End-to-End Project
Management
SPONSORED RESEARCH
Rare Lung Disease Awareness Campaign:
The Breath of Life Project
As Principal Investigator for this 36-month, CDC-sponsored Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia awareness project, I supervised the design and execution of all aspects from concept through execution. My administrative responsibilities included managing project budgets, interfacing with outside organizations to coordinate project activities, and submitting all required documentation (e.g., grant proposals, renewals, and interim progress reports). On the creative side, I created and led 2 informational workshops, and was 1st author of a comprehensive State-of-the-Art Review which was featured in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. My review served for many years as the seminal resource on Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia
with Misalignment of the Pulmonary Veins. The most exciting development to emerge from this project was the identification of the gene responsible for about 40% of cases known at the time.
Reducing Hospital-Associated Infections: Project DeCLARe
As Project Lead for this 18-month, institution-sponsored, two-phase quality improvement project to decrease Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, I was responsible for all aspects from concept through execution. In Phase 1, we used Human Factors Engineering theory to enhance current infection-control measures and to inform the activities of Phase 2. Phase 1 produced a 250-page comprehensive playbook detailing the findings from six sub-projects. The 2nd phase used Model for Improvement theory and quality improvement metrics to evaluate novel interventions informed by the lessons learned from Phase 1. Phase 2 concluded with 3 educational sessions, abstract and poster submissions, and a roadmap for future steps. Following this project, I was selected to participate in a system-wide CLABSI prevention initiative.
Raising Awareness of Bullous Pemphigoid among Primary Care Physicians
This presentation accompanied my pitch for research funding to support a national awareness campaign utilizing Design Thinking principles and practices. The International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation is the largest U.S. non-profit advocacy association supporting patients with rare autoimmune blistering diseases which have experienced a troubling rise in incidence over the past decade. The concept and process were modeled on the large and successful Awareness Campaign to increase awareness about an extremely rare neonatal lung disease: Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia. Although I did not get the funding, the organization has begun to focus more of its efforts on primary care practitioners who are often the first stop on the patient journey.