CTSI Clinical Research Unit Announces Ms. Dee Ann Ashby, CRU Nurse Manager

The Utah CTSI Clinical Research Unit (CRU) is thrilled to announce that Ms. Dee Ann Ashby, CRN, has been promoted to CRU Nurse Manager. The leaders, staff, study PIs and peers who’ve been working with Dee Ann for the last few years share our enthusiasm for her great fit in the role! Dee Ann has fostered genuine communication and contributed to a positive team culture, making a meaningful impact.

Ms. Ashby now holds responsibilities over the clinical research nurses, clinic staff and processes of the CRU Wakara clinic, CTSI research visits at 3NAC, and over the protocol performance for the variety of mobile research visits across campus and across communities.

Dee Ann has 31 years of nursing experience and nearly five years clinical research nursing with the CRU, hiring into University of Utah Health and CTSI in 2020 (Yes, Dee Ann was part of the amazing CRU team through those tough early pandemic days!). Dee Ann’s professional strengths include pediatrics and cell/gene therapy trials. Two things Dee Ann loves about working for CRU are working with the pediatric teams as they interact with the patient-participants and seeing miracles in research care that unfold in front of her. 

Dee Ann has prior nursing leadership experience in acute care and as a Nursing Director in community-based hospitals prior to coming to UU. One thing that makes the CRU Nurse Manager opportunity different is that our research participants choose to participate in the care they receive from the research opportunities CRU has to offer. For those research volunteers, Dee Ann and her staff will always aim to treat participants with the VIP respect and care they deserve. 

Dee Ann has recognized that one benefit to her new role will be learning more about the entire variety of protocols performed in the CRU, beyond those she knows well as Protocol Manager. She sees this as the ‘most exciting opportunity’ of being CRU’s new nurse manager. 

Outside of work, Dee Ann loves to spend time reading, cooking, and hiking, specifically the Wind Rivers and Tetons. Above all, she likes spending time with children, especially the two who call her “Meemaw.”