About the Happiest Baby Research Team

About Happiest Baby Science

Happiest Baby Science operates under Happiest Baby, Inc., creator of SNOO Smart Sleeper. Happiest Baby Science aims to support dynamic new research on the clinical impact of enhanced sleep. Our mission is to support all caregivers in raising healthy, happy children.

Happiest Baby, Inc. was founded by pediatrician and child development specialist, Dr. Harvey Karp, MD, FAAP, with his wife and business partner, Nina Montée-Karp. The goal was to create a product for safely lulling babies to sleep and keeping babies on the back, the core safe sleep recomendation of US public health authorities. In 2016, Happiest Baby launched the SNOO Smart Sleeper – a bassinet which provides womb-like rhythmic sensations, responds with increased sound/motion to soothe fussing, and improves infant sleep safety by keeping them securely on the back.

Meet the Medical Affairs Team

Harvey Karp, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician,
CEO, Chief Medical Officer

Colleen Kraft, MD,
MBA, FAAP

Pediatrician,
Interim VP Medical Affairs

Christopher Laine, PhD

Principal Research
Scientist

Fran Gallagher, MEd

Director, Public
Health Programs

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Jennifer Shannon, MD

Child & Adult Psychiatrist, Medical Science Liaison, Consultant

Kristen Walsh, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician,
Medical Science Liaison, Consultant

Brandon Aylward, PhD

Child Psychologist, Clinical Research Consultant

Harry Gewanter, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician,
Medical Science Liaison, Consultant

Tricia Gellasch, PhD, APN-C

Research & Clinical Consultant

Nichole Gogatz

Compliance & Project Associate

Harvey Karp, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician, CEO, Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Harvey Karp is a world-renowned pediatrician and child development expert. His celebrated book, Happiest Baby on the Block, has guided millions of parents and has been translated into 30 languages. Dr. Karp invented the SNOO Smart Sleeper in collaboration the MIT Center for Constructive Communication. Dr. Karp is an advocate for children’s environmental health and a board member of EWG, one of the Nation’s premiere environmental protection groups.

Colleen Kraft, MD, MBA, FAAP

Pediatrician, Interim VP Medical Affairs

HBI’s VP of Medical Affairs, Dr. Colleen Kraft, has been one of America’s leading pediatricians for over 30 years. She was president of the prestigious American Academy of Pediatrics and currently is a professor of Pediatrics at the USC School of Medicine and she presents lectures around the world.

Christopher Laine, PhD

Principal Research Scientist

Christopher Laine, PhD, has over a decade of research experience in human physiology and neuroengineering. He has applied an expertise in signal processing and statistics to a variety of applications within both industry and academia. At Happiest Baby, he works with product R&D, FDA safety surveillance, and the development of external research partnerships and collaborations.

Fran Gallagher, MEd

Director, Public Health Programs

Fran Gallagher, MEd, works on the advancement of research, policy, and practice through external public and private collaborative efforts. Prior to Happiest Baby, Fran was Executive Director and CEO of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics for 14 years. In research, she has co-authored CME-approved curricula, managed QI educational research, secured grants and contracts, and worked in National Outreach for an evidence-based violence prevention program designed to strengthen resiliency in young children.

Jennifer Shannon, MD

Child & Adult Psychiatrist, Medical Science Liaison, Consultant

Dr. Jennifer Shannon is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist with over 20 years of clinical experience and currently practices in Seattle, WA. She has extensive experience in pediatric digital mental health as a medical director for a pediatric behavioral health company and providing medical affairs consulting to medical device companies.

Kristen Walsh, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician, Medical Science Liaison, Consultant

Dr. Kristen Walsh has been a general pediatrician for over 20 years and an Early Childhood Champion for the American Academy of Pediatrics for over 10 years. In 2020, she left the world of private practice to return to her first love: academic medicine. She currently works in a family practice clinic seeing patients and teaching residents and medical students.

Brandon Aylward, PhD

Child Psychologist, Clinical Research Consultant

Brandon Aylward is a pediatric psychologist with over 17 years of clinical, research, and business development experience in academic medicine and the digital health industry. He currently leads the RTI Health Solutions Digital Health Practice area as the Director of Digital Health Research and Advisory Services and is a clinical research consultant with the Happiest Baby.

Harry Gewanter, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician, Medical Science Liaison, Consultant

Dr. Harry Gewanter is a semi-retired pediatrician and pediatric rheumatologist. He is now involved in volunteer and advocacy activities focused on improving the lives of children and people with disabilities as well as their families. Based in Richmond Virginia, Dr. Gewanter served on a variety of leadership and board positions at a local, state and national level. He and his wife have 4 adult children, some of whom have chronic issues.

Tricia Gellasch, PhD, APN-C

Research & Clinical Consultant

Patricia Gellasch is a consultant with expertise in research, grant development and execution, and continuing medical education. Her research focuses on improving the lives of women and children and has been presented at national and international conferences. She is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with clinical experience in primary care and she previously worked as a registered NICU nurse. Patricia is also adjunct faculty in the Department of Nursing at The College of New Jersey.

Nichole Gogatz

Medical Affairs Coordinator

Nichole Gogatz coordinates and manages the processes for the Medical Affairs department. She has been with Happiest Baby for 4 years with a background in customer experience and project management.

Sharleen van Vlijmen

Administrative Assistant

Sharleen van Vlijmen joined Happiest Baby in 2022 as an Administrative Assistant. She has worked in the pediatric/non-profit realm for 5 years and supports the Medical Affairs team.

Sarah Chang, MPH

Research Communications Manager

Sarah Chang, MPH, supports external research partnerships and collaborations within the Medical Affairs team. Previously, her public health background was in qualitative research, behavioral intervention research, and health communications. In research, Sarah was involved on projects assessing food security & access, physical activity, and social support.

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About Happiest Baby Science

Meet the Medical Affairs Team

Harvey Karp, MD, FAAP

Colleen Kraft, MD,MBA, FAAP

Christopher Laine, PhD

Fran Gallagher, MEd

Jennifer Shannon, MD

Kristen Walsh, MD, FAAP

Brandon Aylward, PhD

Harry Gewanter, MD, FAAP

Tricia Gellasch, PhD, APN-C

Nichole Gogatz

Harvey Karp, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician, CEO, Chief Medical Officer

Colleen Kraft, MD, MBA, FAAP

Pediatrician, Interim VP Medical Affairs

Christopher Laine, PhD

Principal Research Scientist

Fran Gallagher, MEd

Director, Public Health Programs

Jennifer Shannon, MD

Child & Adult Psychiatrist, Medical Science Liaison, Consultant

Kristen Walsh, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician, Medical Science Liaison, Consultant

Brandon Aylward, PhD

Child Psychologist, Clinical Research Consultant

Harry Gewanter, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician, Medical Science Liaison, Consultant

Tricia Gellasch, PhD, APN-C

Research & Clinical Consultant

Nichole Gogatz

Medical Affairs Coordinator

Sharleen van Vlijmen

Administrative Assistant

Sarah Chang, MPH

Research Communications Manager

Leaving Happiest Baby Science?

Colleen Kraft, MD,
MBA, FAAP