Center for Clinical and Translational Science

We would like to welcome the following new staff members at the Center for Clinical and Translational Science:

Suzanne Ouyang joined the Clinical Research Support Office as a Recruitment Assistant on October 28, 2008. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BS in Biological Sciences. Ms. Ouyang is responsible for facilitating recruitment efforts for investigators in the Clinical Research Support Office in various ways, including conducting phone screens and scheduling potential volunteers. She is also responsible for maintaining the repository database (as detailed in protocol RKO-0648), which is an IRB-approved database of the contact information for over 1,700 healthy volunteers who are interested in being contacted for research studies. Her contact information is souyang@rockefeller.edu, 212-327-7709.

Ms. Caroline Melendez joined the Clinical Research Support Office as a Recruitment Specialist on September 1, 2009. Ms. Melendez earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and has extensive experience with participant recruitment and promoting awareness and educational opportunities through her previous employment as an Associate Director of Client Services and Manager of Clinical Trial Information Services at EmergingMed, a clinical trial education and navigation service for cancer patients based in New York City. She has also worked as a Victim / Witness Coordinator through the Bastrop District Attorney Office, a Care Manager in the Guardianship Program of Family Eldercare, a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional at Austin Children’s Center, and a Volunteer Specialist at SafePlace, a domestic violence/sexual assault survival center in Austin, Texas. As a Recruitment Specialist, Ms. Melendez is responsible for providing recruitment services to all Rockefeller University Hospital investigators, including personalized consultations, tailored recruitment plans, and creation and placement of ad copy. Her contact information is cmelendez@rockefeller.edu; 212-327-8409.

Mr. Ross Gillman joined the Biomedical Informatics Core in the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences on September 27, 2009. Mr. Gillman graduated from the University at Buffalo with a BS in Business Administration and a concentration in Management Information System. His previous work experience includes the implementation, support, and training of various computer systems as a Project Coordinator at The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company and as an Associate Project Manager at The Rockefeller University. He was one of the Project Managers on the successful implementation of the Integrated Administrative Systems Project (Oracle IAS system) at Rockefeller. Within the Biomedical Informatics Core, Mr. Gillman is responsible for configuring and supporting the Center’s research protocol management tool, Integrated Research Information System (iRIS). His contact information is: rossg@rockefeller.edu; 212-327-8930.

Ms. Patricia Balacich joined the Office of Regulatory Affairs in the Rockefeller University Hospital on September 28, 2009. Ms. Balacich has a Master’s Degree in Italian from New York University, a Master’s Degree in teaching Italian grades 7-12 from Pace University, and a BA in Journalism from New York University. Prior to joining Rockefeller University, Ms. Balacich taught Italian language at the college and high school level. She also has experience in the nonprofit sector as a grant writer and fundraiser working for various arts and children’s organizations in New York City. As the new Medical Staff Services Coordinator, Ms. Balacich will be responsible for credentialing all of the medical staff at Rockefeller University Hospital by obtaining, verifying and assessing each practitioner’s qualifications to practice. Her contact information is: pbalacich@rockefeller.edu; 212-327-8813.