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Division of International Services

DIS

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DIS Title Divider About Us Title Divider About the Staff
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​About Us
About the Staff

Division of International Services (DIS) Staff

The DIS staff is comprised of experienced immigration specialists and program support who strive to provide accurate and responsive immigration-related support to advance the NIH research mission.

We have three key teams at DIS. Two of our teams primarily focus on case processing for NIH scientists. Our customer service team addresses general inquires and manages our office communications, including our website and newsletters.

If you have a question related to an open case at DIS and are already in touch with a DIS staff member, you may contact them directly. Otherwise, please refer to our Contact Us webpage.

Director’s Team

Director: Candelario Zapata, RO

Chief Compliance Officer/Deputy Director: TBD​, ARO

Immigration Policy Analyst: Margaret Richmond, ARO

Program Specialist: Jamie Siemsen​

Customer Service Team

Team Leader: Valerie Martini, ARO

Immigration Specialist: Heisol Zelaya, ARO
Immigration Specialist: Noelle Brooker, ARO​

FTE / Employee Processing Team

Team Leader: Elisa Facetti, ARO​

Immigration Specialist: Alma Von Gontard, ARO
Immigration Specialist: Daniel Forgosh, ARO
Immigration Specialist: Jeff Augustine, ARO
Immigration Specialist: Jiyoon Cha

Non-FTE / Fellow Processing Team

Team Leader: Katie McLaughlin, ARO

Immigration Specialist: James Choi, ARO
Immigration Specialist: Anabelle Filbert, ARO
​Immigration Specialist: Charlie Oliver, ARO
Immigration Specialist: Kirby Riley, ARO
​Immigration Specialist: Waka Sampei, ARO​

FDA Team

E-mail DISFDA

International Patient Services Team

E-mail IPSTeam

Waiver Team

E-mail DISWaiver


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Revised 07/2023


​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​DIS Info 
Service Hours:
9:00am - 4:00pm ET
Non-FTE Check-In/EOD:
Monday By 11:30am
(in local time zone of lab)
Advising Services:
Document Pickup:​​​​​​​​​​
J-1/J-2 Travel Signature Requests:​​​​​​​​​​​
Badge Validation:​​​​​​​​​​
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