Meet the Synapse Team

Alissa Totman, MD, MPH

Executive Director and Founder

Alissa is a Brain Injury Medicine fellow at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She completed medical school at the Stanford University School of Medicine and residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Her career goal is to improve care for individuals with brain injury by advancing clinical practice and educating the next generation of leaders in brain injury. She has been serving the brain injury community since 2010 and founded Synapse National in 2016.

Amy Jolepalem

Director of National Operations

Amy Jolepalem is the former president and peer support group facilitator of the University of Washington Synapse chapter and has been involved with the organization since 2018. During her time with Synapse, she has been able to form a multitude of meaningful connections with community members and has been continually awed and challenged not only by their stories and perspectives but the impact she has seen Synapse have on local brain injury communities. This has invariably shaped her as an individual and she aspires to become a physician who works with patients with brain injuries.

Tara Damle

Director of Programming

Tara Damle currently attends the University of Pittsburgh and is pursuing a degree in Communication Science and Disorders in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She is honored to be a part of the Synapse team, as this organization serves a meaningful purpose for the brain injured community. Alongside Tara's academics, she is a university tour guide and an undergraduate teaching advisor for first year students. She also works as a rehabilitation aide at the community clinic. Tara is excited to embark on her Synapse journey!

Viviana Li

Director of Outreach

Viviana is in her third year at Johns Hopkins University studying Neuroscience and Psychology.  She is involved in research implementing cognitive testing at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Stroke Clinic and plans to pursue a career in medicine. Viviana is also president of the JHU chapter and is passionate about fostering connections and making meaningful contributions to the field of brain injury.

Ridhimaa Thaker

Director of New Chapter Education (NCE)

Ridhimaa is a sophomore double majoring in Materials Science and Engineering and Biological Sciences at Northwestern University. She is an EMT cadet and is involved in Brain Injury Advocacy Work. Ridhimaa hopes to provide a community for those who have sustained a brain injury by serving closely with the patient population.