Contact Us
The HSO staff and IRB chairs are here to assist you. The HSO is located in Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, 600 Newton Road, Suite 105A. Our business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30* p.m., Monday through Friday. We encourage you to contact us regarding the IRB application process or policies and procedures. If you are not sure who to contact, please use the main HSO phone number -- (319) 335-6564 or send us an e-mail at irb@uiowa.edu.
*Please note, HSO staff are not available to answer the main number between 12 – 12:30 p.m. daily. All voicemails received during this hour will be returned after 12:30 p.m.
For general assistance with HawkIRB, please call the HSO Main Line at 319-335-6564.
All HSO Staff and Chairs
Staff and Chairs by Alphabetical Order
Staff and Chairs by Alphabetical Order
| Meredith Abbouassaly, MPH | Application Analyst | 319-335-1712 |
| J. Andrew "Andy" Bertolatus, MD (link sends e-mail) | Primary IRB Chair | 319-384-4424 |
| Brian Bishop, MA, CIP (link sends e-mail) | IRB Chair Designee | 319-335-6563 |
| Catherine Branham, MBA CHRC (link sends e-mail) | Exempt/Expedited Review Manager | 319-467-1460 |
| Mark Brunt, MBA, CIP (link sends e-mail) | External/Single IRB & Data Manager | 319-335-7297 |
| Gabrielle Chelette | Application Analyst | 319-335-2577 |
| Tarah Colaizy, MD | Biomedical (01) Chair | 319-356-3508 |
| Alyssa Conrad, CCRC | Interim Compliance Manager | 319-335-0248 |
| Michele Countryman, CIP (link sends e-mail) | Director | 319-353-4452 |
| Wendy Daubert, MA (link sends e-mail) | IRB Application Analyst | 319-384-1736 |
| Dixie Ecklund, RN, MSN, MBA | Biomedical (01) Chair | 319-335-8446 |
| Jarrod Feld (link sends e-mail) | Senior External/sIRB Application Analyst | 319-467-1806 |
| Fozia Ghafoor, MBBS (link sends e-mail) | ClinicalTrials.Gov PRS Manager | 319-467-3250 |
| Lance Hanson, MA (link sends e-mail) | IRB Application Analyst | 319-467-4161 |
| Martha Hedberg, MPA (link sends e-mail) | Conflict of Interest in Research Manager | 319-384-4256 |
| Mary Kainec (link sends e-mail) | Application Analyst | 319-467-1116 |
| Rachel Kinker, MPA (link sends e-mail) | IRB Education and Outreach Specialist | 319-467-1449 |
| Julia Lassner | Application Analyst | 319-467-1113 |
| Kela "Kay" Lewis, MBA, CIP (link sends e-mail) | Full Board Review Manager | 319-467-1734 |
| Michael Lovaglia, PhD | Social Science/Behavioral (02) Chair | 319-335-2694 |
| Jeffery Meier, MD | VAHC (03) Chair | -- |
| Kelly O'Berry, CIP (link sends e-mail) | Assistant Director - Education and Outreach | 319-335-8477 |
| Amanda Owings, PhD | Compliance and Education Specialist | 319-467-4650 |
| Carly Okken (link sends e-mail) | HSO/IRB Project Operations Manager | 319-467-3004 |
| Kristine Pinter, MPH, CIP (link sends e-mail) | IRB Application Analyst/Backup Full Board Coordinator | 319-467-0471 |
| Tony Quinlan, MBA, CIP (link sends e-mail) | Assistant Director - IRB Review | 319-335-9848 |
| Lisa Segre, PhD | IRB-02 Chair | 319-335-7079 |
| Emily Shultz, CIP | Senior IRB Education and Outreach Specialist | 319-335-1709 |
| Douglas L. Somers, MD | Biomedical (01) Chair | 319-356-8252 |
| Svetha Swaminathan, MS, CIP (link sends e-mail) | Senior IRB Application Analyst | 319-467-1871 |
| Christopher Taylor, MLIS, CAPM (link sends e-mail) | Senior Conflict of Interest in Research Application Analyst | 319-467-1012 |
| Mayzie Tucker, CIP (link sends e-mail) | WIRB/Biomedical IRB Application Coordinator | 319-467-4182 |
| Janet Karen Williams, PhD, RN, FAAN | Social Science/Behavioral (02) Chair | 319-335-7046 |
| Catherine Woodman, MD | Biomedical (01) Chair (Expedited) | 319-339-7186 |
HSO Staff by Subject Matter
CITI Training
CITI Training
| Rachel Kinker, MPA | HSO CITI Administrator | 319-467-1449 |
| Emily Shultz, CIP | HSO CITI Administrator | 319-335-1709 |
ClinicalTrials.Gov Registration
ClinicalTrials.Gov Registration
| Fozia Ghafoor, MBBS | ClinicalTrials.Gov PRS Manager | 319-467-3250 |
Compliance Program
Compliance Program
| Alyssa Conrad, MS, CCRC | Interim Compliance Manager | 319-335-0248 |
| Amanda Owings, PhD | Compliance and Education Specialist | 319-467-4650 |
Conflict of Interest in Research Committee (CIRC)
Conflict of Interest in Research Committee (CIRC)
| Martha Hedberg, MPA | Conflict of Interest in Research Manager | 319-384-4256 |
| Christopher Taylor, MLIS, CAPM | Senior Conflict of Interest in Research Application Analyst | 319-467-1012 |
Education and Outreach
Education and Outreach
| Kelly O'Berry, CIP | Assistant Director - Education and Outreach | 319-335-8477 |
| Emily Shultz, CIP | Senior IRB Education and Outreach Specialist | 319-335-1709 |
| Rachel Kinker, MPA | IRB Education and Outreach Specialist | 319-467-1449 |
Emergency Use/Compassionate Use/Single Patient IND
Emergency Use/Compassionate Use/Single Patient IND
| Kela 'Kay' Lewis, MBA, CIP | Full Board Review Manager | 319-467-1734 |
| Kristine Pinter, MPH, CIP | Sr. IRB Application Analyst | 319-467-0471 |
| Michele Countryman, CIP | Director | 319-353-4452 |
External/Single IRB Use
External/Single IRB Use
| Mark Brunt, MBA, CIP | External IRB/Regulatory Manager | 319-335-7297 |
| Mayzie Tucker, CIP | WCG/Biomedical IRB Application Coordinator | 319-467-4182 |
| Jarrod Feld | Senior External/sIRB Application Analyst | 319-467-1806 |
| Lance Hanson, MA | IRB Application Analyst | 319-467-4161 |
IRB Chairs
IRB Chairs
| J. Andrew Bertolatus, MD | Primary IRB-01 Chair | 319-384-4424 |
| Catherine Woodman, MD | IRB-01 | 319-339-7186 |
| Tarah Colaizy, MD | IRB-01 | 319-356-3508 |
| Dixie Ecklund, RN, MSN, MBA | IRB-01 | 319-335-8446 |
| Douglas L. Somers, MD | IRB-01 | 319-356-8252 |
| Janet Karen Williams, PhD, RN, FAAN | IRB-02 | 319-335-7046 |
| Michael Lovaglia, PhD | IRB-02 | 319-335-2494 |
| Lisa Segre, PhD | IRB-02 | 319-335-7079 |
| Jeffrey Meier, MD | IRB-03 | |
| Laura Shinkunas, MA | IRB-01/02 Chair Designee | |
| Brian Bishop, MA, CIP | IRB-01/03 Chair Designee | 319-335-6563 |
| Michele Countryman, CIP | IRB-01/02 Chair Designee | 319-353-4452 |
| Tony Quinlan, MA CIP | IRB-01/02 Chair Designee | 319-335-9848 |
IRB Full Board Scheduling
IRB Full Board Scheduling
| Meredith Abouassaly, MPH | Full Board Coordinator | 319-335-1712 |
IRB Full Board Submissions: Pre-Screen, Minutes, Minutes Response
IRB Full Board Submissions: Pre-Screen, Minutes, Minutes Response
| Kela 'Kay' Lewis, MBA, CIP | Full Board Review Manager | 319-467-1734 | |
| Svetha Swaminathan, MS, CIP | Senior IRB Application Analyst | 319-467-1871 | |
| Kristine Pinter, MPH, CIP | Sr. IRB Application Analyst | 319-467-0471 | |
| Mary Kainec | IRB Application Analyst (01) | 319-467-1116 |
Social/Behavioral Science (IRB 02) Program
Social/Behavioral Science (IRB 02) Program
| Catherine Branham, MBA CHRC(link sends e-mail) | Exempt/Expedited Review Manager | 319-467-1460 |
| Wendy Daubert, MA | IRB Application Analyst | 319-384-1736 |
VAHCS (IRB 03) Program
VAHCS (IRB 03) Program
| Tony Quinlan, MBA, CIP | Assistant Director - IRB Review | 319-335-9848 |
| Kela 'Kay' Lewis, MBA, CIP | Biomedical (01/03) Manager | 319-467-1734 |
| Svetha Swaminathan, MS, CIP | Senior IRB Application Analyst | 319-467-1871 |
Minimal Risk Studies
Minimal Risk Studies
| Brian Bishop, MA, CIP | IRB Chair Designee | 319-335-6563 |
| Catherine Branham, MBA, CHRC | Exempt/Expedited Review Manager | 319-467-1460 |
| Wendy Daubert, MA | IRB Application Analyst | 319-384-1736 |
| Julia Lassner | IRB Application Analyst | 319-467-1113 |
| Gabrielle Chelette | Application Analyst | 319-335-2577 |
Policies and Guidance
Policies and Guidance
| Michele Countryman, CIP | Director | 319-353-4452 |
| Tony Quinlan, MBA, CIP | Assistant Director - IRB Review | 319-335-9848 |
| Kelly O'Berry, CIP | Assistant Director - Education & Outreach | 319-335-8477 |
| Kela 'Kay' Lewis | Full Board Review Manager | 319-467-1734 |
| Mark Brunt | External/Single IRB & Data Manager | 319-355-7297 |
| Catherine Branham, MBA, CHRC | Exempt/Expedited Review Manager | 319-467-1460 |
Last revised: 1/2/26