Despite the importance of the profession, there currently is no standardized educational pathway dedicated to preparing future clinical research coordinators (CRCs), who are vital members of hospital research teams, notes Eric Rodriguez, a supervisor of CRCs at Rady Children’s Hospital Orange County.
The organization has taken steps to change that.
The first cohort of three participants in a pilot CRC internship program launched last year graduated this May, establishing Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange County as one of the first pediatric hospitals in the nation to offer a structured year-long educational program.
Diana Zuniga, a supervisor of CRCs for the Research Institute who helped design and manage the pilot program, says the graduates — Mia Fuerte, Samuel Lima, and Jamie Lin — have received a firm foundation which will set them up for further success, such as being eligible to become certified after working in the field for an additional two years.
Eric explains that the position’s responsibilities include executing complex scientific protocols while collaborating with physicians, research participants and their families, industry sponsors, and regulatory bodies.
The job, he adds, requires a multifaceted set of skills including a solid foundation in science, organizational skills, communication, flexibility and adaptability, dedication to life-long learning, and a strong commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of research participants.
Praise for program
Through a combination of formal instruction, mentorship, shadowing, and active participation in research activities, the CRC interns gained practical skills that cannot be fully taught in a classroom setting or abbreviated program, Eric says.
“It’s a great program – I don’t think there’s anything quite like it anywhere else,” says Samuel, who graduated in 2023 fromCal State Monterey Bay with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
The native of Yorba Linda was managing a hair salon co-owned by his mother and looking into a career in clinical psychology when he threw in his hat as one of more than 200 applicants for the yearlong internship.
“What makes the program special is we learned directly from people with years of experience in the field,” adds Samuel, whose rotations included urology, metabolics, and infectious diseases. “We didn’t just learn fundamental concepts, but perspectives from many different people. Everyone here is so amazing, kind, helpful and nice. They are great to work with.”
A full picture
Jamie, who has lived in Orange County since 2007, earned a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology from UCLA and a master’s degree in public health from George Washington University. She plans to pursue an advanced degree in clinical research and healthcare.
“I hope to continue to give back to my community,” she says.
Mia graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree and worked at a prescription eyewear retailer after that. She majored in biology with an emphasis on cell and developmental biology and always wanted to work in the medical field.
The Whittier native didn’t even know what a CRC was until she found out about the internship program.
“I’m very appreciative because we got to see in motion different professions and a full picture of how all the teams collaborate,” Mia says. “I came out of college trying to gain experience because I couldn’t get any during college. Offering this program and giving an opportunity for students like me is awesome. I learned a lot and grew and now look forward to making a career out of it. It.”
Built from scratch
Diana says she and other CRC internship program leaders sought applicants with science backgrounds. Most had a desire to work in healthcare, she notes. An associate’s degree was, and remains, a minimum requirement to apply.
Diana says there are other CRC internship programs offered online and elsewhere but none that offer the hands-on training that Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange County offers. The curriculum was developed from scratch, focusing on core competencies for CRCs.
Various instructional types were used including didactic instruction led by Diana and other subject matter experts from the Research Institute and across the enterprise, hands-on instruction, and asynchronous learning using prepared materials from well-regarded organizations whose focus is the conduct of high-quality clinical research.
Moving forward, Diana says she hopes to refine the program and its objectives and approaches following analysis of obtained surveys and data collection.
Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange County currently employs over 60 CRCs and clinical research nurse coordinators throughout the enterprise, with support provided across many institutes and divisions.
Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Terence Sanger hopes to build the program to between 20 and 25 interns per year, but funding is needed. The Research Institute received a sub-award from a National Institute of Health grant issued to the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of California, Irvine which is funding the first two years of the CRC internship program, but Diana says she plans to reach out to other governmental agencies and the private sector to sponsor future interns.
Three new hires
For now, there are three members in the 2026-2027 cohort of CRC interns, Diana says.
And, in a couple of years, Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange County is set to have at least three more certified CRCs as Mia, Samuel, and Jamie all were offered — and accepted — full-time jobs in the Research Institute. Mia supports urology and gastroenterology, Samuel supports hematology, nephrology and dermatology, and Jamie supports pulmonology.
“This program helps people find a career where their daily actions contribute to advancing science and improving patient care,” Eric says. “As an instructor and mentor to the interns, I truly valued the opportunity to share my experiences, provide helpful tips and help interns understand both the challenges and rewards of a career in clinical research.”
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