Physician Assistant/Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner - Department of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition

Job Description

The Department of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, has an outstanding opportunity for a Physician Assistant/Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner to join their team.

About this Opportunity

Reporting to the UWMDI Executive Director, and the Director of Clinical Trial Safety, the Physician Assistant/Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner is an integral part of our vibrant and growing clinical research team, working closely with principal investigators, research coordinators, and clinical research staff to conduct groundbreaking clinical and translational research studies. This position offers the unique opportunity to contribute to world-class research while developing expertise in advanced clinical and translational research methodologies.

The University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute (UWMDI) is a world-renowned research institute dedicated to advancing our understanding and treatment of diabetes and its complications. Located in South Lake Union, Seattle, the UWMDI combines cutting-edge bench and clinical research with a mission to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes across the lifespan. Our clinical research program, led by the Bjornstad-Tommerdahl-Pyle Lab, focuses on diabetic kidney disease, obesity-related kidney disease, and cardiovascular and liver complications in both pediatric and adult populations.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Research Responsibilities (40)%

• Conduct comprehensive history and physical examinations for research participants

• Determine participant eligibility based on study inclusion and exclusion criteria

• Assess participant safety throughout study procedures and follow-up visits

• Provide detailed study information, clinical results, and education to research participants

• Screen and consent research participants in accordance with IRB protocols

• Serve as lead clinician for assigned research studies

• Document social history, medical history, and physical assessment data

• Make clinical assessments, order laboratory tests, and provide medical oversight

• Review and interpret continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump downloads and provide insulin dosing recommendations

• Perform blood glucose assessments and treatment of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia

• Monitor and document adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), and protocol deviations (PDs) in adherence with study requirements and regulatory standards

Advanced Research Procedure Supervision and Performance (30%)

• Supervise and perform hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic and hyperglycemic clamps

• Supervise and perform titration of insulin infusions and other IV fluids  

• Oversee renal clearance studies using iohexol, para-aminohippurate, and dextran

• Oversee intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT’s), oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT’s), and mixed meal tolerance tests (MMTT’s)

• Assist with, supervise, and perform j-wire endovascular biopsies in pediatric and adult participants

• Support cardiovascular research assessments including pulse wave analysis, pulse wave velocity, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), echocardiograms, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

• Participate in research kidney and liver biopsy procedures

• Coordinate multiparametric MRI and PET imaging studies of kidney, liver, heart, and brain

• Perform DXA scans and other body composition assessments

• Conduct venipuncture and specialized specimen collection

• Perform laboratory sample processing

• Administer investigational medications and monitor for efficacy and adverse effects

Team Leadership and Coordination (20%)

• Supervise and mentor research coordinators for both pediatric and adult studies

• Provide clinical oversight and guidance to research supervisors and program managers

• Collaborate closely with research nurses at the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) at UWMDI

• Interface with Pediatric Clinical Research Center (PCRC) staff at Seattle Children’s Hospital

• Participate in sponsor study initiation visits and regulatory monitoring visits

• Support protocol development and implementation

• Design and implement study recruitment strategies

• Maintain accurate patient charts and study records for research protocols

• Perform specimen preparation, collection, packaging, and shipping as required

Professional Development and Scientific Contribution (10%)

• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and research planning sessions

• Opportunities for scientific writing and conference presentations (encouraged but not required)

• Develop and revise study materials inc