Research Presentations---Success!

I'm a clinical research coordinator.  People NEVER seem to know what it is that I actually do.  It doesn't matter how many times I explain it to my family and friends, no one ever gets it...hehe  Basically, I work for a certain department in an academic medical center.  I'm in charge of all research projects going on in the department.  I do whatever the head doctor on the study needs me to do:  write the study protocol, submit to the review board to get the study approved, consent patients, collect blood samples, execute laboratory protocols, analyze data.  Its a fun job and it keeps me on my toes.  There is always something different going on....definitely not a 9-5 job.

About a month ago, my boss called me in his office.  He told me that over the next 3 months, I would be on a trial period for a new position.  If I perform well, at the end of three months, I will be upgraded (promoted) to a new position.  I'm sooooooo excited about this!  Not only am I ready for more responsibility, but the money will definitely come in handy with the upcoming wedding ;-)

One of the main duties with this new job is managing the research project for our department's residents (Residents are doctors fresh out of medical school.  They need to do some more specialized training before they can go on to practice on their own).  Each resident much complete a research project: a final written report and an oral presentation....all before graduating. 

Today was the oral presentation day.  There was a TON of work that went into organizing this.  Who would have thought it would be so tough to get these highly motivated, organized professionals to get their projects in to me on time?  I had to hunt  people down to get their projects.  I emailed.  I paged.  And then I went looking for them.

In the end, all but two presented.  One called in sick this morning (he must have been really sick because he was here until 5:45pm last night with me going over his presentation).  The other one is interesting.  I couldn't track him down.  Turns out he is on vacation!  I've been sending information out to these residents for months about when this stuff was going to happen, and not one time did this resident tell me he wasn't going to be here.  Ugh.

All in all, things went REALLY well today.  I've had soooo many compliments from staff and faculty alike.  YAY!  Hopefully this bodes well for my upgrade :-)