Carolyn Passaglia Appointed Associate Director for Administration at Lurie Cancer Center

Lurie Cancer Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Carolyn Passaglia, MSRC, as Associate Director for Administration. In this role, Passaglia provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the center’s administrative infrastructure, supporting its scientific programs, shared resources, clinical research, community engagement, and educational initiatives. She is appointed by and reports directly to the Director of Lurie Cancer Center.

Prior to this role, Passaglia served as Senior Director of the Clinical Trials Office (CTO), where she led efforts to expand and streamline the clinical research enterprise across the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Care Network. Under her leadership, the CTO strengthened regulatory compliance, improved trial activation timelines, and significantly increased clinical trial accruals—particularly through integration with network sites across the center’s catchment area.

With more than 15 years of experience in academic medical administration, Passaglia has been instrumental in advancing Lurie Cancer Center’s mission by fostering collaboration among investigators, enhancing operational efficiency, and aligning institutional priorities with national standards. Her contributions have supported the cancer center’s continued leadership as an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Passaglia holds a Master of Science in Regulatory Compliance (MSRC) from Northwestern University. She brings a deep commitment to innovation, increasing access to leading-edge cancer care, and translating scientific discoveries into improved patient outcomes.