Staff

amanda p  Amanda Priest, LPN

Clinical Translational Research Coordinator III

Amanda is a Research Coordinator III for the Archer Lab. She has 12 years  experience as a Clinical Research Coordinator. Her background includes Sponsor and Investigator initiated FDA regulated trials. Amanda is currently involved in multiple trials within the Archer lab that she oversee including DOD and NIH funded trials. She also is overseeing multi-center trials for traumatic injury patients.

Cara V Cara Vantrease, BS

Health Services Research Analyst

Cara is a Health Services Research Analyst in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehab. She supports numerous ongoing research trials and projects. She works with the recruitment and enrollment of patients, while also, collecting and analyzing data. She has been in research for the past ten years working with FDA regulated dermatology research trials.

susan V Susan Vanston, MS, PT

Research Physical Therapist

Susan is a research physical therapist in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. She delivers interventions for numerous clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of psychosocial-based rehabilitation. She has worked with a wide variety of patients in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. Currently, Susan works with patients who have had spine and ACL surgery, traumatic orthopedic injuries, and who are returning home after critical care hospitalization. She introduces patients to a variety of physical and cognitive behavioral strategies to help them with their recovery. Susan is a licensed physical therapist with over 21 years of experience.

claudia davidson  Claudia Davidson, MPH

Senior Health Service Research Analyst

Claudia is a senior analyst in the Department of Orthopaedics Surgery and MSK Center. She works on database development, data management, and statistical analysis for various types of research projects, including clinical registries, retrospective cohort studies, randomized control trials, and program evaluation. She also lends her skillsets to drafting research proposals, presentations, and manuscripts for peer reviewed journals. Claudia holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine with a background in health services and epidemiological research on access and quality care for people living in vulnerable situations. She holds over 10 years of health-related research experience with ~6 years of that working closely with data. 

 

carol brannon Carol Brannon, BS, MLAS

Program  Manager

Carol has worked in research administration at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for over 17 years. She joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Orthopaedic Research in 2016 to oversee contract and budgetary matters, hiring personnel and to help develop and execute new and ongoing programs. Carol is an excellent contact for questions about all aspects of the Vanderbilt Center for Musculoskeletal Research.  She has a bachelor's degree in Plant and Soil Science from Southern Illinois University and a Masters degree in Liberal Arts and Science from Vanderbilt University.

Katherine Smith De Bock Katherine Smith-De Bock, MPH

Program Manager

Katherine is a program manager for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and MSK Center helping to manage the medical student summer program, pre-award grant management and provides administrative support for the various programs and projects in the Department. She has over 15 years experience working in various aspects of research including project development, implementation and data collection and analysis in the fields of epidemiology, nutrition, and public health. She has a degree in Public Health Epidemiology and Nutrition from Ghent University in Belgium, and is a mindfulness teacher.

 Alicia Hymel, MS

Health Services Research Analyst

Alicia is an analyst for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. She provides data management and statistical support for research projects. She received her Master's Degree in Psychological Sciences from Vanderbilt University, and has over 15 years of research experience across multiple disciplines.

 

Olivia Ben-Levy, BA

Bridge Year Student

Olivia is a bridge year student in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehab. She supports numerous ongoing research trials and projects. She works with the recruitment and enrollment of patients, while also, collecting and analyzing data. She has a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine Health and Society from Vanderbilt University.