Meet the Explore Transplant Education Team

Amy D. Waterman, PhD, is a Health Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Transplant Center in St. Louis, Mo. She conducts research about kidney patients’ transplant decision-making and designs health education to help patients make informed transplant choices. She has surveyed more than 1,000 kidney donors and recipients in her career and has published many research articles about deceased and living donation. Based on her research findings and the Transtheoretical Model of Behavioral Change, she created the Explore Transplant patient education program. She educates both patients and providers about the medical option of transplant. She currently serves as Vice Chair for the National OPTN/UNOS Living Donor Committee and on the board of the American Society of Transplantation Organ Donation Advisory Council.  If you would like to learn more about Dr. Waterman click here.

Christina Goalby, MSW, is the Education Manager for Dr. Waterman's research Lab at Washington University School of Medicine and is co-creator of the Explore Transplant Dialysis Provider Training.  She is a Nephrology Social Worker with over 12 years experience and was previously the Divisional Lead Social Worker for DaVita's Discovery Division serving the Midwest.  Christina is the recipient of the Council of Nephrology Social Work Award from Region 3 by her peers and is the Co-Chair of the CNSW of Eastern MO and Metro East Chapter.

Shelley S. Hyland, MA, has worked with Dr. Waterman as the Data Analyst/Research Manager since 2008. She has worked as a data analyst for the past eight years in the fields of transplant, health policy, criminal justice and psychology. Prior to working at Washington University, Shelley was a crime analyst for the Schenectady Police Department in New York and a Graduate Research Assistant at SUNY Albany. She holds a MA in Forensic Psychology and a MA in Criminal Justice.

 Emily A. Schenk, BA, has worked as a research assistant for Dr. Waterman for the past seven years. She has coordinated a statewide educational program, served as a kidney health educator, recruited study participants and conducted survey interviews and educational interventions.  Emily was a living kidney donor in 2000.  Prior to working at Washington University, Emily was the Assistant Director, Human Resources, for Alexian Brothers Hospital.

Melanie S. McCabe, PhD, joined the lab in 2010 as a Data Analyst.  Prior to working at Washington University, she spent six years as a social psychology researcher at Oxford University in the UK.