Gisselle Zazueta-Damian, RA IV, is our Senior Research Associate and Project Manager, who has been a dedicated teammate and has supervised numerous PFDN trials including ABC, ESTEEM, CAPABLe, NOTABLe, SUPeR/eSUPeR, ASPIRe/eASPIRe, and MUSA/PRoMISe. In addition to her supervision in our trials, she is also our lead regulatory personnel for IRB communication and protocol submissions.

Linda Mackinnon, MPH, RA II, is our Lead Research Associate and has been part of our team for 13 years. Linda has also been involved with numerous PFDN trials and she currently directs our eSUPeR, eASPIRe and MUSA trials. Linda takes pride in her work and continues to ensure that our team carries out our PFDN study commitments.

Diana Banales, RA IV, recently relocated to our department to assist with our growing portfolio. She started in the fall of 2023 and has already made a huge impact at our clinic. Diana started her clinical research experience 6 years ago in the Rheumatology Department as an unblinded pharmacist. This is where she was exposed to clinical trials. Diana found them intriguing, which in turn lead to the beginning of her research career. Diana has been a Project Manager for multiple clinical trials within Kaiser Permanente, which include trials with Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Cardiovascular and Infectious Diseases (COVID-19).

Diana considers herself a newbie to PFDN but has already taken the initiative of leading one of the networks upcoming trials, TULIP. Not being exposed to pelvic floor disorders prior to joining our team, she finds it fascinating learning about pelvic floor disorders and listening to all the ongoing studies, but most of all looks forward to contributing to new and upcoming studies.

Diana is amazed on how all investigators within the network work so closely and diligently to develop new clinical trials. She expects the contributions made by all involved to be successful, impacting women substantially, and envisions herself being part of PFDN for many years to come.

In her spare time, Diana loves to travel and enjoy the beach. Some of her favorite vacationing locations are the Caribbean Islands. Her most recent vacationing island, Jamaica! One Love!!

Vanessa DeLoera, RA II, also recently joined our department to assist with our growing portfolio this past fall. Vanessa began her career as a Medical Assistant and then furthered her education to obtain her phlebotomy license. She was provided the opportunity to join Kaiser’s Department of Research and Evaluation and assisted on a multi-center study for the Epidemiology Department and soon thereafter transitioned to Clinical Trials. This March will mark 10 years since she began her journey in Clinical Trials at Kaiser Permanente San Diego.

Vanessa has been exposed to a vast number of clinical trials - from OBGYN, Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases, Endocrinology, Cardiovascular, and now Urogynecology. Her experience has motivated her to continue her education and thus she will be starting a vocational nursing program this spring. She is eager to begin contributing in the PFDN and finds it rewarding to be able to work beside a talented group of investigators.

Vanessa’s life revolves around her family – husband, two teenage children, and two small but mighty yorkies, Jordi and Lola. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and dancing. She particularly enjoys dancing bachata and takes dance classes in various SD downtown venues. Oh La La!!

Heidi W. Brown, MD, became a member of our Urogynecology division and a scientist of dissemination and implementation for our Department of Research and Evaluation this past summer. As a former Fellow of our team, she has already contributed to many trials within the department.

Dr. Brown’s research focuses on improving access to effective solutions for pelvic floor disorders such as bladder and bowel incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. She uses community engagement, user-centered design, and iterative testing to inform development, adaptation, implementation, and maintenance of interventions that improve quality of life.

Dr. Brown’s primary research focuses on how to support women to adopt these behavior changes and pursue additional treatments when necessary. She is also interested in developing and testing streamlined implementation strategies to build and maintain productive connections between primary care, specialty care, and community resources.

In her spare time, Dr. Brown enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 sons, dancing, hiking, music, and the beach! Surf's up!

Duke University Hospital has had the privilege of being part of the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network since 2007. We have led several prominent studies within the network with an incredible group of passionate and talented investigators, providers, researchers, and staff. We are so excited to contribute to the innovative and groundbreaking clinical trials that can only be accomplished by the kind of collaboration allowed by multisite network studies!

Dr. Anthony Visco is our Division Chief for Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery. He received his MD from State University of New York Upstate Medical University and completed his residency in OB/Gyn at the University of Rochester. One of the longest standing members of the PFDN, he has been a clinical site PI of the network for 21 years. His involvement in the PFDN since 2001, just out of fellowship, has been one of the most influential academic experiences of his career. He fondly recalls his first meeting, sitting around the table surrounded by “giants” in the field. Their mentorship about recruitment, trial design, and research techniques laid the foundation for his own contributions. With their encouragement, he was able to confidently challenge conventional practice and the status quo.

During one Steering Committee meeting in his early days, there was a lively discussion regarding whether Botox bladder injections should be reserved for refractory overactive bladder or whether drug naïve patients should be included in a randomized trial they were designing. By respectfully challenging “conventional wisdom”, while also balancing patient safety and autonomy, they were able to design a bold and meaningful randomized trial.

Stephanie Yu is our lead Clinical Research Coordinator for the PFDN. She joined Duke in 2022 and manages eSUPeR, eASPIRe, and MUSA for the site. She is a competitive powerlifter and Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner who became interested in urogynecology due to the prevalence of pelvic floor disorders among female strength athletes. She is passionate about women’s health and diversity in medical research and has met with members of Congress to advocate for policies supporting reproductive rights and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She is excited to be a part of the network and hopes to contribute to positive advances in women’s health.

Dr. Nazema Siddiqui came to Duke in 2007, which is the same year Duke became a site within the PFDN. Her training and clinical practice have been enormously influenced by the PFDN. PFDN trials have always been the way that we test new surgeries, new treatments, and new innovations for women, while also ensuring that our patients are safely cared for under close monitoring.

Her first direct involvement in the PFDN was in 2008 through a writing group led by Dr. Linda Brubaker. She was the most junior person in this group and was quite intimidated! Yet, Dr. Brubaker and others were interested in whatever promoted the best science, and she soon found her voice. In 2022 she was thrilled to step into the role of site PI and continue the tradition of Duke’s involvement with the PFDN and commitment to high-quality clinical trials.

At many levels, we see that conditions that affect women are not prioritized in large-scale research. Yet, the PFDN has been one of the few bright spots and has shown us successful ways to do large-scale, impactful work that helps the lives of women. Over the last two decades PFDN studies have helped us optimize pelvic surgeries, understand the role of physical therapy, and learn more about how the microbiome may be implicated in pelvic health disorders.

Today, Dr. Siddiqui serves as Duke Urogynecology’s Associate Professor and Director of Research, Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery. She looks forward to expanding the reach into new scientific areas, broader populations of women, and cultivating the next group of surgeon-scientists who will carry the torch and conduct innovative research that helps the lives of women.