Administration
Dominique Barragan, CCRC, MA
Executive Director
Dominique was born and raised in San Diego, CA and relocated to Seattle to complete her BS in Physiology from Seattle Pacific University. She then went on to obtain her Master’s in Cultural Studies at the University of Washington. As the Executive Director, Dominique oversees the team at Seattle Women’s and all operations. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their rescue dog Ernie.
Shann Emerald, CCRC
Director of Research
Shann has extensive experience working in clinical research. She attended Seattle Central College then graduated from Concorde Career College in San Diego. She is a registered x-ray technician, certified clinical research coordinator (CCRC), certified medical assistant (CMA), and a certified bone density technologist (CBDT). As our Director of Research, Shann is our main contact with both sponsors and other vendors during study start-up and manages our regulatory affairs. When she’s not working, Shann is a yoga and Pilates fanatic! She also enjoys skiing and rollerblading with coworker Jennifer.
Valerie Croley
Business Administrator
Valerie has lived in Seattle since 2004 after relocating from Savannah, GA, where she received her BA in Painting. After working in the software field, she redirected her attention to finance and operations, where for the past 10 years, she worked for several biotechnology companies in clinical finance and medical affairs. She joined Seattle Women’s with a passion to be a part of a small, but dedicated group, looking to better the lives of their patients through clinical research. In her spare time, Valerie enjoys exploring wine country, working in her garden and renovating her first home with her husband.
Research Team
Ava Commissariat, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator
Ava grew up near Seattle and moved to Arkansas to attend Hendrix College. She graduated with a BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She then worked as a clinical research coordinator at immunology and oncology clinics in South Florida. She recently moved back to Seattle to be closer to her family. She enjoys swimming, yoga, and spending time with her family and dog.
Roberta D’Alba, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator
Roberta was born and raised in Italy and moved to the UK in 1995 where she worked as a physician for 12 years. She received her M.D. from the University of Milan School of Medicine. Her postgraduate training was in Ultrasound Diagnostics and Liver Disease. She moved to the Seattle area with her family in 2008. Her hobbies include traveling, yoga, cooking, sailing and hiking.
Jennifer Tran
Clinical Research Coordinator
Jennifer, a Seattle native, graduated from the University of Washington with a BS in Public Health. She started her career at Seattle Women’s as an Office Assistant while finishing school. She became a full-time research assistant after graduation before transitioning into a clinical research coordinator. In her free time Jennifer loves rollerblading with coworker Shann and visiting US national parks with her family.
Bella Lee
Recruitment Specialist
Bella was born and raised in Seattle, and graduated from the University of Washington with a BS in Psychology research. Her undergraduate research focused on children’s understanding of social hierarchies and race, and she has experience working with vulnerable mental health populations. In her spare time, Bella enjoys drawing, painting, cooking, baking, and exercising.
Maddie Schulte, RN
Clinical Research Nurse
Maddie is originally from Cincinnati and recently settled in Seattle in 2019 after serving as a Peace Corps Health Education Volunteer in Albania. She is a Registered Nurse with several years of experience working in postpartum/newborn care as well as pediatric liver disease research. She is passionate about women’s health and plans to continue her education in this field. She loves commuting to work on her bike, hiking, rock climbing, practicing yoga, and traveling internationally.
Mary Meyer, RMA
Clinical Lead
Mary has many years of experience practicing as a medical assistant. She is a certified RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) and a CBCT (certified bone densitometry technologist). Born in Texas, Mary moved to Nebraska and graduated as salutatorian. She then relocated to South Florida where she worked in Rheumatology, Oncology and Family Medicine before settling down in Seattle. Mary is an avid lover of Broadway musicals and is a Seattle Opera season ticket holder. She also has a passion for photography, cycling, and her two hairless cats Bandit and Red.
Meredith Coffroth
Research Assistant
Meredith, born and raised in Seattle, is completing her degree in Medical Anthropology with a minor in Global Health. Prior to working at Seattle Women’s, she interned at Swedish Hospital as a Health Scholar for 15 months. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, watching movies with friends and baking.
Karen Selander
Office Manager
Karen was born and raised in Seattle. She earned her BS in Health Informatics and Health Information Management from the University of Washington. She is currently working towards a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification. Karen has a love for animals, sewing, and gymnastics.
