Faculty Advisors
The Emergence Program is supported by an exceptional team of faculty advisors, each bringing a unique breadth of expertise. From pioneering research in nutrition and emergency medicine to advancing sports equity and bioengineering, our advisors are dedicated to fostering innovation and excellence in health and wellness.
David Maron, Faculty Director, Stanford Prevention Research Center
Dr. Maron is a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and has a strong background in medicine, having trained and worked at various prestigious institutions. He focuses on preventive cardiology and leads research related to coronary artery disease. Dr. Maron was involved in significant clinical trials, including COURAGE and ISCHEMIA, which shaped the treatment of stable coronary disease. His current research aims to detect early signs of coronary disease using innovative methods, such as artificial intelligence and noninvasive imaging. He is also the president-elect of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology.
Christopher Gardner, Professor, Stanford Prevention Research Center
Dr. Gardner aims to establish a Stanford Food Systems Initiative to tackle obesity and diabetes through sustainable food systems. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Gardner has focused his research on the health benefits of dietary components through randomized controlled trials, including vegetarian diets, omega-3s, and popular weight-loss strategies. Notably, he led the NIH-funded DIETFITS study, which examined the effects of Healthy Low-Fat versus Low-Carb diets on overweight adults. Recently, his team has expanded into three areas: Stealth Nutrition, which explores non-health-related dietary impacts like climate change; improving institutional food to promote healthier choices through culinary collaboration; and investigating the diet-microbiome relationship, highlighted in the Fe-Fi-Fo study showing benefits from fermented foods. Currently, they are examining maternal microbiome transfer in the MOMS study.
Stephen Luby, Director, Stanford Human and Planetary Health Center
Dr. Luby is a physician, epidemiologist, and researcher with extensive experience in low-income countries, having spent five years in Karachi, Pakistan, and eight years in Dhaka, Bangladesh. For over 30 years, Dr. Luby has focused on a wide range of health issues in these regions. Currently, he is the faculty co-director of the Stanford Existential Risk Initiative, Associate Dean for Global Health Research, and faculty director of Stanford's Human and Planetary Health Initiative. He holds the position of Professor of Medicine in the Infectious Diseases Division and is a Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Dr. Luby’s research engages local collaborators to address pandemic risks and reduce the impact of COVID-19 in lower-income countries.
Chuck Easley, Faculty Director, International Entrepreneurship Stanford University
Dr. Eesley is an Associate Professor and W.M. Keck Foundation Faculty Scholar in the Management Science and Engineering Department at Stanford University. As Faculty Director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, his research examines how institutional and university environments influence high-growth, engineering-driven entrepreneurship. He investigates the impact of educational and policy frameworks on university engineering students and alumni across regions including China, Japan, South Korea, and Silicon Valley. His work has received accolades from organizations like the Schulze Foundation and the Kauffman Foundation. Dr. Eesley is affiliated with multiple Stanford centers and serves on the Editorial Board of the Strategic Management Journal. He is also dedicated to mentoring immigrants and underrepresented groups in STEM through various initiatives. He earned his Ph.D. at the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management and holds a B.S. in neuroscience from Duke University.
Yetsa Tuakli, Director, Sports Equity Lab, Stanford Prevention Research Center
Dr. Tuakli is a lifelong athlete and the founder of the Sports Equity Lab (SELY) at Stanford University, driven by a deep passion for sports and a commitment to addressing inequities within the realm. Growing up, her curiosity and adventurous spirit ignited a love for exploration that manifested through various sports and scientific pursuits. Despite competing internationally for Ghana, she faced disillusionment due to abuse and inequities in sports, particularly for athletes with disabilities. As a clinician, she felt a profound responsibility to combat these injustices. SELY aims to analyze the systemic issues within sports, placing the athlete's perspective at the forefront. With experience collaborating with global sports organizations, her work seeks to illuminate often-overlooked issues and foster sustainable change, preserving the joy and integrity of the sport.
Kaustubh Supekar, Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Child Development
Christine Santiago, Assistant Professor, Stanford Division of Hospital Medicine
Dr. Santiago is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Stanford Division of Hospital Medicine, passionately dedicated to enhancing healthcare access and equity. She earned her M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School and completed an M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. Throughout her career, Dr. Santiago has engaged in impactful leadership roles, co-founding the Stanford Health Equity, Advocacy and Research Program (Stanford HEARs) to address healthcare disparities. As Chief Resident, she supported educational activities and mentored her peers. Committed to diversity and inclusion, Dr. Santiago is active in professional associations like the American College of Physicians and the California Medical Association. Her contributions extend to curriculum development and research, striving to foster a more equitable healthcare system for all patients.
John Openshaw, Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine
I am an infectious disease physician, medical epidemiologist, and public and global health researcher. Before going into medicine, I trained in ecology and political science. I have extensive experience implementing health related data collection and interventions across high and low resource settings, from dense urban informal settlements to remote rural areas. I have worked across academia, government, and health-related start-ups. My main academic interest is in the interplay between the environment, health, and pathogens. My work is focused on developing new and creative ways to detect, measure, and mitigate infectious disease threats.