Directory

Born in Argentina and now a resident of Concord, N.C. Ms. Plez joined Duke CTSI in January 2010. As the Research Project Leader for Community Engagement, Ms. Plez supports translational population health research efforts in Kannapolis by informing, recruiting, and enrolling the Hispanic population in the area. She previously worked as a teacher and translator in both Argentina and the United States after graduating from UM University in Buenos Aires with a Bachelor of Arts in modern languages.

Assistant Professor of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics

Stella joined CTSI in September 2021 as a Program Manager and Research Analysist for the Evaluation and Strategic Planning Core.

Amber Richardson is co-director of The Center for Pathway Programs. She leads The Center by coordinating stakeholder engagement, developing strategies for effective program administration, and guiding the development of The Center’s flagship offering, YOJO.

Pilar Roa serves as a bilingual clinical research coordinator for the OneDukeGen study. She brings to the CTSI 12 years of experience in clinical research including participant recruitment and retention, conducting industry sponsored trials, quality assurance, and innovative community engagement. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Ms. Roa is passionate about fostering diversity in clinical trials, striving to ensure clinical research reflects real-world populations.

Cheryl Robinson joined Duke CTSI as a Research Aide and is now a Clinical Research Specialist with the Duke Kannapolis group in Durham, N.C. She spent just over five years serving in the U.S. Navy boot camp in Orlando, Fla. and the Naval Operations Base in Norfolk, Va. to begin courses in underwater sound surveillance. Her advanced training took her to Eureka, Calif. and her career as an Ocean Systems Technician officially began at the base in Dam Neck, Va.

Ms. Rockett has been with Duke since February of 2012. With a bachelor’s degree in biology, Ms. Rockett serves as a clinical research coordinator, providing clinical help for many different studies, as well as regulatory oversight, staff training and maintenance on specific protocols, data collection and miscellaneous support to faculty as needed.

Ms. Rockett enjoys having the opportunity to introduce people to important research underway in Cabarrus County. When not working, Ms. Rockett enjoys spending time with her husband and young son.

Vonda Rodriguez, PhD, is the Director of Operations for CTSI Accelerator.  She provides project management and support to Duke translational research teams to advance research along translational paths.

Raquel Ruiz serves as the co-director of the CTSI Equity, Learning Health Communities Pillar. As a seasoned senior leader, she provides operational and project management oversight, guides the development and execution of the strategic plans, and cultivates key academic-community partnerships to accelerate health translation. Collaborating closely with executive leaders, she shapes initiatives at the intersection of population health, clinical research, and health care system.