Research Staff

  • Rachel Tocco, MA

    Rachel is the CanSORT Research Director. She is a Masters-level health services and population sciences research professional with more than 15 years of experience in academic and nonprofit research management, including specific expertise in survey design and administration. Rachel manages the CanSORT research portfolio and provides administrative, financial, and scientific oversight for all pre- and…

  • Aaron Rankin, MSW

    Aaron is a Research Area Specialist with CanSORT. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Michigan and a Master of Social Work from Eastern Michigan University. Aaron has previously worked for the U-M IRBMED as a board member and staff reviewer, the Scleroderma Research Program, and most recently at the…

  • Rebecca Courser, MPH

    Rebecca is a Research Area Specialist with CanSORT. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Central Michigan University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan. She joined CanSORT in April 2021 and is responsible for coordinating research activities for CanSORT investigators. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys knitting,…

  • Paul Abrahamse, MA

    Paul is a Lead Statistician in the Department of Biostatistics. He received his Masters degree from Duke University in the Department of Economics. Paul has worked with CanSORT as a statistician since 2003. He is responsible for creating the high quality patient, provider, and merged datasets that are used to produce the large body of…

  • Allison Furgal, PhD

    Allison is a Senior Statistician in the Department of Biostatistics. She received her PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan in 2021 and joined CanSORT in 2022. She also received a MS in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan in 2015, a MA in Mathematics from Wayne State University in 2013, and a BS…