Cancer Clinical Trials Office Blog

The CCTO welcomes Kathleen Ji, our new CRCA with BMT.  Kathleen graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Integrative Biology.  Her previous job was as a Research Associate at a small biotech startup called ET Healthcare working in R&D on in vitro diagnostic assays.  She’s looking forward to learning more about clinical trial research and working with the amazing faculty and staff in CCTO. Kathleen is excited and proud to be working as a part of the Stanford family.  Please help us welcome Kathleen!

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The CCTO welcomes Yvette Ramirez, our returning CRCA with BMT. 

Yvette graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Human Biology.  She looks forward to working with her team again at Stanford and the CCTO. 

Please help us welcome back Yvette!

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The CCTO welcomes Haitham Oubaali, our new CRCA with BMT.  Haitham graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with degrees in Integrative Physiology as well as Psychology.  His previous position was at CU Boulder as a Research Assistant at the Department of Chemistry. He looks forward to working with the CCTO team and assisting in the clinical trials! 

Please help us welcome Haitham!

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The CCTO welcomes Chloe Ordona, our new RN2 with the Pediatrics Hem Onc Unit.  Chloe graduated from San Jose State University in 2012 with a BSN in Nursing and minor in Nutrition and Food Science.  She previously worked at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital – Stanford Children’s as a Pediatric Oncology Nurse Coordinator at the Bass Center.  While working at Stanford / CCTO, she’s looking forward to expanding her knowledge in Peds Hem/Onc research and learning all about the clinical trials. She truly feel grateful to be working with enthusiastic and passionate group of people dedicated to beating kids cancer.  Aside from her nursing career, Chloe is also a full-time mom to two beautiful children, Klyde and Kiara. Their family enjoys biking, karaoke, cooking, and travelling. Their favorite destination is the beautiful Hawaii.  Please help us welcome Chloe!

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The CCTO welcomes Paige Baker, our new CRCA with GU.  Paige graduated from UCLA with a B.S in Bioengineering just last month in June of 2021. While working at Stanford / CCTO, she’s really looking forward to getting to know the people she’s working with and being a part of something that helps so many people. 

Please help us welcome Paige!

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The CCTO welcomes Ava Daniel, our new CRCA with Breast Oncology.  Ava graduated from Yale University (class of 2020) with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology.  Prior to join the CCTO, she was a Research & Early Development (gRED) Clinical Operations Intern at Genentech.  While working at Stanford / CCTO, she’s excited to be working with patients and to contribute to the success of these clinical trials. She has always had a passion for cancer genomics, so working with both the CCTO and Curtis Lab in these research efforts will be an incredible experience for her!  Please help us welcome Ava!

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The CCTO welcomes Faisal Akhtar, our new CRCA with Breast Oncology.  Faisal graduated from the University of Belgrade,  Faculty of Medicine with an MD.  Prior to joining the CCTO, he was a patient flow coordinator in Radiation Oncology at Stanford.  While working at Stanford / CCTO, he’s looking forward to getting involved with research end of medicine.  Faisal has an addiction to sweets, so please keep the sweets away from him! Please help us welcome Faisal!

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The CCTO welcomes Nuzhat Shaikh, our new CRC2 with Breast Oncology.  Shaikh is an International Medical Graduate. She completed her medical school in India. Shaikh joins us from Maldonado Lab at Stanford where she was working on COVID related research studies. She looks forward to developing new research skills in oncology, particularly women’s health. She is excited to work with all of you and looks forward to sharing some of her homemade bakes and dishes.  Please help us welcome Nuzhat!

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The CCTO welcomes Lynn Marie Floyd, our new Administrative Associate 2 with the Admin Team.  Lynn’s  most recent position was an Administrative Assistant at Nordstrom Stoneridge in Pleasanton.  Her background is primarily retail all on the support side including Customer Service and HR Administrator. She is looking forward to working with such a dynamic team and learning where she fits in the mix! Lynn is also excited to be supporting folks who are on the front lines of Cancer Research.  In her spare time she likes to travel and spend time with her family.  Lynn also loves sports and she’s a big Raiders, A’s and Warriors fan! Please help us welcome Lynn!

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The CCTO welcomes Tyler Richard Seal, our new Administrative Associate 2 with the Admin Team. Tyler graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. in Public Relations.  Previously, Tyler worked as a supervisor at a COVID testing site for travelers. Pre-COVID, Tyler worked as a brand representative for major companies in the events industry. Tyler is looking forward to working in a steady role again that is making a positive impact.  Please help us welcome Tyler!

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The CCTO welcomes Evelyn Tolamatl Ariceaga, our new CRCA with BMT.  Evelyn graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Public Health and a minor in biology.  In her previous position, she worked as a Contact Tracer for Salud Para La Gente based in Watsonville, CA.  While working at Stanford / CCTO, Evelyn is excited to work for a clinical trial office again. She enjoys the realm of research and is excited to contribute to and learn more from it.  She also wants you to know that she’s happy to be here!  Please help us welcome Evelyn!

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The CCTO welcomes Anjali Joseph, our new CRCA with Radiation Oncology.  Anjali graduated from the University of California, Davis in June of 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology. Previously, she worked as a research assistant in GI oncology at the UC Davis Cancer Center. She’s looking forward to learning more about cancer treatment and getting more involved with clinical trials.  Anjali is also excited to join the collaborative and welcoming environment she’s experienced here at Stanford!

The CCTO welcomes Derrick Dubon, our new CRC2 with the Hematology team.  Derrick graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelors in Business Finance.  Before joining the CCTO, her previously worked at UCLA health in their Hematology/Oncology dept as a Clinical Research Coordinator.  While working at Stanford and the CCTO, Derrick is looking forward to learning and working in a new field of research with the top minds in the field at Stanford Medicine.  He’s excited to meet and work with you all!

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The CCTO welcomes Tracy Gonzalez, our new CRCA with the Thoracic Oncology team.  Tracy graduated from the University of California, Merced in 2016 with a B.A. in Psychology and Minor in Art. Currently she is attending the online program at Pepperdine University located in Malibu, CA and is expected to graduate September 2021 with her M.A. in Psychology.  Her previous role involved finances, inventory, HR/Accounting and more as an Events Administrative Manager with the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers.  Tracy is looking forward to learning about all the intricacies of research while becoming a long term member of the Cardinal family.  Although she can be shy at first, she loves meeting and interacting with new people every day and hopes to be of great support to the Stanford community.

The CCTO welcomes Wilson Banh, our new CRCA with GI.  Wilson graduated from UC Irvine with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biological Sciences.  Before joining the CCTO, she transferred from Stanford Healthcare in the Patient Access Services department working as a Bedside Admissions Coordinator.  While working at Stanford / CCTO, Wilson is looking forward to learning about the world of clinical research and incorporating my research experience in drug design in cancer chemotherapy. I was granted the UROP, SURP, and Allergan fellowship to conduct research on a ketoreductase of doxorubicin called DpsE. I analyzed the structure and function of DpsE through x-ray crystallography and in-site directed mutagenesis, respectively.  Outside of work, Wilson’s favorite hobby is dancing and she’s a big movie buff.

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The CCTO welcomes Katy Barnick, our new CRCA with RadOnc.  Katy graduated from the University of Illinois – Champaign Urbana with a degree in Chemical Engineering.  She then completed her Masters at Johns Hopkins University, earning a degree in Biotechnology with a concentration in Bioinformatics.  Prior to joining Stanford, Katy previously worked as a Research Assistant on a pediatric asthma study at Johns Hopkins.  She is looking forward to working at Stanford / CCTO, and is excited to start this new adventure, learn from her amazing colleagues, and hopefully have a positive impact on the Stanford community. Katy loves to bake and makes a mean chocolate chip cookie! 😊  

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The CCTO welcomes Amela Corhodzic, our new Research Administrator 2 with the Finance team.  Amela Graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Tasmania in Australia.  Prior to coming to Stanford, Amela has many years of experience with IT companies and Accounting Firms as a Revenue Accountant or Staff Accountant.  Amela has recently developed a passion for this space, due to the way in which we can positively influence our communities through the development of new medicines and vaccines.  She has recently been independently learning about this space through classes at UC Berkeley. While with the CCTO, Amela looks forward to supporting the PI and medical team through administrative sponsored projects, financial SRM, budgetary performance and cost analysis and hope to learn more about oncology in a professional setting. She is also exited to celebrate with different groups at the university and get to know all of you personally.  Amela also wants you to know she’s originally from Bosnia has also previously lived in Australia, where she completed her Bachelors Degree at UTAS (the little island at the bottom).  In her spare time outside of work she likes to stay active and enjoys swimming, biking and hanging with family and her dog Mickey (Australian Shepherd).

The CCTO welcomes Kristin Muller, our new CRCA with Blood & Marrow Transplant.  Kristin graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.S. in Health Education and two minors, Holistic Health and Women’s Health Issues. Before coming to Stanford, she previously worked for Amazon while finishing up her Bachelor’s degree.  While with the CCTO, Kristin is looking forward to collaborating with others as a team and contributing to advancements in medical research. She is eager to learn from her colleagues, explore her interests, and make a difference with her contributions.  Kristin is a Certified Health Education Specialist who is passionate about promoting health equity. She enjoys hiking and spending quality time with friends and family. 

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The CCTO welcomes Sneha Jariwala, our new CRCA with Pediatrics/CCT Oncology. Sneha graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz in March 2021 with a degree in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. She also won a Dean’s and Chancellor’s award for her research project on pediatric high-risk leukemias!  Before joining the CCTO, Sneha previously worked for Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative during her time at UC Santa Cruz as a researcher and lab assistant. Sneha is looking forward to getting involved in clinical trial coordination and making a difference for childhood cancer families that come to Stanford for treatment. She’s also excited to be entering such a welcoming and collaborative environment at the CCTO!

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The CCTO welcomes Karen Lepuschenko, our new (remote, from Vermont) Clinical Research Quality Monitor with the Quality team.  Karen graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition & Food Science.    Karen has worked in the research field for 19 years.  Before joining the CCTO, she previously worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator III in the Office of Clinical Trials Research at the University of Vermont Medical Center for 13 years.  She has supported trials in the areas of Hematology and Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Ophthalmology, and Otolaryngology.  Her trials have involved both Primary Investigator Initiated and Pharmaceutical Industry clinical trials, from phase I through IV with areas of focus in drug treatment, device, and pain management.  While at Stanford, Karen is looking forward to building on her current knowledge base and growing in her new role, forming strong relationships along the way and working towards the common goal of patient safety and research integrity.  Karen would also like to note how welcoming everyone has been and that she is very excited to be a part of the community.  Outside of work, Karen and her husband enjoy spending their time traveling, when possible, and welcome the opportunities it provides to gain new perspectives.  When not traveling, they enjoy the same various outdoor activities locally, such as hiking, biking, and kayaking, along with spending time in their back-yard with their family, friends and pets. 

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The CCTO welcomes Beverly Kwan, our new CRCA with Gastrointestinal Oncology. Beverly graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology.  Prior to joining the CCTO, her previous job position was a Patient Access Representative at Stanford Health Care in the Cancer Center in Palo Alto.  While working at Stanford / CCTO, she is looking forward to learning about all the clinical trials being conducted in her department and getting familiarized with how clinical trials work in general. She is also looking forward to meeting new people and getting to know her colleagues better! Please don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation with Beverly! She is always open to good food and show/movie recommendations!

The CCTO welcomes Sujatha Kalle, our new Clinical Research Coordinator 2 with Gynecology.  Sujatha studied at Sri Venkateswara Medical College (NTR University of Health Sciences, AP, India) and received a Bachelors Degree in Medicine and Surgery (M.B.B.S).  Before joining the CCTO, she was a CRC2 with Cardiovascular Medicine here at Stanford University School of Medicine.  While at Stanford and the CCTO, Sujatha looks forward to gaining more experience managing a variety of Gynae-Onc trials and contributing her skills and experience to the growth of the team. She’s excited to join an amazing team and looking forward to learning and growing in this field.

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The CCTO welcomes Mandy Yun Zeng, our new CRCA with Blood and Marrow Transplant.  Mandy studied at UC Berkeley and received a B.A. in Integrative Biology- Human Development.  Prior to joining the CCTO, she was a Lead mouse and cell culture researcher studying stress pathways associated with various age-related diseases in the Dillin Lab at UC Berkeley.  She’s looking forward to taking her interests in biomedical research and seeing it applied in a clinical setting, while getting to know the CCTO team and its’ valued patients!  Fun fact: Mandy spends her free time trying out new places to eat and taking her dog out to play!

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Rishab Jain graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. In 2020 he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health and in 2021 he graduated with a Masters of Public Health with a focus in Epidemiology. He previously worked on a variety of research studies; community based nutrition research, COVID-19 data tracking, and retinal effects of type 2 diabetes medication. Rishab looks forward to creating new relationships and expanding his knowledge during his time at Stanford. He is excited to be in a place with so much history and is eager to help advance the research being done at the CCTO. Outside of work, Rishab is passionate about playing and watching basketball. He also recently adopted a miniature dachshund puppy and enjoys spending his free time with his puppy!