Meet the team

Investigators

Francesca Nicosia, PhD, C-IAYT, E-RYT
Principal Investigator

Dr. Nicosia is a medical anthropologist, certified yoga therapist, and Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Institute for Health & Aging. Her research focuses on biopsychosocial care models and the implementation of mind-body movement interventions for older adults and veterans.

Email: francesca.nicosia@ucsf.edu

Linda L. Chao, PhD
Co-Investigator

Dr. Chao is an Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSF. Dr. Chao has extensive expertise performing imaging studies in older adults including those with cognitive impairment. She is performing a neuroimaging sub-study in current study participants to examine the effects of the program on brain structure and function.

Email: linda.chao@ucsf.edu

Deborah E. Barnes, PhD, MPH
Co-developer

Dr. Barnes is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF);  and Senior Investigator for Tides at UCSF. Dr. Barnes’ research focuses on identifying risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults; developing risk prediction models to identify those with higher risk; and testing strategies to reduce risk, delay onset and slow progression of symptoms. Dr. Barnes and colleagues have been systematically developing and testing the PLIÉ Program since 2010, including two ongoing studies.

Email: Deborah.barnes@ucsf.edu

Margaret A. Chesney, PhD
Co-Developer

Margaret Chesney, is a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, at UCSF, as a former director of the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health. The first week as the center’s director, she received a call from a gentleman who was interested in supporting research to slow cognitive decline and dementia. This resonated with Dr. Chesney because her return to UCSF from having held positions in Washington, DC  and at the National Institutes of Health, was prompted by needing to care for her other who had been diagnosed with dementia. In response to this gentleman’s interest, a meeting was convened of leading scientists at UCSF, including those with expertise in cognitive decline. At this meeting, she and her colleague, Dr. Mehling, met Dr. Deborah Barnes. The three began working together on PLIÉ, which led to other projects including.

Email: margaret.chesney@ucsf.edu

Wolf E. Mehling, MD
Co-Developer

Dr. Wolf Mehling is a professor of Family and Community Medicine and is affiliated with the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at UCSF. He continues to provide guidance on min-body therapies and integrative exercise.

Email: Wolf.Mehling@ucsf.edu

Matthew Miller, PT, DPT, NCS, PhD
ResearcherCo

Dr. Matthew Miller is an Assistant Professor in the UCSF Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. Dr. Miller’s research is focused on identifying behavioral factors within rehabilitation practice to improve quality of life for people with disabilities. He was introduced to PLIÉ program through his work with Dr. Barnes has been a member of the PLIÉ research team since early 2020.

Email: matthew.miller4@ucsf.edu

PLIE Instructors

Allison Porter Klinger, GCFP
Lead PLIÉ Instructor

Allison Porter Klinger has been practicing The Feldenkrais Method in Sonoma County since 2000. She has recently served as the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) North Bay Outreach Chair (volunteer), and administrative director for The Embodied Life School and Mentorship Program™. Additionally, she volunteered her Feldenkrais® skills with Elders at the College of Marin. Prior to becoming a Feldenkrais Practitioner, Allison was a dancer/dance teacher, Instructor at Outward Bound, and massage therapist. All of these experiences have contributed to her Integrative Movement Education.

Jennifer Lee, GCFP, Senior PLIÉ Instructor

Ms. Lee is certified in the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education both in the US and Europe. She has a private somatic practice, teaching movement to adults, infants, seniors and those with complex cognitive, orthopedic and/or neurological issues individually and in groups for 17 years. She is also trained in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Process Work and Patient Navigation. She helped develop and pilot-test the PLIÉ exercise program.

LeeAnn Starovasnik, GCFP
Moving Together Community Manager & Instructor

LeeAnn is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner enjoying over 20 years in practice and volunteer teaching with seniors at the LifeTime Learning Center. She’s nationally known for customizing seated Awareness Through Movement® classes. Her focus on continuous improvement began with improving computer and business processes for GE. She’s also applied her expertise in changing habits to helping people quit smoking. She loves building hope and empowering her students through the “more brain, more gain” philosophy embedded in the Feldenkrais Method®.

Chris Stribling, GCFP
Moving Together Instructor

Chris is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. He completed his Feldenkrais training in Berkeley, CA in 1997. With more than 28 years of experience in the study of movement and the healing arts, he has maintained a private practice as a hands-on practitioner and movement coach in Sonoma County. In 2018, Chris volunteered as an assistant instructor for the PLIÉ research study in Novato.

Program Management

Molly Delzio, BS
Clinical Research Coordinator

Molly Delzio is a recent graduate with her BS in psychological & Brain Sciences starting out her research career with the PLIÉ team. Her interest in PLIÉ stems from the program’s ability to improve quality of life through movement, music, social connection, & gratitude. She hopes to facilitate well-being in PLIÉ participants by assisting with program coordination. 

Riya Jacob, BS, PMP
Project Manager

Riya is the Project Manager for the PLIÉ program. With a background in exercise physiology , public health, and 10 years of experience in healthcare, Riya has focused on improving outcomes of vulnerable populations from geriatric veterans, low-income families, and communities facing disparities. Riya has dedicated her professional efforts to advocating for underserved populations which has led her to PLIÉ and expanding the program nationwide. 

Gary Tarasovsky
Data Manager

Mr. Tarasovsky works with several research groups at UCSF and NCIRE. He has extensive experience performing data management, database design, and application development for several large scale studies and has worked with Dr. Barnes on several of her prior studies