Integrated Departmental Education for Administrators (IDEA) Program

IDEA Instruction

IDEA classes are taught by a team of subject matter experts that represent the University central offices and various colleges/departments. See below to learn more about the IDEA instructors who are available to help answer your questions and make sure your needs have been met.

Amy Bradshaw

Amy Bradshaw is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology. In addition to running her own laboratory, she also serves as the Research Integrity Officer for MUSC. This position is charged with addressing any and all concerns related to allegations of Research Misconduct as MUSC including inquiries and investigations. The position is also tasked with providing education to faculty, staff, trainees, and students on federal standards and definitions of Research Misconduct.

Erica Brown

Erica Brown is the Director of Research Administration for the Department of Pediatrics and Darby Children’s Research Institute. She oversees all that is research in the department which includes twenty subspecialty divisions. Her teams include Grant Administration, Pediatrics Research Group (study coordination) and Darby Children’s Research Institute Administration. She has been employed at MUSC for over 21 years. She has worked in Pediatrics and the Department of Public Health Sciences as a Grants Coordinator and Program Coordinator. She has a MA from College of Charleston and BA from UNC Charlotte both in Communications. Erica obtained her CRA (Certified Research Administrator) in January of 2012. 

Erica Ellington

Erica Ellington serves as the Deputy Director of Compliance and Research Compliance Officer for MUSC. She directs the research auditing and research compliance programs. Prior to working in University Compliance, Erica also worked as a research program manager and grants administrator at MUSC. She has over 25 years of research administration, program management, and finance experience. Erica received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of South Carolina. She is also a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) and is Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC).

Leila Forney

Leila Forney DNP, RN; CCRP, serves as the Office of Clinical Research (OCR) Prospective Reimbursement Analysis, Associate Director & SCTR Institute Digital Operations Technology (DOT) Team Lead. Dr. Forney has over 10 years of hospital nursing experience and completed a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) at MUSC. Her research knowledge has been garnered through 6 years in private practice as a research coordinator and 9 years with SCTR building research infrastructure and processes at MUSC. She currently leads the Digital Operations Technology (DOT) Team which includes SPARCRequest, Research Master ID and Tableau Reporting. She also led MUSC’s Epic research implementation. Dr. Forney supports the development and operational activities of systems used for research at MUSC. She currently also holds a key role in the Office of Clinical Research managing the Prospective Reimbursement Analysis team maintaining research billing compliance for MUSC; the PRA team supports digitalization of studies and creates coverage analysis determinations for all prospectively enrolling studies. Dr. Forney is Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) and is Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC).

Caroline Hider

Caroline began her career at MUSC in 2019. She is currently a Grants Administrator II in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP). She oversees Federal/Foundation submissions & sponsored awards for her assigned departments, interprets policies & procedures, and acts as the University’s official liaison for funding agencies. Caroline also works as part of ORSP’s outgoing Subawards team. Caroline graduated from Presbyterian College with her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and from the College of Charleston with her MBA.

Christine Hudson

Christine serves as the ClinCard by Greenphire Program Manager and the Clinical Research Sponsor Budgeting Analyst Manager in the Office of Clinical Research (OCR). Prior to her role at the OCR, she worked as a research coordinator in the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery as well as the South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research (SCTR) Institute’s Research and Coordination Management (RCM) group. Her current responsibilities include managing the reloadable electronic participant remuneration program, ClinCard by Greenphire, as well as managing the OCR Budgeting service which includes developing and negotiating budgets for corporate clinical research trials. Christine received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the College of Charleston.

Wanda Hutto Pierce

Wanda Hutto Pierce, Associate Director in the Office of Research Development, engages with internal and external partners to foster new funding strategies with federal agencies and private and public foundations. She also manages specialized funding opportunities such as the Pew and Searle Scholars programs, Governor’s Award, and the Blue Sky Award. Wanda is also the content manager and creator for the research matters blog. She co-directs the Learning Initiative for Faculty in Training (LIFT) Academy and other Research Education workshops and seminars. Wanda holds an appointment as an MUSC Academic Affairs faculty member.

Sherri Lucas

Sherri serves as a Sponsor Invoicing Manager in the Office of Clinical Research (OCR), where she has specialized in corporate clinical trial invoicing and revenue optimization since joining MUSC in 2019. Sherri serves as a clinical trial invoicing subject matter expert (SME) for MUSC’s Clinical Trials Management System (CTMS), OnCore. Sherri received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Accounting and Accounting from Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Prior to MUSC, Sherri worked in the corporate and non-profit sectors and federal civil service.

Emily Martin

Emily currently serves as a Grants Administrator II in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP). In her current role, she works with Federal and Foundation sponsored grants as well as VA Personnel Service Agreements. Her primary responsibilities include grant application review and submission, interpretation of policies and procedures, service as the University’s official liaison for funding agencies and VA PSAs, and management of sponsored projects for assigned departments across campus. She has been with MUSC for since 2019. Prior to joining ORSP, she worked as a Fiscal Analyst/Accountant II and Grants Administrator I in the Department of Public Health Sciences. Emily received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Financial Economics from Anderson University and her Master of Science in Accountancy degree from the College of Charleston.

Katie Mellis

Katie serves as a Program Manager with the Office of Clinical Research, working as a Corporate Clinical Trial Budgeting Analyst and ClinCard Participant Remuneration Administrator. Her current responsibilities include coordinating the reloadable electronic participant remuneration program, ClinCard by Greenphire, as well as invoicing for several corporate sponsored clinical research trials and developing and negotiating budgets for corporate sponsored clinical research trials. Katie has been with MUSC since 2016 and previously served as an Administrative Coordinator for the University Risk Management Department. Katie received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Limestone University and her Associate in Applied Science in Accounting from Trident Technical College.

Cyndi Rosenblatt

Cyndi Rosenblatt, MPA, CPIA, is the IACUC Program Manager in the Office of Research Integrity. She joined the IACUC office in 2006 and stepped up as the Program Manager in 2008. She earned her credential as a Certified Professional in IACUC Administration (CPIA) in 2008. Cyndi has been very active in promoting educational and collaborative opportunities for the basic scientists on campus and works closely with investigators and laboratory staff to ensure the highest standards in animal care and use are maintained.

Michael E. Smith, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael E. Smith serves at the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO) Program Manager in the Office of Research Integrity (ORI). He earned his Ph.D. in Neurosciences in 2000 and has worked in academic research settings his entire career. Michael joined ORI in 2019 but has been employed by MUSC since 2006 as both a Program Manager and an Assistant Professor.

Cynthia Smalls

Cynthia Smalls is an Administrative Manager for Comparative Medicine in the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources. She oversees all fiscal and administrative activities including budgetary, grants management, human resources, payroll, and timekeeping.

Since joining MUSC in 2014, Cynthia has also worked as a Grants Coordinator & Grants Administrator, Research Administrator, and Capital Projects Contracts Administrator. She earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Strayer University and an M.A. in Human Services Counseling from Liberty University.

Raegan Whiteside

Raegan Whiteside is a post-award Grants Administrator for Hollings Cancer Center. She oversees all post-award activity for cancer-related research grants filtered through Hollings, including fiscal and payroll management, ensuring compliance with grant budgets, and financial reporting. She has been with MUSC since 2021. Prior to joining Hollings, she worked as a Fiscal Technician, Accountant/Fiscal Analyst, Grants Coordinator, and the pre-award Grants Administrator for the Department of Surgery. Raegan graduated from the College of Charleston with a B.A. in English, and a B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies.

Deidre Wright

Deidre Wright is a Program Manager for the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources. She oversees all the animal research facilities on campus. Deidre joined MUSC in 2004 as an animal caretaker; she quickly moved into the Facility Supervisor for the Hollings Cancer Center, where she was for over 14 years. In 2020, Deidre took on the Program Manager Role for DLAR. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a B.S. in Business Administration.

Donna York

Donna York serves as a Grants Administrator in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP), with assignment to the Federal/Foundation Team. Some of her responsibilities include working closely with her assigned departments to provide guidance with submissions, both with review and transmission, negotiation and setup of awards, interpretation of policies and guidelines, and participation as a liaison for funding agencies. Donna has been employed with MUSC since 2017 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Lenoir-Rhyne University.