Research Team

Shirley Rast, MSN, FNP-BC, Pain-C

Shirley Rast is a full time Nurse Practitioner with the Neuromedicine Pain Management Center and Translational Pain Research Program where she provides comprehensive care for patients with chronic pain. She uses special and complex experience in medical management of chronic pain. She coordinate’s patient care with referring and primary care providers. Shirley holds a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Seton Hall University and a Master’s degree in Science of Nursing from St. John Fisher College. She is licensed in New York State as a Family Nurse practitioner and is certified by the American Nurse‘s Credentialing Center as a Family Nurse Practitioner and in Pain Management. She is a member of the American Pain Society and the Greater Rochester Nurse Practitioner Association where she serves as Membership Chair.

Maria Frazer, BS, CCRC

Maria has managed chronic pain clinical trials in Translational Pain Research with the department of Neurosurgery since 2008. She holds a Clinical Research Coordinator Certification (CCRC) through the Academy of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from SUNY Fredonia. Her prior experience in neurology basic science research has provided a strong foundation in clinical research.

Maria oversees multiple research projects, executes clinical trial activities, and ensures regulatory compliance. In addition, she works closely with patient care and actively recruits patient volunteers. Ms. Frazer is published in the Journal of Pain Medicine, Neurology, Spine, Molecular Therapy, Glia, Geriatrics & Aging, and the Netter Neurology Atlas. Her work is also included in abstract presentations at both national and international conferences including: International Spinal Analgesic Drug Delivery Symposium, World Congress of Pain, American Pain Society, International Congress on Neuropathic Pain, American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, International Conference on Mechanisms and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain, Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, American Society of Gene Therapy, and Annual Conference of the State Society of Aging of New York.

Michelle Dugan, MSN, FNP-BC

Michelle Dugan received her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from University of Rochester and her Masters’ degree in Science of Nursing from Saint John Fisher. She is licensed in New York State as a Family Nurse practitioner and is certified by American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has also held certification as a Legal Nurse Consultant. She is a member of the New York State Nurse Practitioner’s Association, the American Nephrology Nurse’s Association, and the American Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Association. She serves as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. She is a member of the Advanced Practice Nursing Advisory Group for the Margaret Sovie Center for Advanced Practice at the University of Rochester. Her area of interest and publications is Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. She participates in Clinical Research with the departments Translational Pain Research Division.

Valerie Chiodo, RN, BSN, CCRC

Valerie Chiodo received her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Alderson-Broaddus University and is licensed in the state of New York. She is certified as a Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) through the Academy of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). She maintains Good Clinical Practice (GCP) compliance through the University of Rochester's Human Subject Protection Program (HSPP).  She coordinates neuropathic pain clinical trials in Translational Pain Research for the department of Neurosurgery under Director Dr. John Markman.

She is responsible for initiating and managing both multi-center industry sponsored clinical trials and investigator-initiated trials.  She is actively involved in patient recruitment, enrollment, and scheduling, as well as, the planning, implementing, conducting and monitoring day-to-day oversight of several clinical studies.