Staff Profile: Ashley Bowman, Senior Regulatory Coordinator
At the heart of Northwestern Medicine’s clinical research enterprise, a complex network of hospitals, labs, and research centers work to revolutionize patient care. Regulatory coordinators — who assist study teams with meeting essential regulatory activities — serve as arteries that facilitate the flow of clinical trials from startup to completion.
“Clinical trial research is impactful and can change someone’s life, making it a very rewarding activity to be connected to,” says Ashley Bowman, senior regulatory coordinator at the Northwestern University’s Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute. “Contributing to study startups and seeing them through to activation, enrollment, and eventually completion is crucial.”
Working behind the scenes — without any patient contact — the regulatory team at the NUCATS Institute’s Center for Clinical Research, plays a critical part in getting studies up and running.
Bowman’s role bridges the gap between ethics, medical research, and human impact. Although her work is sometimes completed in isolation, she’s motivated by the opportunity to provide hope for patients in the face of uncertainty.
Having a leadership role that allows me to be an example to my team, while navigating and making my own connections as a regulatory coordinator, is important.”
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bowman earned a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Purdue University Global.
She previously served as a senior regulatory coordinator at Northwestern University’s Blum Cardiovascular Institute before accepting a clinical operations research position at Hollister Incorporated. Her passion for the clinical administrative environment influenced her decision to join NUCATS a little over a year later.
“Having a leadership role that allows me to be an example to my team, while navigating and making my own connections as a regulatory coordinator, is important. I have always wanted to be the manager that trusts people, while also being a person who can personally connect with the team, creating room for continuous improvement while receiving constructive criticism.”
Though Bowman’s at the heart of clinical oversight at NUCATS, she credits her team’s multifaceted approach to communication as an effective avenue to combat stressful situations.
“Regulatory is often a big waiting game that requires frequent communication and most times we are waiting on someone to respond to us before we can move forward. There are so many communication channels between the sponsor and the study team. While we always wish for an immediate resolution, we often are busy figuring out different scenarios to present for the best outcome.”
I have always enjoyed making connections in my field, but personally spending time with my friends and family and balancing home and work gives me a sense of purpose.”
Bowman is proud of her professional accomplishments; most notably, a career highlight was helping create, prepare, and submit a National Institutes of Health Grant for a Maternal Fetal Medicine study entitled “GDM-MOMS.”
“I have always enjoyed making connections in my field, but personally spending time with my friends and family and balancing home and work gives me a sense of purpose,” she says.
Bowman was born and raised in Chicago, growing up in what is considered the eastside of the city, close to Lake Shore Drive and near the Illinois-Indiana border. In her spare time, she’s usually with her husband (Justin), two children (Jayce and Skylar) and dogs (Austie and Titan).
“A lot of my life experiences have made me the person I am today, but being a wife, mom, sister, and daughter has a great significance,” says. Bowman, who also volunteers with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance to honor her older sister, Dominique, who passed away last year.
Whether volunteering, working, or relaxing, Bowman’s enduring heart beats with an inspirational pulse for all to see.
Written by Alex Miranda
