STAFF BIOS
Lori A. Nesbitt, Pharm D, MBA
Director of Operations
Lori Nesbitt, PharmD, MBA, began her career in clinical trial research nearly twenty years ago, within University-based settings. Dr. Nesbitt was inspired to pursue research in community hospital settings after seeing the frustrations of a family member participating in a clinical trial within an academic center because of limited availability of research, locally.
Dr. Nesbitt received her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from Purdue University. She completed a post-doctoral psychopharmacology residency at the Medical University of South Carolina and her MBA degree from Tulane University. Prior to founding Compass Point, Dr. Nesbitt served as Director of the Clinical Research Center and Assistant Professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.
David Russell
Finance Director
Mr. Russell serves as Finance Director for the Clinical Research Department. He has over sixteen years experience in healthcare. Prior responsibilities included reimbursement, budgeting, HR/payroll oversight, cost reporting, divestures, allocation of staffing and complete corporate restructuring. Mr. Russell has an extensive history of corporate planning, process improvement, and progress tracking/communication that has lead to total significant corporate turnarounds.
Mr. Russell most recently served as Vice President of Finance for Compass Point Research. Prior to Compass Point, Mr. Russell served as Corporate Controller and Director of Finance for a large regional home healthcare corporation, HomeCare Solutions, Inc, where he was employed for more than thirteen years. Mr. Russell has a passion for mapping the future, charting the course to profitability, and leading others on a path to success through planning, departmental communication and customer service to clients.
Colleen Alex, BSN, RN
Portfolio Manager, Primary Care
Colleen Alex, BSN, RN began her career in nursing 25 years ago at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After starting as a Registered Nurse on a medical/surgical unit, she transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as a staff nurse. Her focus on optimizing patient outcomes through evidence based practice piqued her interest in nursing’s role in research. In 1992, she was appointed the first Research Nurse in the Center for Women & Infants at St. Joseph’s. As a research nurse, Colleen has facilitated investigator research, National Institute of Health funded studies, and industry funded research related to medical and nursing practice.
Mrs. Alex received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota. She is currently Manager of Clinical Research at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in Milwaukee. Colleen and husband, George, have two daughters; Maggie, 19 and Shannon, 16.
Jamie Drissel
Clinical Research Coordinator, Cardiovascular Portfolio
Jamie Drissel graduated from Kennedy Western University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. While at Kennedy Western, her focus was on Philanthropy and Nonprofit fundraising. The Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Special Olympics are two of the many nonprofit societies that she is involved with. After graduation, she continued her education in the field of Marketing. She is certified in Sports and Event Marketing and graduated with honors for her degree in General Marketing. Ms. Drissel has also extended her skill-set by obtaining certificates in Business Grammar, Leadership and Supervisory Skills, Managing Emotions and Thriving Under Pressure, Deamweaver, and Microsoft Office Suite. Prior to joining Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, she was the Senior Research Administrator for the Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research at Rosalind Franklin University where she had clinical research experience with industry sponsored trials as well as federal grant funded trials.
Phyllis A. Wattleworth, R.N., M.B.A., C.C.R.C.
Clinical Research Coordinator, Oncology Portfolio
Phyllis Wattleworth brings six years of clinical research experience in oncology, cardiology, urology, arthritis and osteoporosis studies. Her previous experience includes medical/surgical nursing, pharmaceutical quality system technical writing, regulatory affairs management and quality system development for implantable cardiovascular device manufacturing.
Phyllis has been a registered nurse since 1967. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration in 1990 and a Master of Business Administration Degree in 1993 from the University of South Florida.
Additional training and certifications include : Certified Clinical Research Coordinator ( CCRC), ISO 9000 Lead Auditor, European Device Regulations, Process Validation, Member of Association of Clinical Research Professionals.
Sandra Georgeson RN CCRP
Clinical Research Coordinator, Oncology Portfolio
Sandra Georgeson has worked for the St. Mary’s / All Saints organization since 1986. She has experience in hospital oncology nursing, Internal Medicine with the Medical Group, and for the past six years as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Wheaton Franciscan Cancer Care –All Saints. She received certification as a Clinical Research Professional in 2007 through the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCCRA). A two-time cancer survivor, Sandy has personal experience with two Clinical Trials and truly believes that “Research Will Cure Cancer”
Michelle Czechowicz BSN, CCRP
Clinical Research Coordinator, Oncology Portfolio
Michelle graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Olivet Nazarene University. She has worked with cancer patients in the hospital, clinic and home settings over a span of 13 years. Following an extended time off dedicated to raising her family, she entered back into the oncology field through the clinical research program, where she has been positioned since 2003. She received certification as a clinical research professional in 2007. Michelle states “cancer research is important to me, because cancer has touched me both professionally and personally. We need to be able to offer the best possible treatment options to all cancer patients, and someday, hopefully, even cure cancer. That won’t happen without research.” Michelle and her husband Rick have been married since 1979 and have 3 children.
Rebecca Weber
Regulatory Affairs Assistant
Rebecca serves as Regulatory Affairs Assistant for the Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Clinical Research Department.
Rebecca has an extensive background in medical administration. Prior to joining Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, she served as the Assistant to the CEO for a management services organization in Southern California where she was employed for more than thirteen years.
Michael Howell
Business Development Support
Mr. Howell serves in support of Business Development for the Clinical Research Department. He has six years experience in the development of clinical trial programs, including physician recruitment and clinical trial procurement.
Prior to entering the clinical research industry, Mr. Howell spent seven year as Marketing Director for a nutritional supplement manufacturer and eight years as Communications Director for the North Carolina Republican Party State Headquarters. Mr. Howell received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and in Business Administration from North Carolina State University and is currently working towards a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management.