Terry Novchich recently was named associate director of the Penn State Clinical Trials Office (CTO) at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The CTO regulates and manages industry-sponsored studies and recruits participants by advertising clinical trials. She replaces former director Paula Ulsh, who served as the clinical administrator and as a clinical research specialist of the CTO since 2004.
"Terry's experience with and knowledge of all aspects of the clinical trial process make her an excellent choice for this position," said Jay Moskowitz, vice dean for research and graduate studies. "Her vision will help the Clinical Trials Office continue to provide a critical service to the University, to industry and to medical science. Terry knows that by offering investigators the resources of a professionally run trials office, we are contributing to the development of promising therapies for those who suffer from debilitating diseases."
Novchich's goals include increasing industry awareness about clinical trials at the Medical Center, better communicating with investigators to meet their study needs and increasing public participation in clinical trials.
"Clinical trials provide medical researchers an irreplaceable means for studying the safety and effectiveness of cutting-edge therapies," Novchich said. "At the same time, participants may be helping to advance the scientific understanding of these potential therapies."
In 1974, Novchich earned a diploma degree in nursing from Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing, Oakland, Calif. She earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Western Carolina University, Cullowee, N.C., in 2002. Novchich has served as a clinical research coordinator in the Department of Surgery since 2004. Prior to that, she was clinical research coordinator for the Research Institute at Mission Hospitals in Asheville, N.C. She received her Association of Clinical Research Professions (ACRP) Clinical Research Coordinator Certification in the fall of 2000.
Novchich attended the Association of Clinical Research Professionals Global Meeting in Phoenix in May, where she presented Penn State Hershey Medical Center's clinical trial management approach to an international audience.
She is a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and Sigma Theta Tau International.