The quality assurance expert has more than 15 years of experience in developing and optimizing research processes to advance high-quality, ethical research and protect research participants. “I’m constantly asking, ‘How can we do this better?’ ” Yefrenia says. “How can we streamline IRB review while ensuring regulatory and ethical compliance, participant protections, and institutional integrity?”

“I think compliance, quality, and process improvement go hand in hand,” she adds. “When we make the process less burdensome, it’s easier to confirm that we’re complying with the regulations and that we’re protecting participants. A more efficient process is better for everyone—for investigators, staff, research participants, and for the research itself.”

Yefrenia got her start in research as an undergraduate, working part-time as a clinical research interviewer. That experience opened the door to opportunities in clinical operations and research management. These roles, in turn, sparked her interest in the intersection of quality and compliance and their potential to improve research outcomes.

In the years since that first research job, Yefrenia has spearheaded quality improvement efforts and led regulatory reviews at some of the nation’s top research organizations, including Columbia University Irving Medical Center, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Weill Cornell Medicine. She holds master’s degrees in public health and health administration and is certified as a Clinical Research Professional (CCRP), Health Education Specialist (CHES), and IRB Professional (CIP).

These days, Yefrenia is the Quality Assurance & Education Specialist at Teachers College, Columbia University, and IRB Compliance Coordinator at the University of New England (UNE). She is also a member of AEREO: The Consortium to Advance Effective Research Ethics Oversight and serves as a consultant on the Board of Sterling IRB.

Her newest role, as an AAHRPP Board member, is an excellent fit. “I incorporate AAHRPP Elements and guidance in standard operating procedures for Teachers College and UNE,” Yefrenia says. “When I heard there were openings for AAHRPP Board members, I saw it as an opportunity to contribute more directly to the work and impact of accreditation.”

She also looks forward to sharing the perspective of smaller organizations who sometimes find it more challenging to pursue accreditation. “As someone who has worked for large and small IRBs,” Yefrenia says, “I’d like to collaborate with others on the Board and within AAHRPP on identifying practical ways to make the accreditation process more accessible and beneficial to organizations of all sizes.”