The Ragon Culture Committee challenged each of its members to find out about the members of their Team or Lab so they could be highlighted to all of the Institute. Our first spotlight of 2021 is …
The Clinical Team!
Daniel Worrall, NP
- What month and year did you start working at the Ragon – September 2014
- Describe your role here – Clinical Operations Manager, Nurse Practitioner
- Your 2021 goals – Get healthy!
- A boring fact about you – I’ve lived in FL, MT, NY and RI in addition to living in MA
- The age-old question: Does pineapple belong on pizza? – YES!
- What’s your zodiac sign and do you feel like it fits you? – Scorpio, and mostly fits me (the good parts!)
- Hometown – Wareham (Scareham)
Christianne Sharr, PA
- What month and year did you start working at the Ragon – April 2020
- Describe your role here – Physician Assistant (ask me if you’d like to know more about the field!) working on all COVID, all the time.
- Your 2021 goals – Carry through on some self-education as my professional reading lightens, including a book list curated together with friends over years. And, restoring with time in nature. Particularly excited about snowshoeing this winter. C’mon cold air masses (and policymakers), you can fight this uphill warming battle!
- A boring fact about you – I could live in a bowl of Toscano bucatini bolognese. And also a stack of lemon ricotta pancakes. There is a real Italian flavor to my escapist food dreams.
- The age-old question: Does pineapple belong on pizza? – So, a favorite phrase of mine: it takes all kinds. While the tang can be unexpected, is it not also a pleasant surprise? We all need a little practice holding two truths at once.
- What’s your zodiac sign and do you feel like it fits you? – Can’t say this is an area of expertise but a short review of the literature confirms this framework syncs more than not. Characteristics of cancers: caregiving, compassion. Empathy is my spark of genius in medicine, so we’ll say it fits!
- Hometown – Unionville, CT. Located in a small valley in central Connecticut with brilliant night skies. Less so than any national park, but can we give Connecticut something guys??
Zach Manickas Hill
- What month and year did you start working at the Ragon – June, 2020
- Describe your role here – Data coordinator (collection, organization, distribution of clinical and sample data; distribution of samples; other related tasks). I work with any studies that need the aforementioned data.
- Your 2021 goals – Work: continue to expand/develop my work experience and professional involvement at the Ragon. Fitness: continue to train, get fitter, faster, stronger, more durable, etc.; re-start training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (started November 2019 but COVID put a stop to it).
- A boring fact about you – My hair was super blonde when I was a kid. Now it’s much darker, though the perceived color varies depending on how long it is.
- The age-old question: Does pineapple belong on pizza? – Yes
- What’s your zodiac sign and do you feel like it fits you? – Sagittarius. I have no idea. I know almost nothing about this stuff, except that Sagittarius is a centaur/archer.
- Hometown – Lexington, MA
Ilan Millstrom
- What month and year did you start working at the Ragon – May, 2020
- Describe your role here – The COVID-19 study, primarily the leukapheresis substudy
- Your 2021 goals – Apply to NP school
- A boring fact about you – A couple weeks ago I was cleaning out my kitchen spices and found one that was unlabeled. I didn’t know what it was so I showed it to my partner who sniffed it and immediately ran to the bathroom. Wondering how it could be that bad, I promptly made the same mistake – sniffed and exhaled, scattering the spice into my eyes. I instantly felt a deep regret for my actions, but moreso the burning pain in my eyes as I stumbled to flush them in the sink. Whatever the spice was, it was extremely spicy. And that’s how I accidentally pepper-sprayed my partner and myself.
- The age-old question: Does pineapple belong on pizza? – Pineapple is my favorite pizza topping. I love fruit in a savory dish.
- What’s your zodiac sign and do you feel like it fits you? – Cancer – eh, crabs are cool.
- Hometown – Melrose, MA
Max Barbash
- What month and year did you start working at the Ragon – October, 2019
- Describe your role here – I am the clinical research coordinator who runs the endoscopy study, lymph node biopsy, metagenome, rectal biopsy, lung studies, and I work with Daniel on the Acute cohort.
- Your 2021 goals – Get accepted in to medical school and expand my baking abilities
- A boring fact about you – I watch Jeopardy almost everyday at 7:30PM (R.I.P. Alex Trebek)
- The age-old question: Does pineapple belong on pizza? – Absolutely not!
- What’s your zodiac sign and do you feel like it fits you? – I am a Capricorn. I feel like I do fit in with some of the traits that Capricorns are known for like hardworking, ambitious, and a little stubborn at times.
- Hometown – Middleton, MA
Ally Reissis
- What month and year did you start working at the Ragon – March 2019!
- Describe your role here – I am a clinical research coordinator, and my main studies are the female reproductive mucosal immunity and vagina microbiome transplant studies and the HIV positive leukapheresis / whole blood study
- Your 2021 goals – I’d like to read more! And eventually be able to go out to eat again!
- A boring fact about you – I once won free tickets to the zoo when I was a kid by identifying the difference between monkeys and apes
- The age-old question: Does pineapple belong on pizza? – Yes! I think pineapple is delicious on pizza, but to each their own!
- What’s your zodiac sign and do you feel like it fits you? – I am a Scorpio, which I think is pretty accurate. They’re described as loyal and determined which I’d like to think are qualities I have. Though I will say my Cancer moon sign really describes me as well!
- Hometown – Arlington, MA
Claire O’Callaghan
- What month and year did you started working at the Ragon – April 2020!
- Describe your role here – I.e. What studies are you focused on – COVID studies
- Your 2021 goals – Go to Japan, get my New Zealand citizenship
- A boring fact about you – I drink iced coffee year round (Dunkin if at all possible #bahston)
- The age old question: Does pineapple belong on pizza? – Pineapple can do whatever she wants u go girl
- What’s your zodiac sign and do you feel like it fits you? – Capricorn-Aquarius cusp: Tarot.com says I have a contradictory personality and have the same sign as Jim Carrey (hilarious) and Dolly Parton (donated to the Moderna COVID vaccine) and for those reasons i support that description
- Hometown – Sherborn, MA
Noah Miranda
- What month and year did you start working at the Ragon. – May 2020
- Describe your role here – I’m one of the clinical coordinators, and mainly work on the COVID study and the minor HIV+/- blood-draw studies.
- Your 2021 goals – To take more time for myself and read/relax/watch movies
- A boring fact about you – I’m obsessed with Apple® products
- The age-old question: Does pineapple belong on pizza? – Um, yeah! Especially if its paired with bacon instead of ham
- What’s your zodiac sign and do you feel like it fits you? – I would say there are some things about me that are very Taurus (determined, yes a little stubborn), but I definitely have some libra in my everyday life (it’s my rising sign for those who like astrology).
- Hometown – Even though I say I’m from “near the cape” I’m actually from the town of Acushnet, MA which is roughly 30 minutes from the Bourne Bridge.
