Directors:

Team members are organized alphabetically.

Thomas Buchanan Thomas Buchanan, MD SC CTSI Director/Principal Investigator Meet Leadership
Michele Kipke Michele Kipke, PhD Institute Co-Director; Engagement Research Unit Co-Lead; Director of Community Engagement Meet Leadership Meet Community Engagement
Jose-Luis Ambite Jose-Luis Ambite, PhD Director of Data Science Meet Leadership Meet Data Science Meet Clinical Research Informatics
Nicki Apaydin Nicki K. Apaydin, PhD Director of Communications Meet Leadership Meet Communications
Mayla Boguslav Mayla R. Boguslav, PhD Director of Team Science Meet Leadership Meet Team Science
Elizabeth Burner Elizabeth Burner, MD, MPH, PhD Director of Mentored Career Development (KL2) Program Meet Leadership Meet KL2 Meet Workforce Development
Kaytee Canfield Kaytee Canfield, PhD Director of Evaluation & Improvement Meet Project Evaluation Meet Leadership Meet Evaluation & Improvement
David Friedland David R. Friedland, MD, PhD Resources and Services Unit Lead; Director of Clinical Research Services Meet Clinical Research Services Meet Clinical Research Support
Cathelin Huang Cathelin Huang, MHS Success Liaison Research Specialist, Central Management Meet Project Quality & Oversight
Linda Ko Linda K. Ko, PhD Director of Dissemination and Implementation Meet Dissemination & Implementation Science
Dario Kuzmanović Dario Kuzmanović, MHSc, CHPC, CHRC Program Director, Data Science Meet Leadership Meet Data Science Meet Clinical Research Informatics
Wendy Mack Wendy Mack, PhD Director of Biostatistics Services Meet Leadership Meet Biostatistics
Allison Orechwa Allison Zumberge Orechwa, PhD, MBA Institute Executive Director Meet Leadership
Eunjoo Pacifici Eunjoo Pacifici, PharmD, PhD Director of Regulatory Science Services Meet Regulatory Science Meet Leadership
Kathleen “Katie” Page Kathleen “Katie” Page, MD, MS TRAX Unit Co-Lead; Director of Translational Science Accelerator Meet Major Research Programs Meet Translational Science Accelerator (TRAX) Meet Research Development Meet Leadership
Jennifer Romero Jennifer Romero Director of Operations & Engagement Meet Leadership Meet Administration & Operations
Wendy Rosero Wendy Rosero, MPA Director of Business & Finance Meet Leadership Meet Administration & Operations
Tamara Simon Tamara Simon, MD, MSPH, FAAP Institute Co-Director, CHLA; Workforce Development Unit Lead; Director of Workforce Development Meet Leadership Meet Workforce Development
Amytis "Amy" Towfighi Amytis "Amy" Towfighi, MD Director of Translational Science Innovation: Moving Ideas to Impact; Director, Healthcare Delivery Science Meet Leadership Meet Healthcare Delivery Science
Ramon Durazo-Arvizu Ramon Durazo-Arvizu, PhD Co-Director of Biostatistics, CHLA Meet Leadership Meet Biostatistics
Susan Firestone Susan Firestone, MD Data Science Co-Director, CHLA Meet Leadership Meet Data Science Meet Clinical Research Informatics
Benson Kuo Benson Kuo, PhD Co-Director of Regulatory Science Services Meet Regulatory Science Meet Leadership
Trevor Pickering Trevor Pickering, PhD Co-Director of Biostatistics Services, USC Meet Leadership Meet Biostatistics
Tony Succar Tony Succar, PhD, MScMed (OphthSc) Co-Director of Regulatory Science Services Meet Regulatory Science Meet Leadership
Amy West Amy E. West, Ph.D., ABPP Co-Director of Mentored Career Development (KL2) Program Meet Leadership Meet KL2 Meet Workforce Development
Nicole Wolfe Nicole Wolfe, PhD Co-Director of Community Engagement Meet Leadership Meet Community Engagement
Yolanda Gutierrez Yolanda Gutierrez, CCRC, BS Assistant Director for Clinical Operations, Clinical Trials Unit Meet Leadership

Teams:

Team members are organized alphabetically.

Hakob Abajian Hakob Abajian Software Engineer, Data Science
Maryam Abdallah Maryam Abdallah, BA Senior Research Informatics Analyst, Data Science
Amila Adili Amila Adili, MPH Statistician I, Biostatistics Services
Praveen Angyan Praveen Angyan, MS Technical Solutions Architect, Data Science
Encarnita Aranda Encarnita Aranda, RN, MBA Senior Research Nurse, Clinical Trials Unit
Adriana Argaiz Adriana Argaiz, MSSP Program Manager, Community Engagement
George Aurea George Aurea Phlebotomist, Clinical Trials Unit
Julya Barahona Julya Barahona Administrative Assistant, Central Management
Lilit Baronikian Lilit Baronikian, BS Laboratory Manager, Clinical Trials Unit
Anoopindar Bhalla Anoopindar Bhalla, MD, MSCI Research Success Teams Senior Mentor, Workforce Development
Porsche Boddicker-Young Porsche Boddicker-Young, PhD Strategic Manager, Training & Outreach Division
Eileen Burke-Klein Eileen Burke-Klein, BSN, MSN Research Nurse, Clinical Trials Unit
Karen Busa Karen Busa, MSLM, MSHRM Program Specialist, Workforce Development
Rosalba Cain Rosalba Cain Community Outreach Coordinator, Community Engagement
Johanna Cajabon Johanna Carrera Cajabon, BA Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Services
Sara Calderon Sara Calderon Community Outreach Coordinator, Community Engagement
Rachel Carmen Ceasar Rachel Carmen Ceasar, PhD Qualitative Research Methods Specialist, Biostatistics Services
Tracy Chen Tracy Chen, MS Statistician I, Biostatistics Services
Amy Chuang Amy Chuang, MS Data Team Lead, Data Science
Ronéy Cobbs Ronéy Cobbs, BS Project Coordinator, Workforce Development
Casey Covarrubias Casey Covarrubias, MPH Program Manager, Workforce Development
Denise De Los Santos Denise De Los Santos, BA Resources & Services Navigator and Recruitment Specialist, Resources & Services Unit
Sabrina Derrington Sabrina Derrington, MD, MA, HEC-C Faculty Lead, Research Ethics, Workforce Development
Li Ding Li Ding, MD, PhD, MPH Statistician I, Biostatistics Services
Brian Do-Golden Brian Do-Golden, MPH, CHES Research and Evaluation Analyst, Community Engagement
Jeanne Dzekov McKean Jeanne Dzekov McKean, BA Program Manager, Mentored Career Development (KL2)
Sherette Flowers Sherette Flowers, RN, NP, MSN Research Nurse, Clinical Trials Unit
Allison Foy Allison Foy, MSN, RN Clinical Research Informaticist
Alma Garcia Alma Garcia Community Outreach Coordinator, Community Engagement
Daniella Garofalo Daniella Garofalo, MPA Program Manager, Data Science
Ivy Hoang Ivy Hoang, BS Communications Assistant, Central Management
Alla Hovhannisyan Alla Hovhannisyan, MHA Program Specialist, Data Science
Su Jung Su Jung, RN/BSN Research Nurse, Clinical Trials Unit
Lorraine Kelley-Quon Lorraine Kelley-Quon, MD, MSHS, FACS, FAAP Instructor for Mentor Training Program, Workforce Development
Mimi Kim Mimi Kim, MD, MSc Program Lead, CTSI Horizons, Workforce Development
Chun Nok (Jonathan) Lam Chun Nok (Jonathan) Lam, PhD, MPH Senior Informatics Specialist, Data Science, LAHS
Nisa Lam Nisa Lam, BA Project Specialist, Central Management
Jeremiah Lee Jeremiah Lee, MS Project Specialist, Regulatory Science
Melissa Lee Melissa Lee, MSN Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Trials Unit
Saurav Limbu Saurav Limbu Business Data Analyst, Data Science
Beau MacDonald Beau MacDonald, MA Software Developer, Data Science
Sara Madrigal Sara Madrigal Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Services
Karen Manrique Karen Manrique, MS Program Administrator, Regulatory Science Services
Ruzanna Margaryan Ruzanna Margaryan, RN Protocol Coordinator, Clinical Trials Unit
Fathia Mohamud Fathia Mohamud, BA Senior Clinical Lab Technician, Clinical Trials Unit
Brianna Morales Brianna Morales Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Services
Kaelyn Moses Kaelyn Moses, MPH Program Specialist, Translational Science Accelerator
Tameka Nunley Tameka Nunley Budget/Business Analyst, Central Management
Ari Padilla Ari Padilla, MBA Program Manager, Clinical Research Services
Joanne Pak Joanne Pak, BS Budget and Coverage Analyst, Clinical Research Services
Alicia Papanek Alicia Papanek, MS, CHES Dissemination & Implementation Coordinator
Eric Pedersen Eric Pedersen, Ph.D. Faculty Lead, Seminar Series, Workforce Development
Vanessa Ramos Vanessa Ramos, MPH Statistician I, Biostatistics Services
Rosa Rangel Rosa Rangel, BS Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Services
Jennifer Rivera Jennifer Rivera Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Services
Mayra Rubio-Diaz Mayra Rubio-Diaz Program Manager, Community Engagement
Brandyn Ruiz Brandyn Ruiz, MS Programmer Analyst II, Data Science
Swaroop Samek Swaroop Samek, MS Senior Software and Systems Engineer, Data Science
Natayla Seals Natayla Seals Community Outreach Coordinator, Community Engagement
Anika Shah Anika Shah Student Worker, Regulatory Science Services
Saira Shah Saira Shah, MPH Evaluation & Improvement Coordinator
Hira Sherazi Hira Sherazi, BS Programmer Analyst, Data Science
Lindsay Slay Lindsay Lee Slay, MSW Program Manager, Workforce Development
Beth Smith Beth Ann Smith, PT, DPT, PhD Instructor for Mentor Training Program, Workforce Development
Kimny Sysawang Kimny Sysawang Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Services
Lisa Thai Lisa Thai, MPH Program Administrator, Healthcare Delivery Science
Celine Tran Celine Tran, MS Program Specialist, Data Science
Nhu Tran Nhu Tran, PhD, MS CTBI, MSN, BSN Director of Introduction to Clinical and Translational Research Study Design (ICTR SD)
Choo Phei Wee Choo Phei Wee, MS Statistician II, Biostatistics Services
John Wilson John Wilson, LLB Hons, BSc Hons, MSc, PhD Geospatial Lead, Data Science
Melissa Wilson Melissa L. Wilson, MPH, PhD Senior Statistician, Biostatistics Services
Gordon Wimpress Gordon D Wimpress, BSc, BA Technical Project Specialist, Central Management
Elizabeth Zelinski Elizabeth Zelinski, PhD Advisor for KL2 and Research Success Teams

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.

For our complete Terms of Use, including privacy and legal compliance statements, click HERE.  Copyright © 2026 SC CTSI: Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute at USC and CHLA. All rights reserved.