TEAM
Our Insights Guide Your Innovation
At ELEVEX, our team brings decades of experience across the healthcare, research, and wellness sectors. We deliver transformative solutions that seamlessly connect scientific discovery with real-world impact.
Heather L Rusch
Founder | Chief Scientific Officer
Dr Heather L Rusch, PhD, is an NIH-trained neuroscientist with 10+ years of experience leading clinical trials with trauma-exposed populations, including assaulted women, healthcare workers, law enforcement, and military personnel. Within this context, she investigates a range of psychosocial, behavioral, and neurobiological factors to better understand what helps humans thrive. Dr Rusch has served on the US Surgeon General’s Social Connection Advisory and the Trans-NIH Resilience working group. She earned her PhD in clinical neuroscience from the NIH–Karolinska Institutet collaborative doctoral program and completed her clinical training at the NY State Psychiatric Institute’s PTSD Research and Treatment Program. Dr Rusch has practiced vipassanā meditation since 2009, including spending a year at a silent meditation center. She designs mindfulness courses for both adults and children, and has contributed to the Oxford Handbook of Meditation.
Anlys Olivera
Chief Medical Officer
Dr Anlys Olivera, MD, PhD, is a distinguished physician-neuroscientist passionate about unraveling neuro-immune interactions and their impact on mental health. She has led pioneering research on visual and executive functioning in retired NFL players with repetitive concussions and the efficacy of vestibular therapy for post-concussion symptoms. Dr Olivera earned her PhD in neuroscience from Emory University and completed her postdoctoral training at the NIH. She then obtained her MD from New York University School of Medicine and completed a double board residency in Neurology and Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health. Dr Olivera has received several prestigious awards and shares her extensive knowledge by teaching at Columbia University. Her courses cover a range of topics, including Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury, Psychoneuroimmunology, Neuroethics, and Cognitive Neuroscience & Education.
Bethlehem Woldetsadik
Science Administrator
Ms Bethlehem Woldetsadik, BS, is a dedicated scientist with a deep curiosity about exploring the boundaries of human consciousness. During her research training, she used novel genetic techniques to study how tau protein expression impacts neuronal-glial interactions, offering valuable insights into cellular communication disruptions associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Ms Woldetsadik holds a BS in neuroscience from Mount Holyoke College and subsequently worked as an Associate Scientist at a biopharmaceutical company, where she developed therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. Beyond her scientific pursuits, Ms Woldetsadik has practiced vipassanā meditation and yoga for 15 years, periodically participating in month-long silent meditation retreats with Dr Rusch. This unique blend of scientific expertise and mindfulness shapes her balanced approach to research and innovation.