Dawn’s Bio
Dawn has been conducting research studies for the last 30 years. Her areas of focus during her academic career were the modulation of eating and drinking behavior and learning and memory in rodents, the genetic foundations for dyslexia, glaucoma and synpolydactyly. As an industry researcher, her areas of focus have been orthopedic surgical implants, the development of a carpal tunnel treatment device, disease modifying drugs and biologic compounds for low back pain and osteoarthritis; men’s health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and the reduction of blood loss.
She a holds Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Sciences and Behavioral Genetics from the University of Connecticut under Dr. Benson Ginsburg, a Master of Science degree in Developmental Psychobiology from the University of Connecticut under Dr. Victor Denenberg and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Niagara University under Dr. Peter Butera. She was Regulatory Affairs Certified (RAC) from 2001-2004 and received a Clinical Science Certificate from Duke University Medical Center in 1997.
Her notable achievements have been the characterization of the effects of protein synthesis and peptide hormones on eating behavior; she was one of only two U.S. researchers successfully performing ovary transplants in rodents; she performed validity and reliability testing of patient reported outcome scales for dyslexia and men’s health; she contributed genetic analyses for the identification of genes and exclusion of genes for multiple diseases; she managed the pivotal/Phase III clinical studies for the Ray Threaded Fusion Cage™ and Levitra® leading to U.S. marketing approvals. She managed a 70 center/1,000 subject Phase III study for one of the first disease modifying compounds for osteoarthritis and an FDA-mandated, post-market, observational study with > 6,700 physicians and 30,000 patients. She managed the closure of multiple ongoing clinical studies due to the recall of a market product (Baycol®) related to patient deaths. She was a member of the AdvaMed Task Force on the Implementation of ClinicalTrials.gov.
I her current role as Senior Director of Medical Affairs, Becton Dickinson, she was instrumental in the clinical assessments for the acquisition of Neomend, Inc. and Medafor, Inc., she has developed several independent guidelines and documents that have become Corporate Standards and represented her company at multiple face-to-face meetings with FDA for new and expanded claims and indications for medical devices in hernia repair, breast reconstruction and surgical hemostasis. She is currently the editor for a collaborative memoir on Modern Women in STEM.
WITH GROUPS CREATING PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE FEMALES TO CONSIDER STEM, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO ENTRY THAT IS STILL PREVALENT TODAY?
The belief that girls should still aspire to traditional female roles (e.g., mother, housekeeper, cook) and lack of visibility to female role models.
WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU?
I have always looked up to Amelia Earhart due to her courage, vision, determination and independence. I believe I have skills that can be used to improve the healthcare of patients every day and that drives fuels my motivation and demand for excellence.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT/ACCOMPLISHMENT?
Friends and colleagues have told me that I have inspired them to follow a particular career path or to strive to achieve greater success in work and life. I take pride in being able to influence the success of another person.