Karla is a dedicated clinical research nurse with a passion for serving the lupus community. Since 2002, she has been an integral part of Emory University Division of Rheumatology, specializing in conducting, coordinating, and managing lupus clinical trials alongside Dr. Lim. Karla finds fulfillment in connecting with her lupus patients, delving into their life stories, and understanding the diverse ways lupus impacts their lives. Despite her busy schedule, she enjoys cooking, browsing antique stores, birdwatching, and playing in her local cornhole league.
Katrina joined the Emory Division of Rheumatology as a Clinical Data Abstractor in 2024.
She has over 15 years of experience in surveillance studies.
She reviews and abstracts clinical data from medical records to satisfy the requirements of target registries.
Katrina is very passionate about making a positive difference in the health and well-being of individuals and families.
Hilton joined the Emory School of Medicine Division of Rheumatology in December 2019 as a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC). He is one of the lead CRCs for the GOAL study. He has a strong interest in preventive care, men’s health, and health equity for marginalized communities.
Meaza is a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) for GOAL. Meaza Joined Emory School of Medicine Division of Rheumatology in February 2015. Meaza is a highly motivated public health professional with over ten years of research experience and community health experience in program planning/development.
Yasin Parker joined Emory University’s Division of Rheumatology in August 2023 as the Senior Program Coordinator for the Georgia Lupus Registry. Leveraging her expertise in community health, she leads outreach efforts and cultivates partnerships with physicians and healthcare facilities to establish a comprehensive, population-based lupus registry in Georgia. Driven by a commitment to addressing health disparities and advancing health equity, she strives to make a meaningful impact on the health and wellness of individuals and communities alike. Originally from Hampton, VA, Yasin has called metro Atlanta home for the past 15 years. In her free time, she finds joy in pushing her limits at the gym and cheering on her children at their sporting events.
Gaobin is a senior biostatistician who conducts statistical data analysis and database management, primarily for the Georgia Lupus Registry and GOAL Cohort Study, as well as other research projects and collaboration with other research teams. He has been with the Division of Rheumatology since February 2010.
Charmayne is a Director of Research Projects in the Division of Rheumatology at Emory University School of Medicine. Her academic experiences are grounded in both psychology and public health.
Charmayne has over 25 years of research experience, including establishing and maintaining study-patient rapport and collaborations with agencies, organizations, and community partners. She has worked with Dr. Sam Lim since 2008, developing and managing the operational, recruitment, and data collection activities and teams associated with the Georgians Organized Against Lupus (GOAL) cohort. Her primary research interests include studies of the psychosocial impact on health-related outcomes. She especially enjoys opportunities to use research findings to develop and implement support approaches and programs for people with lupus.
Charmayne is an avid learner who embraces opportunities to engage and connect with people. She is a US Virgin Islander and enjoys the outdoors, especially swimming, running, and gardening.
Dr. Drenkard joined the Emory Division of Rheumatology as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health in 2007. Before her retirement in 2022, she was the Co-Principal Investigator for GLR and GOAL. As an Emeritus faculty, she currently serves as a consultant. Dr. Drenkard’s special interests are in epidemiologic research projects that seek to understand the health-related inequities in lupus, particularly among ethnic minorities. Her special areas of expertise are related to cutaneous lupus and lupus self-management.
GOAL is led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Sam Lim, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Chief of Rheumatology at Grady Memorial Hospital. He is also an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology with Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health. Dr. Lim’s main area of interest is lupus with an emphasis on quality of life, medical access issues, and other outcomes research for lupus patients. He also participates in clinical trials for new lupus treatment medications. He is on the Medical Board for the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) and he works with the LFA at the national level.