Senior Clinical Research Coordinator, Pediatric Endocrinology

Here is what Laura's nominator had to say about her:  

Laura has been a dedicated clinic research coordinator for 10 years, helping hundreds of patients be able to obtain needed medication for their conditions. She has fundraised and coordinated for many charity walks, like Miles for Migraine. She also serves on the clinic research coordinators committee board and is a mentor and advocate for new clinical research coordinators. Also, her friendly personality and enthusiasm for helping others just puts a smile on your face when you meet and speak with her!

Nominated by Haley Randolph.

Laura’s Bio:

I grew up in the bay area and joined UCSF in the Department of Neurology in 2013 as a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) at the UCSF Headache Center.  I earned my bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, an NCPT National Certified Phlebotomy Technician, CPT-1 license in Phlebotomy, and most recently, Certified Clinical Research Professional, CCRP through the SoCRA society SOCRA The Society of Clinical Research Associates, Inc.  Early in my career, following the good advice from the previous research coordinator that I took over for in Neurology, I attended the Institutional Review Board (IRB) trainings (in person) and passed out my new business cards to the faculty and IRB leadership trainers. Not only was this key advice, but I also met the IRB leadership team that day and was invited to join the Clinical Research Steering Committee (now the CRC Council) Clinical Research Coordinators Council | Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) (ucsf.edu) and it changed the trajectory of my career.

For the past 10 years, I have volunteered as one of the champions of the CRC Council, supporting its mission to advocate for professional development, training, and networking opportunities for the clinical research coordinator community across UCSF and other UC’s. I volunteer with the Research Leadership team to produce important events such as the annual Clinical Trials Day, CRC of the Year Nominations, CRC Social Hours and More, and other key presentations. Among my other volunteer positions, I was one of the original board members on the Miles for Migraine non-profit Miles For Migraine - Finding a Cure for Migraine Begins with You helping organize the Races and the Migraine Teen Camp for families and patients with chronic migraine. I have worked with the clinical trial activation leadership to ensure that study budgets include growth and career development opportunities for clinical research coordinators.  I have worked with my supervisors on my career advancement journey reclassifying from an Assistant Coordinator, to a full Study Coordinator, to now a Senior Study Coordinator, and future Research Manager.  I am currently working to grow the research portfolio in Pediatric Endocrinology under Dr. Maya Lodish and many others Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic | UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals (ucsfbenioffchildrens.org).  I also lead a growing team of research coordinators and encourage the career development and promotion of CRCs.

What advice would you give yourself early on in your career? To a woman entering your field today?

I would give the same advice from the study coordinator before me; she told me to get to know the people who you work with.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Volunteer to be part of networking groups and professional societies of interest.  Ask to be introduced to people who are in a position that you want to be in and ask them questions and get advice. 

Can you tell us about a significant role model or mentor in your life?

Liz Garnett, CCRP is one of my earliest mentors at UCSF.  She started off as an assistant clinical research coordinator and is now the Director of Clinical Research Administration in the Department of Pediatrics and the Resource and Training Advisor of Clinical Trials Operations (CTO).  Early in my career, she taught me how to work with my department and supervisor to advance through and be promoted within the CRC job family and other research leadership roles.  She has inspired me to help grow our division’s research team and has been instrumental in sharing our experiences and needs with clinical research leadership. 

If you could go anywhere for a day, where would you go?

Back to Corfu, Greece!  My husband and I returned from our Mediterranean honeymoon cruise earlier this year: Milano Italia -> Genoa Italia -> Civitavecchia Rome -> Corfu Greece -> Kotor Montenegro -> Split Croatia -> Venice Italia.

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