UPMC welcomes Kristin Bialobok as Vice President of Clinical Research

Summit Talent Group is excited to announce the placement of Kristin Bialobok as the new Vice President of Clinical Research for UPMC Hillman Cancer Center (Hillman), a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center—one of only 56 such centers in the United States. Hillman is a leader in providing exceptional cancer care, conducting breakthrough research, and educating the next generation of oncologists and researchers. Each year, Hillman serves over 113,000 patients across the UPMC integrated cancer care delivery network, advancing cutting-edge therapies derived from its ongoing research.

Kristin joins UPMC Hillman after an impressive tenure at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where she held several leadership positions within the Knight Cancer Institute, culminating in her role as Research Clinic Manager. In this capacity, she oversaw major research initiatives, including emergency COVID-19 vaccine trials and the state-funded “Key to Oregon” project assessing COVID-19 prevalence. Prior to this role, Kristin served as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Chief Administrative Officer at the Knight Cancer Institute, where she was instrumental in developing the Cancer Institute’s 5-year strategic plan, improving oncology clinical research operations, and reducing IRB approval turnaround times by 44%. Kristin also played a key role in securing $1B in philanthropic funding for cancer research and spearheaded numerous process improvements across clinical trials management and research operations.

Kristin’s early career includes serving as Director of Clinical Research Compliance at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she managed clinical trials, regulatory processes, and launched award-winning faculty research education programs. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing, specializing in Clinical Research Management, from Duke University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Summit Talent Group is proud to have facilitated Kristin’s placement at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, reinforcing our commitment to connecting top-tier talent with organizations dedicated to pioneering advances in healthcare. As a leading retained executive search firm, we continue to deliver exceptional leaders who are driving innovation and excellence in clinical research and patient care.