Our Team

Jason Mendoza, MD, MPH

Dr. Jason Mendoza has devoted his career to eliminating health inequities by the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating among low-income and racial/ethnic minority children or children with chronic diseases. He conducts community and school-based research on reducing sedentary activities, such as television viewing, and increasing physical activity, such as through the “walking school bus” and other “safe routes to school” programs. He also leads research on the influence of food insecurity on chronic diseases in children, such as HIV and diabetes.

Trina Colburn, PhD

Dr. Trina Colburn is the research manager for Dr. Jason Mendoza's projects. She is a Seattle native and received her PhD in clinical psychology from Seattle Pacific University and her BA in psychology from the University of Washington. She has been actively involved in various projects focused on the treatment and prevention of childhood obesity since 2007. She loves music, movies and spending time outdoors.

Roger Goosey, BS

Roger is a Research Coordinator and team lead for the Fit 5 Kids & StepByStep projects. He is originally from Southwest Washington and received his BS from the University of Washington, where he majored in biology and minored in global health and education. Before joining the team, he worked on clinical research studies in Portland, Oregon, but is inspired by research aimed at promoting health equity and improving health outcomes. Some of his favorite activities include being outdoors or around music.

Tati Guzman, BS

Tati Guzman is one of the research assistants in the Mendoza lab helping with both the Fit 5 Kids Study and the Step by Step intervention. She was born in Colombia and grew up in South Florida before moving to New York to attend Cornell University. Tati received her BS in Human Development and a minor in Education. Her research interests center around holistic educational interventions that involve youth, schools, families, and communities in various aspects. In her free time, Tati enjoys reading, playing board games, and exploring different restaurants.

Margaret Olsen, BA

Margaret Olsen is a clinical research coordinator with Mendoza Lab. Margaret’s BA is from The Evergreen State College where she studied Social Work. Her early career was spent working with the adolescent population in direct-service with houseless youth and in the community. Margaret is the lead interventionist for the Step by Step Study, a digitally-delivered intervention for adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer that utilizes Fitbits, individualized goal setting and an Instagram peer support group to increase physical activity and improve health related quality of life. Margaret is passionate about health equity and learning from public health interventions that disrupt systemic inequality, making it so that everyone can lead a healthy, loving and fulfilling life. When not at work, you can find Margaret working on art or in nature.

Dayne Ornelas Gonzalez, BS

Dayne Ornelas Gonzalez is a clinical research coordinator and intervention coach for the Fit5Kids study. She was born in Mexico and grew up in Washington. Dayne received her Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology and Psychology from the University of Washington. As a first gen Dayne is excited to use her degree to serve, support and give back to the Latinx population especially as it relates to health and education equity. In her free time, you can find Dayne reading a book at a Seattle coffee shop, going on absurdly long walks and listening to one too many podcasts. 

Heather Zaorski, BA

Heather Zaorski is a research assistant for the Fit 5 Kids Study. Heather officially joined the team after volunteering with the Mendoza lab starting in 2019. After spending nearly a decade working in the fashion industry, Heather reevaluated her career to focus on more meaningful work. She has completed postbac work in psychology and is in the midst of applying to graduate programs to pursue a career in childhood and adolescent psychology. Heather is passionate about research focused on early childhood adversity, economic disadvantages and their impact on the neurobehavioral development of children, so all children no matter their circumstances can reach their fullest potential. When Heather’s not working you can find her walking her French Bulldog along Lake Washington.