. The CERA leadership identifies priority areas in ELSI, ensures the integrity of our collection of ELSI resources and analysis, and guides the community building and engagement activities of the Center.

Leadership & Staff

CERA is managed by a team of staff in the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics (SCBE) at Stanford University and the Division of Ethics in the Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics at Columbia University.

  • Mildred Cho, Ph.D. Co-Principal Investigator of CERA

    Mildred Cho, Ph.D.

    Mildred Cho, Ph.D. is Co-Principal Investigator of CERA and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics Division of Medical Genetics and in the Department of Medicine at Stanford University. Dr. Cho's major areas of interest are the ethical and social impacts of genetic research and data science and their applications, including to precision medicine, gene therapy, the human microbiome, and synthetic biology.

  • Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, Ph.D.  ELSIhub Staff

    Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, Ph.D.

    Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, Ph.D. is Co-Principal Investigator of CERA and Chief of the Division of Ethics at Columbia University. As a medical anthropologist, she leads multidisciplinary studies of the sociocultural dimensions and ethical issues in genomics, precision medicine, artificial intelligence and team science, with a focus on race, diversity and equity.

  • Deanne Dunbar Dolan, Ph.D. ELSIhub Staff

    Deanne Dunbar Dolan, Ph.D.

    Deanne Dunbar Dolan, Ph.D. is a Research Scholar at Stanford University. She completed master’s degrees in history of medicine and anthropology and a doctorate in anthropology at Emory University. Before joining CERA, Deanne was as a staff editor at an open access science journal and an administrator of university departments and programs focused on health and society.

  • Emily Van Poetsch, B.S. ELSIhub Staff

    Emily Van Poetsch, B.S.

    Emily Van Poetsch, B.S. is the ELSI Research Program Manager of CERA at Stanford University. With a degree in Biology and experience as a phlebotomist, her interest in public health and equality took off.  She began working in high education in 2015 and has since been managing interdisciplinary programs including the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at Stanford University, and now, the Center for ELSI Resources and Analysis.

  • Rachel Yarmolinsky, M.S. ELSIhub Staff

    Rachel Yarmolinsky, M.S.

    Rachel Yarmolinsky, M.S. Outreach Program Manager, CERA and Program Director, Division of Ethics at Columbia University, has extensive experience in communications and event management. She completed an MS in Bioethics at Columbia in 2014, is a member of the Columbia/NYP Clinical Ethics Committee, and a steering committee member of the Columbia CEER.

  • Rachel Lee Headshot

    Rachel Lee, B.S.

    Rachel Lee, B.S. is a Social Science Research Professional at Stanford University. Before joining CERA, Rachel worked on curriculum development and qualitative research about patient experiences and diversity, equity, and inclusion in health care. Her interests include the ethical and social implications of prenatal screening, reproductive technologies, and direct-to-consumer genetic testing.