Riley Summers, MPH
Project Manager
Riley graduated with her Honors Health Sciences degree and minor in Biology in May of 2023. She just recently completed her Master of Public Health at Ohio State with a specialization in Health Behavior and Health Promotion and a sub-specialization in Global Health. Riley received the 2024 School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Distinguished Research Staff Award for her dedication to the LIFT Lab.
In the LIFT Lab, Riley serves as the lead project manager for the QI Hub, which is a state-wide chronic health improvement initiative funded by the Ohio Department of Medicaid. She also contributes her expertise to a range of other projects centered on qualitative research. With extensive experience in project management, she also serves as a mentor to students and provides oversight to other LIFT Lab staff.
Jennifer Eramo, MSN, BS, RN, AHN-BC, CPHQ
Jenny’s background encompasses experiences in healthcare leadership, quality, staff development, data analytics, clinical care, and research. Her vitae includes human performance research at Penn State; Phase I and II clinical trials in Gynecology Oncology at Yale New Haven Hospital using surgical, chemotherapeutic, or radioactive interventions; intensive and coronary care at a regional Level I trauma center; clinical leadership and staff development at a national skilled home care agency with co-authorship of two new procedures involving intraperitoneal dialysis; quality reviews for a national healthcare data analytics company; quality and nursing leadership for veterans at the VA Central Ohio Healthcare System for which she received the VA Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing in an Expanded Role, and as a liaison for clinician-driven and patient-centered health services/ implementation science research at the Ohio State CATALYST Center. Jenny earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology/ Vertebrate Physiology and Nursing from Penn State, a Master of Science in Nursing/ Administration from Capital University, and she is pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice/ Nurse Executive degree at Ohio State. She is a certified professional in healthcare quality and board certified as an advanced holistic nurse.
In the LIFT Lab, Jenny serves as the leader for the QI Hub Implementation team as well as participating in other QI Hub and LIFT Lab activities.
Alexa Plotkin
Research Assistant
Alexa is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and minor in Chemistry. Through diverse experiences, including design projects, leadership roles, and research, she developed a strong passion for advancing healthcare engineering and bridging the gap between engineers and healthcare professionals. Ultimately, Alexa hopes to use her unique expertise as a physician, emphasizing the importance of holistic healthcare.
In the LIFT Lab, Alexa will serve as a research assistant supporting a range of projects. She will most heavily be involved in the Women’s Health study managing, collecting, and analyzing data.
Rylie Severson
Research Assistant
Rylie graduated from Franciscan University in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Experimental Psychology. Her academic, professional, and volunteer experiences have shaped her undergraduate path toward patient care, inspiring her to pursue a career as a physician serving rural and underserved populations. Her research interests center on the intersection of physical and mental well-being, with a particular focus on holistic, biopsychosocial approaches.
In the LIFT Lab, Rylie serves as a research technician on the CARESTREAM and SPIRIT Club projects. In CARESTREAM, she acts as a preceptor and student mentor, while her work in SPIRIT Club involves data collection and management.
John Dobrea
Lab Technician
John Dobrea is a Lab Technician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. He works to consolidate lab data, and specializes in making information more accessible, clear, and efficiently displayed.
Outside of the LIFT Lab, John can be meditating, playing video games, and walking in nature. He greatly enjoys music and art, often playing piano, writing poetry, and drawing.
