The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Skip to main content
UNC School of Medicine | Department of Health Sciences

GAP Team

Headshot of Sallie Nowell standing in front of a window wearing a white shirt and Carolina blue sweater.

Sallie Nowell, PhD CCC-SLP, Principal Investigator

Dr. Sallie Nowell (she/her) is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill. Her research broadly aims to narrow the research to practice gap using community partnerships and innovative methods to yield meaningful impact in the autism community. Dr. Nowell has a clinical appointment at the Carolina Institute of Developmental Disabilities and teaches courses related to autism and neurodevelopmental differences.

Headshot of Sam Pflum standing in front of a white wall wearing a black and white blouse and gold necklace.

Samantha Pflum, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator

Dr. Sam Pflum (she/her) is a child clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor at UNC School of Medicine. Her primary specialty is providing gender-affirming care to gender diverse children, adolescents, young adults, and their families through the Gender Equity and Wellness Initiative (GEWI) program. Through the Pediatric Psychology/Psychiatry Consultation & Liaison Service, she conducts brief inpatient interventions with children and adolescents hospitalized at the UNC Children’s Hospital. Dr. Pflum also provides integrated mental health care through the comprehensive pediatric sickle cell program through the division of Hematology/Oncology. Teaching responsibilities are focused on working with clinical psychology graduate students, interns, and fellows, as well as facilitating trans health competency training in multidisciplinary settings.

Headshot of Corey Shaw in front of a blue background wearing a cream sparkle turtleneck sweater and black jacket.

Corey Shaw, M.Ed., Co-Principal Investigator

Corey Shaw (she/her) is an Autism Specialist at the Raleigh TEACCH Autism Center and a Clinical Instructor in the UNC Department of Psychiatry. She is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and works predominantly with adolescents and adults as well as their families. Corey provides individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as co-leads a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group. Corey also works with families to provide adapted or modified forms of therapy when it’s more appropriate. Corey is currently working on the TEACCH School Transition to Employment and Postsecondary Education Program (TSTEP) as an instructor and counselor.

Headshot of Kayla Malone standing outdoors in front of a green bush wearing a brown shirt, tan blazer, and gold necklaces.

Kayla Malone, M.Ed., Doctoral Student

Kayla Malone (she/they) is a Ph.D. student in the Applied Developmental Science and Special Education program at UNC Chapel Hill, where she is also pursuing a graduate certificate in Participatory Research. With nearly a decade of experience supporting autistic individuals across the lifespan in various settings, such as classrooms, clinical environments, and IID-ICF group homes, Kayla’s work broadly focuses on enhancing educational and support landscapes for historically underserved autistic people and their families. Their expertise includes school-based research and community-based participatory methods to develop and test the acceptability and social validity of evidence-based interventions for autistic adolescents and their families.