CTU Team
The CTU Team is a group of motivated research professionals who are inspired by the brilliant faculty with whom we work. We truly enjoy clinical research and we always look to add value to our partners.
Amanda Baer
Senior Director of Clinical Research Operations
baer2@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 349-5023
Amanda has been at Penn for 17+ years and has broad experience in a diverse range of therapeutic areas. She has extensive experience managing phase I—IV clinical trials and leads a highly productive DOM Clinical Trials Unit consisting of research project managers, coordinators, assistants, and regulatory manager. She has served on the Penn IRB as well as on numerous advisory committees and task forces to improve clinical research and human subjects protection. She brings her entrepreneurial spirit to the team and specializes in Research Operations, Strategy, Process Improvement and Mentoring.
Haideliza Soto-Calderon
Associate Director
haideliza.soto-calderon@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 662-4491
Haideliza is an Associate Director with 20+ years of experience in research. She has experience in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry. Haideliza has project managed phase I-IV clinical trials for investigational devices and drugs in gene therapy, cardiology, hematology, infectious disease (COVID-19), pulmonary, gynecological cancer, rheumatology, sleep, and translational medicine. She excels in working with sick patients, subject retention, and has vast experience completing and maintaining regulatory documentation. She has overseen a multisite clinical trial for the American Society of Hematology. Haideliza serves as a program manager of the clinical core of Penn’s Center for AIDS Research (CFAR).
Melissa Fernando
Senior Project Manager
fernand@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 662-2025
Melissa is a senior project manager with over 15 years of research experience at Penn Medicine. She has over 10 years of experience in end-to-end clinical trial management. She has a successful track record of running complex multi-center research trials both within the US and internationally. Her key experiences include leading multi-site study launch; project and database management; coordination and implementation; and regulatory management and documentation. Melissa is passionate about leading and developing teams, working on trials in innovative areas, and delivering impactful benefits for patients. Melissa serves as a program manager of the clinical core of Penn’s Center for AIDS Research (CFAR).
Liz Beothy
Project Manager
eabeothy@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 615-0310
Liz is a Project Manager with 20+ years of experience in human subjects research at Penn Medicine, in areas such as ENT, surgery, cardiology, radiology, oncology, sleep medicine, and psychiatry. She has dedicated her career to advancing medical practice through scientific inquiry. Prior to joining the CTU, Liz spent 7 years as the research manager and compliance officer for the Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, overseeing all aspects of the department’s clinical research program. She has extensive experience with regulatory compliance and IRB submissions, as well as the management and conduct of industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated drug, device, tissue, observational, and retrospective studies from start-up to closure, and the recruitment, training, and mentorship of high-caliber clinical research personnel.
Lauren Vincent
Regulatory Specialist
laurv@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Lauren is a Regulatory Specialist with 7+ years of experience in research. Before joining the DOM CTU in 2021, she worked as a clinical regulatory coordinator in the Lipid/Atherosclerosis Clinical Trials Unit. She has extensive experience in regulatory and monitoring. Lauren has a B.S. in Public Health from Temple University, a Master’s in Regulatory Affairs from University of Pennsylvania, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Bioethics.
Yvette Frimpong
Clinical Research Coordinator
yvette.frimpong@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 573-5107
Before joining the CTU in September 2019, Yvette graduated from Penn with a Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience. While at Penn, she genotyped mouse DNA at a CHOP cancer research lab and, later, was a research assistant with a psychology research lab, where she recruited child and adult participants and conducted studies involving number cognition. In the DOM CTU Yvette has gained a wealth of experience including work in lipids, Huntington’s disease, pulmonary, imaging, and others. Yvette hopes to accumulate a diverse skill set while at the CTU so that she can one day become a well-rounded physician and help advance healthcare in Africa.
Busra Karatas
Clinical Research Coordinator
busra.karatas@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Busra is a clinical research coordinator. Before joining the DOM CTU she worked at Investigational Drug Services at HUP as a clinical research technician for two years. She graduated from Rutgers University in 2019 with a B.A in Biology. Busra plans on continuing her education with PA school.
Brenda Bobo
Clinical Research Coordinator
brenda.bobo@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Brenda later completed a pre-medical post-baccalaureate certificate and is currently earning a Master’s in Biomedical Sciences. She has wide-ranging research experience, from working in a lab centered on modulating the therapeutic index of radiation therapy and photodynamic therapy in cancer patients, to co-investigating a novel texting platform that aimed to prevent toxicity and symptom progression during concurrent radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Brenda hopes to one day soon become a physician working to have positive and lasting impact in her local and global community alike.
Katherine Villarin
Clinical Research Coordinator
katherine.villarin@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Katherine joined the CTU in July of 2021 after graduating from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology. Since joining the unit, she has worked on projects with the departments of Endocrinology, Oncology, Pulmonology, and Neurology. Katherine looks forward to broadening her research expertise with the CTU and pursuing a graduate degree in Public Health.
Christina Katehis
Clinical Research Coordinator
christina.katehis@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 615-0512
Christina joined the CTU in November of 2021 after graduating from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor's of Science in Biology. Prior to the CTU, she had experience working for community health clinics in Chicago but wanted to take part in clinical research and gain more exposure to different medical specialties. She hopes to gain more valuable clinical skills and broaden her medical knowledge prior to pursuing a graduate degree in Physican Assistant studies.
Gabrielle Grosso
Clinical Research Coordinator
gabrielle.grosso@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 662-4491
Gabrielle joined the CTU in March of 2022 after earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology from Drexel University. Prior to joining the team, she worked in the Neurosurgery Clinical Research Division at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where she assisted in the conduction of various brain trauma and tumor resection studies. As a Clinical Research Coordinator with the CTU, Gabrielle hopes to gain an array of skills surrounding the clinical, laboratorial, and administrative tasks involved in the execution of clinical research before continuing her education.
Kishon Chambers
Clinical Research Coordinator
kishon.chambers@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 220-9423
Kishon is a clinical research coordinator here in the DOM CTU. In 2019, Kishon earned a BS in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise and Sports Science. With 5+ years of experience in bedside medicine, Kishon brings lots of clinical expertise to the DOM CTU; he is also a NREMT/PA registered EMT. Kishon hopes to gain more skills through his experiences here at the DOM CTU prior to applying to graduate programs.
Sarah Cohen
Clinical Research Coordinator
sarah.cohen1@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 573-6320
Sarah is a Clinical Research Coordinator with 2 years of experience. She has worked in genetics and orthopedic surgery with teenagers and their families, and has experience fielding calls at a crisis center. Currently in DOM CTU Sarah is working on projects about sleep apnea, interstitial lung disease, renal transplant, and breast cancer. Sarah specializes in increasing user-friendliness of data collection forms while ensuring their accuracy and validity.
Philycia Foote
Clinical Research Coordinator
philycia.foote@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 573-9887
Philycia joined the CTU in January of 2023 as a Clinical Research Assistant after graduating from Temple University with a B.S. in Biology and minor in Public Health. Prior to working for the CTU, Philycia gained experience in health disparities research while working for the Center for Asian Health at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Philycia hopes to gain valuable clinical research skills and knowledge with the CTU before pursuing a MD/MPH program.
Sachi Arambepola
Clinical Research Coordinator
sachinthani.arambepola@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 220-9423
Sachi is a clinical research coordinator with prior research experience phenotyping tumor cells in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Intra-Operative Molecular Imaging, and CAAR-T cell therapies. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology with a concentration in Cell, Molecular, Genetics, and Biochemistry. She is a fully trained hospice volunteer as well as a Buddy volunteer for Action Wellness. Sachi hopes to gain valuable experience in conducting clinical trials to inform her decisions as a future physician.
Eric Mwaura
Clinical Research Assistant
eric.mwaura@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
(215) 662-1430
Eric joined CTU in April of 2023 as a Clinical Research Assistant. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 2020 with a B.S. in Health Sciences and a minor in Public Health. As an undergrad, Eric gained research experience working on energy expenditure and cardiovascular disease studies. Prior to working for the CTU, he also gained experience performing infectious disease investigations for two state health departments. Eric looks forward to expanding his research and clinical skills here at the DOM CTU prior to pursuing higher education.