Geri Spotlight: Brookelle Li and Edie Espejo

Interviewed by Edie Espejo over Zoom.

About Brookelle’s Role/Ongoing Projects
Brookelle is an integral member of the PREPARE team, where she is leading efforts to revamp the educational program website to enhance user experience. In addition to improving accessibility and functionality, she evaluates care planning materials from other platforms, including workshop resources for educators and caregivers.

Her work supports the broader mission of providing an accessible, online tool that empowers older adults, their caregivers, and healthcare providers to engage in thoughtful advance care planning. Brookelle has found great fulfillment in collaborating with passionate individuals who are dedicated to making a meaningful impact.

What is a professional goal you would like to accomplish by the end of this year?
Ale's professional goal for this year is to graduate from acupuncture school.

More about Brookelle
What’s one “fun fact” about you that not many people know? (e.g., hidden talent)
Brookelle has a black belt in taekwondo!!!

What are you happiest doing in your free time?
In her free time, Brookelle enjoys spending time with her partner, cooking for friends and family, & yoga/workouts. She has also grown a fondness for sunbathing!

What is the best advice you've ever heard?
Follow the path of love as it will not lead you astray.

Who is someone you admire, and why?
Her grandmother. Though Brookelle's grandmother shouldered heavy burdens in life, her strength was full of grace.

What are some causes you care about?
Bringing eastern traditions to modern medicine as well as mindfulness.

What would your back-up career be?
No back-up career necessary.

 

Interviewed by Brookelle Li over Zoom.

About Edie’s Role/Ongoing Projects
Edie plays a key role in multiple studies, collaborating with principal investigators and teams across divisions. One of her projects focuses on the long-term recovery of patients who experienced severe, prolonged COVID-19 illness, aiming to improve understanding of their health trajectories.

In another study, she applies machine learning techniques to analyze "Note Text" within electronic health records (EHR) to predict patient race. By identifying language patterns in clinical notes, her work seeks to uncover and address racial biases in medical record-keeping, ultimately improving long-term health outcome predictions. Both studies align with the Division’s mission by refining predictive models to better assess patient function and mortality outcomes.

Edie especially values the opportunity to collaborate with doctors from diverse backgrounds and specialties, which has broadened her expertise and allowed her to develop new skills.

What is a professional goal you would like to accomplish by the end of this year?
Edie's goal is to expand her current data science toolkit to include more machine learning algorithm and methods. 

More about Edie
What’s one “fun fact” about you that not many people know? (e.g., hidden talent)
Edie is a black belt and teaches a martial arts style that blends traditional Japanese and Chinese techniques.

What are you happiest doing in your free time?
Edie enjoys fitness and stays active through weightlifting, swimming, basketball, pickleball, and other sports.

What is the best advice you've ever heard?
"Work hard, play hard." 

Who is someone you admire, and why?
Edie admires her mother for many reasons, especially her dedication as a nurse in a skilled nursing facility. She often works unpaid overtime to ensure her patients receive the care they need, always putting their well-being above her own.

What are some causes you care about?
Edie is passionate about promoting fairness for all, with a particular focus on supporting marginalized communities. She actively advocates for Filipino Americans through educational and health organizations.

What would your back-up career be?
Since Edie enjoys fitness and teaching movement to others of all ages and physical levels, her back-up career would be to become a personal trainer.