Emily is an exceptional project manager whose diligence, attention to detail, and self-direction shine through in every project. She has a true gift for bridging the gap between data and the people who need it most—always asking the right questions and inspiring those around her! -Dr. Joyce Lee
For more than a decade, Emily Dhadphale, CCRP, has been an integral part of Dr. Joyce Lee’s research team. Emily currently works as a senior project manager with Informatics and Clinical Research Innovation and the newly rebranded Life Course Obesity Research Informatics Core (LORIC) at the Caswell Diabetes Institute. During our conversation, she offers us a peek into her role and life outside of project management.
CDI: Can you share a little about your background and what brought you to the U?
Emily: Sure, I have my undergrad degree in psychology, as I originally thought I would be a child psychologist. After working as a paraprofessional in the public school system, I worked as a research assistant in Pediatric Neurology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, as I’m originally from Cincinnati. I grew into that role, becoming the Operations Manager. I’ve always worked in peds because it holds a special place in my heart.
What brought me to Michigan was my now husband. He went to U-M from grad school and wanted to move back to Ann Arbor. Once here, I saw Dr. Lee’s [job] posting, and the rest is history.
CDI: Can you tell us about your role and what you do?
Emily: I’ve been with the U for 12 years and have worked with Dr. Lee from the beginning. As her role has expanded, so have my responsibilities. I started as a clinical research coordinator and now work as a senior project manager.
CDI: What’s a typical day like for you?
Emily: No day is the same, which I enjoy. I meet with our core team regularly and also with those we work with on the various partnerships. Dr. Lee also leads many projects, for example, the Pediatric Obesity QI initiative, which I also manage. So, it's a lot of coordinating with the different teams, following up on action items, and ensuring things are moving forward.
CDI: What do you find most rewarding about what you do?
Emily: It’s exciting for me when a project finally gets to the point of publication. In some cases, projects we have worked on for years. Finally closing the loop is extremely rewarding.
CDI: So, what would you say are the biggest challenges?
Emily: Everything takes longer than you might expect. There are unanticipated delays, so I’ve learned to be patient and plan ahead when possible.
CDI: What's one project or initiative you are particularly proud of?
Emily: I would have to say it is the CDI Informatics Core, which is in partnership with the MNORC [Michigan Nutrition Obesity Research Center] and MDRC [Michigan Diabetes Research Center]. It’s nice to be a part of something that is leading the charge in supporting researchers in this area. What makes us different from other resources across the university is that we’re very familiar with diabetes, the system, and workflows. We understand data can be messy and inconsistent, so we offer hands-on expertise. It feels good to have created this important role that actually meets a need and helps to accelerate the research.
CDI: What do you enjoy in your downtime, outside of work?
Emily: Right now, I would say it is my six-month-old son and getting some sleep when I can! I enjoyed gardening, antiquing, and crafts when I had more time. I used to say I was a “millennial grandmother” before it was a thing.
I’ve always loved traveling the world, trying new things, and checking them off my list. As a project manager, I love lists! I’ve completed a 4-day hike on the Inca Trail, culminating in a pre-dawn visit to Machu Picchu. I’ve gone bungee swinging in New Zealand, swimming with sharks in the Great Barrier Reef, witnessed the beauty of the Taj Mahal and eaten my way through India, taken a safari including a walk with lions in South Africa, and swam on the top of Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls. We’re trying to instill a love for travel and adventure in my son. We’re taking our first plane ride, as a family, to NYC this weekend. Wish us luck!
Thank you, Emily, for the fun interview. We hope the trip to NYC went well!
Learn more about CDI Information and Clinical Research Innovation
Learn more about the Life Course Obesity Research Informatics Core (LORIC)
Is there a staff member you'd like to see featured in the CDI Staff Spotlight? Reach out to Ericka Hudson-Thomas @hudsone@umich.edu with your suggestions!