Research Staff

Tia Beritashvili

Tia Beritashvili is concluding her Masters in Global and Community Health at George Mason University. She is a physician, a Diplomate of the State Medical University in Tbilisi, Georgia where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Her areas of medical expertise are Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Health. She recently served as a World Health Organization (WHO) Advisor focusing on Perinatal Care, Family Practice and Reproductive Health in Copenhagen, Denmark. Prior to that she served as a Trainer and Medical Consultant for the Trans Caucasus Health Information Project and was also a National Coordinator for the Obstetrical Quality Indicators and Data Collection and Analysis Project at the European office of the WHO based in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Mary C. Boardman

Mary Boardman is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Policy at George Mason University. She has a Masters of Public Policy from Pepperdine University, with International Relations and Economics Concentrations. Mary also holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in International Business from the University of Oklahoma. Her main research interests include international aid, institutions, development, and entrepreneurship. Her research focuses on the Middle East.

Nelya Ebadirad

Nelya Ebadirad was born and raised in Islamic Republic of Iran. She attended Ahvaz Jundishapur School of Medicine from 1998-2003. After immigration to the United States, she attended George Mason University; where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biology and graduated with honors as magna cum lade; she also received the Senior Award for 2008-2009 academic year. Nelya is a national member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, premedical honors society. She serves as a volunteer with Jennie Schmidt Free Clinic which provides health care for the underserved population in Reston and Herndon. Her main areas of interests are serving the underserved, public and global health.

Amit Patel

Amit Patel is a PhD student at School of Public Policy at George Mason University. He has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from CEPT University, India. Amit has a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from The M.S. University of Baroda, India. Amit has worked on urban health issues in India with Center for Management and Health Services at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. Amit has also persued Fellowship Programme in Management for a year at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad before joining School of Public Policy at George Mason University. Amit's research interests include urban development, urban poverty and slums improvement in developing countries. In the United States context, Amit is working on modeling and simulation of mental health systems and organ allocation systems.