Meet the Team
The people advancing genomic newborn screening in Florida.
Meet the researchers, genetic counselors, clinicians, and public health experts working together through the Sunshine Genetics Program to explore how genomic newborn screening can support earlier identification of rare genetic conditions and better outcomes for Florida families.
Research Leadership
David Ledbetter, PhD, FACMG
Chair of the Steering Committee David H. Ledbetter, PhD, FACMG, is Professor and Senior Associate Director at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases, Florida State University College of Medicine. An experienced clinical genetics laboratory director, he previously led the Geisinger MyCode population genomics program, which enrolled 350,000 participants and returned positive ACMG secondary findings to more than 5,000 participants and family members.
Pankaj Agrawal, MD, MMSC
Co-chair of the Steering Committee Co-chair of the Gene Condition Working Group Pankaj B. Agrawal, MD, MMSC, is Physician-in-Chief of Pediatrics at UFHealth and Holtz Children’s Hospital and Chief of Neonatology at the University of Miami and Jackson Health System. A Professor of Pediatrics and Genetics, his research focuses on neonatal genomics and rare diseases, particularly congenital myopathies; he was a co-investigator on the NIH-funded BabySeq project.
Saanchi Shah, PhD, LCGC, MS, MPH
Project Lead Saanchi Shah, PhD, LCGC, MS, MPH, is an Assistant Professor at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases within Florida State University’s College of Medicine and Project Lead for Sunshine Genetics, Florida’s pilot genomic newborn screening program. In this role, she leads program operations and governance across the consortium, including IRB and consent development, gene-condition list selection, educational initiatives, and collaborations with clinical, academic, and industry partners. Dr. Shah also practices as a licensed genetic counselor at the FSU Precision Pediatrics Clinic and conducts research in pediatric genomics, epigenetic aging, and public health disparities. She earned her PhD in Community Health Sciences, MS in Genetic Counseling, and MPH in Epidemiology from UCLA.
The Team Behind Sunshine Genetics
Pradeep Bhide, Ph.D.
Director of Florida State University Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases Co-chair of the Data-Informatics Working Group Dr. Pradeep G. Bhide is Director of the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases and Rodgers Chair Eminent Scholar Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Florida State University College of Medicine. His research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders. He also directs the Center for Brain Repair at Florida State University and previously led the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Tara Randis, MD, MS
Co-chair of the Patient Education, Recruitment, and Consent Working Group Dr. Tara M. Randis serves as the Pamela and Leslie Muma Endowed Chair and Chief of the Division of Neonatology at the University of South Florida. She is also Vice Chair for Pediatric Research and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, with joint appointments in Molecular Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the USF Morsani College of Medicine. Her research focuses on host–pathogen interactions in perinatal infections, particularly Group B Streptococcus (GBS), with a commitment to improving neonatal care through research and education.
Hadley Smith, PhD, MPSA
Co-chair of the Ethical Legal and Social Implications & Health Economics Dr. Hadley Stevens Smith is a health economist and genomics researcher specializing in the ethical, legal, and social implications and economic outcomes of genomic medicine. Her research focuses on newborn and pediatric populations, including patient preferences, health care utilization, cost-effectiveness, and family impacts of genetic conditions and genomic sequencing. She is a Project Director of the PreEMPT model and Co-Investigator on the NIH-funded BabySeq Project.
Timothy Garrett, Ph.D.
Co-chair of the Data-Informatics Working Group Dr. Timothy Garrett is Associate Professor and Chief of Experimental Pathology at the University of Florida. His research focuses on metabolomics, lipidomics, and small-molecule quantitation for clinical and translational research using mass spectrometry. His lab has also developed bioinformatics methods including iterative exclusion MS2 and LipidMatch.
Gary Kleiner, MD, PhD
Co-chair of the Clinical Follow-up Working Group Dr. Gary Kleiner is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Miami. He directs the Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center, FARE Food Allergy Center of Excellence, and NIH Primary Immune Deficiency Transplant Consortium. He also serves as an immunology expert on Florida’s Newborn Screening Advisory Council.
Jeffrey Brosco, MD, PhD
Co-chair of the Ethical Legal and Social Implications & Health Economics Working Group Dr. Jeffrey Brosco is a physician-scientist and board-certified pediatrician and developmental-behavioral pediatrician at the University of Miami. His research focuses on children with special health care needs, family-centered care, and public policy related to newborn screening. He has more than 100 publications and has held state and federal leadership roles in children’s health services.
Mustafa Tekin, MD
Co-chair of the Gene Condition Working Group Dr. Mustafa Tekin is Chair of the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and is board-certified in Clinical Genetics, Medical Biochemical Genetics, and Laboratory Genetics and Genomics. He directs the University of Miami Biochemical and Molecular Genetics Diagnostic Laboratory and the Miami site of the NIH-funded Undiagnosed Diseases Network. His research focuses on rare genetic disorders, with an emphasis on hereditary hearing loss.
Amarilis Sanchez-Valle, MD
Co-chair of the Clinical Follow-up Working Group Dr. Amarilis Sanchez-Valle is Professor and Chief of the Division of Genetics and Metabolism at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. A board-certified pediatrician and medical geneticist, she specializes in diagnosing and treating rare genetic conditions and inborn errors of metabolism. She also directs clinical trials focused on genetic therapeutics and pediatric care.
Dorothea Lantz
Chair of the Community Advisory Board Co-chair of the Patient Education, Recruitment, and Consent Working Group Dorothea Lantz is Director of Community Engagement for PWSA | USA and Chair of its Advocacy Committee. She has expanded the organization’s advocacy network and launched a nationwide grassroots program to empower families affected by rare conditions. She works to build partnerships, raise awareness, and advocate for families living with rare diseases.
Prasanthi Reddy, MD, FAAP
Chief Medical Officer, Pediatrica Health Group Prasanthi Reddy, MD, FAAP is a board certified pediatrician with 25 years experience in private practice. She is currently the Chief Medical Officer of Pediatrica Health Group. Her areas of pediatric interest include behavioral health, parental guidance, mental health advocacy and early childhood development.
Melissa Jordan, MPH, MS
Interim Deputy Secretary for Health, Florida Department of Health Melissa Jordan, MPH, MS, has served with the Florida Department of Health since 2003 and provides strategic leadership across the Department’s major public health programs and policy areas. She has held numerous leadership and epidemiology roles, including Director of Community Health Promotion and Director of Public Health Research, and currently provides guidance to approximately 1,500 public health professionals. Appointed Chair of the Florida Rare Disease Advisory Council in 2021, Melissa brings extensive expertise in public health policy, epidemiology, and rare disease to Sunshine Genetics.
Susanne R. Crowe DrPH, MHA, HCLD(ABB)
Assistant Bureau Chief, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories; Director, Jacksonville Public Health Laboratory. Susanne R. Crowe, DrPH, MHA, HCLD(ABB), is Assistant Bureau Chief of the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Public Health Laboratories and Director of the Jacksonville Public Health Laboratory. With more than 35 years of public health laboratory experience, she oversees laboratory operations spanning newborn screening, infectious disease, environmental health, and other specialized testing programs, and has led statewide laboratory information and data infrastructure initiatives. As Principal Investigator on a CDC-funded initiative to advance newborn disease detection through innovative technologies and enhanced data infrastructure, and recipient of the 2024 Association of Public Health Laboratories Gold Standard Award, Dr. Crowe brings extensive expertise in laboratory systems, newborn screening, and public health to Sunshine Genetics.
Emily Reeves, BSN, RN, CPN
Director, Florida Newborn Screening Follow-up Program Emily Reeves, BSN, RN, CPN is a nurse with over 20 years of experience in maternal and child health. As Director of the Florida Newborn Screening Follow-up Program, she leads statewide efforts to ensure early identification and coordinated care for infants with rare and serious conditions. Recognized for her leadership and clinical expertise, Emily collaborates with healthcare partners across Florida to enhance quality, efficiency, and continuity within the newborn screening system.
Dusty Stern, BSN, RN
Bureau Chief, Bureau of Early Steps and Newborn Screening Dusty Stern, BSN, RN oversees Florida’s Early Steps and Newborn Screening programs, guiding statewide efforts to strengthen early intervention for infants and young children. With a commitment to public service and quality improvement, Dusty is dedicated to building strong partnerships and improving outcomes for children and families.
Sharon Liebrich, MSN, RN, CCRC
Clinical Research Program Director for Sunshine Genetics Sharon Liebrich, MSN, RN, CCRC is the Clinical Research Program Director for Sunshine Genetics at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD) at Florida State University. As a clinical research nurse with more than 15 years of experience in clinical research, nursing, and academic medical program administration, she brings extensive expertise in nursing leadership, research implementation, and program development. Her background includes providing strategic leadership for clinical research initiatives and supporting the development and coordination of research programs.