Sebastian Tong, MD, MPH
Associate Professor
He/Him
MD, Boston University School of Medicine
MPH, Health Care Management and Policy, Harvard School of Public Health
BA, Sociology and Medical Science, Boston University
Dr. Tong is a practicing family physician, addiction medicine specialist and health services researcher. He serves as the Associate Director of the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) region Practice and Research Network, a practice-based research network of over 120 primary care practices. He is also a 2023-2025 National Academy of Medicine Puffer/ABFM Fellow. His research is informed by his clinical practice at the Harborview Family Medicine Clinic in Seattle, WA, and his areas of interest include behavioral health, loneliness, chronic pain and unhealthy substance use. Before moving to UW, he served as a senior staff fellow from 2020-2022 at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality where he co-led the behavioral health and substance use research portfolios.
Brennan keiser, MSW
Research Scientist 4
They/He
MSW, Washington University at St. Louis
BA, Biology and Spanish, Washington University at St. Louis
Brennan Keiser is a Research Scientist who works with Dr. Sebastian Tong and Dr. Kari Stephens to conduct practice-based research in primary care. With experience living and working in 8 different countries including a stint in the Peace Corps, their work is guided by a belief that we all have a human right to health. Brennan is passionate about improving practice through the application of research findings across a variety of areas: mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and chronic diseases. Before coming to the Department of Family Medicine, they managed a coordinating center that supported research-practice partnerships across the U.S. funded through the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, volunteered at a free clinic in Chicago that serves Latinx communities, and contributed to state-level advocacy efforts in Missouri to amend HIV-specific criminal statutes.
karina cortez, Bs
Research Coordinator
She/Her
BS, General Biology, University of California San Diego
Karina is a research coordinator supporting Dr. Sebastian Tong’s research group. Before joining the team, she worked in a research laboratory focused on chronic pain. Additionally, amid the front-line efforts against COVID-19, she served as a patient screener for a community clinic in Dallas, primarily catering to the large Spanish-speaking demographic. She is motivated by the opportunities of working with others who are committed to improving the well-being of our diverse population. Her research interests encompass communicable and non-communicable diseases, environmental health, vaccines and clinical trials, as well as maternal and child health.
claire B. Simon, MD
Physician Researcher
She/Her
MD, University of Washington
Claire Simon MD (she/her), is a primary care and addiction medicine physician. Dr. Simon was born in Seattle and completed undergraduate, medical school, residency and fellowship at University of Washington. Dr. Simon believes everyone deserves access to high-quality healthcare. She values long term relationships with her patients and their families. Her priority is to support patients so that they may make informed decisions to reach their personal health goals. Dr. Simon’s clinical interests include addiction medicine and reproductive health.
Ashley A Park, MPH
Research Scientist
She/They
MPH, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN
B.S., Public Health & Chemistry, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN
Ashley Johnson, MPH (she/they) is a dedicated research scientist collaborating with Dr. Sebastian Tong and Dr. Allison Cole to advance research within primary care settings. With a deep-seated passion for community engagement, Ashley excels in co-creating solutions and generating valuable knowledge through active partnerships with community members. Her extensive experience spans various settings both regionally and internationally, where she has led research studies in substance use, reproductive health, integrative medicine, aging, health equity, and cancer control.
Ashley envisions a world where both human and more than human communities are thriving, interconnected, and healthy. Her work is driven by a commitment to fostering environments where all communities can flourish.
Brooke ike, MPH
Research Scientist
She/Her
MPH, Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health
BA, Religious Studies, Arizona State University
Brooke Ike has been a Research Scientist in the Department of Family Medicine since 2015 and has been involved in practice-based health services research at the University of Washington since 2005. She has led studies across a broad range of subject areas, including health equity, cancer control, chronic pain, and emergency services. With openness, curiosity, and a deep commitment to collaboration, Brooke enjoys engaging in research that allows her to work alongside community and clinical partners. She specializes in qualitative and mixed-methods research, practice transformation, and program development and management. Brooke is passionate not only about evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, but also how to translate that evidence into practice in ways that are feasible, meaningful, and beneficial for the diverse populations they are intended to serve.
Alison Tu, BA
Research Coordinator
She/Her
BA, Psychology, Rutgers University
Alison is a Research Coordinator supporting Dr. Sebastian Tong’s research group. Before joining the Department of Family Medicine, she worked in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UW, contributing to a research study focused on an app designed to reduce PTSD and prevent alcohol misuse among survivors of sexual assault. Prior to her time at UW, she gained experience in research labs at NYU, Teachers College Columbia, and ASU. Her research interests focus on supporting minoritized populations and expanding access to mental health interventions. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the PNW, watching new movies, and traveling.
Brianna zhou, BA
Research Coordinator
She/Her
BA, Biochemistry, University of Washington
Brianna Zhou is a Research Coordinator supporting Dr. Tong’s research group. Growing up in the South Seattle area, Brianna is passionate about improving access to healthcare in diverse communities through research. Before joining Family Medicine, she led various chronic pain studies in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, and assisted on pediatric studies at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Additionally, she worked at UWMC Transplant Services to support patients in the pre-kidney transplant process amid COVID-19. In her free time, Brianna enjoys skiing, learning new music, and exploring food scenes.
astoria ho, mims
Research Coordinator
She/Her
MIMS, University of California, Berkeley
BS, Lifespan Health, University of Southern California
Astoria Ho is a Research Coordinator supporting Dr. Tong’s research group. Before coming to the Department of Family Medicine, she worked in the School of Public Health, Health Promotion Research Center at UW, contributing to research and developing evidence-based programs around healthy aging and workplace wellness. With a background in informatics and human-centered design, she is passionate about improving health outcomes through systems thinking that integrates diverse perspectives and contexts.
MADISON HOLLCROFT, MPH
Research Consultant
She/They
MPH, Epidemiology, University of Washington
BS, Public Health-Global Health, University of Washington
Madison Hollcroft is a Research Consultant supporting Dr. Tong’s research group. They were born in Washington State and completed both their undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Washington. Prior to joining Dr. Tong’s team, Madison worked in the Department of Allergy and Infectious Disease, where she conducted household respiratory virus surveillance and contributed to research on household transmission dynamics and vaccine efficacy.
Madison’s research interests span behavioral health, infectious disease epidemiology, vaccine implementation, and the use of community-driven data collection to address health disparities. In her free time, Madison enjoys traveling, spending time at home with their five pets (three cats and two bunnies), and cooking.
Student Researchers
Allysa A Valdez
Undergraduate Research Assistant
She/Her/Ella
BA, Public Health-Global Health, University of Washington
Allysa is a Student Research Assistant supporting Dr. Tong’s research group. Before joining the team, she worked in a research lab focused on improving chronic pain conditions among those in rural settings. She also works as a CNA at hospitals and long-term care facilities in her area to gain more clinical exposure before entering her graduate studies. Her research interests are in rural health, reproductive health, and improving the health of Latinx communities (especially among those who are undocumented and/or non-English speaking). Allysa is passionate about providing an evidence-based care approach to those in a primary care setting.
Marjan Fathi
Undergraduate Research Assistant
She/Her
BS, Public Health-Global Health, University of Washington
Marjan is a Student Research Assistant supporting Dr. Tong’s research group. She previously conducted research with the UW Department of Radiology and the UW Department of Bioengineering. Passionate about community health and health equity, she aspires to become a physician serving medically underserved populations. She is particularly interested in addressing systemic barriers to healthcare and improving access for marginalized communities. In addition to research, she has been involved in mentorship and outreach programs to support students pursuing higher education and careers in community healthcare. Outside of research and academics, Marjan enjoys baking, cooking, painting, and hiking.
Maria Paola castro
Undergraduate Research Assistant
She/Her/Ella
BS, Biochemistry, University of Washington
Maria Paola Castro is an undergraduate research assistant with a keen interest in biomedical research. She previously supported research in the Department of Neurology, where she developed a passion for using science to improve patient outcomes. Maria is dedicated to contributing to biomedical research that tackles real-world health challenges, particularly through collaborative and hands-on work. She approaches her role with a detail-oriented mindset, curiosity, and a commitment to learning. Outside of her research and academic pursuits, Maria enjoys dancing, cooking, and engaging in various forms of plastic arts.
Lab Alumni
Ajla Pleho, MPH
Nicholas Franko – UW Medical School