Janet Matthews, MSN, RN, is an instructor in the Department of Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Matthews received a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a focus on clinical trials and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, both from Drexel University. She has 11 years of experience as a clinical research nurse in cardiology with significant expertise in the area of heart failure/heart transplant and device trials. She has broad experience in protocol management, human subject protection, patient safety and ethical legal and social implications of clinical research. Matthews also has 20 years of experience in hospital bedside nursing including the Medical Intensive Care Unit, caring for critically ill patients with complex medical, neurological and pulmonary problems with intense hemodynamic monitoring.
Matthews is the senior director, research program development, for the College of Medicine. In this role, she provides direction to clinical research initiatives and manages clinical research operations in the Office of the Senior Vice Dean for Research. Matthews works with the senior vice dean for research in the creation, management and administration of programs geared towards new areas of scientific concentration within the College of Medicine. She is instrumental in the development of educational materials including checklists, forms and training materials for clinical research, improving workflows and ensure compliance for clinical trials.
Matthews helps to design and manage collaborations between the College of Medicine and other academic units of Drexel and supports collaborations between the College of Medicine and external research entities – academic, governmental, non-governmental, and commercial. She identifies activities aimed at increasing opportunities for the faculty (e.g., business development for clinical trials and clinical research) and collaborates with research and medical education leadership to optimize research and educational opportunities for the College of Medicine.
As project manager of PIER (Partners in Innovation, Education and Research) at Drexel University, Matthews leads the research efforts of this growing network by providing guidance regarding research opportunities across the Consortium. She is committed to bridging innovative initiatives and clinical expertise to grow Drexel's research mission.
Matthews developed and executed a comprehensive launch strategy for the TriNetX Research Network at the College of Medicine, including communication plans, training sessions and user support resources, to ensure widespread adoption and engagement. She worked closely with the TriNetX support team to implement customizations and enhancements tailored to the specific needs and workflows of the College of Medicine. This effort provided hands-on training and support to faculty and medical student users, empowering them to leverage the full capabilities of TriNetX for their research projects and clinical inquiries.
As a member of the Clinical Trial SOP Task Force, Matthews plays a key role in developing, reviewing and maintaining SOPs for clinical trials, ensuring regulatory compliance, optimizing processes and integrating best practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Research
Matthews continues to lead and innovate in the field of clinical research, bridging innovative initiatives and clinical expertise to advance the research mission at the College of Medicine.
Research Projects
Title: “Impacts of Climate Change on Primary Care Utilization and Needs in Philadelphia”
Sponsor: The Environmental Collaboratory, Drexel University (Inaugural Pilot Research Grant)
Principal Investigator: Nathalie May, MD
Role on project: Co-Investigator
Purpose: This grant aims to investigate the influence of climate on primary care utilization patterns in Philadelphia, particularly within socially and environmentally vulnerable neighborhoods, by analyzing electronic health records from nine Drexel primary care practices alongside weather and neighborhood environment data. The hypothesis is that extreme weather events will disproportionately affect primary care attendance, notably among elderly individuals and those residing in vulnerable communities, with a focus on "no-show" and cancellation rates. Additionally, the grant aims to assess the impact of extreme heat, flooding, and extreme cold on acute illness among patients with chronic respiratory conditions and chronic kidney disease, hypothesizing that such weather conditions exacerbate these diseases, leading to increased acute care visits, especially within vulnerable demographics.