Joseph Chase, MPH
Senior Research Biostatistician, Center for Urban Population Health, Advocate Aurora Research Institute

Joe began his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) and graduated with a focus on biology and biostatistics in 2014. Afterward, he worked at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health as a data analyst for clinical trials within the Department of Family Medicine. Following his time at UW, Joe pursued a master’s degree at the Zilber College of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM) in biostatistics (2017). With several years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and within the federal government, Joe has worked on various data science and statistics projects. His past experience in Milwaukee led to an opportunity at the Advocate Aurora Research Institute, where he has been serving as a Senior Research Biostatistician since August 2023. Joe is an advocate for the R programming language and has been using it extensively for a wide range of analyses.

Curriculum Vitae

Jessica J.F. Kram, MPH
Research Associate Senior, Center for Urban Population Health, Aurora UW Medical Group

Jessica J. F. Kram, MPH, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Microbiology and Immunology (2012), as well as her Master of Public Health degree (2014), from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She joined Aurora in 2014 as a Senior Research Associate for the Aurora University of Wisconsin Medical Group and Center for Urban Population Health. During her time at Aurora, she has actively collaborated with medical and research professionals in the development, implementation, and dissemination of research. Additionally, she has facilitated numerous Aurora Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and has overseen research projects to ensure compliance with IRB regulations and policies. She became a Biomedical Member of the Aurora IRB in fall 2016. In spring 2017, she was promoted to Manager of Translational Research. She was also given an Honorary Associate Appointment with the University of Wisconsin-Madison that acknowledges her collaborative work within the Aurora University of Wisconsin Medical Group, Center for Urban Population Health, and Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Her research interests include infectious diseases, obstetrics and gynecology, population health, oncology, and quality improvement initiatives. 

Curriculum vitae 

Karen Pankowski
Senior Administrative Assistant for Center for Urban Population Health, Aurora UW Medical Group

Karen supports the Director of the Center for Urban Population Health and front line contact for the department, as well as assisting Dr. Dennis Baumgardner as part of the Editorial Staff for the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews and supporting Dr. Michael Farrell in his role of Associate Research Director, Aurora University of Wisconsin Medical Group. 

Karen is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience with Aurora Health Care. most recently from Aurora Pharmacy Systems, where Karen was copy editor for the Pharmacy Capsule and Aurora Pharmacy Tablet weekly listserv publications, along with management of the Pharmacy Services website.  Karen was also worked in Aurora Graduate Medical Education as the Institutional Coordinator/Sr. Administrative Assistant overseeing Graduate Medical Education regulatory requirements and assisting the Designated Institutional Official (DIO) with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) institutional site reviews.

Tamara Reed
Senior Administrative Assistant, Center for Urban Population Health, Aurora UW Medical Group

Tamara is internal and comes to us from Aurora St. Luke’s with a background in patient services, health unit coordination, and administrative services.
In her free time Tamara enjoys Zumba, cooking, and visiting new restaurants.  She also loves traveling to new places with beautiful beaches and weather. Additionally, Tamara has a big family and loves spending time with them; she always looks forward to the planning of her family reunion every year. She also has a new grandchild and loves to spoil him rotten. 

“I am very passionate about the work that I produce and love to maintain an environment that is warm and welcoming.  I will make sure you are treated with the same level of care as my own” Tamara

​Curriculum Vitae