Meet Our Research Staff

ACTU Staff

Kathy Watson, RN, BSN, ACRN
Research Nurse Manager, ACTU

Kathy graduated from OSU 30 years ago and has been working at the Infectious Disease Clinic for 17 years. She is the Research Nurse Manager at the ACTU.

Mark Hite, RN
Research Nurse, ACTU

Mark has been a nurse since 1998. After working in the Transplant Unit at OSU Medical Center, he joined the AIDS Clinical Trials Unit as a Research Nurse in 2001. Mark works with people who have volunteered to participate in studies to help find the best treatments for HIV.

Heather Harber
Research Nurse, ACTU

Heather has been a nurse for 24 years. She has been a research nurse for the ACTU since 2007. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 daughters.

Stephanie Burlingame, RN
Research Nurse, ACTU

Stephanie grew up in Columbus, Ohio.  She attended nursing school at Mount Carmel College of Nursing and graduated in 2003.  She has experience in med/surg, critical care, and nephrology research.  She joined the Infectious Disease Clinic ACTU in 2008.

Jan Clark, Pharm.D.
Infectious Diseases Clinic Pharmacist

Jan Clark, Pharm.D., is a specialty practice pharmacist who joined our staff in 1992.  Jan provides the medications for our HIV drug studies.  She is available to counsel both clinic and research patients regarding medication regimens, side effects, access to medications, and adherence issues.  Jan also works with the clinical staff regarding drug interactions and dosing guidelines for patients with compromised kidney or liver functions.

Todd L. Lusch, LSW, LNHA
Site Director, ACTU

Todd is the Site Director/Study Coordinator with the AIDS Clinical Trials Unit and has been with the Division of Infectious Diseases since 2003.  Todd oversees the unit’s day-to-day operations and maintains study regulatory compliance.  Prior to working at the Medical Center, Todd worked in the area of long term care as a nursing home administrator and marketing director.  He graduated from Ohio State with a degree in healthcare administration.

Angela Howell
Manager, Medical Records

Angie has been with OSU Infectious Diseases for 5 years.  She assists the research nurses, clinic staff and manages the chartroom.  Angie returned to school here at OSU last spring and is pursuing a degree in Hospital Administration.   Her free time is spent enjoying family.

Shirley Ventresca
Data Manager, ACTU

Shirley is the Data Manager for the ACTU.  She has been with OSU Infectious Diseases for 8 years.  Originally from Buffalo, NY, she moved to Columbus in 2000.  She is married and has a son and daughter.

Isaac Navar
Data Manager and Office Production Assistant, ACTU and AETC

Isaac began working at the OSU ACTU in 2000 as an undergraduate student.  Upon graduation, he remained with the division and now serves a dual role with the ACTU and AETC.  Isaac is part of the data management department in the ACTG and helps the AETC as an office production assistant.

AETC Staff

Jane Russell, RN, BSN, ACRN
Site Director, AETC

Jane has worked in Infectious Diseases for approximately 20 years, first as a research nurse and with the AIDS Education and Training Center. Her free time activities include travel, reading and spending time with friends and family.

Michael McDonald, MS
Program Manager, AETC

Michael has been with the OSU Division of Infectious Diseases for 5 years as a part of the AIDS Clinical Trials Unit and the AIDS Education and Training Center.  For the ACTU he provides outreach to the community about clinical trials along with helping new patients to get established with the unit.  As Program Manager for the AETC, he coordinates training for healthcare providers across Ohio.