IDCRC Admin Profile: Kellei Johnstone

What is your professional background?

I received a Bachelor of Science in International Relations from The Ohio State University and an Master of Science in Biological Anthropology at Florida State University.  

I have over 25 years of diverse experience in graduate program management, recruiting, training and clinical trial research. Prior to coming to Emory, I think my most rewarding positions were at University of Alabama at Birmigham (UAB) and Georgia State University. At UAB School of Medicine, I managed a T32 for the MD/PhD program and participated in the recruitment of students from across the country. It was exciting to match them with mentors and develop program content to supplement their education. Years later, I joined Georgia State University as a recruiter for their executive graduate business programs. I enjoyed promoting the programs at conferences, interviewing prospective students and working with companies to obtain tuition remission for students working full-time.

Briefly tell us about your path to the IDCRC.

After taking some time off to raise my twins, I decided to make a career pivot. I’ve always had a love for science, but didn’t necessarily want to pursue further education. I was excited to take a position as a clinical research coordinator with the Winship Cancer Institute, where I worked on industry and investigator-initiated leukemia trials. It was a trial by fire to learn so much about clinical trials in a short period of time, but it was incredibly rewarding. Two years later, I obtained my certification as a clinical research coordinator with the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and was offered a position as a clinical research liaison. In that role, I worked on a UG1 to manage the audit and compliance process for the National Cancer Institute (NCI oncology) cooperative group trials conducted at six sites. I provided training to new coordinators on the systems and guidelines required by the National Clinical Trial Network, facilitated large audits with NCI cooperative groups, and worked with our quality management department to develop corrective and preventive action plans. Managing the audit process for oncology trials was very intense, as there are copious deviations and adverse events, however I learned so much and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

Describe your role with the IDCRC.

I wear several hats in the Leadership Operations Center, which is how I thrive. A large part of my time is focused on concept management, from receipt of new concepts through Executive Management Team review. By facilitating the meetings for our five Expert Working Groups, I’ve learned so much about immunology, simply by listening and taking lots of minutes.  

I also manage the Mentoring & Career Development Program (MCDC), which has been both exciting and rewarding. The co-chairs of the MCDC program have provided me the opportunity to think creatively about how to structure the program, from seeking new topics for our Lecture Series to developing surveys that track progress and mentee satisfaction with the program. Working with junior investigators across the VTEUs has truly been a highlight of my work with the IDCRC. We’re excited to welcome the third cohort of this program in January, with the honor of hearing from the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH, with whom I had the pleasure of working with at the IDCRC.

What has been the most impactful or highlight of your IDCRC work?

The most impactful work I’ve done with the IDCRC has been supporting the MCDC program, as well as facilitating the creation of multiple task forces and ad hoc committees in order to provide quick responses to public health emergencies. It’s been an honor to work with so many incredibly talented leaders in infectious disease, as well as a dedicated and hard-working team within the Leadership Group.