Staff

Jacqueline Jonklaas, MD, PhD, Program Director

Dr. Jonklaas serves as the Program Director for the Georgetown Clinical Research Unit. In addition to oversight of the clinical research unit, she is also one of the co-directors of the two committees that prioritize research protocols and allocate resources. Dr. Jonklaas obtained her MD at Georgetown University. She also completed her residency and her endocrine fellowship training at Georgetown University. She is currently an associate professor in the endocrinology division at Georgetown University. Her time is equally divided between research, clinical activities, and teaching. Her area of particular interest, both with respect to research and patient care, is the management of thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism. She also directs the endocrinology courses for Georgetown Medical School’s first and second year medical students.

Terry Jeffs, BSN, RN, Nurse Manager

Terry serves as the Nurse Manager on the CRU in addition to her role as a Clinical Research Nurse. She is a professional member of International Association of Clinical Research Nurses, Oncology Nurse Society and Sigma Theta Tau. Her certifications include: Dexa Scan, Metabolic Cart and ACLS. Before joining the CRU in 2003, Terry worked on a specialty surgical unit at Georgetown University Hospital where she cared for adults including liver and kidney transplant patients from the then newly launched Transplant program as well as neurology, urology, orthopedic, ophthalmology and reconstructive plastic surgery patients. In 1998, she graduated from George Mason University with a BSN. Since 1984, Terry and her husband are co-owners of a successful small business. Together they enjoy adventure traveling with their four grown children and grandson. Her hobbies include gardening, yoga, and art. She is proficient in German.

Angie Wilkins, BA, Program Manager

Angie serves as the Program Manager for the CRU. Her responsibilities include reconciling CSRs, managing and ordering supplies, contacting and paying vendors, preparing cost center transfers, and billing for CRU services by creating invoices and preparing expense reports. Angie graduated from Prince George’s Community College with a degree in Accounting. She transferred to University of Maryland University College and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Accounting by the summer of 2016. In her free time, Angie enjoys baking and spending time with her family.

Dalila Ferrante, MS, Program Coordinator

Dalila serves as the Program Coordinator for the CRU. She earned a degree in Medical Technology from the University of Bologna and later moved to the U.S. to pursue a Master’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Georgetown University. Before joining the CRU, she spent around five years working as a Research Assistant and Clinical Trial Coordinator, focusing on neurological disorder trials. Currently, she is expanding her expertise by pursuing an MBA at Georgetown to gain business skills that will help her manage healthcare organizations more efficiently and improve patient experiences. In her free time, Dalila enjoys cooking Italian dishes for loved ones, going on walks, dancing salsa/bachata and traveling with her husband!

Rory Kassner, RN, CCRP, Clinical Research Nurse

Rory serves as a Clinical Research Nurse on the CRU. She has worked as a nurse on the unit for over 15 years and is a Certified Clinical Research Professional through SoCRA. She is also ACLS certified. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Philippines. She was a surgical and psychiatric nurse in the Philippines before she was recruited to work as a nurse at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York in 1982, where she started as a surgical nurse and then became a Clinical Research Nurse in 1984. She has worked and trained in various academic medical institutions, conducted Phase I-III clinical trials in adult and pediatric populations as
well as a variety of clinical specialties. Her interests include the science of spirituality. Rory is involved in various prayer ministries and advocates for upholding the mission of “Cura Personalis” or healing of the whole person.

Agnès Powers, RN, Clinical Research Nurse

Agnès (pronounced An-yes) serves as a Clinical Research Nurse on the CRU. She graduated with a nursing degree in Paris, France where she grew up. She has worked at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for close to 20 years. She practiced in a post-surgical unit and cared for patients who underwent orthopedic, limb salvage, or urology procedures. Her interests include running (she volunteers in her local running club), playing “Escape the Room” type games, baking French patisserie, and reading historical fiction.

Jude Uwah, MBBS, Laboratory Manager

Jude serves as the Laboratory Manager for the CRU. He is responsible for the orchestration of the laboratory operations, which includes maintaining laboratory specimens’ chain of custody, maintenance of laboratory equipment, inventory and ordering of supplies, staff training and managing laboratory efforts of community visits. He is a foreign medical school graduate with years of clinical experience, including approximately ten years of clinical research experience. He is certified with an International Air Transport Association (IATA) certification. Jude is a dedicated and innovative team player.

Amy Hallameyer, BS, Clinical Research Assistant

Amy is a Clinical Research Assistant for the CRU. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from VCU in 2019. She has worked in patient care in a variety of settings including dermatology, chiropractic, cardiology/internal medicine clinics and completed an EMT training program. She is very excited to be a part of the Clinical Research Unit. Before discovering her love of healthcare, Amy spent time working on a farm and with food access and education initiatives. In her free time, she still enjoys growing vegetables – as well as skating, plant-based cooking, walking dogs at her local animal rescue, and kayaking on the beautiful water of the Potomac River!

Lani J. Ocdamia, BSN, RN, Clinical Research Nurse

Lani serves as a Clinical Research Nurse on CRU. She is originally from the Philippines and was first employed by Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in 2002, and has been with the hospital to date. She works on 6M which caters to post-surgical patients of Orthopedic Limb Salvage, Urology teams along with overflow patients from general surgery, medicine and transplant. She is a permanent weekend night shift RN that takes on the roles of a preceptor and charge nurse. She enjoys taking long walks when weather permits and takes care of her husband and two sons at home when she’s not at work.

Kristin Turner, BS, Clinical Research Assistant

Kristin Turner is a Clinical Research Assistant for the CRU. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a concentration in Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cellular Biology and a minor in Philosophy and Bioethics from Georgetown University in 2022. Kristin has previously worked in marine mammalogy and orthopaedic traumatology research settings in addition to her clinical experience as a Medical Assistant. In her free time, Kristin enjoys hiking, reading and writing, tending to her ever-growing collection of plants, and enjoying DC’s food scene with friends and family.

Natalie Giglio, RN, Clinical Research Nurse

Natalie serves as a Clinical Research Nurse for the CRU. She completed a second-degree nursing program at Georgetown and started her nursing career working in a level 1 trauma center emergency department in DC. In this role she developed a love for emergency medicine. Natalie has also worked at the State Department specializing in travel medicine and infectious disease. Prior to coming to the CRU, she worked as a research nurse at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center focusing on melanoma trials. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with her family and dog (Tootsie).

Jennifer Gleim, RN, Clinical Research Nurse

Jenn serves as a Clinical Research Nurse for the CRU. Her first degree was in biology and she has always been passionate about research, but after graduating college she realized she wanted to have a more clinical role. Jenn completed a second-degree nursing program immediately followed by a Master of Science in Clinical Research from MCPHS in Massachusetts. Prior to joining the CRU, Jenn worked as a nurse on an inpatient medical-surgical unit (turned COVID-19 unit) at MedStar Washington Hospital Center as well as a research nurse at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive cancer center focusing on gastrointestinal cancer trials. In her spare time, she enjoys pressing flowers to create jewelry out of resin, playing guitar and piano, planting herbs in her sunroom at home, and hiking/camping with her partner and dog.