Department of Surgery and J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center
Faculty
Amy Waterman, PhD, FAST
Dr. Amy Waterman is a national leader in transplant health services research and the Director of Patient Engagement and Education, representing both J.C. Walter Transplant Center at Houston Methodist Hospital and the Houston Methodist Research Institute, where she also holds the Deborah C. and Clifton B. Phillips Centennial Chair in Clinical Research in Transplant Medicine. Her work centers on improving access to transplant, supporting informed patient decisions, and implementing evidence-based tools into real-world settings. She has developed a range of educational interventions, including mobile applications, digital storytelling, and social media–based strategies. Dr. Waterman has secured nearly $30 million in federal grant funding and has authored over 125 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Her contributions have been recognized by national organizations, including the American Society of Transplantation, where she was honored as a Clinician of Distinction. She previously served on the faculties at UCLA and Washington University in St. Louis and was a keynote speaker at the White House Organ Donation Summit.
Staff
Catherine Pulicken, PhD – Senior Program Manager
Dr. Catherine Pulicken is the Senior Program Manager of the Patient Engagement Research Lab at Houston Methodist. She leads the coordination of large-scale clinical trials and educational interventions in transplant care. Catherine recently earned her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), adding to her Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Houston. Her work focuses on chronic disease prevention, health education, and program development. She oversees multi-site research initiatives and operational strategy, ensuring successful implementation of federally funded projects that advance patient care and decision-making in transplant settings.
Imory Jefferson James, MPH – Senior Research Coordinator
Imory Jefferson James has extensive experience coordinating research in diverse clinical domains, including neurology, oncology, infectious disease, and pediatrics. A graduate of Wake Forest University and UTHealth School of Public Health, Imory is passionate about translating research into practical tools that enhance patient understanding and decision-making. In her role, she manages studies that assess the impact of transplant education tools and helps lead the lab’s efforts in digital content creation, data analysis, and project coordination. Her research interests include clinical trial operations, health communication, and improving access to treatment resources through technology.
Mayra Almendarez, MBA – Project and Community Engagement Manager
Mayra Almendarez serves as the Project and Community Engagement Manager in the Patient Engagement Research Lab at Houston Methodist. With over 17 years of experience in patient education and transplant program coordination, she oversees outreach activities, recruitment, community partnerships, clinical trial engagement efforts, and the development of transplant education. She also leads the lab’s Digital Storytelling project, which captures real-life patient experience stories to enhance education and promote more informed decision-making. Mayra holds a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration and an MBA with a focus in Healthcare Management and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health with an emphasis on Health Promotion & Health Education.
Laxmi Keerthi Ravula, MPH – Clinical Research Specialist
Laxmi Keerthi Ravula holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in epidemiology and behavioral health. As a Clinical Research Specialist in the Patient Engagement Research Lab at Houston Methodist, she contributes to the development and execution of studies focused on transplant education, patient behavior, and healthcare access. With her strong background in public health, she supports the design of digital health tools and educational strategies to improve clinical outcomes. Laxmi is also engaged in data analysis, manuscript preparation, and implementation research across multiple transplant-related initiatives.
Solaf Al Awadhi, MBBS, MSc – Research Scientist
Dr. Solaf Al Awadhi is a Research Scientist with a medical degree and a Master’s in Comparative Effectiveness Research from NYU. Her work focuses on kidney disease, transplant access, and evaluating interventions to improve clinical outcomes. At the lab, she supports the development and analysis of risk prediction models and health tools designed to inform patients and providers. Solaf also contributes significantly to writing scientific publications and grant proposals. She is committed to bridging clinical knowledge with real-world application to improve transplant referrals, donor awareness, and treatment success.
Victor Uteshev, PhD – Scientific Writer
Dr. Victor Uteshev is a neuroscientist and pharmacologist with extensive experience in translational research, from preclinical discovery to clinical trials. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Toronto and the University of Florida, and previously held academic positions at LSU Health Sciences Center and the University of North Texas. In the Waterman Lab, Dr. Uteshev provides scientific writing expertise and supports research projects related to neurological health, patient communication, and education innovation. He is also a Section Editor for Current Pharmaceutical Design and contributes to grant development and data interpretation.
Ibrahim Diane, MA – Data Specialist
Ibrahim supports the Patient Engagement Research Lab at Houston Methodist with expertise in data analytics, program evaluation, and health services research. He holds a Master’s in Applied Economics from George Washington University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Economics and Health Services Research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Prior to joining the lab, he served as a Data Scientist and Program Analyst at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, where he conducted program evaluations and supported data-driven initiatives for agencies such as USAID and The White House. Ibrahim is passionate about using data to improve healthcare delivery for underserved communities and advancing systems-level change through evidence-based research and policy integration.