Mara Lisa Castañeda
Houston
Summary
Qualified Associate Vice President, Access Strategic Operations with background in clinical research and patient care. Skilled in coordinating clinical trials with focus on patient safety and protocol adherence. Demonstrated proficiency in data collection and analysis, and effective communication with multidisciplinary teams.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Nurse
Interventional Radiology (IR)
12.2018 - Current
- Screening, enrollment, and consent of protocol candidates; send and follow up on electronic patient reported outcomes for quality-of-life endpoints; coordination of daily care between the Medical Oncology teams and Interventional Radiology (IR) and PACU nurses to update active Intra-tumoral Injection Trial reports, including leading in-services for IR/PACU nurses for all intratumoral injection protocols within the institution.
Nurse
Child and Adolescent Center Ambulatory Clinic
08.2018 - 08.2019
- Triaged patient arriving for treatment to ensure safety parameters are met for treatment; infused chemotherapy, biologic therapies, and blood products including Phase I treatments to pediatric patients.
Adult CNS and Pediatric Brain Tumor Radiation Oncology
02.2015 - 08.2018
- Review of potential amendments prior to submission, Clinical Content Tool creation and revision, screen potential patients for actionable mutations, data capture for chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment modalities; cross-trained on multiple protocols within the team.
Institutional Weekend Lab Check Clinic at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
12.2006 - 12.2016
- (part-time role in addition to full-time role) Fast-paced review of labs and activation of orders on weekends and holidays to help avoid high risk patients go over the weekends and holidays without lab checks and decrease the patient volume in the Emergency Center.
Research Nurse Phase I
07.2012 - 02.2015
- Screening and enrollment of patients to meet targeted enrollment deadlines for publication and multi-center study completion, coordination of clinical care, submitted orders and followed up on scheduling requirements according to protocol calendar of events, financial clearance.
Sarcoma Center at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
09.2008 - 07.2012
- Primary clinical nurse to the chairman, Dr. Benjamin of the department of sarcoma medical oncology; telephone triage of existing patients, physical assessments of daily patients, patient and family chemotherapy teaching, symptom management while on treatment; coordinated patient schedules and treatment plans.
Child and Adolescent Center at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
08.2005 - 08.2008
- Infusion nurse in the Pediatric Ambulatory Treatment Center: well versed with chemotherapy and blood product administration and able to identify toxicities during infusions.
Patient Service Coordinator and Phlebotomist, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
06.1998 - 12.2002
- Responsibilities included customer service, entering clinical appointments, vital signs, and drawing blood for the Child and Adolescent Center.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Texas A&M International University
Laredo01-2005
Skills
- Compassionate and caring
- Adaptability
- Time management abilities
- Training staff
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Certified in CPR/AED
- Microsoft office
- Clinical research expertise
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Qualified Bilingual Provider: Spanish
Accomplishments
- Author of “Carney Complex" published in The Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society in 2008.
Language Proficiency
Qualified Bilingual Provider: Spanish
Timeline
Research Nurse
Interventional Radiology (IR)
12.2018 - Current
Nurse
Child and Adolescent Center Ambulatory Clinic
08.2018 - 08.2019
Adult CNS and Pediatric Brain Tumor Radiation Oncology
02.2015 - 08.2018
Research Nurse Phase I
07.2012 - 02.2015
Sarcoma Center at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
09.2008 - 07.2012
Institutional Weekend Lab Check Clinic at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
12.2006 - 12.2016
Child and Adolescent Center at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
08.2005 - 08.2008
Patient Service Coordinator and Phlebotomist, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
06.1998 - 12.2002
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Texas A&M International University
Awards and Publications
First Place at Pediatric Endocrine Nursing Society Conference for Abstract and poster presentation: Carney Complex, April 2008, A Three Arm Randomized Phase II Study of Paclitaxel/Carboplatin/Bevacizumab (NSC #704865), Paclitaxel/Carboplatin/Temsirolimus (NSC #683864) and Ixabepilone (NSC#710248)/Carboplatin/Bevacizumab as Initial Therapy for Measurable Stage III or IVA, Stage IVB, or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer, European Society of Gynecological Oncology, June 2015
First Place Poster: Pediatric Endocrine
Carney complex is a rare, inherited, autosomal dominant multiple neoplasia syndrome that is identified when cardiac, endocrine, cutaneous, and neural tumors are present with spotty pigmentation of the skin, particularly on the face, lips, trunk, and mucosa. The condition may simultaneously involve multiple endocrine glands and cardiac tumors. The patient and family require education about the need for close follow-up for treatment of the diagnosed complications and monitoring for possible future conditions as a result of Cushing syndrome and Carney complex.