Unsung but Impactful Heroes of Clinical Research
Celebrating the Contributions of Clinical Research Professionals
Each year, we honor dedicated professionals who drive clinical research through our platforms.
2025 Unsung Heroes
Aby Dia
Clinical Research Navigator,
HCLTech Clinical Research Contact Center
With over a decade of experience as a Behavioral Therapist, Aby Dia has dedicated her career to supporting individuals, especially children, through their psychological development and emotional well-being. Her journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix, driven by a deep passion for mental health and advocacy for underserved communities.
Today, she brings that same compassion and dedication to her role as a Clinical Research Navigator at the HCLTech Clinical Research Contact Center, where she helps patients and caregivers connect with life-changing studies. This role allows her to merge her therapeutic background with her passion for science, education, and community outreach, ensuring that every participant feels seen, heard, and supported throughout the research process.
Crystal Bruner
Recruitment & Marketing Coordinator,
Center for Clinical Studies, LTD. LLP
Crystal Bruner brings nearly 12 years of experience at the Center for Clinical Studies (CCS), where she oversees patient recruitment and advertising while managing marketing initiatives, including content creation, website management, SEO, branding, and providing administrative support to senior management. With a background in photography and marketing, Crystal offers her unique perspective on the importance of design and advertising in successful recruitment.
She believes that visually appealing ads are essential to capturing attention and encouraging potential participants to pause and learn more. Her approach emphasizes building trust through branding, personalized outreach, messaging, and creating visuals that resonate with target audiences, which helps increase engagement and expand access to underserved communities.
While recruiting patients can be challenging, Crystal finds it incredibly rewarding to help individuals discover research opportunities that could improve their lives and potentially lead to the creation of new treatments for future generations.
Diana Velazquez
Parexel FSP,
Patient Engagement Systems Coordinator
Diana Velazquez is a Patient Engagement Systems Coordinator at Parexel. She holds a degree in Biology from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in Mexico City, followed by a Master's degree in neuroendocrinology and bioinformatics. During this time, she conducted basic research that led to the publication of several academic papers.
The pandemic marked a turning point in her career, leading her to pursue Clinical Investigation—a field she has been dedicated to since 2020. She is passionate about helping patients find the most appropriate clinical trials and supports recruitment efforts across a range of therapeutic areas, including COVID, breast cancer, multiple myeloma, migraine, lung cancer, RSV infection, asthma, and vitiligo. While still early in her clinical research career, she is committed to making a meaningful impact in the field. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her pets, discovering new cuisines with friends, and cooking for her family. A devoted fan of Japanese anime, she hopes to visit Japan in the near future.
Dr. Jillian L. Rosengard
Associate Professor of Neurology
Montefiore Medical Center,
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Jillian Rosengard is a board-certified neurologist specializing in epilepsy, with a clinical focus on intractable epilepsy and the care of women with epilepsy during pregnancy. She serves as Associate Professor of Neurology and Co-Director of the Neurology Clerkship at Montefiore and Einstein, where she is also actively involved in mentoring and medical education.
After earning her BA from Harvard and MD from Mount Sinai, Dr. Rosengard completed her neurology residency as Chief Resident at Mount Sinai and a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at Einstein. Her research focuses on seizure prediction, the impact of COVID-19 on epilepsy patients, and clinical trials for new anti-seizure medications. She currently leads a study evaluating caregiver ability to detect pre-seizure signs and is developing an electronic seizure diary app in collaboration with TrialX.
Kayleigh Greenwood
Patient Engagement Specialist,
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Kayleigh Greenwood has been a Patient Engagement Specialist at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research for over 3 years. During that time, she has reviewed numerous clinical trial protocols and materials, providing feedback and recommendations to make them more patient-friendly and accessible. Kayleigh also manages the Foundation’s online clinical trial tool, Fox Trial Finder, which has connected nearly 12,000 Parkinson’s patients, caregivers, and family members with clinical research opportunities.
Krista Goedel
Clinical Digital Content Lead,
Sanofi
With 20 years of experience in clinical research, Krista Goedel has worked in various roles, ranging from recruitment study coordinator to monitor to project manager across pharmaceutical, device, and immunoassay studies. Currently, she works as a Digital Content Creator for SanofiStudies.com, a website designed to help patients learn more about clinical trials and explore opportunities to participate.
Dr. Michael Privitera
Professor of Neurology,
University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute
Dr. Michael Privitera is Professor of Neurology and holds the Matthew B. Lindner and Michael Privitera, MD Endowed Chair. He is the Director and Founder of the Epilepsy Center at the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute.
He leads a multidisciplinary team of epileptologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, and nuclear medicine specialists who have been at the forefront of epilepsy medical and surgical treatments since 1987. His research portfolio includes participation in over 60 clinical trials of new antiseizure medications, along with more recent work in seizure forecasting. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts. Dr. Privitera is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in the field of epilepsy. He served as president of the American Epilepsy Society in 2016 and has received multiple honors and awards throughout his career. He has mentored dozens of fellows and faculty, consistently secured peer-reviewed research funding, published in high-impact journals, and served on NIH and FDA review committees.
Paulina Anaya Cárdenas
Parexel FSP,
Patient Engagement Systems Coordinator
Paulina Cárdenas is a Patient Recruitment Systems Coordinator for Parexel. In this role, she coordinates different systems and tools that support patient recruitment in clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas, including Oncology, Vaccines, Immunology, Rare Diseases, and Internal Medicine. Her academic background includes a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in biochemistry from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she focused on genetics, epigenetics, microbiology, biotechnology, molecular biology, and cellular biology. With four years of experience in clinical trials and five years in the pharmaceutical industry, she began her career as a Database Analyst at a leading health information management company in Mexico.
She later joined Parexel as a Clinical Trials Team Assistant, where she worked for nearly two years before stepping into her current role. Today, she collaborates closely with study teams to maximize the use of patient recruitment tools—primarily iConnect—to efficiently and effectively meet recruitment goals. She is passionate about contributing to the advancement of therapies for patients and enhancing the experience of clinical trial participants. For her, hearing patients share stories about how their lives have improved through therapeutic advances is one of the most rewarding parts of her work.
Dr. Sheryl Haut
Professor of Neurology
Montefiore Medical Center,
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Sheryl Haut is a Professor of Neurology and Director of the Adult Epilepsy Program at Montefiore-Einstein, where she also serves as Chief of Service for Neurology. She is board-certified in Neurology and Epilepsy, and previously directed both the Neurology Residency Program and the Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship at Montefiore-Einstein.
Her research interests focus on the temporal distribution of seizures, seizure precipitants with emphasis on stress, and seizure self-prediction. She has investigated the phenomenon of seizure clustering and precipitants extensively through outpatient diary studies and cohorts undergoing inpatient epilepsy monitoring. She was the co-principal investigator of a large randomized controlled trial of stress reduction to reduce seizures, using smartphone diaries to collect data on precipitants and self-prediction.Dr. Haut has served as chair of the North American Commission of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and is currently co-chair of the ILAE Leadership Task Force.
Tarlan Daryoush
Clinical Research Coordinator,
University of Pennsylvania
Tarlan Daryoush is a Clinical Research Coordinator and Project Manager for the Psychiatric Biomarkers Network (PBN) Study, a multi-site longitudinal project at the University of Pennsylvania investigating biological markers of schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum disorders. Since 2021, she has contributed to a wide range of NIH-funded and industry-sponsored studies, supporting participant recruitment, neuroimaging, biospecimen collection, and clinical assessments.
In addition to managing the PBN study, Tarlan serves as the CNB Training Manager, leading the implementation and certification process for standardized cognitive testing across Penn and its research partners.
She earned her BA in Cognitive Science from McGill University, where she began her research career studying social neuroscience using EEG. Prior to her role at Penn, she worked in the education sector, applying cognitive science-based strategies to help students with learning disabilities improve reading and language skills. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Behavioral and Decision Sciences, Tarlan aims to integrate behavioral science with clinical research to better understand and address the barriers to equitable mental healthcare delivery. Her work reflects a strong commitment to both scientific rigor and patient-centered care.
2024 Unsung Heroes
David Wallach
Director, Regulatory Affairs and Business Operations, Office of Science & Research,
NYU Langone Health
David Wallach is an accomplished Regulatory Affairs/HRPP Director with extensive experience in all facets of human research regulations. With a background in computer science, David specializes in FDA IND/IDE, metrics, process re-engineering, and quality assurance audits. His expertise extends to IRB/human research regulations, compliance, software implementation, and team management. Through his in-depth knowledge and a versatile skill set, David aims to ensure the highest standards in human research and regulatory compliance.
Elizabeth DeLuca
Director of Marketing and Patient Recruitment, CenExel FCR
As Director of Marketing and Recruitment at CenExel FCR, Elizabeth DeLuca prioritizes the human aspect of clinical research. She understands the importance of remembering that behind every data point, protocol, and deadline, there are human beings with emotions, feelings, and concerns. With over 25 years of experience, she began her career as a Clinical Research Coordinator, where a poignant moment solidified her dedication to compassionate care.
Witnessing the impact of smoking cessation on a patient and his grandson, she vowed to provide personalized, empathetic support to all participants. It has been her passion to provide the best “HUMAN” care to her patients which means building trust, recognizing patients as individuals, and actively listening.
Kaitlyn DeRouen
Clinical Research Coordinator, University of Pennsylvania
Kaitlyn is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at the Perelman School of Medicine. She embarked on her clinical research journey at the prestigious University of Virginia, delving into areas such as sports medicine and diabetes technology. Currently stationed at the forefront of innovation at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, Kaitlyn is focused on behavioral weight loss and the drug Semaglutide.
But her quest for knowledge doesn't stop there! With an unwavering commitment to improving lives and sights set on even greater heights, she is gearing up to embark on a new academic adventure — pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology at East Carolina University, with a specialization in weight loss management.
Mahasweta Dutt
Associate Director,
Clinical Research Operations, Office of Clinical Research, University of Pennsylvania
Maha boasts a robust educational foundation in Clinical Research Regulatory Affairs, Biotechnology, and Life Sciences. At Penn Medicine, the overarching objective is to introduce novel treatments and pioneering methodologies to enhance patients' well-being.
In her role at the Office of Clinical Research, Maha’s portfolio includes navigating clinical research sites through the intricate web of resources offered at Penn Medicine.This encompasses patient recruitment, adherence to training protocols, the seamless implementation of research applications, and, most importantly, providing support to patients and caregivers as they navigate the process of identifying the most suitable clinical trial for their needs.
Megan Ivey
Research Manager, University of Pennsylvania
Megan Ivey is a dedicated Research Manager at the University of Pennsylvania. Her passion for research blossomed during her undergraduate years at St. Joseph's University, where she realized her calling. She finds fulfillment in the meticulous process of testing ideas to uncover effective solutions, or equally significant, identifying what doesn't work.
While generating original ideas has been a challenge, she excels in translating investigators' funded concepts into actionable initiatives. With over two decades of experience in grant-funded research at Penn, Megan continues to embrace each day as an opportunity for growth and learning. Her diverse portfolio includes contributions to assessment creation, validation, long-term socio-behavioral studies, medication development, and COVID vaccine research. As the research landscape evolves, Megan remains committed to her field, aspiring to contribute for many more years, given the right opportunities and resources.
Nicole Luks
Patient Recruitment & Marketing Coordinator, DemCare Management
Nicole Luks is a seasoned professional in the dermatology sector, presently serving as the Patient Recruitment and Marketing Coordinator across all research sites at DermCare Management. With over 4 years of experience in dermatology, Nicole's passion for the field steered her towards specialization in research, where she has dedicated the past 3 years of her career.
Her deep understanding of dermatological conditions, treatments, and procedures, coupled with her expertise in patient recruitment strategies, makes her an invaluable asset to the research team. Nicole's passion for dermatology is palpable in her dedication to advancing knowledge and treatments. Beyond her professional endeavors, she enjoys quality time with friends and family, relishing beach outings, but never leaves without her sunscreen.
Thomas Hohing
Recruitment Specialist,
Office of Clinical Research,
University of Pennsylvania
Tom brings over 20 years of experience to his role as a Recruitment Specialist at UPenn’s Office of Clinical Research, where he joined in February 2021. Armed with a master’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising from Rowan University, Tom has honed his expertise in recruiting, dedicating six years specifically at Penn. Passionate about supporting research teams, he is dedicated to leveraging iConnect to help them achieve their recruitment objectives efficiently and effectively.
