I am Chief of the Vascular Neurology Division (Neurology), Director of the University of Utah Stroke Center and Telestroke Program, and PI of NIH-funded UT StrokeNet Regional Coordinating Center. In the past 8 years, I have led substantial growth in the Division, which now includes 7 faculty and 2 fellows. I obtained and maintain certification for the Stroke Center as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and led growth of our Telestroke Network from 7 spokes in Utah to 28 spokes in 6 states. I had held a number of national leadership positions, including: International Stroke Genetics Consortium Steering Committee member, NIH/NINDS-appointed member of the NIH StrokeNet Executive Committee, Editorial board member of the journals Neurology and Stroke, and Past Chair of the American Heart/Stroke Association Telestroke Committee.
I am an experienced investigator with a history of extramural funding and success as PI on numerous clinical trials in stroke, typically exceeding enrollment goals while meeting financial and regulatory responsibilities. I am the PI for Utah StrokeNet, a Regional Coordinating Center for NIH StrokeNet, a national stroke trials network that provides a ready-to-go infrastructure for multi-center trials conduction, including in-place contracts and central IRB. I am responsible for recruiting and maintaining additional trial sites within our region, currently including 9 sites in 4 states. I am one of 3 invited hub StrokeNet PI’s who represent the hub perspective on the StrokeNet Executive Council, which speaks to my national reputation. Our site successfully competed for a competitive renewal and UT StrokeNet will be funded through 2023.
My research interests include stroke systems of care, genetic mechanisms in cerebrovascular disease, and clinical trials in vascular neurology and stroke recovery. I have served as the PI or co-Investigator on many NIH- and industry-funded trials and have been a strong financial steward and focused on regulatory and ethical compliance, while meeting or exceeding target enrollments and quality metrics. In addition, I have encouraged our more junior faculty to become site PIs on high-profile, national, multi-center trials (e.g. Defuse, Rhapsody, and SHINE) and provided them active mentorship. I understand the importance of regular communication between collaborators, adherence to budgetary constraints and timelines, and creating and managing a 24/7 research team.