- Project Administrator
Clinical Research Training Center, WashU Medicine
The collaborative environment that WashU offers enables Adisa Kalkan, a program administrator at WashU Medicine’s Clinical Research Training Center, to succeed in her job. Kalkan helps to support the next generation of researchers. She enjoys engaging with the developing researchers currently in training, learning about their projects and helping them navigate challenges.
Kalkan’s colleagues nominated her as a WashU Inspiring Person because of her leadership and her core values. As a supervisor, colleague, devoted family woman, Kalkan is credited with a rare combination of wisdom, humility, leading with integrity and having an unwavering commitment to lifting up others.
She consistently shows up with integrity, treating every person with respect and care. She inspires everyone around her to be not only better professionals, but better people.
Liz Bayer, senior project manager and nominator
When asked what keeps her at WashU, Kalkan credits the people.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with inspiring program directors like Drs. Piccirillo, Stark, and Arbelaez, and talented colleagues like Liz Bayer, Jesseca Leggett and Alissa Hanten.” Kalkan said. “WashU fosters a collaborative environment where everyone is committed to excellence and growth.”
Kalkan’s strong ties to community and family shape both her professional approach and personal life. She arrived in the United States in 1995 through the refugee program along with her parents, sister and grandfather. St. Louis quickly became home for them.
Now, she spends much of her time with her family, the Bosnian community in St. Louis and dancing in a folk group with her children. She often takes trips back to Bosnia to stay connected to her roots and visit family members.