Directors:

Core group leadership is organized alphabetically and by role. Remaining team members are organized alphabetically.

Thomas Buchanan Thomas Buchanan, MD SC CTSI Director/Principal Investigator Meet Central Administration
Michele Kipke Michele Kipke, PhD SC CTSI Co-Director/CE Director Meet Central Administration Meet Community Engagement
Nicki Apaydin Nicki K. Apaydin, PhD Associate Director of Communications Meet Communications Meet Central Administration
Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati Co-Director, Community Engagement Meet Community Engagement
Neil Bahroos Neil Bahroos, MS Chief Research Informatics Officer at Keck and the Director of CRI at CTS Meet Clinical Research Informatics
Elizabeth Burner Elizabeth Burner, MD, MPH, PhD Director, Mentored Career Development in Clinical and Translational Science (KL2) Training Program Meet Workforce Development
Kayla de la Haye Kayla de la Haye, PhD Director, Research Development Meet Research Development
Sabrina Derrington Sabrina Derrington, MD, MA, HEC-C Director of Research Ethics Meet Workforce Development
Ramon Durazo-Arvizu Ramon Durazo-Arvizu, PhD CHLA Director, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design Meet Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design
David Friedland David R Friedland, MD, PhD Director, Clinical Research Support core Meet Clinical Research Support
Dario Kuzmanovic Dario Kuzmanovic, MHSc Director, Clinical Research Informatics Meet Clinical Research Informatics
Wendy Mack Wendy Mack, PhD Director, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design Meet Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design
Nicole Marie-Gerardi Maccalla Nicole Marie-Gerardi Maccalla, MA, PhD Director of Evaluation & Improvement Meet Evaluation & Improvement
Allison Orechwa Allison Zumberge Orechwa, PhD, MBA Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation Meet Central Administration
Eunjoo Pacifici Eunjoo Pacifici, PharmD, PhD Chair and Associate Professor of Regulatory and Quality Sciences Associate Director, D. K. Kim International Center for Regulatory Science Meet Regulatory Knowledge & Support
Kathleen “Katie” Page Kathleen “Katie” Page, MD, MS Co-Director, Research Development Meet Research Development
Eric Pedersen Eric Pedersen, Ph.D. Co-Director for Digital Recruitment and Scholarship Meet Workforce Development
Wendy Rosero Wendy Rosero, MPA Financial Reporting/Projects Manager Meet Central Administration
Saira Shah Saira Shah, MPH Evaluation & Improvement (EI) coordinator Meet Evaluation & Improvement
Steven Siegel Steven Siegel, MD, PhD Co-Director, Mentored Career Development (KL2)/Director, Mentoring Resource Center Meet Workforce Development
Tamara Simon Tamara Simon, MD, MSPH, FAAP CHLA Site Principal Investigator and Director, Workforce Development Meet Workforce Development
Amytis "Amy" Towfighi Amytis "Amy" Towfighi, MD Director, Healthcare Delivery Science Meet Healthcare Delivery Science
Nicole Wolfe Nicole Wolfe, PhD Co-Director, Community Engagement Meet Community Engagement
Jennifer Romero Jennifer Romero Associate Director of Operations and Engagement Meet Central Administration

Core Groups:

Core group leadership is organized alphabetically and by role. Remaining team members are organized alphabetically.

Amila Adili Amila Adili, MPH Statistician, Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design
Shrey Agarwal Shrey Agarwal Student Worker
Leslie Aguilar Leslie Aguilar, MS Program Specialist, Research Development
Praveen Angyan Praveen Angyan, MS Technical Solutions Architect, Clinical Research Informatics & Communications
Encarnita Aranda Encarnita Aranda, RN, MBA Sr. Research Nurse, Clinical Trials Unit
Adriana Argaiz Adriana Argaiz, MSSP Associate Director, Community Engagement with the Southern California Center for Latino Health at CHLA
George Aurea George Aurea DEXA Project Specialist, Clinical Trials Unit
Julya Barahona Julya Barahona Administrative Assistant II
Lilit Baronikian Lilit Baronikian, BS Research Lab Supervisor, Clinical Trials Unit
Maria Belarmino Maria Pilar Belarmino, RN, BSN, MN, OCN Research Nurse
Mayla Boguslav Mayla R. Boguslav, PhD Research Associate in the Research Development core
Karen Busa Karen Busa, MS Program Specialist, Workforce Development
Rosalba Cain Rosalba Cain Community Outreach Coordinator, Community Engagement
Johanna Cajabon Johanna Carrera Cajabon, BA Clinical Research Coordinator I
Sara Calderon Sara Calderon Community Outreach Coordinator, Community Engagement
Rachel Carmen Ceasar Rachel Carmen Ceasar, PhD Assistant Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences
Tracy Chen Tracy Chen, MS Statistician
Amy Chuang Amy Chuang, MS Data Lead, Clinical Research Informatics
Ruby Crosthwait Ruby Crosthwait Student Worker
Denise De Los Santos Denise De Los Santos, BA Patient Recruitment and Navigation Specialist
Andrea Diaz Andrea Diaz, BA Communications Lead
Li Ding Li Ding, MD, MPH Biostatistician, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design
Brian Do-Golden Brian Do-Golden, MPH, CHES Research and Evaluation Analyst
Quran Durant Quran Durant, BS Intern
Jeanne Dzekov McKean Jeanne Dzekov McKean, BA Program Manager, KL2 Program
Yanet Escobedo Yanet Escobedo, BS Temporary Staff/ Intern
Sherette Flowers Sherette Flowers, RN, NP, MSN Research Nurse, Clinical Trials Unit
Alma Garcia Alma Garcia Community Outreach Coordinator, Community Engagement
Daniella Garofalo Daniella Garofalo, MPA Program Manager, Clinical Research Informatics
Monica Girgis Monica Girgis Administrative Assistant
Yolanda Gutierrez Yolanda Gutierrez, CCRC, BS Assistant Director for Clinical Research Operations
Panteha Hayati Rezvan Panteha Hayati Rezvan, PhD Senior Biostatistician, Biostatistics Core, The Saban Research Institute (TSRI), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA)
Ivy Hoang Ivy Hoang, BS Communications Assistant
Cathelin Huang Cathelin Huang, MHS Success Liaison Research Specialist
Joyce Javier Joyce Javier, MD, MPH, MS Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Pediatrics, and Population and Public Health Sciences Keck School of Medicine of USC Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Esther Karpilow Esther Karpilow, BA Community Outreach Coordinator
Mimi Kim Mimi Kim, MD, MSc CTSI Horizons Program Lead
Benson Kuo Benson Kuo, PhD Associate Director, Regulatory Knowledge and Support
Chun Nok (Jonathan) Lam Chun Nok (Jonathan) Lam, PhD, MPH DHS Senior Informatic Specialist
Nisa Lam Nisa Lam, BA Project Specialist
Melissa Lee Melissa Lee, MSN Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Trials Unit
Armine Lulejian Armine Lulejian, EdD, MPH, CHES Associate Director for Informatics Education, Training and Outreach Clinical Research Informatics Core
Beau MacDonald Beau MacDonald, MA GIS Project Specialist, Clinical Research Informatics
Sara Madrigal Sara Madrigal Clinical Research Coordinator I
Karen Manrique Karen Manrique, MS Program Administrator, Regulatory Knowledge Support
Ruzanna Margaryan Ruzanna Margaryan, RN Protocol Coordinator, Clinical Trials Unit
Janet Mercado Janet Mercado, PhD Project Specialist
Fathia Mohamud Fathia Mohamud, BA Senior Clinical Lab Technician, Clinical Trials Unit
Tameka Nunley Tameka Nunley Budget/Business Analyst
Ari Padilla Ari Padilla, MBA Program Manager, Clinical Research Support
Joanne Pak Joanne Pak, BS Budget and Coverage Analyst, Clinical Research Support
Mahita Parasa Mahita Parasa Student Worker
Trevor Pickering Trevor Pickering, PhD Biostatistician, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design
Nancy Pire-Smerkanich Nancy Pire-Smerkanich, DRSc, MS Assistant Professor, USC Mann Dept. of Regulatory and Quality Sciences; Associate Director, Regulatory Knowledge and Support
Vanessa Ramos Vanessa Ramos, MPH Statistician I
Rosa Rangel Rosa Rangel, BS
Jennifer Rivera Jennifer Rivera COVID Special Projects Coordinator, Clinical Research Support
Mayra Rubio-Diaz Mayra Rubio-Diaz Special Project Manager, Community Engagement
Brandyn Ruiz Brandyn Ruiz, MS Programmer Analyst II
Swaroop Samek Swaroop Samek, MS Senior Computer Systems Engineer, Clinical Research Informatics
Gary San Angel Gary San Angel Distance Education Specialist / Media Technology, Workforce Development
Natayla Seals Natayla Seals Community Outreach Coordinator, Community Engagement
Melody Sharifi Melody Sharifi, MPH Program Specialist, Clinical Research Informatics
Hira Sherazi Hira Sherazi, BS Programmer Analyst, Clinical Research Informatics
Rushaanaaz Sokeechand Rushaanaaz "Rusha" Sokeechand Student Worker
Tony Succar Tony Succar, PhD, MScMed (OphthSc) Associate Director, Regulatory Knowledge and Support.
Kim Sysawang Kim Sysawang Clinical Research Coordinator II
Lisa Thai Lisa Thai, MPH Program Administrator, Healthcare Delivery Science
My Vu My Vu, MS Biostatistician II, CHLA Biostatistics Core
Choo Phei Wee Choo Phei Wee, MS Biostatistican, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design
John Wilson John Wilson, LLB, BSc, MSc, PhD Spacial Science Lead, Clinical Research Informatics
Melissa Wilson Melissa L. Wilson, MPH, PhD Curriculum Development, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design
Gordon Wimpress Gordon D Wimpress, BS, BA Technical Project Specialist
Jeremy Yu Jeremy Yu, MS Biostatistician
Elizabeth Zelinski Elizabeth Zelinski, PhD KL Grant Advisor, Workforce Development

NIH Funding Acknowledgment: Important - All publications resulting from the utilization of SC CTSI resources are required to credit the SC CTSI grant by including the NIH funding acknowledgment and must comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.

This program is open to all eligible individuals. SC CTSI operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.