Meet our Team
Jennifer Adrissi, MD MSCR
Movement Disorders Neurologist
Founder and Program Director, Parkinson’s C.O.R.E. Collaborative
Dr. Jennifer Adrissi is a movement disorders neurologist and health services researcher at UCLA dedicated to improving patient outcomes and access disparities in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Dr. Adrissi received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park in Physiology and Neurobiology and her M.D. from Northwestern University. She completed her Neurology residency and Movement Disorders fellowship at Northwestern University. During her fellowship training, she also received her Master of Science degree in Clinical Research from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). As a fellow, she was accepted into the competitive American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Training in Research for Academic Neurologists to Sustain Careers and Enhance the Numbers of Diverse Scholars (TRANSCENDS) Program and was an NIH Neuro-NEXT fellow for clinical trial development.
Dr. Jennifer Adrissi is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at UCLA and a co-located faculty member in the Department of Internal Medicine, General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research Division. Her clinical expertise focuses on movement disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism syndromes such as multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome, and Lewy body dementia. Her research interests include the use of community based participatory research methods to develop community-partnered interventions to improve access to specialized care and clinical trials in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders within the Black community and other historically marginalized communities.
Specialty
Neurology, movement disorders, Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome, and Lewy body dementia.
Board Certifications
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Affiliations
Physicians
ADRC - Clinical Core
Education and Degrees
B.Sc., Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Maryland, College Park
M.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
M.S., Clinical Research, Medical University of South Carolina
Awards and Honors
UCLA Faculty Development Award (2023)
Northwestern NeuroNEXT Clinical Trials Fellowship (2021-2022)
Alpha Omega Alpha, Northwestern University Chapter (2021)
Gold Humanism Honor Society (2019)
Current Lab Members
Jessica Vinegar, MPH, CHES
Jessica Vinegar is a Research Associate at UCLA Health and public health professional with a passion for promoting health equity and improving inequitable health outcomes in underserved communities. She received her Master’s degree in Public Health from California State University, Fullerton, a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and is a Certified Health Education Specialist.
Vivian Shen, MD
Vivian Shen (She/Her) is a Movement Disorders Fellow with an anticipated graduation in 2026. With a keen interest in clinical trials and global health research, Vivian is dedicated to advancing knowledge in these critical areas. In her spare time, Vivian enjoys playing pop songs on the piano, swimming, and soaking in ocean views.
Rebecca Jules , MD
Rebecca Jules, MD (She/Her) is a Movement Disorders Fellow from Fort Lauderdale Florida with an anticipated graduation date of June 2025. Her research interests include global health, global neurology and movement disorders. In her spare time, she enjoys trying out new restaurants, travelling, and going to comedy shows.
Sanah Naeemi
Sanah Naeemi is a dedicated student from Fremont, CA majoring in Human Biology and Society. She is passionate about neuroscience research, specifically neurorehabilitation through neuromodulation aiming to alleviate concussion symptoms. She is committed to public health research, focusing on disparities in low-income communities and healthcare accessibility. Outside of research, she enjoys weightlifting, Pilates, and running. She proudly completed the SF marathon earlier this year!
Aarib Shahab
Aarib Shahab is a Psychobiology major from Chicago, Illinois. He is interested in cancer and radiology research such as imaging biomarkers and treatment efficacy. He is passionate about neuropsychiatric research, particularly the developmental and social aspects affecting youth. Additionally, he is interested in public health research related to healthcare access and disparities in marginalized communities. In his spare time, he enjoys discovering chai spots and watching cricket with his dad.
Zaina Sharqawi
Zaina Sharqawi (She/Her) is a Psychobiology major from Fairfield, California. Her research interests are centered around public health, with particular focus on health disparities, as she is dedicated to improving the well-being of underserved communities. In her free time, she enjoys going on long walks and exploring various coffee shops, combining her love for the outdoors with a passion for discovering new flavors.