Christian Agudelo, MD

Dr. Christian Agudelo grew up in Miami, Florida. He received a bachelors degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University. He completed medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Funded by a NIMH R25 research fellowship, he studied the psychophysiology in Parkinson’s Disease in medical school. Funded by a NIMH T23 research fellowship, he investigated neuroimaging markers of late-life cognitive and mood disorders at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed residency training in neurology and a fellowship in sleep medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine / Jackson Memorial Hospital. Upon completion of clinical training, he continued as a clinical instructor and the Evelyn F. McKnight Neurocognitive Scholar at the University of Miami, as he developed a research focus investigating the relationship between sleep and cognitive decline. His research currently aims to (1) identify features of sleep physiology associated with cognitive decline, and to (2) identify sleep-related markers of preclinical cognitive decline. He emphasizes working with historically understudied Black and Latino populations both in South Florida and throughout the United States. As sleep can be manipulated pharmacologically, surgically, and behaviorally, he ultimately intends to clinically optimize sleep to mitigate cognitive aging and dementia.

As the Co-Director of Education for the McKnight Brain Institute, Dr. Agudelo develops programs to train residents in cognitive neurology and promote the careers of trainees interested in research. He also works with various community organizations to educate the public about sleep and cognitive health by giving talks throughout South Florida. Dr. Agudelo is a member of professional and scientific organizations dedicated to clinical practice, research, and service, including the American Academy of Neurology and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Susan Fox-Rosellini, MBA

Susan Fox-Rosellini M.B.A. is the Executive Director of Community Engagement and Administration for the McKnight Brain Institute. She has 35+ years of experience and a proven track record in developing new business and clients, new markets and new products and improving the revenues of for-profit and not-for-profit businesses. She currently has developed and expanded the McKnight Brain Institute community programs, while pursuing a Doctorate in Health Policy and Administration (UAB 2026). She has a B.B.A. from George Washington University and a M.B.A. from University of Miami. She joined the Department of Neurology in 2007 as Executive Director of Development successfully expanding the department’s endowment and giving portfolio. Prior to University of Miami Susan worked as a development leader with the Family Resource Center, the Coconut Grove Playhouse and the Miami City Ballet. She is a member of the Miami City Ballet Board of Trustees and involved in the arts community in Miami and L.A. She is also an expert on silent movies and many of the early film technologies. She wrote a book about the start of Hollywood.

 

 

Stacy S. Merritt, MA, CCRP

Stacy Merritt received her Master’s Degree in Gerontology from the University of South Florida. She has been involved in research and policy aimed at improving quality of life for the aging population and culturally competent care for the minority aged. She was a Program Coordinator for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) Elder Abuse Prevention Program and for the Central and North Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. At the University of Florida’s Department of Neurology, she was the Assistant Director of Clinical Trials overseeing research on neurological disorders including a post-mortem DBS brain bank. As the Research and Administration Director for the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, she works with research projects involving normal cognition and memory changes in aging as well as pathological changes.

Save

Save

Save